5 – HR Side Story 10

The wedding was decided for midsummer.

Since Ryle had proposed at Bright House at the end of May, the timeframe was very tight. However, Ryle pushed the plans forward like a bulldozer, as if time were no issue at all.

Thinking he was being too hasty, Hae-jin tried to stop him. But Ryle made the excuse that since it had already been announced, it would be better for handling the press to make it a confirmed fact as soon as possible.

Looking at his pheromones, which were fluffy like cotton candy scattering in the wind every day, he actually just seemed like a man who wanted to hurry.

Regardless, it was no exaggeration to say that time was not an issue. Hae-jin realized this fact seeing countless people moving solely for the sake of their one ‘wedding.’

And so, today, as they entered mid-June, the wedding date was finally set.

Normally, the date should have been decided first, but it was delayed due to coordinating Ryle’s schedule. Since he was a person in a very special situation in many ways, Hae-jin understood.

In truth, it would be accurate to say he hadn’t thought much about it. Come to think of it, he had never even seen someone’s wedding up close.

However, Ryle seemed to think differently. He reported to Hae-jin every single day how he was adjusting the schedule. Sometimes he checked Hae-jin’s complexion to an odd degree, leading Hae-jin to tell him several times that he was fine.

Anyway, the schedule was successfully coordinated. Ryle informed him that he had decided on the earliest possible date.

Everything seemed to be going smoothly.

Until Mark arrived with a grave expression, holding something.

“……I failed to consider this. It is my mistake.”

“No, it’s not. No one knew the weather would be like this this year.”

“Still……”

The unexpected barrier was none other than the weather.

As luck would have it, it was predicted that heavy torrential rain would fall in Heavy Rain during the week they had set for the wedding. Hae-jin didn’t know how Mark had obtained a weather forecast for a month in advance, but the data he brought was full of rain clouds.

It always rained a lot in Heavy Rain, but in the summer, the torrential rains became even more severe. In bad cases, hurricanes would swirl through the outskirts.

The forecast suggested that the rainy season would start about a week earlier than usual.

Because Hae-jin had chosen an outdoor wedding, the weather became a major problem.

“Hmm……”

At first, he had chosen it simply because he liked the example photos in the pamphlet. He hadn’t chosen it with deep thought. Ryle had told him it was enough to just pick whatever caught his eye.

Although the wedding had been pushed forward that way, Hae-jin had grown to like this plan.

As the wedding-related materials placed before him increased, the scene of the wedding appearing in his mind became clearer. Recently, thinking of the deep blue sky and the meadow atop the cliff, like in the pamphlet photos, made his chest feel a bit tight.

A high cliff—he felt that if they held the wedding in such a landscape, his family in heaven would be able to watch over them well.

Of course, since it was a city where it rained a lot, he knew the weather would be key. However, the weather forecast Mark brought was at a level where a sunny sky couldn’t be expected at all, which was troubling.

Beside him, Ryle’s complexion turned pale rapidly. As if this rain, too, were his fault.

But Hae-jin knew. He knew this wasn’t Ryle’s fault.

It was just that this year had turned out this way.

“Maybe I should just pick a different wedding concept.”

Eventually, Hae-jin spoke up first in a low voice.

But Ryle looked at Hae-jin urgently. The touch of his hand gently gripping Hae-jin’s shoulder was extremely soft.

“I… I want to give you the wedding you want, Hae-jin.”

“…….”

His expression was almost desperate. Thus, Hae-jin, who had made the suggestion lightly, was slightly flustered and couldn’t give an immediate answer.

Then, Ryle quietly extended both arms, trapping Hae-jin in his embrace, and spoke.

“So please wait a little longer. I’ll find a way.”

At that solemn tone, Hae-jin eventually nodded slightly.

“…….”

However, a light rain was falling outside the window today as well. Perhaps even if they excluded this rainy season, a wedding with sunny weather might be a difficult task.

So, let’s not have high expectations, Hae-jin quietly vowed to himself in advance.

The next day.

[According to the professional planner in charge of Mr. Ryle Vermouth’s wedding, the top priority to consider is restrained beauty…]

Heading to the hobby room, Hae-jin turned on the TV and encountered the news of his wedding again.

“…….”

It was a talk show he occasionally watched, a popular program with quite high viewership ratings.

Since the format involved discussing current issues, it was a good reference when he wanted to know how the world was turning. He could tell what was most talked about among people without having to put effort into searching for information.

Anyway, he hadn’t intended to watch this program right now. He had only turned on the screen to connect his game, but he had stopped unconsciously because Ryle’s face appeared.

As he watched blankly, the topic of the day was none other than his own wedding.

[The wedding of the Vermouth family, which involves over 200 staff members…]

On the screen, which had been showing Ryle’s public activities, various tuxedo images began to pass by. Some were materials Hae-jin had actually received, making the feeling quite strange.

Originally, was this something that should appear on TV this often?

He thought it was natural for people to be interested since Ryle was so famous and held an important position. In the first place, Ryle had spread the news of the wedding quite widely.

However, Hae-jin thought the public interest would disappear soon. He thought that while it might be novel at first, it would eventually just be a passing phase.

Of course, it was soon revealed that this was a massive misconception.

Even though several weeks had passed, the TV and internet were still buzzing with the news of their wedding. When the story of their wedding appeared on the main evening news, he couldn’t help but be flustered.

Even when he attended university, he had received a fair amount of attention. After revealing his relationship with Ryle, gazes had always followed him.

Nevertheless, the interest delivered directly through visual media gave a different feeling. Usually, Ryle had paid special attention so that Hae-jin wouldn’t have to worry about the surrounding eyes, so it was even more so because this was the first time he was seeing such an explosive and direct reaction with his own eyes.

“Was the one you chose the second design?”

“Ah… yes, that’s right.”

At that moment, Mark, who had followed him with a glass of juice, spoke from his side.

Since this happened every time he turned on the TV recently, he felt a bit embarrassed. To hide his embarrassment, Hae-jin quietly fiddled with the engagement ring on one finger and spoke.

“The news of our wedding is on all day.”

Hae-jin’s words were no exaggeration. It was to the point where he could encounter the news of their wedding all day just by flipping through channels.

At this point, he wondered if advertisements about the two of them getting married were constantly posted somewhere in the city.

“Hmm, it seems the Young Master is quite excited.”

Then, Mark, who was setting the juice down beside Hae-jin, spoke in a voice tinged with laughter.

“Ryle is?”

Since the implication was unusual, Hae-jin asked curiously.

Mark stroked his sophisticated beard slightly and winked at Hae-jin.

“Since it’s news about the most important advertiser, everyone has no choice but to read the room, but that advertiser hasn’t stopped the news from being released.”

“Ah.”

“It’s news that helps viewership ratings, and as long as they keep within the lines, there’s no restriction, so everyone is naturally fired up.”

“I see……”

At Mark’s interpretation, Hae-jin felt heat rushing to his ears.

After the marriage was accepted, Ryle had indeed worked hard to proclaim the engagement. He used every medium available at the corporate level to spread the news.

Mark had even teased Ryle, saying he was announcing it so loudly that even a passing child would know. In fact, the next day, little Billy contacted him to offer congratulations, which had made him laugh quite a bit.

He wondered if there was anyone left in this country who didn’t know they were getting married. It seemed Ryle’s behavior had influenced the media in this way.

[It is a joyous occasion in many ways. They say romance books are currently a craze in Heavy Rain, right?]

[Yes. Various speculations are flying due to the two’s veiled love story. It is analyzed that this is the ripple effect. In many ways, the publishing industry is screaming with happiness.]

[Thanks to that, the economic ripple effect seems like it will be enormous.]

[Of course. Every time the choice of ‘that fiancé,’ who is shrouded in mystery, is revealed, a sell-out crisis occurs.]

[I also found the brooch revealed this time so beautiful that I’ve placed an order.]

[How are the stocks of the Vermouth affiliates?]

[They are in a bull market every day. It seems they interpret it positively that ‘that baseless rumor’ that followed Mr. Ryle Vermouth like a tag has disappeared.]

Mark’s words about keeping within the lines were true. Both in the way Ryle’s long-standing Omega phobia was dismissed as a ‘baseless rumor’ and the way Hae-jin’s personal information was never carelessly leaked.

[They say the number of tourists coming to Heavy Rain has also increased? There are many people who want to see the famous mansion and the ‘House of Happiness’ even from a distance.]

[I saw it too, and it was a house with a very cozy and warm feeling. There’s a rumor it was built for a proposal; could that be true?]

[Who knows. But since it’s being proven daily that Mr. Ryle Vermouth is a considerably romantic person, it’s a possibility.]

However, as time passed, Hae-jin found he could no longer just observe this situation.

To simply dismiss it as everyone talking because Ryle was excited was difficult, as the things he heard were quite heavy.

“…….”

He had only focused on becoming family with Ryle, but the areas being affected were too many.

The wedding company Hae-jin chose, the style of the tuxedo, the price of the ring—these things received people’s attention daily. To the point where Hae-jin eventually began to worry about this situation growing uncontrollably.

“You don’t have to worry too much.”

Then, Mark, who was beside him, suddenly picked up the remote and handed it to him. Thanks to his calm tone, the anxiety that had been wavering slightly eventually subsided.

Hae-jin felt warm affection in Mark’s wrinkled eyes as he looked at him.

