Side Story 5. A Midsummer Night's Letter (2) Main Text: The Island of Runaway Lovers  (16)

–I was going to eat this on the weekend, but I'll give it to you two. Now, blow.

For a moment, they thought this was more like a birthday party than a wedding, but the two silently blew at the screen. Ayoung extinguished the candle in the screen at a similar timing.

–Congratulations on your marriage. You both need to be happy.

"Thank you, Ayoung-ah."

"Thanks."

–But I hope you'll have another wedding in Korea later. I want to congratulate you in person. I'll make Aila the flower dog!

"Ah, that's a good idea. We'll definitely do that."

–Have a fun honeymoon, and bring back gifts when you come! Expensive ones!

"Look forward to it. We'll buy something for Aila too."

The call ended with Ayoung waving Aila's front paw. Soram couldn't take his eyes off the screen after the call ended, rubbing the side of the phone with his fingertips.

Tae-un covered the back of that hand with his own.

"There's someone else I want to contact."

"Someone? Who?"

Tae-un scrolled down the contacts. Seeing the number that appeared, Soram's mouth fell open.

"Hey...! What, how are we going to tell him?"

"I should tell him that if he gives you to me, I'll do my best to make you happy for the rest of my life."

"Are you crazy?"

The contact Tae-un had pointed to was Director Park Jae-seon's.

"Soram-ah, the Director knows about us."

"What? Did you tell him?"

"We were found out. Both of us."

"..."

Soram, who had been moving his lips silently, smoothly took the phone from Tae-un.

"...Let's call him. But, I'll talk. You stay quiet."

Soram's fingertips trembled slightly as he dialed the number. After just a few rings, Director Park Jae-seon answered the phone.

–Yes, Soram-ah. Oh? A video call?

"Ah, Director. It's the middle of the night there too, right?"

–That's right. Ah, Tae-un is there too. Is something wrong?

Soram, who had been opening and closing his mouth, finally spoke.

"We... are going to get married here today."

–Hmm? You're saying you're going to get married now?

"Yes. Well, I heard from Han Tae-un that you knew, but after going through various things together, we grew to like each other... So we've been dating until now..."

–So, Tae-un managed to get you, Soram, who was so defensive that you couldn't even talk to me about it, to the point of marriage?

"That's...!"

He wanted to deny it out of some sulky feeling, but soon stopped. It was true that without Tae-un, he wouldn't have been able to think about marriage. It was entirely Han Tae-un who made him look forward to a tomorrow that wasn't hopeless, and the courage to speak to Park Jae-seon also came from him.

"...That's right."

–Hoo... My, Tae-un... He's even more amazing than I thought.

After a sound of admiration, he burst into hearty laughter. At that moment, a woman's voice was heard from within the screen.

–Did something happen?

The Director turned to someone wearing a nightgown who had appeared behind him.

–Soram says he's getting married.

–Oh my... Marriage? Did I hear that right?

Although it was the first time Tae-un had heard this voice, he immediately guessed who it was. It was a well-known fact that Director Park Jae-seon was married before his awakening. Soram, who was already familiar with the other person, waved his hand happily in front of the screen.

"Hello. It's been a while. Have you been well?"

"Nice to meet you."

Tae-un quickly followed with a greeting. The person who had taken a seat next to Park Jae-seon was one half of a pair who looked very similar to the mild-mannered Park Jae-seon. A left hand with a ring on the ring finger waved left and right, acknowledging Soram and Tae-un's greetings.

–Aha, I see. No wonder this person wouldn't answer when I asked who on earth Soram was dating.

–Tae-un-ah, you heard that? I kept the secret thoroughly.

"You didn't have to keep it a secret from me too. I only heard from Han Tae-un today that you knew about us, Director."

–That's because Tae-un is tight-lipped. He takes after me.

–Stop teasing them. It's their wedding day.

–Ah, that's right. They shouldn't fight on their wedding day?

"I'll probably be the one getting one-sidedly beaten and chased out."

Joyful laughter erupted again. Soram seemed to glare at Tae-un for a moment before looking at the smiling face of the Director on the screen, as if etching it deeply into his eyes.

"Director, I've really become happy now. I'll live even happier from now on. I think that's possible with this guy here."

The video call quality from overseas wasn't very clear. But there seemed to be a bit of moisture in the wrinkled corners of his smiling eyes.

–Congratulations. To both of you. Let's see each other when you return to Korea.

"Yes!"

"Yes."

–Ah, wait. If you're getting married just the two of you, should I officiate now...

