By Zephyria 
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“How handsome is he?”
“…The most handsome person I’ve ever seen in my life. But you’ve always been handsome, Director. Not just today, but always, every single day….”
It was a sentiment he had heard from everyone he met since childhood—to the point where it had become tedious—but hearing it from Eun-won felt different. Feeling pleased, Cha Se-jin grinned and reached out to touch Eun-won’s clear face, but he lowered his hand with a hint of regret, fearing he might smudge the makeup, and instead toyed with Eun-won’s slender fingers.
“You’re the same. You’re beautiful every day. And fucking beautiful, too. With this face, huh? Just imagining you marrying some other bastard makes me want to tear that guy apart and kill him.”
Though the words were somewhat violent, they felt like the utmost sincerity. Eun-won gave a soft smile and shyly dropped his gaze. He had been told he was beautiful since dawn, to the point where the words had lost their power and become embarrassing, but hearing it from Cha Se-jin… it made his heart flutter.
“Did you sleep well last night? I heard people usually can’t sleep the night before their wedding.”
“I fell asleep in the early morning while studying for my exams, but I woke up three times because I was a bit nervous… and worried.”
“Don’t you have to go to the hotel and study today too?”
Cha Se-jin burst into laughter and shook his head when he saw Eun-won genuinely contemplating the question. He had been lenient before the wedding to ensure they got along without crossing any lines, but after the ceremony, it would be a different story. Now that they were married, there was no longer a need to hold back. He had waited with uncharacteristic patience, longing to see that face drenched in tears as Eun-won clung to him, yet here Eun-won was, wondering if he really should study for his exams instead of cooperating. It was absurd.
“Um…. I don’t want to study today. I want to talk a lot with you, Director. Last time… we didn’t get to talk much.”
“What is it you want to talk about so badly?”
“Just… about you… I want to know more of the little things.”
I want to roll around with you until the sheets are soaked.
Since there are cases where people run away from the wedding waiting room, Cha Se-jin didn’t say it aloud, but he conveyed his feelings through his eyes and gave a thin smile. He wondered where on earth he should start teaching this child.
“Yeah, sure. Let’s do that. Once you get to know the little things, you’ll end up knowing everything else too.”
“Yes.”
Looking at that clear, smiling face, Cha Se-jin felt like an even bigger piece of trash for having imagined him crying with his formal attire in a mess. He didn’t particularly feel like arguing or denying it, so he hid his thoughts behind a smile and brushed his fingertip against Eun-won’s flushed earlobe.
Soon, the limousine’s navigation announced that the destination was near.
As it was a private wedding, security was strict from the hotel entrance to where the limousine stopped and all the way into the venue. To prevent anyone from taking zoomed-in photos from a distance or using drones, bodyguards opened large, pitch-black umbrellas to shield the two of them from the sides and above as they stepped out of the car.
Arriving three hours before the ceremony began, Eun-won wondered if he had arrived too early, but he spent the time taking many photos with Cha Se-jin inside and outside the beautifully decorated venue.
Time flew by as they took photos in their waiting room decorated with pure white flowers, along the aisle sparkling with blossoms and light, and in front of a lovely window overlooking the stairs and a magnificent garden.
As the ceremony time approached, friends came to find Eun-won. Eun-won took photos with his high school friends, laughing, and introduced them to Cha Se-jin as he entered to greet the guests. The friends were visibly tense, as Cha Se-jin was the type of person who naturally radiated an intimidating presence, but Cha Se-jin greeted Eun-won’s friends more normally than anyone else, wearing a smile.
“Oh, Ji-woon!”
“Hey, you’re actually getting married! No, seriously, even on my way here, I wondered if this was for real and it didn’t feel real, but wow…. Hey, the security check coming in was intense. Someone tried to sneak in and got dragged away.”
Yoon Ji-woon, who was speaking in a whisper, suddenly felt a chill and glanced back. Cha Se-jin, who had been standing behind him looking down at the crown of Yoon Ji-woon’s head, wore a polite smile.
“Ah…. Oh, hello….”
“Nice to meet you. You’re Yoon Ji-woon, right? I’ve heard a lot about you from my darling.”
“Ah…! Yes! Uh, me too! I’ve… heard a lot….”
“You’ve seen a lot of me? Where? Ah, you must have seen me in the news. Or maybe a tabloid? A clickbait video?”
“Ah, that…!”
