episode_0194

The evening after the first and last conversation with the creator of Sex Wiki.

My four girlfriends and I gathered in Minah’s living room.

Unaware of why they had been summoned, they waited for me to speak, while I refined my thoughts one last time before delivering the good news.

“What’s going on, Jihoon? Tell us now.”

Seo Unnie, thinking she had waited long enough, urged me to get to the point.

Just as I, after a little more hesitation, was about to open my mouth, thinking it was time to speak, her voice came first.

“Don’t tell me you have another girlfriend?”

“Huh?! Jihoon Oppa, is that true?”

“Is it true, Jihoon?”

Yuna and Minah were surprised by Seo Unnie’s question.

Chaerin, perhaps because she joined as a girlfriend most recently, looked shocked but remained silent.

I had been so excited to deliver the good news that I never dreamed of being misunderstood like this, so I hastily waved my hands and said, “No, no. It’s not like that, so don’t worry.”

“…Really? Just a moment.”

Seo Unnie got up from the sofa and headed to the entrance.

She didn’t stop there; she went outside, checked the surroundings, and only then returned to her seat.

“There’s no one outside. Are you sure you don’t have another girlfriend?”

It seemed she recalled the situation when I introduced Chaerin to them.

Given my past offenses, there was no reason to feel wronged.

“Then what is it you want to say?”

*We can get married now!*

I couldn’t say it so directly. Because if the existence of Sex Wiki was discovered, all the effects written within it would disappear.

It also felt unnatural to say that we were now in a position to get married, excluding the Sex Wiki story. My girlfriends would find it hard to believe that the world had changed overnight.

That’s why I kept contemplating how best to convey the story before coming here.

And now, at this very moment, the time had come to voice the result of my deliberations.

“…Let’s get married.”

“What?”

“Jihoon-ssi, what do you mean by that…?”

Following the other girlfriends, even Chaerin, who had been quiet, showed a puzzled reaction.

I paid no mind and added, “Let’s tell the people around us that we’re dating, and let’s get married.”

“Jihoon, are you serious? We originally agreed to keep our relationship quiet among ourselves.”

“That’s right, Minah-ssi. But I started to feel it was strange for us to be so secretive when we haven’t committed any crime. Everyone here wants our relationship to be recognized and wants to have children, but we’ve been forcibly holding back, haven’t we?”

“That’s true, but…”

Like Seo Unnie, whose voice trailed off, the other girlfriends’ reactions were full of hesitation, but my face was filled with conviction.

“Unnie. Don’t you think it would be too hard to live a lifetime hiding our relationship, unable to have children and just enduring it? Instead of that, let’s reveal it honestly and live with our heads held high.”

“…”

“Jihoon-ssi, I understand what you want to say. But will it really be okay? It won’t be easy for ordinary people to understand us.”

“I’m not suggesting we reveal our relationship to everyone, Chaerin-ssi. I mean, let’s only tell the closest people whose recognition we want, like Yuna’s mother or Chaerin-ssi’s parents.”

“To the closest people…”

To Chaerin, who was pondering my words, and to the other girlfriends, I continued in a voice still full of conviction.

“We want to be recognized and blessed by the people we cherish, don’t we? Such people will surely understand us. Even if they don’t, I’ll persuade them until they do.”

“Oppa, but… isn’t it true that in our country, one man and four women cannot marry…?”

Yuna asked me cautiously.

Even she, who had become positive about everything since meeting me, couldn’t shake off doubts about this practical issue. In fact, that part couldn’t be resolved even with the newly written content in the Sex Wiki. Even if people viewed us positively thanks to the Sex Wiki, it would be difficult for laws to suddenly change because of us, wouldn’t it?

Nevertheless, it didn’t really matter. Because there was no strong desire, nor an obligation, to announce our relationship to the entire world.

What my girlfriends and I had wished for was not recognition from the country, but from cherished people like close friends and family. If only they understood, even if we couldn’t be officially listed as spouses on documents due to institutional limitations, we could clearly live happily as a couple blessed by those around us.

