A Marriage with A Reason - Chapter 18

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”

Hyeyun’s hands trembled as she held Jaehoon tightly, and he could feel her shaking. His expression darkened.

“Song Hyeyun.”

Feeling frustrated, Jaehoon tried to loosen Hyeyun’s grip on him. But the more he struggled, the tighter she held him, crying out in desperation.

“I was wrong! From now on, I won’t throw tantrums or act childish anymore. So, please… don’t change. Please, Jaehoon, don’t change. Stay by my side, just like before. I was wrong, so please smile at me again like you used to. I’ll wait, so call me first sometimes, and playfully complain to me once in a while. Okay?”

Jaehoon stood there, dazed, as if he’d lost his senses.

“I’ve changed? Have I really changed?”

He kept questioning himself. “Have I changed? Or have I not?”

He couldn’t believe Hyeyun’s words, nor did he want to. No, maybe he just didn’t want to admit it.

Meanwhile, Dayun didn’t want to go home yet, so she decided to meet up with her friends. She had texted them to hang out, and Sojin, Suji, and Hyunsoo all responded, saying they’d come.

“Oh~ It feels different and nice to be back at school after so long.”

Their meeting spot was the café in front of the school, a place they used to visit often. But since her friends were still in class, Dayun decided to kill some time by wandering around the campus. Anyway, she could just meet up with Hyunsoo later.

It had only been a few months since she graduated, but stepping onto campus again made her feel like it had been ages. Sure, she had thought “It’s been a while” when school reopened after vacations, but coming back after graduation felt completely different.

“Oh? Are they freshmen? So cute.”

As she strolled through campus, she noticed a group of students dressed to look mature, but their youthful awkwardness was still apparent. They weren’t just a few students—there was a whole bunch of them. Seeing them made her smile. It reminded her of when she was a freshman.

“I used to be that fresh-faced too.”

It was strange. Back when she was still in school, she had hated classes and only looked forward to vacations, dreaming of the day she would finally graduate. But now that she had, she found herself missing it.

“Haa… I guess I do feel a little nostalgic.”

Her school days weren’t that long ago. But why did they feel so distant? Maybe because they had become cherished memories she could never return to.

“Hey, Choi Dayun!”

Just as she was lost in thought, reminiscing while walking around campus, a familiar voice called out. Soon, Hyunsoo came running up to her.

“Huff… Huff…”

“What? Did you run all the way here?”

Hyunsoo was out of breath, panting heavily. Seeing him like that, Dayun felt both amused and concerned. She walked up to him and gently patted his back.

“Why did you do that? You should’ve just walked.”

Looking at Hyunsoo, who was still trying to catch his breath, Dayun showed a worried expression. But he suddenly smiled, as if nothing had happened.

“You were waiting for me. I know you hate being alone.”

“Hyunsoo~”

Dayun spread her arms wide as if she was about to hug him. Truthfully, she had felt a bit lonely while wandering the campus alone. So, hearing Hyunsoo say that, knowing her so well, made her feel grateful. But before she could embrace him, he quickly stepped back with a disgusted expression.

“Hey, Choi Dayun, stop pretending to be emotional and let’s just go.”

“Tsk. I’m not pretending—I really was touched! What kind of girl wouldn’t be moved when a friend ran to her because he didn’t want her to be alone?”

Pouting, Dayun looked disappointed. Seeing her sulk, Hyunsoo’s ears turned slightly red, and he started walking faster.

“Whatever, just follow me. I had to escape from my seniors—they were forcing me to drink. If they catch me, I might not get away this time.”

Dayun, unaware of his embarrassment, was touched once again by his consideration. She playfully teased him.

“Oh~ Mr. Popular! You gave up drinks and seniors just for me? I feel honored.”

“Honored, my foot. Hurry up and follow me.”

“Okay, okay, let’s go.”

Hyunsoo hurried ahead, embarrassed, while Dayun followed behind him like a puppy.

