Chapter 64
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Wedding Hall Gazes
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Coming to the wedding hall made it crystal clear. Just how much we live our lives obsessing over others' stares. We can pretend not to care all we want, but people who are truly indifferent? They're rarer than some endangered species.
Even the great Oh Hana of the world isn't completely immune—she just doesn't get too swayed by them. Well, her rock-solid self-confidence probably helps with that.
"Ugh."
We were only a few steps from the wedding hall, but my shoulders kept hunching up. Like someone was physically folding them inward.
"What're you doing? Straighten your shoulders."
"Oh. Right."
I forced my shoulders back at her words. But then I'd spot some sleek foreign luxury car pulling into the parking lot way off in the distance. Hell, even just seeing a regular car made my shoulders slump again. It was ridiculous. What the hell was wrong with me?
"Bentley, BMW? Pfft, big deal. Today, you've got me, Oh Hana, by your side. Way more luxurious than any of those junkers."
"That wasn't a pun on Genesis Eleven's fan club name, Luxury, was it?"
"Hee hee."
Oh Hana covered her mouth with one hand and laughed like an idiot, which eased the tension a bit. No matter how many times I thought about it, it never got old. I was so damn glad I'd come here with her today.
"How much older are they than me? And they're all rolling up in cars."
We'd taken the subway and bus to get here. Meanwhile, those guys over there were casually parking, stepping out of the driver's seat with suit jackets slung over their arms. Why did it look so cool? Grown-up, maybe? Classy?
'It's like when freshmen see seniors crashing the newbie orientation with a single cup in hand.'
Back when I was a freshman in college, third- and fourth-years looked so damn adult. Tch.
Watching them made me smack my lips and start fantasizing about driving my own car, picking up the girls I live with in the one-room, and going for a drive.
'Get a car, and it'd be great.'
My range of activity would expand way beyond what it is now. Trips all the time. Places I'd never dream of going otherwise would be a breeze.
'I want a car.'
It went from "it'd be nice to get one" to "I want one now" in a flash.
Suddenly, a voice from beside me snapped me out of it.
"Get a car, and the taxes will eat you alive."
"......"
"You think gas is free? We're four people crammed in a one-room—we're not exactly in a position to splurge. We'd be ripping our pants at the seams."
I smacked my lips at Oh Hana's words. Hearing that from someone who dumps her entire fortune into fandom? It felt extra weird.
"Was it obvious?"
"You're staring at the parking lot like you wanna grab the wheel just once before you die. Who wouldn't notice? Guess you're a guy after all—staring at cars like that."
"When do you think I'll get my own car?"
Looking at my situation, it felt like even five years from now, I wouldn't have one.
"Once you get a job and save up diligently, you'll buy one in no time. You're a good guy, after all."
If someone else had said those hopeful words, they might not have landed. But coming from Oh Hana, it somehow filled me with real confidence that it could happen. Good guy? Eh, debatable.
"By the way."
Before I knew it, we'd reached the first-floor entrance, and Oh Hana spoke up.
"Don't you know anyone here?"
"Huh? Yeah, I do."
Honestly, there were quite a few familiar faces. But knowing a face and being close enough to chat? Totally different stories.
I wasn't exactly the standout type in college. Sure, all engineering majors are like that, but if that's the case, what about those polished folks over there? Same age or older, yet they look like mythical creatures?
"So the guys you used to hit PC bangs with non-stop aren't coming, right?"
"...Yeah, well. They're busy, I guess. Some are even out in the provinces."
"But most are in Seoul, aren't they?"
Oh Hana looked incredulous, but I could kinda understand the guys' feelings. At least they sent congratulatory money.
Still, I'd expected at least one to show. Didn't think it'd be a total no-show.
Oh Hana, hearing all this, said,
"The 'friends' you're talking about aren't even that many to begin with. Five or six at most—what's the big deal?"
Thinking back, the difference in our college crew sizes was huge. We just stuck with our gaming buddies.
Those popular crowds over there giggling away? Walking around in matching department hoodies felt like watching an army march.
"Well, I've got your back today—better than a hundred friends. You were like this when we first met, but you need more confidence. It's not like someone's gonna punch you just for saying hi. Even thugs don't do that these days."
"......"
"Communication's a legit skill, you know?"
"True."
"How about your high school friends? Any better?"
"Yeah, high school ones are a bit better. We still text sometimes."
We must've arrived early. The ceremony wasn't starting for another 40 minutes or so. Ten minutes ahead of the app's estimate.
"Wanna grab some coffee?"
"Nah! We're gonna stuff ourselves at the buffet anyway."
"You really came for the buffet."
"Duh. At someone else's wedding, what sticks in your memory forever? The food quality."
She had a point. The few weddings I'd been to, what lingered was indeed the buffet quality. Galbitang isn't bad, but when it's just one bowl? Kinda leaves you wanting more.