I conveyed these thoughts to my girlfriends as carefully as possible.

Of course, they still seemed confused, and my persuasion continued.

“Yuna. The marriage I’m talking about isn’t about official recognition from the country. It means creating a ceremony where we make a promise as a couple in front of the cherished people who understand us, vowing to live happily.”

“Oh. I guess we can still have a wedding ceremony among ourselves even without stamping the marriage registration form! I think inviting only close people is a good idea!”

“Jihoon, so… you mean we’ll have a wedding ceremony but not register the marriage? That we’ll live as a common-law couple…?”

Minah-ssi asked in a worried tone. She probably had the most concerns among us. After all, she was the oldest here, and she was even dating the same man as her daughter, so it wouldn’t be easy to tell even close acquaintances, let alone her parents.

However, as long as there was the Sex Wiki creator’s reward, such worries were unnecessary.

“I know you’re worried, Minah-ssi. But just close your eyes and trust me. As I just said, they will surely understand us, and even if they don’t, I’ll persuade them no matter what.”

“Jihoon…”

Minah’s expression remained heavy.

I didn’t expect to convince my girlfriends instantly. However, as they gradually experienced the positive changes around them, they would gain confidence. This was also the reason I didn’t go into detail about children while talking about marriage.

“It’s okay if you don’t decide right now. If we do have a wedding, I want it to be after I’m fully prepared to be a proud husband. You can all take your time to think it over until then. Chaerin-ssi, Unnie, and Yuna too.”

“I like it! I want my mom to recognize me dating Oppa! So I’ll trust Oppa!”

“Thank you, Yuna. For trusting me.”

“I’ll… think about it a bit more. If things go as you say, it would obviously be wonderful, but it’s a bit sudden to decide right away.”

“It’s okay, Seo Unnie. You can answer slowly.”

“Jihoon-ssi. My parents are the problem, but since I’ve always been disobedient and done as I pleased since I was little, I wonder if it might be okay this time too. I can’t give a definite answer, but I’ll consider it positively.”

“Yes, Chaerin-ssi. Please take your time to think.”

“…”

Unlike the other girlfriends, Minah was still lost in thought. However, she too had the same desire to be recognized as a couple by cherished people and live proudly.

“Then I’ll try to be brave too, Jihoon. It took courage to date Jihoon, after all. But I need a little time to prepare myself, so can I give you a definite answer later?”

“Of course, Minah-ssi. Take all the time you need.”

I thought the other three, besides Yuna, would object from the start, but since they’re willing to consider it, their reaction is much more positive than I expected.

Does that mean their affection and trust in me are that deep?

In that case, I should also prepare myself to become a proud husband for the days to come.

My heart, making such a resolution inwardly, was busily pounding with anticipation and excitement for the future.

***

Lying in bed, Kang Yiseo couldn’t fall asleep and tossed and turned.

The conversation Han Jihoon had brought up about marriage that evening.

It was making her mind restless.

‘Being recognized by people around us… is that even possible?’

If it came true as he said, it would be a dream-like event, beyond happy. However, it was called dream-like precisely because it was so unrealistic.

Kang Yiseo couldn’t help but fall into deep thought.

‘What if I reveal it to others and only get cursed at…’

She was afraid of being greedy beyond her place and paying a price.

Then Han Jihoon’s words came to mind. His words, telling her to trust him, that he would surely persuade anyone who didn’t understand.

Although it seemed like an overzealous bluff, Kang Yiseo also had a strong desire for her relationship to be recognized by her cherished ones, strong enough to want to lean on his words.

‘Should I ask Sehui once…? If it goes wrong, I’ll just pretend it was a joke.’

“…Sehui. I’m sorry for calling at this hour. Were you sleeping?”

“—No? I’m watching a movie, so it’s fine. What’s up? Are you bored too?”

As soon as she heard her friend’s voice, tension washed over her. This was especially true because this was the person she had a conversation with last night regarding her current worries.

