Side Story 5. A Midsummer Night's Letter (2) Main Text: The Island of Runaway Lovers (15)

Soram plopped down on the steps in front of the altar.

"Ah, my phone works. I thought it was completely ruined after falling in the water."

The light from the mobile phone invaded the dimly lit cathedral with minimal lighting. But it didn't last long and soon returned to his pocket.

"So they do weddings here too, right?"

"Yeah."

"I thought we'd never be able to stand side by side at a wedding venue, but thanks to this, we can."

"..."

The dark clouds that had come close above the skylight poured rain.

"It's like being in a cave."

"It is."

A red carpet stretched along the long path from the altar to the door. Tae-un sat down next to Soram, gazing at the same spot. Soram opened his mouth.

"I wanted to get married on a very clear day, but a rainy day seems fine too. It might be fun to do it in the pitch-dark night as well."

"..."

"It might be nice to do it just the two of us like this too."

Soram looked down at his hands for a moment before speaking.

"Han Tae-un, you lied to me earlier about this being an uninhabited island. If you hadn't told the truth, how long do you think it would have taken me to figure out the lie?"

"You probably would have known as soon as you flew up."

"Right. Even if I get caught up in playing with you, I'd figure it out within a few days."

Soram rested his head on Tae-un's shoulder. His wet hair transferred moisture to the shoulder.

"But if it were me, I wouldn't tell you. Because I'd like us to keep being together. I'd pretend to keep believing it was an uninhabited island."

"..."

"That's how I'd confine you too."

Tae-un's eyes widened slightly. Soram wrinkled his nose.

"If we ran away together, abandoning everything where we used to live, of course it would be much better if it were an uninhabited island. I don't think only one side in the story you told was lying to be together."

The rain continued to beat on the ceiling and windows. Tae-un's heartbeat quickened along with it.

"Han Tae-un, I like being confined by you."

"..."

"I want you to be with me until the moment I die in my remaining life. And if that's what it takes, I think it's okay for you to confine me."

Tae-un's gaze turned to find Soram filling his vision. Soram smiled as if there wasn't a single lie in his words.

To be able to see Jin Soram, this person he loved so much, all by himself, and for this person to agree to it.

Greed boiled as if it would burn his entire body. Tae-un opened his mouth to answer. Although his mind was still in countless conflicts, what finally came out was:

"No."

"Ah, I thought you'd say that."

Soram leaned back, supporting himself with his hands behind him.

"I know you won't do it even if I ask you to confine me. Because you love me much more than I love myself."

This was Soram, who had been tightly bound by the shackles of time and the sense of duty to save the world. He couldn't dare infringe on the freedom Soram had only just regained.

The selfishness that had bloomed from blind love for Soram was soon suppressed by that very love. Soram knew this better than Tae-un did.

"So, I want to be confined by you, but since you won't do it, I'm saying let's get married quickly instead."

"..."

"I'll substitute marriage for the uninhabited island that would confine me."

Someone had drawn the boundary of an island on this land, cutting it off from other places.

Tae-un couldn't do that. But, drawing a small boundary around him as he freely roamed the world...

"Han Tae-un, are you still thinking unnecessary thoughts?"

Soram tilted his head, facing him.

"Look only at me. The thoughts you're having while looking at me. That's exactly what I want."

Tae-un felt something hot welling up inside him.

Could he dare call this love?

Jin Soram's love was so pure and blind that Tae-un had such worries.

But no matter what kind of love he offered, Soram gave the answer that he wouldn't let go of their overlapped hands.

"... Are you crying?"

"... Marry me."

"Oh..., I'll marry you... Don't cry..."

"..."

"Why are you crying..."

"Marry me."

Tae-un hugged Soram tighter. It was a much worse proposal than the one he had made in the countryside cottage.

Soram rested his head on Tae-un's arm. The rain had thinned out by now. The last evening sky peeked through the gaps in the clouds with a bluish tint, but it soon became completely dark. Tae-un read the mobile phone screen he was looking at with Soram.

"The main steps of a wedding are booking the venue, sending out invitations, the main ceremony, and the honeymoon."

"We've got everything roughly done except for the invitations. Next. Look at the order of the main ceremony."

