A Marriage with A Reason - Chapter 28

With Dayun, Sojin, and Suji gone, only the guys were left in the house.

“…..”

They had sent the girls away thinking the guys needed to talk alone, but no one could easily start the conversation. Understandable, since no one knew exactly how to begin. Still, Gyumin thought they needed to resolve the issue before the girls returned, so he looked at Minseok. Minseok gave a small nod in agreement, his eyes serious. Finally, Gyumin broke the silence.

“We need to resolve this issue, don’t you think?”

“…”

Even then, the other guys remained unresponsive, silently sipping their drinks or just fiddling with their glasses. Minseok let out a frustrated sigh.

“Say something, damn it. Why’s everyone staying quiet?”

Still, no one opened their mouths. Gyumin spoke again, his expression grave.

“You think silence is going to fix this? If you didn’t want to get caught, you should’ve kept your mouths shut from the beginning. You really think we wouldn’t notice the way you guys act? Come on, you idiots.”

“Hey, hey, calm down a bit.”

As Gyumin’s voice started rising with irritation, Minseok grabbed his arm to stop him.

“What, why?!”

Gyumin tried to shake Minseok off, annoyed, but stopped when he noticed Minseok was subtly motioning with his eyes. Following his gaze, Gyumin saw Hyunsoo looking straight at him, his expression serious—as if daring him to finish what he was saying.

“Why’d you stop? Keep going, Hyunsoo.”

Hyunsoo urged him to continue, but Gyumin couldn’t. To Gyumin, Hyunsoo was just a close friend of Dayun, someone unrelated to this mess. So he turned to Hyunsoo and said,

“Hey, you. Go catch up with the girls.”

Hyunsoo’s face twisted with annoyance as he spoke, clearly unimpressed.

“Why? Just say it. I have the right to hear this too.”

“Just go, man. It’s not safe to let the girls go out alone.”

“If you were that worried, you should’ve ordered delivery instead of sending them out at night…”

Hyunsoo muttered bitterly. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to go—he just wanted to hear what the others had to say.

“Just go quietly, will you? Even if you hear, it’s just going to shock you. This isn’t really about you.”

“Yeah, Hyunsoo. Just go,” Minseok added.

Reluctantly, Hyunsoo stood up. Truth be told, he was actually pretty worried—especially after hearing the others say it might be dangerous. Seeing him rise, Minseok said warmly,

“Heading out?”

“Yeah… I’m worried about Dayun. And if something happens, you guys would never forgive yourselves.”

“Good thinking. Honestly, I didn’t feel great sending just the girls out.”

“And also…”

“Huh?”

His pause made Gyumin, Minseok, and Juhyung stare curiously. The others also slowly turned to look at him.

“I have a pretty good idea what this conversation’s going to be about.”

“Huh? What do you mean, ‘a good idea’? Haha…”

Minseok laughed awkwardly, but fell silent when everyone else continued to stare at Hyunsoo. Then Hyunsoo looked at Jiwoong, Junseok, and finally Jaehoon, and said,

“I don’t care who you like, or who you’re holding feelings for. But please, don’t make it obvious. I really hope Dayun never finds out how you guys feel. I just want her to see you all as good seniors, comrades she shared a moment with. That’s all.”

Jaehoon, Junseok, and Jiwoong looked at Hyunsoo, their faces expressionless but their eyes burning with something more. Gyumin and Minseok mulled over Hyunsoo’s words.

“Wait… don’t tell me…”

But before they could finish that thought, Hyunsoo cut in again.

“It doesn’t have to be me. I’m happy just watching from afar. But I hope it’s not any of you. I don’t think you’d make her happy.”

With those final words, Hyunsoo left. Now, only the friends remained in the room.

“So… what the hell is going on right now? I’m not the only one who’s completely thrown, right?”

Minseok felt like he’d been hit on the back of the head with a brick. Like a whirlwind had just blown through. Gyumin was dumbfounded too. It was already crazy enough dealing with his own friends’ feelings—and now Hyunsoo had confessed too?

“Wow. Just wow. Kim Hyunsoo just flat-out admitted he likes Choi Dayun. And you guys?”

More silence.

“Can you stop being quiet already? The secret’s out.”

“Yeah, come on. Even younger Hyunsoo had the guts to say it—why are you all acting like cowards? If you want to fix this, you have to talk.”

Finally, Junseok reluctantly opened his mouth.

“Feelings don’t go the way you want. What do you expect us to do? Even I can’t sort this out myself.”

“Oh my god… you too, Junseok?”

