By Zephyria It was a space decorated luxuriously with delicate ornaments.
Under the dazzlingly sparkling chandelier stood Seo Jeong-woon, dressed in a perfectly fitted white wedding suit. Though he looked a bit haggard from caring for the child day and night, Seo Jeong-woon didn’t appear shabby at all; rather, he looked even more pure and elegant. Like a moth fearlessly rushing into a blazing flame, many people crowded around Seo Jeong-woon.
“Congratulations on your marriage, Vice President Seo.”
At the familiar title coming from beside him, Do Yi-hyun, who was adjusting his attire, turned his head automatically. They seemed to be people from the company, but he couldn’t tell who was who at all. However, the other person seemed to know Do Yi-hyun, glancing his way.
Do Yi-hyun, dressed in a black wedding suit similar yet different from Seo Jeong-woon’s, gave a slight nod. His team members had already visited the groom’s waiting room and left, so it didn’t matter much who they were.
“Thank you for coming.”
Seo Jeong-woon, seemingly tireless, met each guest’s eyes with a bright smile. At that, Do Yi-hyun frowned, looking displeased. It wasn’t a day or two since he’d been smiling brightly in front of others.
But today, Seo Jeong-woon exuded an atmosphere completely different from his usual relaxed demeanor. Should it be said he seemed dazed, as if a screw was loose? It was unclear whether he couldn’t control his expression or simply wasn’t trying.
Do Yi-hyun tilted his head.
“He… seems really happy.”
“Haha. It’s the first time we’ve seen Vice President Seo like this.”
At Seo Jeong-woon’s unfamiliar smile, the company people exchanged flustered glances. Among them, a few looked back at Do Yi-hyun, who had an indifferent expression. Looks like Vice President Seo is more into it? I heard Vice President Seo clung to Team Leader Do, who had someone else’s child, to meet him. Is it true? What they were thinking was clearly visible.
But neither Do Yi-hyun nor Seo Jeong-woon made any particular effort to explain. They felt no need to at all.
“Honestly.”
Joo Na-hye, sitting next to Do Yi-hyun, watched the situation and clicked her tongue inaudibly. Joo Na-hye, who had been diligently sipping her iced Americano, put it down on the table with a thud and turned her back to the people.
“He’s got plenty of money, so why use only one waiting room? Why do you have to see that kind of sight?”
Joo Na-hye grumbled with a face full of dissatisfaction. Even though she knew well that Do Yi-hyun didn’t care about rumors, she seemed quite displeased.
“……”
Since she wasn’t really asking for an answer, Do Yi-hyun pretended not to hear and finished adjusting his tie. If he said they decided to use one room because they didn’t want to be apart, Joo Na-hye would surely scold him with a stern face. Do Yi-hyun slowly looked over the tall and handsome Seo Jeong-woon.
Even while looking, he wanted to see more. Perhaps Seo Jeong-woon felt the same, as their eyes met frequently whenever he looked at him. This time too, Seo Jeong-woon slightly turned his head toward Do Yi-hyun and winked one eye.
“Jeong-woon-ah. Just a moment.”
Amidst the company people’s brief chatter, Seo Jeong-woon’s mother carefully entered. Seo Jeong-woon’s mother, beautifully dressed up, could have been mistaken for his older sister.
“Ah, Mother.”
Seo Jeong-woon, who had gathered his scattered expression in an instant, excused himself to the others and quickly approached the doorway.
“I tried to soothe him, but he keeps fussing. I think it’s because he’s been away from you two for a while.”
Seo Jeong-woon’s mother leaned her upper body slightly to show the child she was holding. The child still had the look of a newborn. He couldn’t even sit alone yet, barely holding his head up, but since it was a special day, he was even dressed in a cute little skirt.
Still, with his plump cheeks and already distinct features, he attracted everyone’s attention wherever he went. Do Yi-hyun also stopped as he was about to go see the child. If he held the child now, he didn’t think he’d be able to put him down.
“Is that so, our Do-dam?”
Seo Jeong-woon whispered tenderly, bending down to meet the child at eye level. Seemingly happy that the child was looking for him, a broad smile hung on his lips.
