episode_0192

[Notification: You have entered the Q&A chatroom. 1 Wiki Point is consumed per question. (Current points: 2)]

I immediately activated Sexmoo Wiki’s Q&A feature. Could it truly solve my and my lovers’ worries and desires? Holding both anxiety and anticipation, I typed out my question with trembling hands.

[Me: I want to marry all four of my lovers, but I’m worried about how society will view us negatively. Can you change societal perceptions so that we can be happy even if we marry?]

I had written the question as carefully as possible. Would my concerns be properly conveyed with this much detail? I felt my heart pounding rapidly as I waited for a reply.

[Q&A: To improve society’s negative perception of plural marriage, it is necessary to change the common sense of its members. However, it is impossible for a Sexmoo Wiki user to change the common sense of the majority.]

I felt deflated by the too-clear answer. “…”

Even Sexmoo Wiki couldn’t change everyone’s minds. Though it was an answer within my expectations, I couldn’t help but feel disappointed upon hearing it directly. Even so, there was nothing I could do, so I quietly ended the Q&A.

[Notification: 1 Wiki Point has been consumed for one question. (Current points: 1)]

“Haa.” A sigh escaped me naturally, overcome by a rush of powerlessness. Should I just give up like this? If a world came where people understood and blessed us, my lovers and I would be infinitely happier.

‘…No.’ I knew enough not to act like a child just because the world didn’t go my way. Even if we couldn’t openly declare our relationship to everyone around us, I knew I needed an attitude of satisfaction and gratitude for our current situation. But perhaps because I knew the earnest desires of my lovers, I didn’t want to give up like this.

‘Right, you never know.’ I relaunched the Sexmoo Wiki, which I had closed. I went into my own document, not my girlfriends’, and added new information to the existing pregnancy-related details.

[If you ejaculate intravaginally into another woman, the other party will never become pregnant.] → [If you ejaculate intravaginally into another woman, the other party will never become pregnant. However, if you ejaculate intravaginally with the intention to impregnate, pregnancy will occur.]

[Notification: Saved. 1 Wiki Point used. (Current points: 0)]

Now, if our wishes were to come true, we could have children anytime. Even if I couldn’t find a solution in the end, I wouldn’t give up until then and would keep searching for a way.

‘What should I do….’ My two feet remained rooted in the living room, lost in thought. Forgetting even to unpack the luggage from my trip, I was lost in contemplation for a while.

***

Almost a month had passed since the second semester began. My life hadn’t changed much from usual. It was a repetition of daily routines: attending school instead of my Sandfox office part-time job, uploading game review videos, and spending time with my girlfriends. And I was still troubled, unable to find a way for all my lovers and I to marry together.

It was Monday evening. I had an outdoor appointment with my lovers, so I came to the bustling downtown area we often visited. Yuna had a streaming schedule, and Minah had an appointment, so they couldn’t join. I was only meeting Yiseo Nuna and Chaerin.

“Jihoon.” “Ah, Chaerin. You’re here early?” “You were here even earlier, weren’t you? What time did you arrive? Did you wait long?” “I just got here myself. Shall we go inside somewhere for now? I’ll text Yiseo Nuna.”

To pass the time until Yiseo Nuna arrived, Chaerin and I, who had arrived first, entered a nearby clothing store. There were beautiful clothes and accessories that would suit Chaerin perfectly. Of course, Chaerin was a beauty who could pull off any outfit, but among them, a scarf that seemed particularly well-suited caught my eye.

“Chaerin. Isn’t this scarf pretty? I think it would be perfect for you.” “It is. The color is exactly my taste.” “Try it on. If you like it, I’ll buy it for you.” “It’s only the beginning of October. Isn’t a scarf a bit early?” “We can buy it in advance and wear it when it gets colder.”

As I chatted with Chaerin, a female employee approached silently and greeted us. “Welcome, customers! This is an item released a bit early for winter preparation. It’s a hugely popular item and almost sold out already, but you have good taste!”

It was clear she was experienced, as the sales pitch flowed immediately. “You two are a couple, aren’t you?” “Yes, that’s right.”

At my confirmation that we were a couple, for some reason, the female employee spoke with an excited voice. “Oh, so you’re buying a gift for your girlfriend. How wonderful. As you can see, the design is sleek, and it’s made of high-quality cashmere, so it’s incredibly soft. Would you like to feel it?”

The scarf seemed fine, but the employee’s excessive enthusiasm was overwhelming. Chaerin was listening attentively, seemingly liking the scarf. Just then, a welcome voice came from behind.

“Jihoon! Chaerin Unnie!” “Ah, Yiseo Nuna.” “Yiseo. You arrived quickly?”

I had texted her when we entered the store, but Yiseo Nuna arrived earlier than expected. The scarf’s design seemed good, so should I buy one in a different color for each of them? At that very moment.

“Oh, welcome. You must be friends with this couple.” “Huh?”

Along with Yiseo Nuna’s bewildered reply, Chaerin and I were also flustered. Understanding the situation, Nuna answered with a subdued voice. “Ah… yes.”

“Are you friends with the woman? Or the man?” “Both, both of them.” “I see! The gentleman was looking at a scarf to buy as a gift for his girlfriend. Would you like to take a look too, friend? Don’t you think this scarf would suit this person well?”

