episode_0095

Someone once said that a wedding you attend out of obligation is ultimately just a buffet meal worth the amount of the congratulatory money. Today was exactly like that, but it seemed like the buffet chosen was of good value, enough to not be embarrassed of the title of a food company manager.

Of course, the bride and groom probably didn’t choose the venue.

Anyway, I divide buffets into three levels.

Decent, Edible, Not my taste at all.

Like that. It’s natural for buffets to have lower quality than restaurants that serve individual dishes. You can’t expect hotel buffet-level quality at a wedding buffet. However, even considering that, today’s wedding buffet showed a decent level of quality.

“Hmm, they use average ingredients here, but the cooking is well done.”

I could tell that just by looking at Director Kwon, who was critiquing the food like it was his job.

-Sniff sniff

“Isn’t the food here decent, Manager?”

Director Kwon asked me as if seeking my agreement on his opinion.

“I don’t know, man.”

My words came out more forcefully due to my sensitivity towards food. But the truth was, I couldn’t agree with him at all.

“Damn, a 100,000 won salad! We gave 100,000 won as a congratulatory gift, and they’re serving salad worth that much!”

Naturally, with the upcoming body profile next week and the benefits and penalties that come with it, I couldn’t bring myself to eat anything else.

So, my plate was filled only with salmon salad and Caesar salad.

“Yum….”

Actually, the quality of basic food was quite high, as Director Kwon said. Even just eating the salad made me feel like the quality control was well done. The salmon was fresh, and the cheese had a sharp aroma, indicating good basic quality.

But.

“No matter how you look at it, it’s still salad. Ugh.”

I had to chew each bite slowly and swallow it. As I emptied my salad plate slowly, Director Kwon went back and forth three times, filling his stomach mainly with meat, and even then, he left to fill another plate.

I envied him.

The salad that was once full was now empty, and I found myself looking at Kim Tae-hyun’s plate as he scraped it with his fork.

“Huh? Tae-hyun, don’t you like it? Why haven’t you finished a single plate since earlier? You’re just picking at it.”

“Haha, no. By the way, Manager, are you done with just that?”

I sighed deeply as I looked at the almost empty salad plate.

“Well, I feel like eating something fried or meaty. You know. I can’t do that until next week. Ah… It’s like trying to quit smoking when there’s a cigarette right in front of you. It’s really hard to resist when high-calorie foods are tempting you.”

I don’t think I’m cut out to have a great body. Normally, at this point, my appetite should be suppressed, but I’m still fixated on calories.

“Haha, but you can eat regular meals after Saturday.”

“Yeah. It’s just a matter of enduring until then.”

If there wasn’t a specific end date, I might have gone bald from stress. They say after the need for sleep, the next big desire is for food…

“By the way, eat more. How much did you give as a congratulatory gift, Tae-hyun?”

“I gave 100,000 won.”

“Why did you give so much? It’s not like there’s any special reason, just give 50,000 won.”

“Haha, I thought the same… but…”

I wonder if there’s a story behind it, as Kim Tae-hyun suddenly looked into the distance with a cold gaze and sighed deeply.

“I know that person. The bride.”

“Oh, really? What a small world. But if you know them, just pretend and congratulate them. Why do you look so worried and lack appetite? Wait, did you used to date her or something?”

I joked, thinking that such a coincidence couldn’t possibly happen, but he opened his eyes wide and looked straight into mine.

“What, r-really?”

What in the world… is this for real?

“Um, so, sorry to interrupt, but could you please get up before the groom and bride come down to greet everyone if you’ve finished eating?”

It felt like a ridiculous coincidence that wouldn’t even be used in a third-rate drama, but judging by his expression and demeanor, it didn’t seem like there was any relationship between the bride and groom.

“It would be awkward if they met, right?”

I cautiously asked, and Kim Taehyun nodded with a serious expression.

“Well, even though they probably won’t pretend to know each other on their side since they’re already married, it seems like they would still have a lot to worry about.”

Come to think of it, the person I needed to hide my relationship with the most was the newlywed bride who got married today.

“Well… anyway, it’s a bit awkward situation, I understand. Let’s talk when Manager Kwon arrives and decide who should leave first.”

He seemed relieved by my words, exhaling deeply and relaxing his tense shoulders.

“Thank you. I’m sorry.”

“I have plans in the evening anyway. I’ve been busy since this morning, so if we go in quickly, I can rest and leave early, right?”