He looked fine, but I guess he’s a bit out of it.
Do Yi-hyun secretly swallowed a laugh. Seo Jeong-woon would consistently call the child by his name, but when he woke from sleep or was busy and flustered, he often used the fetal name.
“Oww, oo, oooh.”
Perhaps happy to see Seo Jeong-woon after almost an hour, the child babbled nonstop. Having cried a bit, the area around his eyes was slightly red and swollen. Do Yi-hyun clenched his fist.
“In-law, have some water.”
Joo Na-hye, who had been treating Do Yi-hyun familiarly just moments ago, suddenly beamed with a smile upon the child’s arrival and handed over water. Instead of telling her not to do unnecessary things, Do Yi-hyun gave her a cool look.
“Wow.”
“Hah……”
The company people who saw the child let out sighs filled with various meanings. Even a stranger could tell at a glance that the child was Seo Jeong-woon and Do Yi-hyun’s, as he resembled both so much. It was enough to quell the rising suspicions and rumors.
“My goodness. There’s an angel here.”
“Right. Isn’t he just a few months old? How is the baby already this pretty?”
“He seems both pretty and handsome……”
Soon, people surrounded the child from a distance and poured out compliments. Even though he had already heard praise for the child enough to make his ears calloused, it felt quite good every time.
“I bet you that within a week, a rumor spreads throughout your company that you two secretly dated, broke up, found out about the pregnancy late, you said you’d raise the child on your own so let’s just live separately, but your husband clung on till the end. I’ll wager all the cafe coupons I’ve collected.”
Joo Na-hye twisted her lips and picked up a new drink. Do Yi-hyun tightly pressed his lips together. It was nonsensical but a rather plausible speculation.
A couple of people looked back at Do Yi-hyun again. Their cautious gazes held pity. It seemed likely because Seo Jeong-woon had spread the fact through Kim Yu-min that Do Yi-hyun had suffered from severe pheromone rejection syndrome during his pregnancy within the company.
He had heard that public opinion about Do Yi-hyun within the company had become quite favorable because, even after becoming pregnant, his workload was considerable, and he had even collapsed once and been taken to the hospital. Originally, there was a perception that his reputation was a bit unusual, but it wasn’t particularly bad. Most just needed sensational gossip.
“Yes, Mommy’s right here.”
Despite his mother’s dissuasion that his clothes would get ruined, Seo Jeong-woon swiftly picked up and held the child. The posture of stably holding the small body wasn’t that of someone who had done it only once or twice.
“Ah, oo!”
The child opened his tiny mouth and bravely grabbed Seo Jeong-woon’s collar. Even though wrinkles formed on the neat lapel, Seo Jeong-woon didn’t mind and grinned. One could tell without being told how much Seo Jeong-woon adored the child.
“Mommy?”
The people who had been watching the pleasant scene with satisfaction widened their eyes in surprise at the unusual title coming from Seo Jeong-woon’s mouth. Only then did they notice the color of the wedding suit Seo Jeong-woon was wearing. It seemed they had been so captivated by Seo Jeong-woon’s unparalleled beauty that nothing else had registered.
While it wasn’t strictly necessary to adhere to tradition, there was still a tendency for Alphas to wear black formal attire and Omegas to wear white. The reason for swapping colors was nothing significant. It was simply that black formalwear suited Do Yi-hyun better, and white formalwear suited Seo Jeong-woon better.
“Haha.”
Seo Jeong-woon just let out a short laugh in response to the questioning looks. Just when he thought they had quelled the rumors, it seemed another one was about to spread.
“Well then……”
A man who had been looking back and forth between the two swept his gaze up and down Seo Jeong-woon with a peculiar look. A pretty Alpha and a handsome Omega. It was clear he had firmly misunderstood something.
An unpleasant glint appeared in the man’s eyes. Do Yi-hyun immediately strode over and blocked Seo Jeong-woon, standing in front of him. Then, keeping his head stiffly raised, he only rolled his eyes to look down at the man.