At the café where they were meeting, Sojin and Suji were already there, sipping coffee and chatting. When the door opened, Hyunsoo walked in and sat across from them. Since Dayun and Hyunsoo always sat together when they met up, Sojin and Suji naturally left space for them.

“Oh, Kim Hyunsoo, you’re here?”

“Hi~”

They greeted him one after another, and Hyunsoo simply nodded in response. But then Sojin looked around curiously and asked.

“Where’s Dayun? Didn’t you come together?”

Hyunsoo smirked, as if he already knew what was coming. He could almost picture Dayun storming in, grumbling.

“She’ll be here soon, fuming mad.”

“What did you do to her this time? Did you hit her or something?”

Suji joked, but Hyunsoo looked shocked.

“What? Of course not!”

But Sojin beat him to it, eyes wide with mock anger.

“What? You hit our Dayun? Do you want to die?”

Feeling wrongly accused, Hyunsoo frowned in frustration.

“Do you really think I’d hit her? Where would I even hit someone that tiny?”

“Well, that’s true…”

At that moment—

“Kim Hyunsoo! You traitor!!”

Just as Hyunsoo predicted, Dayun stormed in, sulking. Seeing how spot-on Hyunsoo’s guess was, Suji chuckled.

“Wow, Kim Hyunsoo was right. She’s fuming.”

Dayun plopped down next to Hyunsoo, looking furious.

“Tsk. You should’ve walked with me! How could you just ditch me?”

“You were too slow. Walk faster next time. Shorty.”

“Hey! I told you not to call me that! I hate you!”

Pouting, Dayun turned her head away dramatically. But did she know how adorable she looked in that moment? Watching her sulk, Suji, Sojin, and even Hyunsoo smiled without realizing it. Each of them had a different meaning behind their smiles, but one thing was clear—they all found her lovable.

“Hey, Kim Hyunsoo, stop teasing Dayun and order something to drink. Sojin and I already have coffee, so you and Dayun should get something.”

At Suji’s suggestion, Hyunsoo nodded. Then, he turned to Dayun, his eyes filled with warmth.

“Okay. Dayun, what do you want? I’ll buy it for you.”

“I don’t want anything. I’m not drinking what you buy.”

“Come on…”

“Nope. I don’t like you, so don’t talk to me.”

Her unusually cold tone caught Hyunsoo off guard. Even Sojin and Suji chimed in.

“Yeah, you went too far this time.”

Normally, Dayun would forgive anything if it involved food. But this time, she was really holding a grudge.

“Are you really mad? Okay, I was wrong. I won’t call you shorty anymore, and I won’t leave you behind again. Please forgive me, okay?”

Dayun wanted to hold her grudge, but Hyunsoo’s rare apology and the sincerity in his voice made her waver.

“Hehe, I was just messing with you. You really thought I was mad?”

“Really? You’re not mad?”

Hyunsoo still looked unsure, making Dayun laugh.

“Yup. Now go order. You said you’d buy me something, right?”

Relieved, Hyunsoo beamed and rushed off. Watching him, Dayun couldn’t help but smile too.

“Oh! I’ll go buy what you like. You like the strawberry yogurt smoothie here, right? That and… Oh, right. You also like the chocolate cake here, so should I get that too?”

“Yeah! Thanks, that would be great.”

“Okay, I’ll be back soon.”

“Okay.”

As Hyunsoo walked out to place the order, Sojin and Suji spoke up as if it were the most natural thing.

“Hey, I want chocolate too~”

“I want cheese~”

Hyunsoo frowned and gave them a look like, ‘What is this now?’

“You two? If you want something, buy it with your own money.”

With that, he turned and walked away. Sojin and Suji were left speechless, their faces annoyed as they began to complain about him—saying he was unfair, stingy, and that he wouldn’t get away with it. Watching them like that, Dayun couldn’t help but laugh. It was funny to her.

“Oh, right. I heard you went home with Ahn Jaehoon? What’s that about?”

At Sojin’s sudden remark, Suji chimed in.

“Yeah, and he’s the one who asked to go together? That’s really unbelievable.”