Yoon Ji-woon, who had been about to agree, fortunately recalled most of the articles he had seen about Cha Se-jin. Since they were riddled with all sorts of provocative scandals, it was impossible—or rather, difficult—not to know him if one watched YouTube or used social media.
“…Ah, no! Uh, now that I think about it, I think this is the first time I’ve met you. Uh, totally! Totally the first time….”
“That’s a relief then.”
“Hahaha…. Haha….”
Frozen stiff and laughing awkwardly, Yoon Ji-woon looked toward Eun-won. Sensing the distress signal asking for help, Eun-won lightly grabbed Cha Se-jin’s arm. At that, Cha Se-jin removed some of the coldness from his gaze as he scanned Yoon Ji-woon and smiled again.
“Thanks for coming. Enjoy the meal, and I’ll repay you for coming today after your exams. You, or rather, my friend here must be busy preparing for exams right now.”
“Ah… no, no need for a reward! Of course I should come for a friend’s wedding.”
“I heard you’ve been good to him, so I’m grateful for that, and, hmm…. Since you’re my darling’s friend, I thought it would be good for me to know at least one of them. I’d like to formally invite you to a meal after the exams.”
“I-if you’d just call me! Anytime is fine!”
“I like how you answer.”
Cha Se-jin patted Yoon Ji-woon’s shoulder twice, then gave Eun-won a smile completely devoid of coldness before leaving the waiting room after someone called him. Once he had clearly confirmed Cha Se-jin’s departing figure, Yoon Ji-woon lowered his voice and whispered to Eun-won.
“Man, he’s seriously scary…. Is he scary to you too?”
“Ah, he’s not like that. He’s kind to me.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, really.”
“Then that’s a relief. Man, I was seriously intimidated for a second. I’ll head inside then. Fighting!”
Eun-won laughed at the absurdity of Yoon Ji-woon shouting “fighting” for a wedding and waved goodbye. Then, he took a moment to catch his breath. Since all the guests he had invited had arrived, he felt he could finally relax until the ceremony began.
Just as he was about to drink some water and ease his tension, he locked eyes with Yeo Hee-jin, who was entering the waiting room while lightly holding up her hanbok skirt to keep it from dragging.
“Eun-won, if you’re done greeting your friends, you should come out without being told. What are you doing here?”
“Ah…. Yes. I’m sorry.”
“You might not know this, but a wedding like this isn’t just a place where two people get married. I told you it’s a place where important people attend. They are the most prominent figures in politics and business. It’s very difficult to gather them all in one place. Hurry up, come out and show your face, and greet them with your father.”
“…Yes.”
Following Yeo Hee-jin, who turned and walked out abruptly, Eun-won stood beside his father, who was bowing deeply while greeting the VIPs, and joined him in greeting many people.
Among them, there were a few who wouldn’t let go of his hand during the handshake, holding it the entire time, and some who blatantly scanned Eun-won from head to toe while his father spoke. There was even someone who openly harassed him, saying they would have delayed the remarriage if they had known he had a son like this.
Looking at those people, Eun-won recalled the numerous difficult customers he had encountered while working part-time jobs. He felt disgusted by the gazes and the harassing words, and he struggled to maintain his expression, but every time he did, his stepmother nudged his arm, urging him to smile. However, that was the one thing he couldn’t manage.
Eun-won stood there, having completely lost his smile, not even knowing in what state of mind he was, when Cha Se-jin, who had gone to the waiting room and found it empty, approached him. After noticing Eun-won’s sunken expression, Cha Se-jin quickly took his hand and led him away.
“Darling, why does your face look like this? Who the fuck was acting up?”
“…….”
“Let’s go.”
Ignoring the two gazes watching them as if they didn’t exist, Cha Se-jin held Eun-won’s hand and headed back to the waiting room.
Looking down at the firm fingers interlaced with his own, Eun-won let out a breath, releasing the lingering unpleasant emotions. Along with that breath, the disgust, anxiety, and shame he had been holding dispersed. He was so glad Cha Se-jin was here.
He loved that he held his hand, and that he rescued him before he could sink into the hollow places where bad things always easily collect. He tried to suppress it, telling himself it wasn’t that kind of feeling, that he was simply mistaking the kindness that seemed to be a habit for Cha Se-jin, and that there was nothing to gain by being serious alone—but he couldn’t.
He likes Cha Se-jin.
That was the truth Eun-won realized on his wedding day.