Click.

Tae-un looked intently at Soram, who had pressed the end call button.

"Weddings without officiants are trendy, it said so in the search results earlier."

"...That's right."

"Actually, I hung up because I felt like I might cry like you did earlier if we kept talking."

"I see."

Soram and Tae-un couldn't say anything for a moment. The conversation they had with Park Jae-seon lingered in their minds, popping like bubbles.

Soram seemed to be more deeply affected. He couldn't take his eyes off the already dark screen for a long time, then went into the call history and stared at the screen showing the call duration of just over 10 minutes for another long while.

Tae-un stroked Soram's shoulder that was clinging to him, listening to Soram's heartbeat that had grown louder than usual.

Soram, who had closed his eyes tightly and then opened them, suddenly lifted his head.

"Now let's call Deputy Director Grandpa!"

"Huh? Suddenly?"

"The Director likes me, and the Deputy Director likes you, right?"

"...No, he probably cut ties with us after we caused trouble and left this time."

"Anyway, he's like a grandfather to you, isn't he?"

"My grandfather is resting peacefully in our family burial ground, what are you talking about?"

"Ah! We're going to do it!"

"If you say so..."

They could only see Kwon Jung-oh's face on the second call after the first one had rung out completely. Judging by his obvious look of annoyance, he had clearly ignored the first call on purpose.

–What is it, you brats. Why?

In front of him, Soram immediately shouted that they were getting married. Kwon Jung-oh's eyes filled with shock and his forehead wrinkled heavily at the same time. When they proudly showed off the rings they were both wearing, he soon clicked his tongue with a "tsk."

–Why are you getting married in someone else's country when we've worked our asses off to protect our own?

After grumbling some more, he asked abruptly.

–So what, do you want me to create a partnership law before I retire?

"I'll try to achieve that myself."

–A chick who hasn't even managed to get a lawyer's badge once talks big. You think that's an easy thing to do?

He muttered in a nasty tone and then snapped.

–I should at least be properly invited to decide whether to give a congratulatory gift or not. I'm going to sleep. Come back after you've had your fun.

And before they could say anything, the call ended. Tae-un made a "hmm" sound and then said,

"We might end up having another wedding in Korea."

"Huh? Really?"

"The Deputy Director isn't one to speak idly."

Soram's cheeks reddened and lifted on both sides as he imagined some scene. The church, with its small lights floating like a lighthouse on the night sea, became a little more beautiful.

"I like that..."

Soram smiled and tapped his phone again.

"Let's call Ga-eul too. We must invite Ga-eul."

"Okay."

They found Ga-eul's number and made a video call, and soon a face like an egg ghost appeared on the screen. This was because Ga-eul was wearing a face mask. Ga-eul, who was presumably lying on the bed, answered the call with an unenthusiastic "Oh."

"Ga-eul-ah, you've completely dropped formalities with Han Tae-un too now."

–Ah, well, unless one of us dies early, we'll be bickering at headquarters for at least 30 years anyway. Why did you call?

"We got married. Congratulate us."

–Are you drunk?

Soram silently interlocked his fingers with Tae-un's and held them up in front of the screen. Ga-eul, who had been looking at them as if asking what nonsense they were up to, gradually went "Oh...?" and finally sat up abruptly.

–C-crazy. How dare you make me hear this news with a pack on!

The pack fell off her face with a swish, revealing the familiar face now moist with essence.

–Huh, no, really? Really, you two?

"Yeah."

"...This isn't Ayoung, is it?"

"We told Ayoung a while ago."

–Aoh, you should have given me a heads up. You surprised me. I don't mean it's weird. I know the feeling you get when you've been through near-death moments together... Anyway, um. That's good. But how long have you been dating to get married already?

"We... how long should we say?"

"It's been about 2 years."

–Wow, hearing Han Tae-un's voice answer makes it even weirder. Crazy, so you two were dating even before the 4th Great Rift burst? That's amazing. Ah, is that why you moved out of the dormitory, because you got married today?

"Today's marriage was a bit sudden, but moving out to live together is right."

–Wow... Wow...

Ahem, ahem. Ga-eul, sitting cross-legged, cleared her throat.

–I really congratulate you, and um... I hope you two live well without any troubles, and if you need anything, tell me. I'll buy it as a wedding gift.

"There's definitely something we need."

–What is it?

"The next dispatched country's Director Kim Ga-eul."

–Get lost.

The congratulatory message that had been continuing shyly ended there. After a few more words of banter, the call ended.