“…It does.” A hint of bitterness tinged Yiseo Nuna’s voice. She was my girlfriend too, but she had to pretend to be just a friend so the other person wouldn’t think it strange. That was the only way. Watching that scene, a wave of regret and apology washed over me.

I shouldn’t have answered so readily when the employee asked if we were a couple earlier. Chaerin also had a troubled expression on her face. “This scarf comes in many colors, so it’s great for couples to match! Sir, would you like to try this one on? It’ll be a perfect match with your girlfriend’s!”

While I couldn’t blame the employee who didn’t know the truth, I felt the atmosphere would become even more uncomfortable if we stayed. Deciding this couldn’t continue, I politely declined the scarf she offered. “We have somewhere to be, so we’ll look around another time. Thank you. Nuna, let’s go. Chaerin, you too.”

I led them, practically fleeing the store. An awkward silence hung around the three of us. Feeling apologetic, I spoke first.

“I’m sorry, Nuna. That person asked if we were a couple earlier. I just answered yes without thinking.” “No, it’s okay. It’s a bit difficult for both of us to say we’re girlfriends, so it can’t be helped. I’m really fine, so you don’t have to apologize so much.” “…I’m sorry, Yiseo.” “It’s alright, Unnie. I’m truly fine. Even if we can’t tell others, our relationship doesn’t change, does it?” “Yeah…”

“Whew…! Unnie, aren’t you hungry? I’m starving, so shall we get dinner first? Jihoon, is that okay with you?” Even though Yiseo Nuna spoke in a brighter voice, I could feel her effort to pretend everything was fine. However, if Chaerin and I looked upset, her efforts would be in vain. With the thought of helping them forget the recent bitter incident, I headed to a restaurant with my two lovers.

***

“…” Han Jihoon and An Chaerin. Even though she had spent an enjoyable time with the two people she loved most in life, Kang Yiseo’s expression was not bright when she returned to her room.

“Haa…” She was recalling the incident at the clothing store. It was something they had no choice but to endure, as there was no way others would understand their relationship. She knew that fact, but it was also true that pretending to be just a friend while her beloved boyfriend was right beside her wasn’t pleasant.

Moreover, the incident today felt like it was hammering home the fact that all four of them couldn’t marry Han Jihoon, which made her feel even worse.

Ring-ring. Just as she was sighing, a call came in from a friend. Wondering what was happening at this hour, she immediately answered the phone.

“Oh, Sehui.” – Yiseo. Today’s your day off from broadcasting, right? I was bored, so I called. Is it okay to talk?

“…Yeah. It’s fine.” – Hey, why does your voice sound so weak? Did something happen?

She wanted to pretend she was fine, but perhaps she couldn’t deceive a friend she had known for so long. However, she couldn’t honestly reveal her worries. And if she tried to continue the conversation as if nothing was wrong, the stifling feeling stuck in her chest would just make it frustrating.

“Sehui. I have something I’m curious about.” – Huh? What is it?

“What would you think if a woman married multiple men at the same time? Let’s say the men are also close to each other and have agreed to it.”

– What’s with the sudden question? Hmm… If they’re happy with it, I can’t really say anything, but honestly, it wouldn’t look good, right? It also feels a bit shady, and it’s just weird.

“What if the gender roles were reversed?” – It doesn’t matter if the genders are swapped. It’s not another country; one person marrying multiple people just doesn’t make sense. I bet other people think the same way I do.

An answer that betrayed her faint hope. All Kang Yiseo could do was pretend it was nothing significant and hide the fact that it was about her.

“I guess so, right? I was just curious, so I asked.” – Wow, that was really random. Sometimes you really have a quirky side, you know? Anyway, can I tell you my story now? Listen, yesterday I…

The conversation with her friend continued naturally. She wished this conversation would somehow clear away the unpleasant feeling she had. But contrary to her hopes, her mood hardly improved, and Kang Yiseo’s heart remained heavy until she fell asleep that night.

***

After a date with Yiseo Nuna and Chaerin, I returned home. While I was happy doing anything with them, the incident at the clothing store today left me not entirely pleased.

[No, it’s okay. It’s a bit difficult for both of us to say we’re girlfriends, so it can’t be helped. I’m really fine, so you don’t have to apologize so much.]

Yiseo Nuna also understood our situation well, so she accepted it and pretended to be fine. However, seeing her resigned demeanor, I couldn’t help but feel regret and apology.

Because even though I always said I wanted to make my lovers happy, I hadn’t been able to fulfill their ultimate wish.

“Whew.” Strength naturally drained from my body.

Going to a foreign country where polygamy was possible bothered me because Chaerin would have to quit her business here, and there were many other practical issues. Of course, there was no absolute need to tell everyone around us about our relationship. Nor did I necessarily want to officially record the fact that my lovers and I were a married couple in official documents.

If only our relationship could be acknowledged by our close circle—for instance, Yuna’s mother or Chaerin’s parents—then we could live happily without being fixated on the title of husband and wife.

But that was unlikely to be easy, and even if we got our parents’ permission, it wouldn’t solve the negative societal perception our children would face.

‘Should I really give up…?’ As a month passed without a clear solution, I felt my resolve weakening. Should I just give up everything and be content with living happily hidden away, just the four of us?

It was at that moment. Bzzzt! “Huh?”

My phone vibrated in my pocket. Taking it out and checking it, my eyes widened in surprise.

[Notification: A chat request has arrived from Sexmoo Wiki.]

‘…What is this?’