Chapter 149
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 149
Chapter Title: Wedding Invitation Gathering (4)
Of course, it varies depending on social status or relationships, but when women get together, there's always one topic that inevitably comes up without fail.
Starting from "How have you been lately?", then "How's work going?", "What trending dramas are you into these days?", "Did you catch that chef's outfit on Black Chef yesterday?" and so on.
And above all else, "Got a boyfriend these days?"
"Speaking of which, from watching your streams, you two act like you can't live without each other~ I'm so jealous. I want to try a romance like that sometime."
Yeonbom twisted her body back and forth.
Well, she's not wrong, but hearing it from someone else feels totally different.
"Hee hee. Right? Just listening to it, they sound like characters straight out of a novel. Even I was thinking, 'No way this is real' while hearing it."
"Sniff. But it was such a touching story, even thinking back on it now."
Teasing remarks came flying from all directions.
Everyone's lips were twitching with smirks—they were clearly ganging up on me with intent.
Hurry up and give us some fun stories that fit this barbecue spread.
That was the vibe.
No, sisses, don't we have this mouthwatering beef melting in our mouths right now as the perfect side dish?
Do we really need stories on top of that?
I picked up a piece of meat with the tongs, conveying that nuance, but it seemed like everyone wanted to hear our tales anyway.
I mean, marriage plans? Sure, I had some ideas, but spilling them now felt a bit embarrassing.
What to do?
I glanced at Myth for backup, but there she was, biting her lip slightly with an excited expression, watching me.
Myth, even you?
Like Brutus or Bluetooth or Protoss or whatever from the past.
Anyway, I could really feel Caesar's anguish at being betrayed by his own family.
'What now?'
Staying silent in this atmosphere would seem weird too.
As I racked my brain desperately for a way out, my savior arrived.
"Hey, hey. The kid's about to cry. That's enough, everyone."
Yeona-noona drew everyone's attention.
Wow, of all people, the one I least expected stepped in to help me.
Yeona-noona had a mischievous side too. I figured she wanted to hear my answers herself, but surprisingly, she took my side.
At that, Raru—that is, Layeon-noona—clicked her tongue.
"Ah, we were just a bit more away from him spilling it himself. Why'd you butt in?"
"Marriage isn't some easy thing. Even I dated my boyfriend for years before tying the knot. Come on, what do a lifelong singleton like me, a still-young kid, and girls who haven't dated in years know about it?"
Right, Myth?
Yeona-noona said that while glancing at Myth.
Myth pouted a little like she was disappointed, then quickly hid it and chimed in agreement.
A subtle shift only I probably caught.
You wanted to hear that badly?
"Exactly. Thinking about it, Legend's still mentally twenty years old. Pushing him like this is kinda harsh too."
"Right? You lot—oh, Alicia, you're excused. The rest of you are over thirty, and one doesn't even have a boyfriend. Who are you to talk?"
"Woo. Protect the singles' right to know!"
"Ugh, maybe I should start dating just to spite that girl."
"You? Pfft."
"I've got a hot grill right in front of me. Watch it."
Layeon-noona bared her teeth.
How to put it? If Yeona-noona was like a massive, gentle retriever, Layeon-noona felt like a fiercely savage cat.
She didn't hold back at all, even in front of new people.
Good. Anyway, the storm seemed to have properly passed.
Now we could just enjoy this delicious meat and chat about light topics.
"By the way, Myth. Legend bro."
But I had one misconception.
That Yeona-noona was also the type to get hooked on romance stories.
She'd stopped the marriage talk probably out of empathy as someone about to marry, but she hadn't said no to hearing about dating.
"You can at least tell us how far things have progressed, right?"
Ah, this was the inescapable kind.
I let out a sigh and raised the white flag.
▶
"Whoa... Myth's really bold."
"Sigh. Shouldn't have listened. Someone hit the bell and order some coffee."
"Espresso?"
"Yeah."
The room was heating up with our stories.
We shared various tales, and there were plenty of moments where I nearly died of embarrassment, but the swimsuit incident topped them all.
