Marriage Blues - She Calls Her Ex in Pre-Wedding Melancholy
"Sure. Be happy. Yeah. Thanks. Talk soon. See you that day."
After hanging up, Ji-ah let out a deep sigh.
The wedding was just around the corner.
For the past few days, her days had been filled with contacting people she knew, announcing the wedding, and sending out invitations.
"You found a great husband—lucky you."
"Must be so happy."
Hearing those well-wishes filled her days. It meant she had built up quite a network, of course. And her fiancé really was a good catch.
"Haa..."
Ji-ah sighed again.
She'd contacted almost everyone on her list. And then... the last one.
Should she call?
Honestly, it was better not to. Especially considering her duty to her future husband.
What man in the world would want his bride's ex-boyfriend showing up as a guest on their wedding day?
She didn't really want to invite him either. But... she wanted to tell him. And for some reason, she wanted to see him one last time.
Is this marriage blues?
Ji-ah reflected on her state.
Marriage blues—the pre-wedding melancholy that often hit brides right before the big day. Anxiety about the future, trust issues with the partner, fights during preparations... None of that applied to her.
Her fiancé was excellent, just like everyone said. Good family, solid finances. What she'd covered for the wedding was pocket change compared to what he'd handled. Even that was less than the allowance his father had given her for expenses.
No anxiety about the future either. If anything, those worries were about to be resolved.
Still... Ji-ah's sighs kept coming.
-----
That day was just another ordinary Friday, no different from usual.
Lots to do, and quitting time was approaching. I was buried in work, trying not to push anything to next week, so I didn't even notice my phone buzzing.
"Sunbae, looks like you have a call."
Moon-hee, passing by, pointed it out.
I spotted her number on the vibrating smartphone screen and was so shocked I nearly forgot to answer. But at the same time, I knew I couldn't miss this call.
I thrust out my hand and hit the answer button.
"It's me."
It was Ji-ah.
"Yeah. Long time."
I tried to keep my voice steady, not panicked.
"Your voice hasn't changed a bit."
"Yeah. Even after all this time. Doing well?"
"Yeah. Really. Great."
She spelled it out, clear and deliberate, that she was fine.
"Can we meet? I wanna see your face."
Straight to the point, no fluff. That's what I liked. Honest. Always a fastball, no curves.
"Sure. Where?"
She sounded like she had something to say.
No couple parts happy. We hadn't either. No big grudges, though.
She had more time, so she came near my office.
I finished up and headed to the café we'd agreed on.
Easy to spot her—sitting quietly at a table, sipping coffee.
She saw me, waved happily.
"You really haven't changed at all."
"You've gotten even prettier than before."
Not flattery—she looked more beautiful than when we'd broken up.
"Really?"
She knew she was pretty and knew how to use it.
"If I were meeting you for the first time today, that'd be great."
"Why?"
"I'd confess. Say I fell at first sight."
"Pfft! Still so full of it. Straight talker like always. Haven't changed one bit."
We chatted like we weren't exes, for a good while.
Even exes—even talking to a beauty like her was fun.
A woman's most beautiful time? Probably mid-to-late twenties. Ji-ah was right there.
Prettier than when we dated, maybe. Or maybe not. Early twenties her was stunning too. Probably felt prettier now because she wasn't mine anymore.
"I'm getting married. That's why I called—to tell you."
Bombshell.
I went blank. No thoughts. Just hoped my face wasn't too stiff.
"I agonized a ton. Tell you? Let it fade? Would calling just torment you needlessly? Invite you to the wedding?"
"Thanks for thinking of me. But I'd make you uncomfortable."
"Yeah... probably."
Some people invite exes to weddings. I don't get it.
"Instead of wedding money... any gift you want from me?"
"Seriously? You think I'd call just to get something?"
"Now that I know, I wanna give something. Even small. Or big..."
I was fumbling hard. Exposed my panic.
"Pfft!"
She burst out laughing.
"God, you're..."
Trying to hold it, tears welled up. I nearly said I loved her again.
"Haven't changed one bit."
"I don't do that with others."
"I know. Mr. Reliable around everyone else. Fine. I'll think about it. What gift. Hey, you got time still?"
"Yeah. Work's done. But shouldn't the bride be swamped?"
"Nah. Prep's mostly over. Just the ceremony now."
A flicker of melancholy crossed her face. I'd spent enough time with her to notice.
"Move somewhere else?"
"Yeah. Want something cool."
We hit a nearby pub for beers.
"Work fun?"
"Yeah. Suits me."
We talked everything—but her fiancé. I didn't wanna know; she avoided it too.
"So I'm getting promoted to team leader, and all the whisperers changed attitudes. Funny how people are..."
We covered our lives since. Not everything—just what we could share.
"How's he?"
Didn't wanna ask, but courtesy, I guess.
"Good guy."
Short answer.
We silently drained our glasses.
Time to go.
"Head out?"
I said it first.
"Today was fun. Thanks for making time."
Outside the pub, she bowed politely.
Always like that. Proper, grateful to everyone. Some saw it as fake, but her consistency won praise.
"Thanks to you. For letting me see you again. Be happy."
She's younger, but I learned from her. Better with people now.
We stared a few seconds.
She turned first.
Chest ached watching her go. Huge dilemma.
Just let her leave? Sure! She's marrying soon.
But she sought me out—lingering feelings?
Ridiculous. You know her. Not like that. Especially pre-wedding.
Memories matter—protect them!
Yeah. Leave one beautiful memory. Do it for others, not her.
Memory guardian won.
To the last, I couldn't use the Casting Card <Passive Protagonist> in my hand.
Idiot. Wanted to so bad, but her name wouldn't come.
Used precious friend Eun-hee so casually.
Fucking moron...
Watched her back, turned, cursed myself.
Ah, no. Go home, jerk off, sleep.
No urge to hold anyone tonight.
"Oppa."
That voice.
Turned, wondering what face to make.
"Thought of a gift I want."
"What?"
"Mint choco. Mint choco ice cream. Now."
Suddenly cheerful.
"There's a place that way."
Remembered a spot from earlier.
She linked arms lightly. Heart already racing.
No words till the motel five minutes away.
We knew each other too well.
Mint choco ice cream. Our secret code.
Meant "I want sex."
Not avoiding the word—her classy side, but wild in bed.
"Mint choco and sex go so well, right?"
Her quirks made her hotter.
"Been a while. In a place like this."
First words in the room.
"Don't come here?"
"Idiot. With you."
She smiled softly.
Yeah. What couple skips motels pre-wedding?
In the room, she jumped me lightly.
We kissed.
Two years stopped, then rushed forward.
"That was last time? Sokcho Port?"
She pulled back.
"Yeah. That rundown motel... Room 515. Ocean view."
Breakup trip. We'd agreed to end it, prepared to part.
Both knew it couldn't go on. No ugly fight.
Her idea, probably. Not my style to end gracefully.
Sad, but pleasure-filled days.
From arrival evening to departure morning, never left the room. Devoured each other.
Sex, sex, more sex. Bathed in the tub, back to dirtying up.
Hungry? Bread and drinks we'd brought.
Last-chance desperation? Even meals felt wasteful—we craved each other nonstop.
"You'll look, right?"
She stripped before me.
Early summer—few clothes, but stripping felt eternal.
Naked her pulled me back then.
"Still pretty."
Sincere.
Pretty then, now.
"Idiot. Not time to talk."
She laughed.
I stripped fast, lunged.
Then—the phone rang.
Not mine. Bright, classy ringtone.
I never change ringtones. Default forever.
That sweet tone? Hers.
Naked Ji-ah checked carefully.
First time seeing her face freeze like stone.