Side Story 5. A Midsummer Night's Letter (2) Main Text: The Island of Runaway Lovers (4)

As a 1st-grade hunter, he had to be ready to rush out at any time even on holidays if an emergency occurred. But here, that wouldn't happen. The place where the pager that was always wrapped around his wrist used to be felt excessively light.

If he, who had only worked for 3 years, felt his tense shoulders aching and relaxing, how would Soram feel?

For you, whose memories of the sea covered in dark red are clearer than the blue sea, what reaction would you have standing in front of this?

Would you excitedly hug a tube and jump in with a splash, or would you awkwardly just dip your feet in and quickly get out?

It had only been a few hours since they parted, yet his image was already flickering in his mind. He might regret leaving Soram behind before even completing the 3 nights and 4 days.

He had to investigate thoroughly enough to make up for this current regret, and provide the best trip without a single flaw next time.

Soram wouldn't wish for such a thing, and in a way, it might all just be his own desire, but he had acutely realized that for a lover who was far superior in position, life experience, and even wealth, all he could do was run around physically...

Tae-un turned his gaze from the sea to behind him. In the opposite direction from the sea rose the cliff that had made this place seem like a deserted island in the legend. Tae-un tried his best to remember the shape of the rock in front to be able to find this spot with its exceptionally beautiful sea view later. He didn't think for a moment that his intense staring at the dark cliff might have appeared suspicious and gloomy to someone.

When he got back into the passenger seat, the guide, somehow seeming more hurried than before, took Tae-un to the next location.

At the end of a gravel path through the grass stood a single white house. As they got closer, a cross that had been hidden by palm trees came into view, revealing that it wasn't a house.

"Is this a religious facility?"

"Ah, yes! It's a church. It's the only church in this area, and as I mentioned earlier about the legend of the island, there are small attractions like... wedding ceremony experiences... but it probably won't be to your taste, so let's move on to the next place...!"

It was then that Tae-un took off the sunglasses he had been wearing all this time.

The guide tensed up despite having done nothing wrong, but after seeing Tae-un's face, surprise somewhat suppressed his fear. The face, now fully visible, was that of a strikingly handsome man with harmonious strong features.

"Can we go inside?"

"Y-yes..."

As soon as the car stopped, Tae-un took large strides and was already standing in front of the church's main entrance. The guide hurriedly followed behind him.

Pushing open the wooden door with peeling paint revealed a small chapel.

The interior was bright enough with just the sunlight passing through the windows, even without the lights on. A middle-aged pastor sitting in an empty chair turned his head.

"Welcome. Are you tourists?"

He asked in English. The guide was about to step forward to interpret between the pastor and Tae-un, but.

"Hello. If it's alright, I'd like to look around inside for a moment."

...Surprisingly, the tourist spoke fluent English. To the extent that it was unclear why he had spent so much money on hiring a guide.

Tae-un put five bills into the donation box installed right in front of the entrance. While his attention was caught by the church interior, the pastor gave a thumbs up to the guide. The guide tried to dissuade him with his eyes, saying 'No, well, it's a bit much to try tourist shopping with this person...', but the pastor was already wearing a warm smile that said 'Today, you've brought a very precious guest.'

"You're welcome to look around as much as you like. As it's a tourist spot, it's open to tourists when there's no service."

"Thank you."

Thank you. The low voice resonated even more heavily in the enclosed space.

The interior of the small church was intricately and carefully decorated. The most noticeable feature was that the central part of the ceiling was made of a long rectangular glass. The clear sky of the day was draped on the ceiling like a framed picture. Tae-un stopped and was captivated by the sight.

"The night sky seen through there is just as beautiful as the day."

It certainly seemed so. In this environment with almost no light pollution, both the moon and stars would be clearly observable through there.

While he fixed his gaze on the ceiling, the sound of waves could be heard continuously from outside.

"Are you interested in the wedding ceremony experience?"

A kind voice had approached Tae-un's side at some point.

"Ah, yes."

"That's also popular in the late night hours."

"... A wedding ceremony experience at night?"

"Many couples come wanting to feel the emotions of Bonnie and Clyde, having to whisper their love quietly in the early dawn."