Feeling the pressure, the man instinctively hunched his shoulders and stepped back.
“The time is almost up.”
Do Yi-hyun enunciated clearly in a low, subdued voice. It was practically a command for the guests to leave.
“Oh, you’re right.”
“We’ll go ahead first. See you later!”
Since the ceremony time was indeed nearly upon them, no one seemed displeased. A group of people streamed out in a rush. Taking advantage of the commotion, the man who had lowered his head also left.
It was irritating that someone dared to look down on Seo Jeong-woon over something so trivial. No matter what anyone said, Seo Jeong-woon was his. Seo Jeong-woon didn’t seem bothered at all, merely fluttering his long eyelashes and smoothing down the back of Do Yi-hyun’s waist.
“I should get going too.”
Seo Jeong-woon’s mother looked at Do Yi-hyun with sparkling eyes. Ever since she first saw Do Yi-hyun in his formal attire this morning, she had showered him with praise, calling him cute and pretty. Do Yi-hyun, who had been worried that slicking his hair back might make him look intimidating, was left speechless.
Seo Jeong-woon’s mother shrugged and took a deep breath. It seemed she was holding back compliments that were on the tip of her tongue because Seo Jeong-woon had lied, saying Do Yi-hyun would get embarrassed if she kept being so direct. On the other hand, Seo Jeong-woon’s Noona and Hyung sighed deeply, saying it was a shame for their younger sibling.
Then, they jokingly complained, asking him to speak well of them to Grandmother. Even that was utterly playful. Only the final request to take good care of their foolish youngest sibling held a measure of sincerity.
“Five minutes remaining. Please prepare to enter.”
A wedding venue staff member knocked and entered to inform them.
‘Finally.’
Do Yi-hyun took a deep breath. Seo Jeong-woon, who had drawn closer beside him, also pretended to take a deep breath in sync. Do Yi-hyun’s dark eyes moved toward Seo Jeong-woon’s collar.
He started to smooth out the crease left by the child’s grip but stopped. For some reason, he didn’t want to erase the child’s mark left on Seo Jeong-woon. Since it was white clothing, it wouldn’t be very noticeable, and a little disarray like this could be left as is.
Seo Jeong-woon also didn’t seem particularly inclined to smooth out the wrinkles.
“Shall we go now?”
Seo Jeong-woon, who had brought one arm behind his back, extended his hand courteously, like a protagonist from an old romance movie. Do Yi-hyun pressed his lips together firmly and placed his hand on Seo Jeong-woon’s palm. The two, holding hands tightly, followed the staff member out.
The wedding hall doors, which had been wide open, were now firmly closed. Do Yi-hyun and Seo Jeong-woon stood side by side in front of the door, waiting briefly.
“Lee Hyun, I’m so nervous.”
Seo Jeong-woon said with a completely un-nervous expression, a soft smile playing at the corners of his eyes. He simply looked excited. Do Yi-hyun, whose nerves had been on edge due to the unusually loud heartbeat he’d been hearing since earlier, felt a bit peeved at Seo Jeong-woon’s composed demeanor.
Without hesitation, Do Yi-hyun raised his heel and briefly stole a kiss from Seo Jeong-woon’s lips, which were particularly flushed today. The wedding venue staff members who had been moving around to assist with the entrance smiled warmly and discreetly turned their heads away.
“Just one more time.”
Seo Jeong-woon tilted his head slightly and pleaded pitifully. The way his eyebrows drooped was quite exasperating. Do Yi-hyun immediately gave him three more silent kisses.
After all, it was clear Seo Jeong-woon wouldn’t be satisfied with just one.
“Ahaha.”
Seo Jeong-woon let out a clear laugh. Do Yi-hyun stared intently at Seo Jeong-woon’s brightly shining face, then brought his lips close to Seo Jeong-woon’s ear. Seo Jeong-woon naturally inclined his ear.
“Let’s go get married, darling.”
Do Yi-hyun whispered softly. The term of endearment, used for the first time in his life, felt quite awkward.
“……What did you say?”