As if to say there was truly no need to worry about anything in advance.

“……I’ll do that.”

So, Hae-jin took the remote and changed the screen. The noisy voice of the program host quickly faded, and the screen of the game he had recently been absorbed in appeared.

As the dizzying information disappeared from before his eyes, his bustling heart also scattered softly. Quietly gripping the game controller, Hae-jin tried to follow Mark’s advice.

In truth, even if he worried, not much would change.

A few days later, Hae-jin met up with his friends for the first time in a while.

“Bright! How have you been?”

“Good. How about you guys?”

“Me? Same as always. But listen! Brown got a partner!”

“I’ll be the one to tell them!”

The two of them had been bickering and making a scene from the moment they stepped into the cafe. It was a boisterous atmosphere that Hae-jin hadn’t experienced in a long time.

He had maintained a good relationship with Brown and Miller, whom he had attended university with. Although they didn’t spend as much time together as they used to, they stayed in touch frequently enough to exchange news almost every day.

Quite a few people had approached Hae-jin because of his connection to Vermouth, but these two remained the same. Even when he first shared the news of his marriage via messenger, they had congratulated him with pure sincerity.

Perhaps that was why Hae-jin always felt at ease when he was with them.

“Congratulations. Are they a good person?”

“Well, I still need to see more…”

Brown said, fiddling with her hair. Her tone was quite blunt, but a faint smile lingered on her lips.

It seemed she had met someone good.

“Where did you meet?”

“In a lecture hall. They’re from a different department, but we happened to be in the same discussion group.”

As Hae-jin showed interest, Brown began to open up in earnest. Seeing Brown’s excited face as she rambled on about their first meeting made Hae-jin feel fluttery as well.

After graduating from the school the three of them had attended together, Brown had enrolled in a state university. She had mentioned feeling lonely about going back to school alone, but as Hae-jin expected, she seemed to be adjusting well.

“What about you, Miller? Are you still doing well with the person you were dating?”

“Ugh, we broke up.”

“Weren’t you dumped?”

“Brown!”

Miller flared up at Brown’s words, but soon hung his head low, admitting that he had indeed been dumped.

“I was just too busy with work. I explained it well, but… that’s how it happened.”

Miller had found employment at a small company. It was a company related to auto parts, and he often sent complaints about having too much work almost every day.

However, Hae-jin knew that Miller was only saying that. He also knew that Miller found his current work incredibly rewarding.

Unlike Brown, Miller had entered the job market immediately after graduation. Upon hearing this, Ryle had offered to write a recommendation letter for Miller.

It was an unexpected gesture from Ryle, who was usually quite jealous of Hae-jin’s friends. He likely wanted to look after Miller, who didn’t have many friends of his own.

However, despite always being flustered in front of Ryle, Miller had declined. He stated that he could sufficiently achieve his planned goals on his own, even without Ryle’s help.

Hae-jin knew that Miller had always wanted to take over his father’s auto repair shop business. Listening to him rattle off a list of companies that would be helpful for that goal with a flushed face, Hae-jin could understand his stubbornness. That was why he stopped trying to persuade him, telling him not to feel burdened since it was a good opportunity.

Both Miller and Brown had clearly set their futures and were working hard for them. Hae-jin always envied them and thought they were amazing.

To the point where he would absentmindedly think, Maybe I can do it too, like my friends.

“…”

At the sudden thought, Hae-jin’s face became somewhat blank.

Perhaps he had already taken a step toward his own future. When he graduated, he thought he was the only one lonely and stuck in place, but before he knew it, he had become capable of being happy for his friends’ growth.

The same went for his relationship with Ryle. The time spent with him, which had always felt like it was frozen in place, would now change.

Because he was preparing for the wedding so diligently, driven by the desire to move forward into the spring sunlight together.

“Anyway, why did you ask to meet today? You must be in the middle of being busy.”

“I know.”

Brown, who had been chatting away, suddenly asked Hae-jin. She seemed curious about Hae-jin’s request to please make some time.

Fiddling with the juice cup in front of him, Hae-jin felt a surge of excitement as he brought up the reason.

“I was wondering if you could make time for my wedding day.”

At those words, Brown and Miller’s eyes widened simultaneously.

“You’re inviting us too?”

“No way.”

Hae-jin was actually puzzled by their surprised reactions.

Was it because the date was set so late?

“Of course. Why did you think I wouldn’t? Because of Ryle’s schedule, the exact wedding date has finally been set. That’s why I’m a bit late in telling you.”

They had probably made assumptions because his wedding was quite unique.

Seeing their faces, surprised like meerkats, a giggle escaped him.

“Of course we thought you’d rent some palace or something. You know, the kind of place where you have to wear a gown to go.”

“I thought you’d go abroad. It would take a few days, so I figured even if you invited me, I wouldn’t be able to go because of work.”

The fuss the two of them made sounded plausible. In fact, Hae-jin had vaguely thought the same thing.

However, Ryle completely respected Hae-jin’s wishes. Therefore, Hae-jin had decided to hold a light ceremony at Heavy Rain over the weekend.

Since the honeymoon would be abroad anyway, he wanted his close acquaintances to be able to make time without too much difficulty.

“It’ll be at Heavy Rain on a weekend. You’ll come, right?”

“Of course!”

“Of course!”

The two shouted in unison, as if they were genuinely excited by the proposal.

Thanks to that, Hae-jin felt good, as if the wedding was being blessed even more.

“I’m so excited. This is my first time going to a friend’s wedding.”

“It’ll be fun. Will all the world’s billionaires be gathering there?”

“Stop being so extra, Miller.”

“Nooo… I’m just curious. It’s Vermouth.”

“That’s true.”

As they chatted, the two also mentioned the news of Hae-jin’s wedding they had seen on TV.

Some of it was such absurd gossip that it was a bit embarrassing to correct.

“There won’t be many people at the wedding. I want to keep it small and only invite close people.”

At that, the two suddenly wore deeply moved expressions. It seemed to be because of the phrase ‘close people,’ but it wasn’t a lie.

Because they were among the few precious friends Hae-jin had.

“Oh my god! He still has such a baby face, and Bright is getting married!”

“I really feel like I’m sending off a younger brother.”

“You know I’m older than you two, right?”

Perhaps embarrassed by their emotion, the two became even more exaggerated in their fuss.

Still, they showed their excitement fully as they saved the wedding date in their phones. A commotion followed regarding what clothes to wear, so he simply told them to dress normally.

“Has the exact location been decided? The news said it’s being held at the mansion.”

At Miller’s casual question, Hae-jin lowered his eyes slightly.

There were several candidates for the outdoor wedding site. In front of Bright House, the outskirts of Heavy Rain, and so on.

However, the weather forecast for all those locations was poor. Since Ryle hadn’t suggested any other alternatives yet, Hae-jin’s expectations were gradually dying.

Trying not to let it show, Hae-jin forced a smile.

“Actually, I am worried about the location.”

“Why?”

“I wanted to have an outdoor wedding nearby, but it looks like the weather will be bad on that date.”

“Ah… that’s true. Is it around the time the heavy rains start?”

“It should still be okay at this date, though?”

As natives of Heavy Rain, the two immediately realized what Hae-jin was worried about.

Hae-jin calmly informed them that this year’s heavy rains were expected to arrive a bit early. And that, because Ryle was busy, that time was the best they could do.

Even now, the sky was very overcast. As soon as Hae-jin finished speaking, the two looked out the window simultaneously, their faces becoming as gloomy as the weather.

“So I’m thinking of just changing it to indoors…”

Perhaps Ryle was unable to bring himself to tell him that there was no other way. In that case, it might be better for him to clearly voice his opinion to change the location first…

“Bright.”

Then, Brown gently took Hae-jin’s hand and spoke firmly.

His mind, which had been blurring like the overcast weather, cleared up at Brown’s bright voice.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime wedding. Do it however you want!”

“Right! You can just go abroad where the weather is nice! You definitely have the means to do that.”

Their faces shone brightly, as if they had never been gloomy.

Simply wanting to support what their friend wanted to do.

“I really want to go to your wedding, but even if it changes to abroad and we can’t go, do what you want to do.”

“Exactly. There must have been a reason why you wanted an outdoor wedding. Right?”

Hearing those words made Hae-jin think of his family. The desire to show his happy side in a place where they could look down upon him resurfaced.

If his family had been by his side, would they have cheered him on like this?

“And I don’t know for sure, but I think Mr. Vermouth is the type to be heartbroken if you can’t do what you want.”

“That’s true, although he is a bit of a scary person…”

Furthermore, Brown carefully represented Ryle’s position.

At that, Hae-jin felt his thoughts becoming a bit more organized.

“Yeah. You’re right.”

The sky was overcast, but strangely, a rainbow rose in his heart.

After spending a pleasant time with his friends, Hae-jin returned to the mansion.

Originally, he had intended to have dinner with them. However, he felt his stamina dropping a bit more than usual today.

He hadn’t been seriously ill recently, but once his stamina had plummeted, it showed no sign of returning. Still, Hae-jin tried not to pay much attention to that fact.

Anyway, since he now had something he wanted to say to Ryle, returning to the mansion early wasn’t a bad idea.

It was around the time the car reached the mansion’s entrance. Unexpectedly, he saw Ryle through the window.