Still, Kang Yiseo tried her best to appear calm and spoke.

“Uh, I just thought we could talk. You know, Sehui. Yesterday I asked you. What you would think if one man married multiple women.”

“—Oh. You did, didn’t you? Why?”

“That… is actually my story.”

“—Your story? What do you mean?”

“I might be getting married to my current boyfriend. But there are others who are also dating him, so it seems we’ll all get married together.”

She ended up telling her.

Her heart began pounding like crazy, but since she had already spoken, she had to face the other person’s reaction.

“—Yiseo, you? No way. You’re joking, right? But you’re not the type to make such jokes… So it’s real?! Is that even possible in our country? You can’t register marriage with multiple people, can you? Have the women agreed amongst themselves?”

“So we’re thinking of having just the ceremony without registering… The women are very close with each other.”

“—Wow… Really?”

At her friend’s words, who found it hard to believe, her heart was not only pounding but almost bursting. In their call yesterday, her friend had said that people wouldn’t possibly think well of one man marrying multiple women simultaneously.

Thinking that the arrow would now be aimed at her, Kang Yiseo was filled with regret for her actions.

‘I really shouldn’t have said anything! I’ll say it was a joke right now.’

Kang Yiseo tried to salvage the situation before it was too late. But just before she could speak, an unexpected remark came from over the phone.

“—That’s great. Congratulations!”

“…Huh?”

“—Didn’t you hear? I said congratulations.”

“Sehui. A-Are you serious?”

“—What’s wrong with you? Of course I’d congratulate my friend getting married. What, did you think I’d get jealous and curse you? Do I look like such a bad bitch?”

“N-No, that’s not it… You said yesterday. That people probably wouldn’t think well of such relationships…”

Kang Yiseo rambled on with a bewildered expression. Her friend, meanwhile, replied in a nonchalant tone.

“—I did say that. If one man marries multiple women, anyone would see it as strange, and many would think it’s promiscuous, wouldn’t they?”

“…”

“—Is a complete stranger doing that the same as you doing that? There’s no one who’s known you as long as I have; I know that you’re not doing this because you’re promiscuous.”

“…Really?”

“—Of course! You said the women are close with each other too. So if there’s mutual agreement, what’s the problem?”

Despite the other person’s words, it still didn’t feel real. As if to remind Kang Yiseo that it was indeed real, her friend said, “—From what I’ve observed of you, you’ve always been very cautious and wise. You must have made this marriage decision after a lot of careful thought. So I have no intention of criticizing you. On the contrary, I support and congratulate you.”

Kang Yiseo didn’t know it, but even without the Sex Wiki, her friend would have supported her best friend’s marriage. The Sex Wiki merely expedited the time it took for her to accept and rationally grasp the situation.

Unaware of this fact, her voice trembled for a different reason than before.

“Th-Thank you. Honestly, I braced myself for negative words from you and mustered the courage to say it… Thank you so much, Sehui.”

“—It sounds like you didn’t trust me, which makes me a little sad. Anyway, I’m dying of curiosity, so tell me all the details. How many women are there? How did you all end up dating him? Is your boyfriend really that handsome?”

“Well…”

“—Oh, before that, can I tell the others about this? No, you’ll have to tell them, won’t you? Anyway, have you set a date yet? When will it be?”

Her chest tightened with emotion, touched by her friend treating her as she normally would. Even after a long conversation and the call ended, Kang Yiseo felt as if the moment was nothing but a dream.

To have a friend who genuinely supported her secret—it felt as though she could accomplish anything from now on. She felt that it was alright to proudly dream of married life with Han Jihoon, something she had only considered a greedy desire before.

She let out a relieved sigh.

With a relieved expression, she pulled the blanket over herself and lay down. The bed, unlike before when she was plagued by worries, now felt only comfortable.

With a heart anticipating the day her dream would come true, Kang Yiseo fell asleep, and as time passed, the moment she wished for drew near.