There was a part here that Tae-un couldn't let slide.

"Weren't Bonnie and Clyde criminals?"

"Should a church built on the Island of Runaway Lovers ask such things?"

"..."

To Tae-un, who couldn't find words to respond, the pastor continued.

"It's not about the story of how they came to stand before the altar with just the two of them, without a single guest. We should bless the present moment. For some people, it might just be a unique experience at a tourist spot... but for others, it might be a desperate moment they've longed for."

The pastor's benevolent and peaceful smile, characteristic of clergy, looked around the church. Tae-un also took in the small but cleanly organized interior following that gaze. He could almost picture lovers holding hands in the darkness, hiding from people's eyes.

"The rental fee is the same either way."

"...Ah, there's a fee?"

"It's a donation. It means that everyone is equal before the love joined by the Lord, no matter who comes with whom."

...For now, it seemed there would be no problem accepting gay couples here. Rather, gay couples might be considered normal by the pastor's standards.

"Some people describe it as the fare to safely return to reality after dreaming of becoming someone else for one night."

A dream that shines perfectly for just one day and then disappears. Perhaps that's what a wedding is.

In all his imaginings of a wedding so far, a specific place had never appeared. Soram dressed in pure white from head to toe, a ring on his white finger, the vow to be together for life coming from his lips. The fantasy of the wedding was enough with just that, so he had paid relatively less attention to other aspects...

"..."

Tae-un walked down the aisle between the long pews and approached the altar. A place with such a high ceiling, transparently reflecting the sky, would be good for a wedding venue. Their first meeting was in the Flight Team, and they were still together in the Flight Team.

It would be good to lay a long white cloth on the floor. Although he wasn't particularly fond of flowers, bright-colored flowers would surely suit Soram. So they should place flowers without gaps along the path he would walk.

Usually full of mischief, but in important moments, he becomes twice as shy on his own. People who know Jin Soram moderately might imagine him entering while waving a bouquet vigorously. But in reality, he would probably enter stiffly and awkwardly.

With his exceptionally fair skin, the blush on his earlobes and cheeks would be immediately noticeable. Walking down the wedding aisle like that, and then opening his mouth grumpily on purpose to hide how nervous he is.

'... Why are you looking at me like that.'

Then, biting the corner of his lip gently.

'Han Tae-un, do you like me that much?'

Thwack!

Tae-un's fist, full of protruding veins, struck his own thigh. Imagining Soram standing in the wedding venue with his face turned bright red made him want to smash the walls or surrounding objects as if he had become a mutant. Since he couldn't possibly do that, he struck his own leg, the sturdiest thing here.

'Don't laugh... It's annoying, Han Tae-un.'

Ha, even knowing it's just imaginary Jin Soram, his heart wouldn't stay still. That tingling sensation made the corners of his mouth rise and made him punch his thigh two more times.

"We didn't walk around that much, but it seems your legs are hurting a lot..."

"It's nothing."

Tae-un straightened his back, pretending to be nonchalant. He needed to realize the dream of marriage as soon as possible.

The church was a place with somewhat worldly aspects mixed in, but it was a good place that stimulated the dream of marriage. Tae-un urged the guide to move on to the next tourist spot.

"I enjoyed looking around. Thank you, Pastor."

"My child, would you perhaps consider making a reservation donation?"

The pastor followed Tae-un as he headed towards the exit and asked.

"If you make a donation to the Lord in advance for the long-term preservation of this chapel, you can use the venue whenever you need it as I mentioned."

"...Thank you for the offer, but I don't know when I'll come back."

"If you take the contract, the term is indefinite."

"Even so, I don't particularly,"

"You could also see it as setting a wish to come back with someone next time."

"..."

Han Tae-un, who had come here lamenting Jin Soram's indiscriminate purchases and waste, soon after carefully folded the contract and put it in his bag. Behind him, the guide was looking at him with eyes that saw an easy mark.

***

"Thank you for your hard work today. I appreciate it."

"Ah, no, not at all."

Tae-un parted ways with the guide in front of the famous restaurant he had been taken to. The guide, who had diligently shown him around various places until the sunset was sinking, declined the offer to treat him to a meal and said goodbye.