“Ah.”

It wasn’t time for him to get off work yet. However, when Ryle heard that Hae-jin was coming home earlier than planned, it seemed he had returned to the mansion as well.

“Ryle.”

“Hae-jin. Did you have a good time with your friends?”

He opened the car door himself and reached out his hand. Hae-jin stepped out of the car, relying on that firm hand.

His body had felt heavy the whole time, but as soon as he took that hand, it was miraculously not difficult to stand on his own two feet.

“Hmm, you don’t have a fever.”

Naturally pulling Hae-jin into his embrace, Ryle felt his forehead. It was evident that he was worried that the reason Hae-jin returned earlier than planned was because he was sick.

This was the reason Hae-jin could afford not to worry about his irreversibly frail body. Because Ryle, who cared for and looked after Hae-jin’s body more than Hae-jin did himself, was always by his side.

“I’m not sick. Just, a little tired.”

“I see.”

Lest Ryle worry too much, Hae-jin quickly confessed his condition. Because he was concerned about Ryle neglecting company work because of him, he had hidden this kind of physical state several times.

Every time, the results were not good. After realizing that it only made Ryle’s overprotectiveness more severe, he developed the habit of just telling the truth moderately.

“Shall we eat first?”

However, it seemed Ryle’s worry had grown like a mountain again today. Before Hae-jin could even take three steps after getting out of the car, Ryle lifted him up in his arms.

“I can walk.”

“I just want to hold you. I haven’t seen you for eight hours already.”

“…”

Since this hadn’t happened for a few weeks, he seemed even more concerned. Instead of having a pointless argument, Hae-jin simply leaned deeply into Ryle’s shoulder.

After washing his hands and heading to the dining room, dinner was already prepared.

It was a table that could seat more than twenty people, but the two sat side by side in the chairs. As if that wasn’t enough, Ryle, who sat with the chairs pushed close together, poured water into Hae-jin’s glass.

“Nothing happened with your friends, did it?”

“No. I even invited them to come to the wedding.”

“Good job.”

Ryle seemed quite worried that something might have happened to him while he was out, leaving him drained.

Noticing this, Hae-jin decided to eat a hearty dinner.

“The chef was confident today, saying he developed a special sauce.”

“No wonder it smells so good.”

After that, the two continued their meal while chatting softly.

At some point, Ryle began telling Hae-jin what he did at the company all day. It started after Hae-jin had expressed curiosity about his work a few times.

Most of it was difficult talk that he couldn’t understand, but Hae-jin always listened quietly to Ryle’s explanations. Because listening to him share his day in a calm voice was quite pleasant.

As a result, he came to vaguely understand the situation at Ryle’s company. Things like which business field he was focusing on recently, or who the people from other companies were that he met frequently.

The things he learned this way were surprisingly useful. This was because Hae-jin now always accompanied Ryle to parties where a partner was needed.

At first, those gatherings were very awkward because he had nothing to say to the party attendees other than greetings. However, as Hae-jin began to utilize the stories he had heard from Ryle, conversations with them became quite comfortable.

Sometimes, the conversation topics he chose seemed to surprise people. As if it were amazing that Ryle shared even the deep parts of the company with Hae-jin.

When he first heard those reactions, he worried if he had said something he shouldn’t have.

However, Ryle instead openly agreed with Hae-jin’s actions in front of people. Then, upon returning to the mansion, he would give Hae-jin plenty of praise, seriously telling him he was doing very well.

It was quite embarrassing praise, but thanks to it, Hae-jin gained courage. He was no longer afraid of talking to someone at a party.

Since Ryle had given him prior warnings about matters that had to be kept confidential, there was no chance of making a mistake. So today, too, Hae-jin listened to Ryle’s words with peace of mind.

“So, I received a report regarding that today, but the documents were more insufficient than expected, so I had no choice but to reject them. There were errors in the market status survey statistics.”

“I see.”

The business field Ryle had been interested in recently was tourism.

According to the TV, many people were visiting Heavy Rain for the two of them’s wedding. So he thought it was tourism for Heavy Rain, but what Ryle was referring to were overseas travel destinations.

While listening to descriptions of various beautiful places, Hae-jin diligently moved the hand holding the fork.

Until his stomach was so full that it felt like nothing more could fit.

“Phew…”

Even so, he knew this was a far cry from the amount an average adult male would eat.

Anyway, noticing that Hae-jin had paid attention to his food intake in his own way, Ryle gently rubbed his cheek with his fingertips.

“Don’t push yourself.”

“…I want to eat more, though…”

“It’s okay. As long as nothing happened earlier, that’s enough.”

He seemed to already know the reason why Hae-jin tried to pay more attention to his food intake.

Gazing at his eyes that curved softly, Hae-jin soon parted his lips. He intended to tell him the thought that had been lingering since a while ago.

“I told my friends today that it might rain on the wedding day.”

“Yes.”

“So I told them I was contemplating whether to just change it to an indoor wedding, and my friends told me to do whatever I want…”

“You received good advice.”

Ryle looked at Hae-jin, who was trailing off, as if he found him cute.

Not stopping there, he reached out and picked up a napkin. Then, with a natural motion, he gently dabbed the corners of Hae-jin’s mouth.

Along with a soft reminder.

“You should always do what you want, Hae-jin.”

“…”

Thanks to that, Hae-jin was able to look up at Ryle with clear eyes.

He had intended to suggest postponing the wedding until the weather improved. Knowing that Ryle had barely managed to set this wedding date, he felt a bit sorry for such a suggestion, but he had really come to want an outdoor wedding.

He believed that Ryle would like it even more if he showed this kind of stubbornness.

“So, about that… perhaps, how about postponing the date…”

“Ah.”

However, as he actually tried to be stubborn, his voice trembled slightly. Hae-jin lowered his gaze for a moment, then forced himself to look up at him again.

For some reason, he was wearing a very pleased smile.

“Hmm… what to do? For now, I think I’ve found a way, Hae-jin.”

“Really?”

Actually, Hae-jin thought Ryle hadn’t found any special method. No matter how powerful Ryle was, he couldn’t change the weather.

But he found a way. Surprised by that fact, Hae-jin looked up at him with wide eyes.

Facing the white face, Ryle chuckled and gently stroked Hae-jin’s cheek.

“You know that island where we went on our first trip.”

At Ryle’s words, a certain scene immediately flashed through his mind.

The wide-open sea with nothing blocking the view, and the island where they had been all alone. The wonderful dinner Ryle had prepared, and the cave wine cellar that felt like they were embarking on an adventure.

“The place where we walked along the beach and decided on the date.”

And the beach where the sunset glowed brilliantly.

“Yes.”

After that, he had visited the villa on the island with Ryle a few more times. Yet, strangely, whenever Hae-jin thought of that island, the scenery from the first day they visited always came to mind first.

As if the landscape of the beach at sunset that day had been deeply engraved in his memory.

“It’s a small island, but with a bit of work, we could use it as a wedding venue.”

“Ah…”

“It’s in a nearby city, so the weather will be similar, but they said the conditions would be better than in Heavy Rain.”

“Is… that so?”

Ryle had called it a small island while explaining, but to Hae-jin, it felt like a vast space. Since he didn’t intend to invite many people in the first place, he figured it would be fine.

Moreover, it was within distance to reach by helicopter. Thus, the travel route for his friends, which Hae-jin had been worried about, seemed acceptable.

“Would you like to think about it? I’ve received a proposal on how to decorate the place as a wedding venue. If you look at it and find it unsatisfactory, we can move the date then.”

As he spoke, Ryle took both of Hae-jin’s hands. A smile as bright as a chandelier graced his face.

“Because it’s what you want, Hae-jin.”

Seeing him look even more delighted brought a sense of relief to Hae-jin. He was glad he had been stubborn.

Though several years had passed since they had been together, Ryle remained unchanged. Always so consistent that, at some point, even the anxiety that he might change had vanished.

Hae-jin took in Ryle’s appearance slowly today, as if trying to imprint it in his eyes.

“I’d like that.”

As Hae-jin nodded quickly, his hair fluttered like dandelion seeds, following the flow of Ryle’s pheromones.

The materials Ryle provided detailed how the island with the villa would be renovated to suit a wedding.

Throughout the reading, Hae-jin felt a faint sense of relief. While the wedding was important, he was also afraid that the island where he held happy memories would be completely transformed.

It seemed Ryle shared similar sentiments. The materials emphasized that the renovations would be carried out in a way that avoided damaging the existing elements of the island as much as possible.

Nevertheless, Hae-jin’s contemplation grew longer. This was because the proposed plans were not as simple as he had imagined.

Contrary to his thoughts, it wasn’t a matter of just bringing in a few chairs and being done with it.

He had assumed the space itself would be ample, but he was told there was a lack of places for guests to stay. While it was important to separate the area where Ryle and Hae-jin stayed, he could understand the explanation that a uniform environment had to be provided for all guests.

However, building prefabricated accommodations in the open lot next to the helipad for that purpose was quite unexpected. Hae-jin quietly realized that there were still aspects of Ryle he had to adapt to.

Additionally, there were issues such as paving the path leading up to the cliff to be used as the wedding site and slightly expanding the kitchen. The only saving grace was that there was a flat meadow on the island suitable for a wedding.