Yeah, even recalling it now, it was fun but embarrassing.
For the record, the next most embarrassing was what happened during our Busan hotel staycation.
"Kyaa. I'm so jealous."
"Alicia's passed out, and you just left her like that?"
"Even if you wake her, she'll faint again. No point. Just let her sleep. At her age—barely out of high school—it's too much for her anyway."
"What? You two pretend to be all innocent, but you're doing full adult romance."
The noonas' constant giggling glances were too much to bear, so I stood up a bit.
"Gonna hit the bathroom real quick."
"Ah, he's running!"
"Not like that."
Actually, yeah, kinda.
The excuse was the bathroom, but the real goal was to cool my face.
This upscale place—with trickling water and a garden-style interior—thankfully had a rooftop, so I headed there.
On the way, I didn't forget to grab a free coffee from the vending machine.
Lots of options, but I went with the classic Americano.
"This rooftop's nice."
Well, a place charging 100,000 won per meat serving? Of course.
Amazed by the neatly landscaped rooftop garden, I quietly sat in an empty spot.
No real greenery in full autumn like this, so it was all probably artificial plants.
Sipping my coffee, letting the crisp autumn chill melt away, I looked up at the sky.
The sky was an astonishingly clear blue.
Not a single cloud.
Come to think of it, someone once said people should look up at the sky once a day.
Feeling my chest open up wide, it rang true.
"Oh, Legend bro. There you are."
As I gazed at the sky, melting away various thoughts, someone came up to the rooftop looking for me.
I figured it'd be Myth, but surprisingly, it was Yeona-noona.
"Noona? How'd you know I was here?"
"Hey, kid. You were dying of embarrassment inside, then suddenly bail? Obviously to get some air."
Ah, this noona's got killer instincts.
I keep forgetting sometimes.
"The girls were too much, huh? Sorry about that."
"You started it, noona."
"Haha. Not fooled by that, huh. You've got sharp senses."
Yeona-noona chuckled. As if she ever meant to fool me.
She fiddled with her own coffee cup, then spoke to me.
"By the way, Myth's stuck downstairs right now. Tried to come after you, but the girls wouldn't let her."
"As long as you're getting along, that's fine."
"Sorry. Didn't expect you'd get that embarrassed. You're not mad, right?"
Mad? No way.
Just embarrassed.
And if anything else, it didn't feel bad at all.
"It was fine. Good chance to reflect on how happy we've really been."
"..."
"D-did I say something wrong?"
"Nah?"
Yeona-noona stared at me quietly for a moment after my words.
Women's thoughts are impossible to read, as always. As her ambiguous expression made me fidget, she giggled and flicked my nose.
"Just... I get why Myth fell for you."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Not many people constantly remind themselves of the value of the person right beside them. Most take it for granted and forget what's truly important."
Yeona-noona stretched.
"Surprising."
"What is?"
"Thought you'd ask me about marriage. Not every day you get to chat with the bride-to-be."
"Hmm... I do have questions."
Instead of asking, I took a sip of coffee.
Lots I wanted to hear, couldn't say nothing to ask.
Personally—
"I'll figure it out step by step."
I liked discovering things on my own.
This was, after all, me and Myth's story.
The joys, and probably the pains too.
All mine to learn.
Maybe sensing something in my words, Yeona-noona laughed heartily.
"Most adults get scared of new things as they age. They're tired, worn out. So they seek others' advice. 'Speak of the devil' or whatever."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. But you're still young and fresh. You'll enjoy the process for sure. This much advice is okay, right?"
I nodded.
That was basic advice anyone could give.
Marriage.
I closed my eyes, savoring the word inwardly.
Poking my side, Yeona-noona prodded—what did she sense from that?
"What? Thought you hadn't decided yet, but it's already a done deal?"
"It's a secret from Myth."
"Makes sense. No need to keep her waiting long."
Oh, she saw that far?
I quietly looked up at the sky again.
That same clear, pure blue sky.