Seo Jeong-woon blinked his large eyes with a dazed expression, as if he hadn’t expected it at all. Do Yi-hyun squeezed Seo Jeong-woon’s hand tightly. The bewildered Seo Jeong-woon was cute.
“Say it again, say it again.”
Seo Jeong-woon pressed his shoulder against Do Yi-hyun’s and pleaded in an anxious voice.
“The doors will open soon.”
However, Do Yi-hyun acted as if nothing had happened, nodding indifferently toward the door.
“One minute remaining!”
Almost as soon as Do Yi-hyun finished speaking, a slightly excited shout came from behind.
“What do I do? I’m really nervous now. I feel like my heart’s going to burst.”
Seo Jeong-woon pretended to pout and then let out a long, deep sigh.
“I’ll take responsibility.”
“No, Lee Hyun, darling, honey.”
When Do Yi-hyun responded nonchalantly, Seo Jeong-woon fidgeted, not knowing what to do.
“Groom, please calm down.”
A flustered staff member waved their hands from behind, but it was no use. Meanwhile, with a soft melody, the firmly closed doors opened. The fresh scent of the flowers adorning the wedding hall wafted strongly.
They entered in step, but Seo Jeong-woon, his cheeks still flushed, continued to gaze only at Do Yi-hyun. If left like this, it was clear he would stare holes into Do Yi-hyun throughout the entire ceremony.
“I’ll let you call me that as much as you want later, so look ahead for now.”
In the end, Do Yi-hyun reluctantly moved his lips.
“You promise?”
“Yes.”
Only after hearing Do Yi-hyun’s confirmation once more did Seo Jeong-woon turn his head forward. A faint smile also appeared at the corner of Do Yi-hyun’s mouth.
“Oww!”
Just then, a child’s murmuring voice echoed from somewhere. Despite not being very loud, it was heard clearly. Do Yi-hyun reflexively turned his gaze.
The light was bright, making it hard to see the guest seats clearly, but he could distinctly feel the child’s presence here.
“Did you hear that too, Lee Hyun?”
Seo Jeong-woon asked with a bright smile, glancing slightly at Do Yi-hyun. Do Yi-hyun gave a slight nod. Delicate flower petals drifted down onto the straight path ahead.
With each step he took, Do Yi-hyun felt his chest swell achingly. It felt like his stomach was churning as if he were motion sick, yet also like he was floating on soft, fluffy down. By now, Do Yi-hyun understood quite well that this rather strange feeling was an emotion related to happiness.
As he slowly regulated his quickened breath, he felt somewhat more at ease. Yet, the peculiar, anxious, and thrilling tremor remained. Perhaps it was because it was a situation where maintaining composure was difficult.
The presence of Seo Jeong-woon standing by his side felt more reassuring than ever. Do Yi-hyun straightened his back and looked ahead at the brightly shining path. Suddenly, he wanted to convey this overwhelming emotion to Seo Jeong-woon as well.
“Thank you for becoming my family.”
Do Yi-hyun conveyed it with all his sincerity. He didn’t know if Seo Jeong-woon would understand, but it was the best and highest form of gratitude Do Yi-hyun could express.
“Thank you for becoming the reason I live for the rest of my life.”
Not to be outdone, Seo Jeong-woon also offered his greetings with a grand declaration. That he was Seo Jeong-woon’s reason to live. Do Yi-hyun found himself staring intently at Seo Jeong-woon without realizing it.
Only now did he think he understood Seo Jeong-woon’s heart, which had been so anxious over a single term of endearment just before entering.
“You should look ahead, Lee Hyun.”
Seo Jeong-woon curled up the corner of his mouth playfully. Do Yi-hyun forcibly turned his head, which didn’t want to turn away. Simultaneously, as if by unspoken agreement, they both tightened their grip on each other’s hands.
He could be confident that, like their fingers tightly entwined, he and Seo Jeong-woon were firmly connected. It was supremely satisfying.
“Let’s live happily ever after, us.”
When they reached the end of the long path, Seo Jeong-woon whispered affectionately. A warm smile rose to the lips of Do Yi-hyun, who tilted his head slightly.