With the cliff as a backdrop, the place looked like the optimal location for a wedding even in photos. Hae-jin felt truly relieved upon hearing Ryle say that if such a place hadn’t existed, he had intended to carve out a mountain himself.

After carefully examining the plans in his hands, Hae-jin finally decided to proceed with the wedding according to this proposal.

He decided not to worry about other things. Once he focused solely on whether he wanted to have the wedding there or not, reaching a conclusion became easier.

And so, the venue for the two of them was decided. Once Hae-jin made up his mind, everything proceeded smoothly in order.

Time flew by, and the day of their wedding arrived.

“Hae-jin, it’s time to leave.”

“Mmm…”

Hae-jin barely opened his eyes at Ryle’s touch waking him. Having not slept much, his body felt tired and limp.

“Oh dear, this is a problem. What should we do?”

“I’m okay.”

Noticing Hae-jin’s condition, Ryle looked at him with worried eyes. Hae-jin gave a faint smile and reached out to him.

Ryle naturally approached and lifted the lying Hae-jin into his arms. While clinging to him on the way to the bathroom, Hae-jin quietly rubbed his forehead against Ryle’s shoulder.

Foolishly, despite not being a child, he had tossed and turned last night.

It was because he was quite excited thinking about going to the island where the wedding would be held tomorrow. The process of renovating the island had been shared with Hae-jin through photos and videos from time to time. Watching them every day, he began to imagine the moment he would stand in that place more and more.

It was a rather unfamiliar experience for Hae-jin. He felt a fluttering excitement, as if he had returned to the time when he longed for Santa to give him a family as a gift.

Perhaps it was because today felt like the day he was going to meet his family.

“How is the weather?”

“Hmm, it’s still cloudy. Let’s just go for now.”

Even with a foggy head, Hae-jin asked about the weather first. Since checking the weather forecast all day had been his routine for the past few days, Ryle had also memorized the forecasts.

However, the news was not very hopeful. Because of that, Hae-jin’s voice, mumbling with his cheek pressed against Ryle’s shoulder, lost some of its strength.

“Mmm…”

There should be no clouds, so that his family could look down on them clearly.

“Don’t worry too much.”

Ryle spoke softly while hoisting Hae-jin up. The kiss landing on his forehead was cozy.

Afterward, Ryle washed Hae-jin himself. Even though Hae-jin said he was fine now that he was mostly awake, Ryle remained stubborn. It seemed to be because Hae-jin had shown his lack of energy as soon as he woke up.

In the end, Hae-jin blinked as he quietly accepted everything Ryle did for him. The thought that he should habitually lower his expectations flowed through his mind.

Still, he would spend a fun day meeting his friends. So, even if the weather ended up not being great, he told himself not to be too disappointed.

“Now, let’s get dressed.”

One might find such caretaking tedious, but Ryle seemed excited throughout. When Hae-jin just leaned into his embrace as if giving up, Ryle’s smile deepened.

Hae-jin had very few guests today. Only the people from the mansion, a few friends, and acquaintances of his parents whom he had reconnected with through the wedding.

On the other hand, Ryle said he would only invite a few truly important people for business. After all, the people from the mansion whom Ryle held dear were coming as Hae-jin’s guests.

They also decided to omit most of the other procedures for the wedding itself. The two of them would make their wedding vows along with a happy congratulatory speech delivered by Mark.

So, if only the weather were good, it would be truly wonderful.

“You’ll change soon once we get there, but shall we try this on first?”

Ryle, who had sat Hae-jin on the bed, brought out a few pieces of clothing. Hae-jin had never strongly expressed his likes or dislikes regarding fashion, yet Ryle had an uncanny ability to grasp Hae-jin’s taste.

“Yes.”

Before Ryle could dress him, Hae-jin intentionally took the shirt and held it himself. The soft material of the shirt wrapped gently around his fingers.

He knew Ryle would dress him completely if he just stayed still, but he wanted to show a slightly more mature side. After all, it was technically his wedding day.

He was also bothered by the fact that he had shown nothing but anxiety over the weather for the past few days.

“Hmm.”

However, when Hae-jin moved on his own, Ryle’s expression actually stiffened slightly. His pheromones trembled faintly, carrying a hint of disappointment.

Sensing this, Hae-jin scratched his cheek awkwardly.

Then, he gazed blankly at the outing clothes Ryle was wearing.

“…….”

Ryle was surprisingly good at noticing what Hae-jin usually liked.

And strangely, it was the same for Hae-jin.

“Ryle.”

“Yes.”

Hae-jin grabbed one of the sleeves of the man who answered calmly. Hesitating slightly, Hae-jin gently shook the sleeve and spoke.

“……Ryle, please wear the same thing as me.”

It would be a hassle for someone who was already dressed, but he knew Ryle would love this.

“I will.”

Only then did Ryle’s face brighten again. Pretending not to notice his pheromones bouncing around again just like before, Hae-jin worked hard to slide his arms in and fasten the buttons.

As soon as Hae-jin spoke, Ryle went to the dressing room and returned a moment later wearing the same shirt as Hae-jin. Though it was black, unlike the pale blue shirt Hae-jin wore.

In truth, to Hae-jin, the designs of the shirts were all pretty much the same. However, Ryle quite enjoyed wearing clothes from the same brand as Hae-jin.

It probably started happening bit by bit from the day he had gifted Ryle a scarf.

“Shall we go?”

“Yes.”

Ryle naturally extended his hand to Hae-jin, who was sitting on the bed. Looking at the large hand reaching toward him, Hae-jin wore a faint smile.

As he gripped the firm hand, he felt a certainty that no matter what kind of wedding they had today, he would surely be happy.

Though it was still very early morning, the two arrived at the island by helicopter.

The people from the mansion, who had arrived before them, were standing on a hill near the helipad, waving their hands welcomingly. With Ryle holding his waist, Hae-jin pressed close to the window and waved back at them.

As they got closer to the island, the scenery of the helipad came clearly into view.

Several very wonderful buildings that hadn’t been there before had appeared.

“Wow…”

The prefabricated accommodations had a sophisticated exterior, making it hard to believe they were built so quickly. The rooftops of the clean buildings were lavishly decorated with a large sign welcoming everyone to Hae-jin and Ryle’s wedding.

All visitors were to come here by helicopter. Ryle had willingly provided such convenience even for Hae-jin’s acquaintances.

Thus, everyone visiting would arrive at the island while seeing that sign.

Realizing this, Hae-jin looked back with a flushed face. Ryle, who seemed to be in a very good mood since morning, pulled Hae-jin into his embrace with a soft smile.

Then, he pressed his lips close to Hae-jin’s ear and whispered.

“Is it okay? The scenery turned out well, just like the plan.”

“Ugh.”

This was a habit Ryle always had when taking a helicopter. While shrugging his shoulders because of the ticklish sensation in his ear, Hae-jin focused on his words.

The interior of the helicopter was so noisy that one couldn’t even hear the voice of the person right next to them. Wearing a headset was an option, but Hae-jin preferred just using earplugs.

Because of that, Ryle often spoke while pressing his lips against the outer rim of Hae-jin’s ear. The lips touching his skin created a buzzing vibration to convey the meaning.

He had to concentrate every time because he couldn’t hear clearly, but for some reason, Hae-jin didn’t dislike this behavior.

“That sign was Mark’s idea. What do you think?”

“……I like it.”

“I’m glad.”

Ryle, who had been whispering continuously, finally pulled away after planting a kiss on his cheek. Just then, the helicopter began its slow descent.

Hae-jin, unconsciously touching his cheek, took the hand of Ryle, who had stepped out first, and exited the helicopter.

The surrounding trees fluttered in unison following the rapidly rotating propeller overhead. As they moved away from the propeller, half-embraced by Ryle, the guest accommodations became more visible.

In front of them, Mark and the wedding planner for this event were waiting to greet them.

“Mr. Bright, Chairman. Welcome to the island.”

“Hello.”

While preparing for the wedding, Hae-jin had shared quite a few conversations with the planner. Most of them were only about the wedding, but since they had become somewhat acquainted, Hae-jin greeted her warmly.

The planner, a tall Beta woman, gave a slight nod and stepped aside. Following her gesture, Hae-jin and Ryle first walked toward the guest accommodations.

“Is the preparation going well?”

“Yes. All facility checks have been completed. The maintenance of the path leading to the wedding venue is also finished, and precautions have been taken so that it is not dangerous even if it rains heavily.”

“Make sure that path is absolutely safe.”

Ryle gripped Hae-jin’s hand tightly while urging the planner.

The wedding venue required climbing a bit of the mountain. Therefore, Ryle had put a great deal of effort into maintaining the path so that Hae-jin could climb without discomfort.

“Mark, how did the safety check of the villa’s interior, which was entrusted to you as well, go?”

“That has also been fully completed. So that there is no discomfort in movement.”

Mark answered Ryle’s question with a benevolent face.

Every time they came here, Ryle worried about Hae-jin’s legs. This was because the interior stairs of the villa were all steep. In particular, the path to the wine cellar that Hae-jin loved was burdensome enough to go down alone.

Although safety devices had been provided to ensure no discomfort, they decided to take this opportunity to properly renovate them.

Hae-jin, who had been walking slowly while listening to their conversation, looked up at the guest accommodations they had finally reached.

“I designed it to emphasize a clean exterior. I avoided overly flashy designs so that it would harmonize with the island’s natural terrain.”

