A Family Gathering That Feels Like a Wedding
Dae-yon shook her head with a shy expression.
"It's not a wedding. It's just a light family meal instead of a wedding, so please think of it that way..."
"What on earth is this saying?"
Before Dae-yon's words could even finish, Sangjudaek, who had turned pale, pressed her hand to her forehead.
"That's how it is? If it's instead of a wedding, then it is a wedding!"
She should have known from the beginning when Siheon sent Dae-yon into the room to help her dress.
This naive girl must have thought the Cha family patriarch's meal was just a casual gathering where family members sit around the table chatting.
Sangjudaek let out a scream-like high-pitched voice and ran to the closet, rummaging through the stacked shopping bags.
"Ma'am...?"
"Why are you asking? There are so many clothes here, where did you get that old rag from?!"
Clothes flew from shopping bags and boxes following her hand.
"Ma'am...?"
"I really can't live like this."
She pulled out a white dress from somewhere and hurriedly put it on Dae-yon's body. The dress reaching down to the ankles was so elaborate it looked like a wedding dress.
"Just a moment. Even though I look like this, I learned the skills from following the ladies in the past."
With a determined expression, Sangjudaek reached for the t-shirt Dae-yon was wearing.
"Eh... eh? Wait, wait! Ah!"
Dae-yon let out a short scream in surprise, but Sangjudaek seemed not to stop at all.
Sangjudaek must have decided to do it properly, as she found a makeup box somewhere and applied makeup to Dae-yon's face.
She patted powder on Dae-yon's face, carefully arranged her hair, and chose suitable accessories to hang on her neck and earrings, then finally showed a satisfied expression.
"Look. Is this enough?"
Sangjudaek said, holding out the mirror. Dae-yon stared quietly at the mirror, and a woman with her hair neatly braided and lightly made up blinked and sat there.
"This is..."
"It's pretty, right? Sigh, I don't know why you've been hiding such a pretty face all this time."
Sangjudaek said with a helpless expression but couldn't hide her happy one.
"I'll throw away all the clothes you have, so from now on, only wear new clothes. Do you understand?"
Dae-yon nodded awkwardly at Sangjudaek's words.
"Well, then, what kind of bag would suit here."
With a face like she was playing a fun doll game, Sangjudaek rubbed her palms together, and a knocking sound came from the door.
"Are you ready?"
Siheon's voice came from beyond the door.
"Yes, yes! Let's go!"
Dae-yon, raising her voice, stood up with a cautious face.
Sangjudaek clenched her fist as if to say fight, and quickly put the bag in Dae-yon's arms.
When she opened the door and went out, Siheon was standing there dressed elegantly outside.
A high-quality black suit, neatly buttoned up to the neck, and a bow tie filled above it.
Even though he was usually handsome, the image given by the bow tie and tuxedo left another impression.
Siheon was also surprised. He widened his eyes in rare surprise at seeing Dae-yon, then quickly erased the expression from his face and extended his arm to her.
"Shall we go?"
"Ah, yes!"
Dae-yon, realizing it was an escort, hurriedly stood up and lightly grabbed his arm.
Dae-yon's chest was pounding as they walked side by side.
"Tuxedo. Really... it feels like we're getting married."
No matter how fake the marriage, the heart was in turmoil because she was wearing clothes like a tuxedo and wedding dress.
Perhaps it was the palm over the fabric transmitting her tension, or maybe the sigh she let out unconsciously.
"Why. Are you very tense?"
Siheon, noticing Dae-yon's tension, looked down at her and asked.
"Yes... no...?"
An ambiguous answer came out, neither 'yes' nor 'no'. Siheon looked at Dae-yon with a face that said what does that mean.
"Actually... a little."
Dae-yon added, slightly shrugging her shoulders.
"I didn't know I had to dress up like this. I really thought it was just a meal..."
Only after seeing Sangjudaek's reaction did she realize the importance of today's gathering. Dae-yon, with a slightly gloomy expression, hesitated and added.
"I'm a bit worried too. How the teacher’s family will see me."
She had gotten permission from Chairman Cha, but that was all.
The debt to the teacher, the father who always borrowed money and caused trouble, and me, a university student who hasn't achieved anything yet.
'I have nothing compared to the teacher...'
In Dae-yon's heart, there was still the words that Ji-woo had said someday.
Dae-yon, who didn't back down easily, but Ji-woo's words that with such ordinary parents and background, it would be difficult, lingered as a wound.
It felt like she was telling others how inferior she was compared to Siheon.
Siheon, who had been thinking for a moment, said in a nonchalant voice.
"You don't need to worry about other people's gazes. You are the one I chose. And..."
Siheon scanned Dae-yon's face and the clothes she was wearing and added calmly.
"...you are not lacking as much as you think."
"Ah..."
Dae-yon's chest suddenly felt heavy, and she clutched the hem of her skirt tightly.
"Was this a compliment...?"
It might have been encouragement to not get discouraged.
It was clearly a meaningless word, but Dae-yon's heart raced with every word from him.
Suppressing the itchy feeling in her chest, Dae-yon slowly moved her feet towards Seoyeongheon.
Seoyeongheon's garden was dazzling under the May sun.
Under the tents spread everywhere, fresh flower decorations were arranged messily, and the soft melody of a string quartet floated gently on the breeze.
People chatting with champagne glasses, children running excitedly on the lawn without understanding, low laughter and elegant atmosphere.
In the unfamiliar situation, Dae-yon was mixed among the people with a slightly tense face.
"Siheon is getting married."
"Yeah. He said he wouldn't think about marriage."
"Hey, with such a pretty bride, why not get married?"
Playful jokes and bursts of laughter came and went.
Dae-yon smiled awkwardly and responded, but her mind was full of other thoughts.
'When is the teacher coming...'
Siheon, who was guarding Dae-yon's side, had left the place temporarily because he was called by Chairman Cha.
As his absence lengthened, Dae-yon started to worry.
'Could something have happened to him?'
While among the people, she kept worrying about Siheon. It was the moment her gaze unconsciously turned towards where he had disappeared.
"A young lady is marrying Siheon?"
A sudden voice came, and Dae-yon turned her head.
A man in his mid-fifties was approaching Dae-yon.
Neat hair with a few gray strands, attire without a single wrinkle. Sharp eyes that pierced through people.
At first glance, he seemed kind, but there was an inexplicable coolness. It was the kind of person who made your spine chill just by facing him.
Seeing him, Siheon's aunt gave him a subtle warning.
"Oppa. Why are you late? We waited a long time."
"It was a bit congested. I had to choose a day like this."
The man immediately found a champagne glass and gulped it down. Seeing this, Dae-yon, who came to her senses belatedly, folded her hands and bowed politely.
"Hello, it's my first time meeting you. I'm Jeong Dae-yon, uncle."
He put down the champagne glass and smiled subtly, extending his hand as if to shake.
"Yes. I'm Cha Tae-ho."
"Ah, yes..."
Dae-yon awkwardly shook hands, and in a short moment, the man's hand brushed her knuckles as if tickling and then fell away.
An eerie chill ran through her body like a snake passing by, making Dae-yon's body stiffen.