Even the main ceremony, after skipping the lighting of the unity candle, officiating, and congratulatory speeches, had only a few essential parts left. For example, the marriage vows.

"Do you, Han Tae-un, swear to love Jin Soram in any moment?"

"I do."

"Even if I cause a huge mess and dump the cleanup on you?"

"What choice would I have if my husband did it?"

Soram's eyes curved gently.

"The word 'husband' sounds awkward but nice."

"If we're married, you're not a lover anymore but a husband."

"That's true."

This time, it was Tae-un's hand that touched Soram's cheek.

"Do you, Jin Soram, swear to love Han Tae-un in any moment?"

"I do. I love you even if you confine me on an uninhabited island."

"I won't confine you."

Tae-un stroked the corner of his eye.

"I will monopolize you sometimes. Because we're spouses."

"I like that."

The two, who had been smiling at each other, turned their heads back to the phone screen.

"Is there anything else we need to do for the wedding?"

"Well, let's see. Ah, we could do a procession too. And a kiss of promise."

"Good. Let's go."

Soram stood up first and held out his hand. Tae-un took that hand, stood up, and linked arms with Soram.

With their long strides, the procession in the small church ended quickly.

"Wasn't that too fast? Let's do it again slowly."

"Okay."

But their different stride lengths made for a comical sight as they stumbled along.

"Sigh, this is why we failed at the three-legged race, and why we had such a mess in the cave."

"...I really hope they remove that event from the next field day."

"Why? Next time we can practice and run. Try putting your feet together. This is how we should walk."

After walking creakily on the carpet, momentarily forgetting it was a wedding, they said, "Hey, we're in the middle of our wedding," and made another round.

Then they stood facing each other in front of the altar.

Tae-un bent his waist slightly and Soram lifted his head. Their lips met softly. It wasn't as deep a kiss as usual, but something stirred inside.

They sat back down on the altar side by side.

"Han Tae-un, shall we send out wedding invitations now?"

"The order is all messed up."

"So what?"

Tae-un nodded. The two who had secretly held their wedding ceremony would do everything they wanted to do at this moment without any regrets. It was a night when such childlike impulses arose. They were full of determination to do everything before this special night ended.

Like an engaged couple discussing their guest list, they looked through their phone contacts.

In fact, the person who would unconditionally receive the first invitation was already decided. They made a video call to Ayoung, who had become their unanimous first choice. While waiting for the call to connect, Soram grabbed Tae-un's arm.

"I feel a bit nervous."

"The invitation makes you more nervous than the wedding?"

"It was such a messy wedding to begin with..."

The screen on the display changed, and Ayoung's face appeared.

–What's this! You called to brag about going on a trip without me, didn't you!

Ayoung thrust her annoyed face close to the camera. The two put their faces together and waved. She was the only person who officially knew about their relationship.

"Are you at home?"

–Yeah, I'm guarding Korea's skies alone while some couple is on a trip.

"You're the first, so don't be too angry."

–What? No, actually, I was just pretending to be upset, I'm not angry. Oh, where are you two? The background looks pretty.

"A church on the beach here. Can you see it well in the dark?"

–Ooh, yeah. I can see the cross.

They turned the camera to show Ayoung the surroundings. Then, after bringing their faces back into the frame, they said,

"Ayoung-ah, we just got married here."

–Huh? ...Huuuk! Just now?

"Yeah. Just now."

–Just the two of you, I see. Wow, that's kind of romantic. Ah, then let me take a vacation too! So I can come and congratulate you!

"It happened suddenly. Sorry. But you're the first person to hear the news, Ayoung."

–Of course! Hehe..., oh, that's right!

Ayoung said, "Wait a moment, wait a moment," and put down her phone. The screen showed the ceiling while only Ayoung's voice could be heard.

–Aila, Aila! Come here quickly!

–Woof!

–Soram oppa, Tae-un oppa, don't hang up for a moment!

A moment later, the screen shook violently with clattering sounds. Soon, the screen was fixed somewhere, but more than half of it was blocked by a white, fluffy leg.

–I'm here. Ta-da!

Ayoung, who had made Aila move to the side, was holding a fruit cake slightly larger than her palm. A short candle was stuck in the middle.