“How is it, Hae-jin?”

The eyes of the three people landed on Hae-jin. Since he had been thinking it was amazing for a while, Hae-jin answered quickly.

“I like it… It’s amazing that buildings could be created this quickly.”

“These are not facilities suitable for long-term use in a mountain like this. However, they were appropriate as temporary accommodations for this wedding. Installation was also simple.”

Hae-jin nodded silently at the planner’s explanation. Some of this was information he had already learned through the materials.

When Ryle said he would build prefabricated houses as a quick fix, Hae-jin had first thought of container boxes. For a moment, he wondered if it would be better to give the guests rooms in the mansion, but upon receiving the catalog, Hae-jin realized he had misunderstood something.

What was there were unexpectedly clean buildings. It was simply a format where the interior and furniture were well-configured in advance and then brought in for installation.

Therefore, the interior and exterior could be decorated as luxuriously as desired. Ryle had ordered houses that were custom-designed from start to finish for the wedding.

This was possible because there were few guests. There was even a possibility that they wouldn’t be used if the weather cooperated today.

So, it was decided that these buildings would be donated to a place in need later. This was after Hae-jin had expressed the opinion that it seemed a bit of a waste after hearing the explanation.

“Now, let’s take a look at the most important part, the wedding venue.”

Once it was roughly confirmed that there was nothing lacking for the guests to stay, the planner pointed in one direction.

The path to the villa had also been renovated to be slightly more gradual. On the path leading toward the mountain, curving around the building, bright lights were attached at every step.

Since it had been cloudy all day since dawn, all the lights were brightly lit. Because of the drizzling rain that had begun to fall, Ryle held an umbrella in one hand and wrapped his other arm around Hae-jin’s shoulder.

“Be sure to tell me if you get tired halfway. We can look at it later.”

“Yes.”

Hae-jin nodded obediently. There was no reason for him, with his uncomfortable legs, to be stubborn on such a mountain path.

Of course, looking at the intensifying rain, it might be difficult to look at it later. So, Hae-jin stepped onto the ascending path while remaining quite tense.

However, unexpectedly, the path leading to the wedding venue was very good.

“That’s a relief. The result came out as much as the effort put in.”

“I didn’t think of this as something to be used temporarily and worked hard on the renovations. I thought it would be nice to reminisce about memories whenever you visit the villa.”

“Thank you, Mark.”

Thanks to the lights placed densely here as well, the ground beneath his feet was clearly visible. And each step was neither too high nor too low, allowing Hae-jin to step comfortably.

With sturdy railings attached that he could lean on if necessary, it was clear that an extraordinary amount of effort had been put in. Thus, Hae-jin gave a slight smile toward Mark.

The gradual stairs felt like a tunnel made of wood. Although the rain was drizzling, combined with the softly glowing lights, it looked like a path leading to a mysterious world.

It was then, as he stepped onto the final stair.

Hae-jin stared blankly at the scene that suddenly opened up before his eyes.

“Do you like it, Mr. Bright?”

The planner, standing one step behind them, asked in a voice full of pride. At her question, Hae-jin nodded without realizing it.

As soon as he left the stairs, the space above his head opened wide. The trees that had been sheltering the two from the rain until now had all stepped aside.

So that whoever cast their gaze from above could clearly see Hae-jin.

The weather was overcast, but the vigorously pulsating sea surged beyond the cliff. On the cliff overlooking the ocean, lush green grass exhaled a fresh scent as it was drenched by the rain.

And as if to tell one to store the sight of that sea in their memory forever, a circular flower arch had been placed there.

Hae-jin gazed at everything visible beyond the arch as if possessed.

“……I really love it.”

He had a feeling that another unforgettable memory would be created on this island.

“I’m glad you seem to like the ceremony venue.”

“It’s a truly beautiful place. I never thought to go all the way up there before.”

Hae-jin had known about the existence of that cliff. Every time he came to this island, Ryle had made an effort to show him various spots.

However, back then, he had simply listened to the fact that such a place existed and let it pass. At the time, he had been more interested in the seaside.

“The path up isn’t particularly convenient, so we did focus more on touring the coast. I happened to think of it while brainstorming this time.”

Before the ceremony began, the two entered the waiting room. A room originally used as the villa’s dressing room had been renovated into a dedicated wedding waiting room.

Ryle seated Hae-jin on a large, newly placed sofa. It was almost time to put on the first set of wedding attire and prepare to greet the guests.

“Um…… should I go change first?”

On one side, their wedding outfits were hanging in order. On the opposite side, there was a temporary changing area.

Although there were many staff members inside the villa preparing for the wedding, there was no one here. Having been told that someone would be there to help him change, Hae-jin looked around, somewhat bewildered.

Then, Ryle answered while stroking his chin with a slightly bashful expression.

“Just sit here, and I’ll help you. You could dress yourself, but I thought it might be difficult.”

“Ryle, you?”

Was Ryle the person who was supposed to help him change?

It wasn’t as if Ryle hadn’t attended to his clothes before, but Hae-jin looked up at him with a stunned expression. He hadn’t expected Ryle to dress him even for the wedding attire.

Interpreting that gaze in some way, Ryle avoided his eyes awkwardly and added an explanation.

“There is normally someone to manage the attire, but…… I just wanted to do it myself.”

Hae-jin’s memory was correct. There had been someone else assigned to help.

Hae-jin stared blankly at the attire. Since he was also male, the structure of the outfit wasn’t particularly complex.

However, for Hae-jin, who found it uncomfortable to stand on one leg, changing pants in a narrow dressing room was a difficult task. Ryle had likely considered that.

It was his usual, natural consideration. Hae-jin just hadn’t expected him to do this even on the wedding day, when he would be incredibly busy.

That was why Hae-jin couldn’t understand why Ryle was acting as if he were walking on eggshells. Because of that, he observed the attire he had to wear in a state of slight confusion, wondering if putting on those clothes was seriously complicated.

Then, Ryle, whose pheromones shifted to a somewhat anxious hue, added as if confessing.

“It’s because I didn’t want anyone else seeing your body.”

“…….”

“……And I didn’t want anyone touching you under that pretext, either.”

“Ah……”

Only then did Hae-jin fully understand why Ryle was acting this way.

In truth, Ryle’s words were slightly flawed. It wasn’t as if Hae-jin would be completely naked in front of someone.

If someone had helped, he intended to ask them to support his shoulder from behind the curtain. If that were too difficult, they could have simply placed a chair in the dressing room.

But Ryle was saying that he found all those scenarios unacceptable. He wanted to block every single possibility, even the slightest one.

As if he were jealous.

At that sudden thought, Hae-jin unconsciously shut his mouth. As he gradually realized Ryle’s intention, heat strangely rushed to his ears.

“…….”

He had drunk a glass of water before coming here, but he felt strangely thirsty. It wasn’t as if the air was dry, as the rain was still falling steadily outside the window.

“……I’ll get the clothes first.”

“Yes……”

After glancing at him for a moment, Ryle brought Hae-jin’s attire from the side. It seemed he intended to assist with the dressing first before changing himself.

Ryle, having draped the attire over the back of the sofa, approached Hae-jin. Kneeling on one knee, he slowly reached out and grasped Hae-jin’s collar.

The sensation of the buttons popping open felt strangely sensitive. It was just Ryle changing his clothes, as he always did.

Feeling a peculiar sense of embarrassment, Hae-jin glanced at the attire.

The design he had chosen was simple and clean. At a glance, it wasn’t much different from a tuxedo one would wear to a party. Unlike the main ceremony outfit, the one he was wearing now was black.

Suddenly, Ryle’s blonde hair popped into view over the black fabric. It was because he had leaned in close to undo the lower buttons.

By then, all the buttons of the top had been undone.

“Ah……”

Captivated by the gold-thread-like hair, Hae-jin naturally found himself facing Ryle.

He locked eyes directly with Ryle, who had been staring intently at him for a while.

“…….”

“…….”

His mood had been subtly excited all along, and facing those blue eyes made him thirsty again.

While he was pondering what this feeling was, Ryle suddenly grasped one of Hae-jin’s knees carefully and asked in a very uncertain voice.

“Are you perhaps disappointed in me?”

Only then did Hae-jin perceive the pheromones surrounding him. He had wondered why Ryle had been anxiously gauging his reaction, and it turned out he had been thinking such a thing.

At the unexpected situation, Hae-jin unconsciously let out a soft, beaming laugh.

“Haha.”

“…….”

Unaware that his smile, like fragments of sunlight, was blinding Ryle.

“I’m not disappointed.”

“……Okay.”

Rather, it was troubling because Ryle seemed a bit cute like this.

Hae-jin looked troubled at the sudden thought. To think he would view Ryle, who was far more mature than himself, in such a way.

Regardless, Hae-jin reached out, feeling sorry for Ryle’s pheromones, which were still trembling with faint anxiety. He carefully cupped Ryle’s cheek, which shone as if it were being secretly cared for every day.

The warmth touching his palm was enough to make him forget the rain.

“Hae-jin.”

Ryle naturally covered the back of Hae-jin’s hand with his own. The movement of turning his head to press his lips against the palm was incredibly smooth.

“Yes.”

“Hae-jin.”

“Ugh, yes……”

Then, as his lips gradually traveled up the palm to reach the wrist, the erotic feeling returned.