As usual, there was a meeting with the writer Lee Youngwoo in the evening. Actually, it’s just the two of us, so calling it a meeting is a bit strange.

Anyway, as we sat waiting for Manager Kwon, the entrance to the buffet, or rather the entrance to the hall where we were sitting, became noisy, and what I saw when I turned my head was…

“Holy… crap…”

Before I knew it, the filming and the congratulatory speeches were over, and the newlyweds were entering the hall alone.

“Oh… we’re late.”

There were so many people that I thought it would be better to get up now, but unfortunately, there was only one entrance to the hall where the newlyweds were entering.

“Maybe we could get up at the right time and leave without them noticing?”

I threw out a meaningless question, but it was truly meaningless. Because we were sitting quite close to the entrance, and the order of greeting the newlyweds was from the closest place to the entrance, we were already within their line of sight.

So, it was a waiting filled with discomfort and awkwardness. I nervously raised my wrist to check the time, but the second hand was racing towards the appointed time of doom.

A moment later, the greetings at the table next to us ended, and the newlyweds turned towards our table.

“Are you enjoying your meal? Thank you for coming.”

Finally arriving at our table, the new groom stepped forward first to greet us.

To Kim Taehyun.

“Um, well… c-congratulations. Haha.”

Whether it was because they saw a young man and woman sitting together or because the bride recognized someone and greeted them, I wasn’t sure. But one thing was clear, the situation was already messed up beyond repair.

Kim Taehyun, who received the greeting, seemed so flustered, whether it was because he received the greeting instead of his superior, or because he was receiving the greeting so naturally from the husband of his ex-girlfriend, that he stiffened and held the new groom’s hand without moving.

The Grand Banquet of Chaos. In any case, the newlyweds are in a situation where they are mistaken for a couple by me and Kim Taehyun. The bride’s expression of not knowing what to do, unable to hide her confusion. Similarly, Kim Taehyun, who has lost his mental composure, is simply holding hands with Kim Taehyun, smiling for business purposes, not knowing what the situation is, as the new groom.

Should I step in? If I do, what misunderstandings should I clear up first? Should I reveal that the attendees are not related to the bride and Kim Taehyun, but rather people from the new groom’s father’s company? Or should I start by clarifying that the two are not a couple? Or maybe that I am the superior?

There are too many things to consider before making a decision, but time is running out. The moment to come to a conclusion somehow and speak up is approaching.

“Oh, Manager Jung! Haha, this person, if you came, you should have greeted us! I’ve been in the corner since earlier, pretending to know you.”

A figure who appears at just the right time. It’s none other than the new groom’s father. He was the head of management.

“Oh, Director! Congratulations!”

Countless thoughts passed through my mind in a fleeting moment, but appearing at such a crucial moment as this, it felt almost contrived, as if someone had orchestrated the situation.

Anyway, the situation was resolved with the arrival of the head of management, and I inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

“Oh, huh? Father. Do you know these people?”

“Hyunseok. Greet them. They are people from father’s company. This is Manager Jung. And… Huh? Where did Kwon Sungyeol go? Who is this friend?”

“Oh, we’re just here. Director Kim. Deputy Kwon went to get some food and left his seat for a moment.”

“Is that so? Oh, my youngest son coming all the way here. Thank you.”

Who wouldn’t appreciate someone who came to congratulate them even when they didn’t have to? The head of management, with a grateful expression, suddenly grabbed and shook Kim Taehyun’s hand.

Still out of it, Kim Taehyun simply held the head of management’s hand and shook it as he led the way for the handshake.

“Anyway, thank you for coming and congratulating me.”

“Oh, of course I had to attend.”

“Yes, anyway, enjoy the food. I personally put a lot of effort into recommending a wedding venue with delicious food for my son, so it should be good.”

“Haha, that’s right. You’re truly the head.”

“Thank you once again for coming. Enjoy your meal.”

With that, the newlyweds and the head of management left our table after the groom’s thank you.

Kim Taehyun and I remained seated, heaving a sigh of relief.

“Phew, I’m glad we got through that unscathed.”

“Indeed. I’m sorry for making you worry unnecessarily.”

I had no strength to respond to that statement, so I just waved my hand, and Deputy Kwon, who had returned with the food, alternately looked at the two of us who were lost in thought, not knowing what was going on.