'Creepy.'
I couldn't recall a scrap about those weddings, but the disappointed reactions to the galbitang? Crystal clear in my head.
"Whew. Still, glad I came with you. Didn't expect zero of those damn college jerks to show. If I'd been here alone, I'd have suffocated."
I probably wouldn't have even stood here. I'd have huddled in some dark corner till the ceremony started.
As we chatted, I spotted the hyungs who'd hung out tight with Bong-gyu hyung greeting each other in the parking lot, laughing it up, then heading our way toward the 10th floor.
Like I said, familiar faces. Yeah. Familiar. Awkward as hell.
'We even went fishing with Bong-gyu hyung a few times, and here I am.'
Even the popular crowd from my year—who had zero connection to me—was greeting the hyungs boldly and smoothly.
"Long time! How've you been?" All that casual stuff flowed so naturally. Is this what adult small talk looks like?
"Gulp."
Words I could totally come up with. So why? The second they approached, my brain went blank.
"Well, well? This guy's super nervous today."
"If they were strangers, he wouldn't be this bad."
True.
Strangers? I'd have handled them like convenience store customers. But these people knew college-era me. So my old awkward self kept bubbling up uninvited.
Oh. They're coming this way.
I tried a quick deep breath, but Oh Hana beat me to it—grabbing my hand tight.
"Hey! Hyunwoo. Early bird, huh?"
"Who's that?"
"Hyunwoo, Hyunwoo. Remember? Fishing under Solim Bridge, got wasted."
"Oh! That twiggle cone kid!"
Twiggle cone?
...Oh Hana muttered softly beside me. My face burned.
"That makgeolli kid. Phil-sung saw you stabbing jellyfish with twiggle cones, thought it'd be fun, slipped and fell flat."
Fuck. College me was a total loser.
"Oh yeah. Thought you were actually good at fishing, tagged along, caught nothing. Then scarfed store-bought pizza, green onion pancakes, and makgeolli at the mart. Disappointing night. Bong-gyu said you were his buddy. Hung out a ton freshman year."
"Yeah, yeah. That's Hyunwoo."
"Didn't you stick with Gyu-ham too?"
"Yeah. Spot on."
Pfft. A weird laugh from beside me. If Oh Hana wasn't gripping my hand, I'd have bolted.
"...Hey, hyungs."
"Yeah, man. Been forever."
They'd seemed adult back in college, but now? Even more so. Like Gyu-jin hyung from the last wedding—his kid was already four. His wife was there too, holding the girl's hand tight.
And why'd they all bulk up so much? Everyone but one looked force-fed. Not just bodies—faces full and hearty.
Wasn't just me thinking they'd changed.
"Hyunwoo, you've changed a ton."
"Totally. Nah, I didn't recognize you 'cause of it. The guy I remember was that fantasy novel nerd. Now you look like some hotshot."
Just like Oh Hana said. Nothing scary or tense. People just talking—no flying fists or awkward digs. Why had I psych myself out into shadowboxing?
"And who's the lady?"
"Hah, had to ask. I was dying to know too."
"Oh, this is—"
I went to introduce her, but Oh Hana beat me—cheerily lifting our joined hands.
"Hi! I'm Oh Hana. His girlfriend."
Thwack. An invisible kick nailed my butt from nowhere.
"Y-yeah. Girlfriend."
The hyungs all whistled.
"Whoa."
"Hyunwoo, you're my favorite dongsaeng now. Hook a bro up?"
"Taking notes, underclassman. Thanks."
Joking, but dead serious desperation underneath. One grabbed my hand with both of his, praying to the heavens.
You could feel their genuine desire to meet someone, get married. And the vibe? Incredibly chill. One Oh Hana turned it bright and lively. The hyungs felt it too—her presence made it happen.
"Over dinner later, can I hear more about that twiggle cone story?"
She asked like she was genuinely curious.
One hyung, mid-Busan dialect rant, darted behind a burly one.
"Of course. But ugh, why am I so embarrassed? You're way too pretty."
"Hee hee. Thanks!"
Normal Oh Hana would've gone "Muhahaha, that's me! Great Oh Hana!" But now? Pure perfection.
"Jealous. Hyunwoo, heading up to 10?"
"Ah, go ahead. We'll follow."
"Cool. See you up there."
"Yep."
Conversation flowed so smooth. Didn't go up with them 'cause I couldn't manage the happy face much longer.
I knew it was all thanks to Oh Hana. But that aside, how good did it feel?
Hard to pin down exactly. Just... manly pride swelling, light-headed dizzy. Stick a cig in now? Head would spin. But I held it together.
"Ahh. Craving a smoke. Grrrr."
She's way tastier. Oh Hana's fingers gripped mine tighter than mine gripped hers. Solid.