Was it because he had been sleeping quietly for the past few days to manage his condition?

“Let me kiss you.”

“…….”

Pressing his lips thickly against both sides of Hae-jin’s wrist once more, Ryle whispered tenderly. In Ryle’s face, now lifted toward him, there was no longer any anxiety.

Only an unhideable longing could be felt from his brightly smiling face. Hae-jin could only helplessly gaze at Ryle’s yearning, which was a similar color to his own.

He pulled away one ticklish hand and aimlessly toyed with his earlobe. A blunt reproach escaped his lips for no reason.

“……Usually, you’re good at it even without asking.”

“I just felt like getting permission today.”

Ryle didn’t mind the scolding and only smiled more deeply.

Looking at the curve of his lips, as elegant as the crescent moon in the sky, Hae-jin finally answered in a cracking voice.

“……Do it.”

As Ryle’s face slowly approached, Hae-jin slid his eyes shut. Even without sight, he knew Ryle was always by his side thanks to the hot warmth touching his lips.

The waiting room was soon filled with the sweetly entwined pheromones of the two.

Having barely escaped the pleasure that kept clinging to their ankles, the two began to greet the guests.

“Bright! You look amazing today!”

“Thanks.”

Brown and Miller, who had arrived here on the second helicopter, approached Hae-jin with bright smiles.

The two welcomed the guests at the end of the path connecting the heliport to the villa. Because the rain continued, a long corridor with a rain shield had been constructed leading to this spot, so that no one would suffer the misfortune of getting soaked on such a happy day.

Rather than the guests’ clothes, Hae-jin was worried about his own attire. Because the kiss had ignited such a fire earlier, the attire he had left carelessly on the sofa had become slightly wrinkled.

After being so anxious, why did Ryle suddenly become in such a good mood?

Regardless, it wasn’t a major flaw. Upon confirming the wrinkles, Ryle brought a steam iron from somewhere. Then, with very skilled hands, he made the wrinkles vanish completely.

His movements were so smooth that one might wonder if he had predicted this situation and learned how to use an iron.

“Wow…… this is the island you mentioned last time, right? It’s truly beautiful.”

Following Brown, Miller also looked around in excitement. Seeing them admire everything so honestly made them seem like children today, which was pleasant.

“That’s right. Go on in. I’ve prepared plenty of delicious food.”

“I’m so excited!”

“I’ve been fasting since last night so I can eat a lot.”

“Miller, I told you to stop acting childish.”

The two bickered but entered the building together in harmony. Inside, guests who had arrived earlier were enjoying finger foods and admiring the scenery.

Though heavy rain was still falling over the sea.

“I heard this was the last group of guests on the helicopters. Let’s go inside and sit for a moment.”

“Do they say the weather is okay? I’m worried it might be dangerous for the helicopters to operate.”

“It’s fine. I told them to prioritize safety above all else.”

While calming Hae-jin’s concerns, Ryle reached out. Ryle’s blonde hair, wearing an attire of a similar design to Hae-jin’s, shone brightly even though the day was overcast.

Hae-jin glanced briefly at the empty heliport and soon took Ryle’s hand. It was time to entertain the guests, even if briefly, before the next helicopter arrived.

Originally, the ceremony was planned to be short and simple. However, due to the weather, the wedding became somewhat unusual. They decided not to set a specific start and end time.

The guests would enjoy the party to their heart’s content, and once the weather cleared, they would all head to the ceremony site together. If the weather didn’t clear today, they planned to hold the wedding indoors tomorrow morning.

Unlike other ceremonies, it ended up taking a very long time, but they had asked for the guests’ understanding in advance. Fortunately, everyone readily agreed to participate, saying they were looking forward to the Vermouth family party.

“…….”

After walking a few steps with Ryle, Hae-jin unconsciously looked back again.

His gaze went to the overcast sky, which cruelly showed no sign of the rain stopping.

“My. I slightly regret touching you like that this morning.”

Just then, Ryle, who was walking close to Hae-jin, suddenly whispered in his ear. Only a few steps away were the guests enjoying the party.

“To think I have to keep showing such a pretty face to the guests.”

“…….”

It was a rather sudden comment, but Hae-jin understood immediately and blushed. The embarrassing events in the waiting room flashed through his mind instantly.

His mood, which had been gloomily overcast like the weather, quickly changed its hue to pink. He sent a stern look toward Ryle, who was making mischievous jokes while people were so close.

Ryle even changed the color of his pheromones as if he truly found the fact regrettable. Hae-jin couldn’t bring himself to respond and only let his lips flutter. Even though it had been a long time since they had slept together, he strangely couldn’t adapt to these kinds of conversations.

Nor to Ryle, who said such things so sincerely.

As he looked at him hesitantly while fiddling with his earlobe, Ryle gave him a light kiss on the cheek. The guests watching from afar suddenly let out cheers.

The people who had done his makeup had strictly warned him to refrain from kissing today, but it had become useless.

“I want you all to myself. But I can’t exactly kick everyone out.”

“Ryle!”

He whispered softly, but the nearby guests might have heard. As if telling him to stop teasing, Hae-jin squeezed Ryle’s hand firmly.

Even though he squeezed hard to make it hurt a little, Ryle didn’t even blink. Instead, he smiled even more deeply and firmly interlaced their fingers.

Regardless, thanks to Ryle, Hae-jin was able to head toward the guests with a bright face. Since a helicopter had just arrived, the interior was filled with the noise of bustling conversation.

“Your friends are over there.”

“Where?”

“Over there, near where the Chairman of Kusun is sitting.”

The spacious living room that welcomed Hae-jin and Ryle had undergone a radical transformation today.

A long table was set against the backdrop of the open Atlantic. The finger foods placed there were all crafted so elaborately that it felt like a waste to eat them.

Flowers filled every empty space, including the stairs leading to the upper floor. As if to push away all the gloomy energy from outside, the fresh flowers boasted their vitality to the fullest.

All the original furniture had been removed, and plush individual sofas were placed throughout so that guests could use them intermittently. The guests naturally enjoyed the party while carrying plates in their hands. When they settled on a sofa, they could sit closely with several other people and converse.

“They’ve adapted quickly.”

“I guess so……”

While exchanging greetings with the people he encountered, Hae-jin searched for Brown and Miller. He knew they were used to parties with friends, but he worried they might feel awkward and unable to fit in.

However, the two were already sitting around a sofa, engaged in lively conversation. Miller, in particular, was getting along well with Ryle’s acquaintances. Looking at his expression, it seemed he was passionately talking about a field of interest.

It was around the time Hae-jin stopped worrying about his friends.

A few people nearby greeted Hae-jin with bright smiles.

“Hae-jin.”

“Auntie……”

“Congratulations, little munchkin.”

“Uncle.”

They were neighbors who had been acquainted with Hae-jin when he lived with his family.

The first person to call him was the aunt from next door who had been best friends with his mother. Approaching him, she gripped Hae-jin’s hand tightly with eyes brimming with tears. Ryle tactfully let Hae-jin go to them.

Coincidentally, they had arrived while Hae-jin had briefly stepped away to fix his hair. With a warm impression resembling his mother, she had aged a bit more than in Hae-jin’s memory.

Would his mother have had this kind of impression if she were still alive?

“You look truly wonderful today.”

It might have been burdensome for them to receive a sudden contact from Hae-jin after years of silence, but they had readily attended the wedding. Especially those who couldn’t attend his parents’ funeral expressed their sincere feelings, saying that the matter had weighed on their hearts for a long time.

Hae-jin had never resented them. In the first place, they had stepped up to help even when Hae-jin had to sell his house and when his parents’ side had been left empty.

“Your face has improved a lot.”

“Yes. You look happy, Hae-jin.”

Everyone surrounding Hae-jin offered blessings with red-rimmed eyes. One by one, they reached out and layered their hands over the back of Hae-jin’s hand. Hae-jin quietly let them hold his hand, barely parting his lips.

In this moment, there were people everyone was thinking of.

Hae-jin’s family, who had shone just like their names.

Catherine, the aunt who had first held Hae-jin’s hand but remained speechless for a long time, finally smiled brightly.

“Your mother would be so proud of you in heaven.”

Thanks to her, speaking with a face that resembled his mother, Hae-jin was finally able to speak.

As if he were facing his mother, who had used her sun-like energy to make him open up even when he was a newly adopted, intimidated child.

“I…… I haven’t really done much.”

However, what came out was old self-reproach. As soon as he said this, everyone holding his hand spoke up.

“Child, don’t say that. Protecting your parents while suffering so much at such a young age was your own strength.”

“The fact that you are happy is the greatest achievement of all.”

They didn’t know exactly what Hae-jin had done. However, seeing Hae-jin’s face grow darker day by day, they must have intuited something.

Perhaps that was why they had gradually stopped visiting. So that even if Hae-jin grew tired and wanted to give up everything, there would be no eyes watching him.

Feeling their warmth at this moment, Hae-jin somehow felt that way.

“Your whole family will be watching over you happily. Because you are living so bravely and well.”

The final nail in the coffin was the middle-aged man who lived next door to Hae-jin. He had been his father’s longtime beer buddy.

Looking at the man’s face, which bore the marks of time just like the others, Hae-jin couldn’t bring himself to answer and only moved his Adam’s apple repeatedly. He felt as if something would strangely spill out the moment he opened his mouth.