Dayun had spent an unexpected, not-so-romantic first night with Jaehoon and texted her family to let them know she was home. Even though Sojin and Suji had read the text, they still couldn’t believe it. It was understandable—he wasn’t a stranger. They knew just how rude and indifferent he could be.

Dayun nodded, as if she still couldn’t believe it either.

“I still don’t believe it myself. I never thought he’d be the one to suggest it.”

“For real, it’s unbelievable. That rude jerk, Ahn Jaehoon.”

“But, well… Jaehoon sunbae is indifferent to others, but he’s not someone without manners or respect. Maybe it bothered him that I often called and visited his parents. He said he felt sorry he couldn’t go as often.”

“…Well, I hate to admit it, but yeah, he does have manners.”

Sojin nodded as if she agreed with Dayun’s words. Then she suddenly asked out of curiosity.

“But Dayun, didn’t your parents say anything?”

“Huh?”

“I mean, I feel like you’d still call him ‘sunbae’ in front of your parents. You know how older folks care about titles and how you address people.”

At Suji’s comment, Sojin quickly agreed.

“That’s so true. And it’s not like you casually call people ‘oppa’ either. You called him ‘sunbae’ in front of the adults, didn’t you?”

At Sojin’s question about calling him sunbae, Dayun let out a deep sigh. She remembered the adults telling her to change how she addressed him.

“Yeah… I got scolded by his parents, and today, even my mom scolded me. Since Jaehoon sunbae was there, Dad didn’t say anything, but he said next time I call him sunbae, he’ll sew my mouth shut.”

“Wow… Then just call him oppa. Or husband?”

Suji casually suggested “oppa” and “husband,” but Dayun quickly shook her head in protest.

“No way, that’s so cringey. And more than that, I’ve been calling him sunbae for years. You think I can just start calling him oppa out of nowhere? Ugh, even just imagining it is embarrassing.”

“Then just drop the honorifics altogether. Hey! Ahn Jaehoon! Like that.”

Suji’s suggestion didn’t even seem like a serious one. Dayun and Sojin stared at her as if to say, Stop talking nonsense.

“If I drop honorifics like that, my dad will probably kick me first.”

At her words, Sojin and Suji burst out laughing. Knowing her dad, it really wasn’t that far-fetched. The image popped into their heads instantly. Still laughing, Suji said,

“Then just close your eyes and say oppa!”

“No, seriously, no!! If I call him oppa, both of us will get so awkward we’ll go crazy. I absolutely cannot say it!!”

Dayun held her head like she was in agony, almost shouting. Just then, Hyunsoo returned, placing the tray of drinks and cakes on the table. Curious, he asked,

“What is it? What can’t you say?”

“What the heck! You really only bought for Dayun? So petty!!”

“I told you, buy your own if you want something.”

“So stingy.”

“Whatever. Just answer my question. What can’t you say?”

Hyunsoo’s eyes turned to Dayun. He looked at her like, Come on, spill it. But should she say it or not? It wasn’t a big deal, but maybe because it wasn’t a big deal, it felt even more embarrassing. Up until now, she had told Hyunsoo everything—except anything about guys. At most, she’d gush about a singer she liked. Not because their friendship wasn’t deep, but maybe because, before anything else, Hyunsoo was a guy too. That made it harder, more awkward. The closer and more familiar, the harder it was to talk.

“Come on? What is it you can’t say?”

“Well…”

As Dayun hesitated, about to answer, Sojin—still annoyed about the cake—blurted it out instead. She had a mischievous smile on her face. But somehow, that smile felt almost… wicked. Was that just Hyunsoo’s imagination?

“It’s about how she should address the man she married, Ahn Jaehoon. Should she call him oppa? Husband? Or… honey~?”

Sojin purposely added a teasing tone. Hyunsoo’s expression immediately stiffened. But who would notice that change? Ah, maybe Sojin did. The way she kept grinning smugly made it seem like she definitely knew. And then Hyunsoo let out a dry, hollow laugh.

“Huh.”

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