They were truly grateful people. Yet, his gaze inevitably drifted once more toward the cloudy sky outside the window.

The clouds have to be gone, so my family can look down on me.

In truth, Hae-jin knew this was irrational thinking. However, the thought he had when he first decided on an outdoor wedding clung to his mind with an odd persistence, refusing to let go.

It was foolish to ruin a good day with useless stubbornness. He knew that even if he didn’t obsess over a clear sky, they would always watch over him. He knew he had to live his life believing that, somehow.

But strangely, it didn’t work that way.

It was simply because he missed his family so achingly.

“Ah…”

Because, even like this, even if it was irrational, he wanted to believe that he could meet them soon.

“…”

As a sudden surge of emotion rose in his chest, Hae-jin took a quiet, deep breath. Only then did he vaguely realize the reason for this strange stubbornness he had been harboring all along.

I missed my family this much.

As he lived his life, he had eventually become able to place his family on the flip side of his happiness. But if he let his guard down for even a moment, the longing for them would ambush him as easily as flipping over a card.

“We’ve held you back too long.”

“It’s a happy day, so let’s be joyful.”

Seeing Hae-jin’s expression, the adults patted his shoulders, trying to cheer him up. They likely assumed Hae-jin had simply become sad while thinking of his family.

Without explaining in detail, Hae-jin quietly nodded.

As soon as Hae-jin stepped slightly away from the people, he felt a presence approaching.

“Hae-jin.”

It was Ryle, who had been keeping to the corner in silence, as if he were a sinner.

“Ryle.”

Hae-jin looked back at him with somewhat sunken eyes. Ryle’s face was stiff, as if he, too, harbored guilt like Hae-jin. Yet, he approached Hae-jin without hesitation.

He wrapped his arm around Hae-jin’s waist to support him, as if Hae-jin might collapse. Then, he whispered in a soft, gentle voice.

“If we move a little earlier tomorrow, we’ll be able to set up a wide cloth on top of the cliff.”

“Yes…”

“And if that doesn’t work, we can just have the wedding again.”

“…”

“If the weather in Heavy Rain is the problem, let’s build another greenhouse for the wedding. So that no matter when it rains, the space above our heads remains open to the sky.”

“Ah…”

“I will make whatever you want happen, no matter what.”

Ryle’s gaze was unwavering. Like a man who had been ready to do anything by Hae-jin’s side for a very long time.

Realizing the warmth carried in that gaze, Hae-jin slowly came back to his senses. The self-loathing that had held him for so long was pushed away and scattered like mist by Ryle’s powerfully shining eyes.

In his cleared mind, one fact was newly imprinted.

That he—Ryle—would now become his family.

“So, Hae-jin, just tell me what you want to do.”

Seeing his desperate gaze, Hae-jin’s heart gradually calmed. The longing for his family remained, but he found the strength to move forward once again.

“It’s okay.”

“…”

At Hae-jin’s answer, Ryle urgently scanned his face. As if checking to see if a veil of depression had draped over him once more.

Quietly clasping one of Ryle’s hands, Hae-jin swallowed his tears. What his parents’ acquaintances had said earlier was right.

“If the weather isn’t good, let’s just have the indoor wedding as planned.”

If he stayed this depressed, his family would be heartbroken. They were truly pure souls, so clouds would be no obstacle at all.

Let’s not be too upset.

“I want us to become ‘we’ quickly.”

“…Right.”

Hearing the words Hae-jin had struggled to choose, Ryle’s face finally relaxed into relief. Without caring that his carefully styled hair was getting messed up again, Hae-jin quietly leaned his head on Ryle’s shoulder.

In the end, the two were unable to hold the wedding that day.

As soon as the sun fully set, the party disbanded. Fortunately, the guests thoroughly enjoyed the specially prepared accommodations. Some even expressed delight, saying it felt like they had come on a group camping trip.

Hae-jin knew very well that they were all trying to cheer him up so that he wouldn’t be depressed.

It suddenly occurred to him that having such grateful people by his side was all thanks to the care of his family.

Perhaps because he had been comforted by so many people, he felt reasonably okay by the time he closed his eyes to sleep.

Ryle enveloped Hae-jin in soft pheromones throughout. In response, Hae-jin could feel pheromones of various emotions flowing from himself. Ryle held him quietly and patted his back, as if he vowed never to forget any of Hae-jin’s pheromones.

Lying in Ryle’s broad embrace as if it were a bed, Hae-jin breathed deeply of Ryle’s forest-like pheromones. At the same time, Hae-jin thought it was a relief that the guests’ accommodations were far away.

Though most were Betas, he felt embarrassed that his pheromones, which were acting so spoiled, were leaking out.

Falling asleep at some point, Hae-jin had a long dream.

He couldn’t remember exactly what he dreamed. He felt as if he had been doing something incessantly in the dream, but because the dream was so sweet and cozy, his sleep was deep.

‘Baby.’

Then, at some moment, Hae-jin’s eyes snapped open.

It happened even though no one had woken him. For Hae-jin, who always found it hard to wake up in the morning—sometimes not even waking up when Ryle physically lifted him—this was very unusual.

Feeling a sensation that was almost refreshing, Hae-jin lay blankly for a while, staring at the bright ceiling. Then, following the source of the light, he unconsciously cast his gaze out the window.

From the now clear sky, brilliant sunlight was bursting forth.

“…”

With a dazed expression, Hae-jin slowly sat up. Ryle, who had been providing an arm-pillow throughout the night, flinched slightly in response to Hae-jin’s movement.

Hae-jin didn’t even think to look back, his entire attention captured by the view outside.

The rain had finally stopped.

“Ryle.”

Fully awake, Hae-jin immediately reached back. He grabbed Ryle’s arm and shook it vigorously.

“Mm…”

Ryle couldn’t open his eyes immediately and let out a groan. Hae-jin wondered if Ryle had stayed up late worrying that Hae-jin might have another nightmare.

While he felt sorry and grateful for him, Hae-jin crawled closer to him. The problem that had troubled the two of them for so long had been solved.

With a flushed face, Hae-jin grabbed Ryle’s lying face with both hands.

“Ryle, it’s now.”

“Hae-jin…”

Ryle, now fully awake, called Hae-jin’s name with a bewildered look. After processing the meaning of Hae-jin’s words for a moment, he urgently looked out the window.

Then, he too broke into a smile.

“Yes, it’s now.”

With those words, the two hurried up and headed out of the room. As if everything was understood without needing to say more.

It was still very early morning. An hour so early that, on a weekday, people would have just woken up to prepare for work.

However, everyone who heard the news reacted with joy and readily got out of bed.

Those who had come to help with the wedding hurried to move equipment with bright faces. In an instant, a long procession formed, heading toward the cliff.

The guests were the same. Initially confused by the notice, they looked out the window, cheered, and hurried to get ready. Some who finished early even helped with the party preparations.

Ryle and Hae-jin, quickly dressed in their formal attire, walked along with the others toward the cliff. Moving together like this made it feel as if they were attending a festival.

Everyone looked up at the sky with excited faces. The sky was perfectly sunny, as if the heavy rain had never fallen.

Apparently, the forecast still predicted rain. Everyone offered well-wishes, saying this stroke of luck was a prophecy of the couple’s bright future.

All the way up to the cliff, sunlight filtered through the trees that lined the path like a corridor. The place that had exuded a mysterious atmosphere when the rain fell steadily now felt as if heaven itself had been prepared at the end.

Upon arriving at the top of the cliff, a modest wedding venue had been set up.

“Ah…”

Hae-jin, the last to ascend at the end of the procession, let out a blank gasp at the sight before him.

The meadow, greeting the fresh morning sunlight, was literally sparkling. The lush green grass, still holding moisture, scattered light like the Milky Way along the cool breeze.

He had thought it was wonderful enough yesterday, but seeing this scenery now changed his mind. The sunlight, flowing beautifully down to his feet, looked like a blessing in itself.

In front, the chairs for the guests were lined up neatly. On both sides, the wedding cake sat alongside champagne.

In the center of the seating, a path for the two of them stretched out without a single obstacle.

And at the end of it stood a flower arch, even more radiant than yesterday. Behind it lay the deep blue sea.

“Just in case, I made it with flowers that were slightly less bloomed since yesterday,” the planner whispered as she approached Hae-jin.

As if she had noticed that he couldn’t take his eyes off the beautiful arch.

“Since they were hit by the rain yesterday, they’ve bloomed even more fully.”

“Ah…”

At her low remark, Hae-jin unconsciously gasped.

Seeing the flowers that had bloomed fully despite enduring all that rain made his heart flutter strangely.

“We will begin the ceremony now, you two.”

“Yes.”

The planner quietly turned to Mark, who was standing to one side. She also announced the start of the ceremony to the guests who were gathered in small groups drinking beverages.

Mark stepped up onto the small platform in front of the arch. The guests found their seats and fell into a calm silence.

“Thank you to all the guests who attended and waited for this meaningful occasion.”

Hearing Mark’s opening greeting, Hae-jin was acutely aware of the person beside him. Ryle, who had held his hand all the way up the slope, was there.

“The same goes for our preparation team who worked hard for this wonderful space. Looking at this sunlight, it seems heaven has recognized our efforts.”

As Mark made a joke with a playful wink, small ripples of laughter echoed through the crowd. A few people responded with low whistles.

While quietly waiting for Mark’s signal, Hae-jin squeezed Ryle’s hand even tighter.

Even though they had intentionally simplified the order of the ceremony, tension slowly built up in him.

“Now, let us begin the formal ceremony.”

Following Mark’s guidance, everyone turned around simultaneously.

Hae-jin and Ryle were standing right where the stairs ended. Just then, the remaining clouds in the sky cleared, and the sunlight poured down onto the earth as vividly as a curtain.

The sunlight lingered particularly long on the two of them.

“Hae-jin.”

“Ryle.”

Before stepping forward, the two looked at each other. Unconsciously, naturally, it happened.

After gazing deeply into Hae-jin’s eyes for a long time, Ryle finally promised in a solemn voice.

“I will make sure you never regret any of these moments.”

Hae-jin calmly observed his face as the sunlight caressed it.

In that moment, swept by a bright and strong premonition, his lips moved.

“I don’t regret it.”

He worried that his voice, which had suddenly slipped out, was too small and might scatter vainly in the wind. But Ryle, who always listened intently to his words, seemed to hear the whisper clearly.

Hae-jin was completely captivated by Ryle’s golden eyes, curving beautifully like the flower arch, and his blue pupils, bluer than the sea.

“Please welcome the protagonists of this shining occasion with a round of applause.”

The sunlight now surged like the sea, beautifully embroidering the path the two would walk. Without hesitation, they stepped toward that brilliant light.

Holding each other’s hands tightly.

The wedding was short, but it ended in an extremely joyful atmosphere.

There were still quite a few clouds, but the sky was very clear. Against the backdrop of sunlight that continued to shimmer like a curtain, the two vowed to be by each other’s side forever.

Then, as soon as the wedding ended, the weather turned cloudy again, as if by a lie.

Everyone was amazed by that miracle-like change. Then, to celebrate the two who had now become a married couple, they moved back to the villa to enjoy the party.

Heavy rain fell outside throughout the party. So much so that it was hard to believe they had a wedding blessed by sunlight in the morning.

By the time afternoon arrived, the guests, who had given up two days of their time, returned one by one by helicopter. After seeing off Brown and Miller, who had intentionally stayed until the end for Hae-jin, it was already well past lunchtime.

The villa, once filled with the noise of the party, was now very quiet.

Perhaps because the space had been so boisterous since yesterday, the contrast felt even more vivid. However, Hae-jin embraced the silence warmly and enjoyed the lingering afterglow.

Then, as sunset approached, the clouds cleared again. Feeling a bit sad to see them go, he was looking at the sky when Ryle approached and led him by the hand.

And so, the two headed back up to the cliff.

To the place where only the flower arch now remained.

“…”

“…”

Sitting side by side in front of the arch, the two watched the setting sun beyond it for a long time.

The red sun was slowly diving into the blue sea. Hae-jin couldn’t take his eyes off the colors blending where they met at the horizon.

Ryle had thoughtfully brought something to sit on, so their bottoms didn’t get wet. The scent of rain and fresh greenery continued to waft from the grass. Leaning on Ryle’s shoulder, Hae-jin pleasantly savored the scent of grass, which resembled Ryle’s pheromones.

The two planned to stay on this island for one more day. They would go to the airport tomorrow for their honeymoon, but Ryle had been very concerned about Hae-jin’s condition, fearing that moving to the mansion and then departing again would be too much.

When he first heard the plan, Hae-jin thought Ryle was being overly worried again, but now he thought it was a good decision.

Because he wanted to enjoy this afterglow a little longer.

All day, he felt as if his body were floating in happiness, walking through the air. His legs, which always felt heavy as if weighted down, had no pain today.

It felt as if his family had truly come to see him.

As if that feeling of fulfillment were leaking out, Hae-jin unconsciously blurted out.

“The sky is so beautiful.”

“…Yes.”

Unlike Hae-jin, who had been meticulously watching the process of the sunset staining the sea, Ryle was staring blankly at Hae-jin, who was leaning on his shoulder.

He couldn’t take his eyes off him for the entire time the sun plunged more than halfway into the sea. He didn’t even dare to breathe loudly, fearing that Hae-jin might be surprised by his intensity and pull away.

Ryle still couldn’t quite believe that they had successfully completed the wedding. The self-loathing from not being able to give Hae-jin what he wanted had suffocated him, but everything had happened peacefully.

The two had finally become a married couple.

Because of this exhilaration filling his chest, Ryle felt as if he had swallowed that sea whole. Perhaps it was because he had longed to swallow all the raindrops Hae-jin had shed in his stead.

Ryle kept recalling one specific moment in his head. The moment of the wedding vows had become a very strong memory, but there was a scene that had occupied his mind even before that.

Ryle would never forget the sight of Hae-jin waking him up with a bright smile early this morning.

Looking into those black pupils that sparkled with childlike purity, Ryle fell in love all over again. Yes, it was an irresistible force.

“Does the name ‘Hae-jin’… have a special meaning?”

While observing Hae-jin’s black eyes sparkling in the red sunset, Ryle asked unconsciously. It was a question that had been tickling the back of his throat recently, so it popped out impulsively once the opportunity arose.

Hae-jin’s hometown was Heavy Rain, but his name was certainly foreign. Foolishly, that was the reason Ryle had first thought Hae-jin was not from this city.

Simply because he wanted to understand everything about Hae-jin, Ryle had carefully studied the name. Upon searching, it seemed to be a word used in the country of Hae-jin’s roots, but he couldn’t find a clear meaning.

Still, Ryle wanted to keep exploring. Because he never wanted to make a mistake again, he wanted to memorize even the meaning of the name.

However, names were still a delicate matter for Ryle, so he hadn’t been able to ask impulsively until now. But today, this surging sense of euphoria, like a swelling tide, finally gave him courage.

“Umm… I’m told that in the language of my ancestral country, it means ‘sunset.’”

“Sunset.”

Fortunately, Hae-jin answered without any sign of displeasure.

However, as the gaze Hae-jin cast toward the sunset—which resembled his own name—became even more wistful, Ryle carefully observed Hae-jin’s emotional state.

“Yes. That’s why my family told me I was someone who shines all day long. Since my name is Bright, they said I would always shine even after the sun has set.”

“…I see.”

The name held a warmer meaning than Ryle had expected. He felt a surge of loathing for his past self, who had arbitrarily tarnished it, to the point where he wanted to strangle himself again.

“I was curious, so I looked it up, but actually, it’s not a perfect match.”

Just then, Hae-jin spoke with a sudden, light laugh. In Ryle’s eyes, it looked as brilliant as if the sun had risen again upon Hae-jin’s face.

“But… I still liked it.”

“….”

“Because it’s a name given to me for my sake.”

“…Yeah.”

Looking into Hae-jin’s calmly settled eyes, Ryle chose his words carefully. He contemplated whether to repeat his apology for the past, but for some reason, he felt that Hae-jin wouldn’t want that.

Instead, with a more nervous heart, Ryle prepared to bring up one more thing that had been lingering in his mind.

The words that had been circling since he noticed Hae-jin unconsciously picking out only the wedding concept photos that showed the sky.

“…Since you had the sky above your head like this, I believe your family would have been watching over you closely.”

Did he dare to speak of them? Still, today was a day where he had finally earned the qualification. Hoping they would forgive him for this one day, Ryle carefully offered his sincerity.

Because he vaguely knew what Hae-jin wanted, Ryle also desperately wanted to have an outdoor wedding. This was also a necessary process for himself.

If he still didn’t deserve forgiveness for daring to covet the place beside Hae-jin… he thought that perhaps then, they might condemn him with a bolt of lightning from the heavens.

“Ah…”

At Ryle’s low voice, Hae-jin let out a surprised gasp.

He lifted his head from Ryle’s shoulder, where he had been leaning. Finding the situation so wondrous, he slowly turned to look at Ryle.

For some reason, Ryle was looking at him with a face full of tension.

“Did you know… that I wanted my family to see?”

“Just, vaguely.”

Hae-jin had thought about it, but he had never confessed it to anyone. He didn’t know if he wanted to keep it as a secret for himself, or if he was afraid someone would laugh at it as a foolish wish.

Regardless, Hae-jin found it surprising and wondrous that Ryle recognized this even though he hadn’t revealed it.

The sun dyed the sky an even deeper red, as if pouring out all its remaining strength for the day. The brilliant rays of light, just before slipping completely over the horizon, imprinted Ryle’s face into Hae-jin’s memory.

At the very bottom of his chest, he felt something that had remained knotted finally evaporate cleanly, along with that sun bursting into its final light before disappearing.

“Thank you.”

“…That’s my line, Hae-jin.”

Ryle answered with a slightly flustered expression.

Meanwhile, he once again pulled up the jacket he had draped over Hae-jin’s shoulders. The cozy pheromones and body heat of Ryle imbued in the jacket prevented the darkening night from encroaching upon Hae-jin.

“I love you.”

At Ryle’s confession, Hae-jin slowly buried his face in Ryle’s shoulder. It was a strange feeling, as if he might cry or burst into loud laughter.

But one thing was clear. Hae-jin was no longer afraid of rainy days or the darkness.

Because I am a person who shines, following my family.