Minseok was in despair. He hadn’t expected him of all people to feel the same. Meanwhile, unlike the shocked Minseok and Juhyung, Gyumin seemed less surprised.

“You might not be able to change how you feel about Dayun, but you can fix the messed-up relationships this has caused.”

“What the hell is messed up? We’re fine.”

“You think I’m stupid? Just because you hang out with Juhyung doesn’t mean I can’t tell. You two were fighting before you came in. You think I didn’t notice?”

Junseok fell silent at the mention of their fight.

“I’ve been friends with you guys for over 10 years. You think I wouldn’t pick up on the weird tension and silence between you two? It’s obvious. Jiwoong probably just stood there, saying nothing.”

“You damn psychic…”

Junseok let out a bitter laugh. He looked worn out and conflicted.

“Why’d you fight? Was it about Dayun?”

“No, man. It’s nothing.”

“Nothing? Think carefully. Is it really not about her?”

Gyumin’s words made Junseok pause.

Before they’d gone up to Jaehoon’s place, they’d had a moment in the parking lot—

“Hey, the trunk.”
“Yeah.”

After Gyumin, Minseok, and Juhyung had already gone ahead, Jaehoon, Junseok, and Jiwoong were getting out of the car with alcohol they had just bought.

“Ugh, that bastard Shin Juhyung even made a fuss about bringing snacks… Hey, let’s each carry two bags.”

Following Junseok’s suggestion, Jaehoon and Jiwoong each grabbed two bags from the trunk. But Jaehoon soon frowned and spoke with a displeased look on his face.

“Why do you have only two light ones? You made me carry two bags full of alcohol with both hands?”

“Wow, you petty bastard. Why are you complaining? Just carry it. Look at Nam Jiwoong. He’s carrying everything quietly without complaining.”

At that, Jaehoon looked at Jiwoong’s hands. In one of his bags was alcohol, and in the other were ice cream and dried fish snacks.

“He has a light one too! Just give me one of the light ones and stop talking nonsense.”

“You’re so cheap. I wonder if Dayun knows the kind of guy she’s living with.”

“She knows very well. That I’m cool, handsome, and perfect.”

“Unbelievable.”

This side of Jaehoon wasn’t something they usually saw, but the others didn’t seem surprised. It must have been familiar to them. Watching them switch bags so naturally made it seem like this was Jaehoon’s true self.

As they changed bags and headed toward the elevator, Jaehoon’s phone rang. With both hands full of heavy and light bags, the phone ringing from inside his jacket pocket felt like a nuisance. Jaehoon clicked his tongue, annoyed. Who would call at a time like this?

“Ugh, who is it…?”

But once he checked the caller ID, Jaehoon looked troubled. The caller was none other than Hyeyun. But her call made him uncomfortable. He wondered why she would call now of all times.

Junseok, walking beside him, noticed Jaehoon’s strange reaction and asked curiously,
“Who is it?”

Jiwoong, who was ahead, stopped and looked back at Jaehoon. He didn’t say anything, but his expression clearly asked the same thing.

“Just a sec.”

In the end, Jaehoon answered the call. His voice, unlike usual, was cautious and almost small.

“Hey… Hyeyun.”

The familiar name made both Junseok and Jiwoong visibly tense. As longtime friends of Jaehoon, they knew well who Hyeyun was. She was the woman he was head-over-heels in love with during college. They had met her often, eaten together, even called her “noona” back then.

“I miss you too. Huh? Right now? Hmm, I don’t know… I’m supposed to eat and drink with the guys today…”

But things were different now. Even if the marriage was forced, it still existed. No matter how much he loved someone else, he shouldn’t be so obvious about it—at least, that’s what Junseok and Jiwoong thought. That was respect for Dayun.

Even Jaehoon seemed embarrassed. He tried to end the call quickly. Just as he was wrapping up, his expression turned even more awkward.

“Ah… that’s a bit… The guys are here. Junseok and Jiwoong. Hoo… okay, I’ll say it.”

What in the world was Hyeyun saying to make Jaehoon so flustered? At that moment, Jaehoon glanced at Junseok and Jiwoong, then turned away and took a few steps back. He whispered softly.

“…I love you too… I’ll call you later. Bye.”

Jaehoon hung up the phone quickly, like he was running from something.

“Sorry, let’s head up.”

He picked up the bag he had put down and started moving. But Junseok grabbed his arm, stopping him in his tracks.

“Do you act like this in front of Dayun too?”

“What?”

Jaehoon looked at him, sensing the cold sharpness in Junseok’s voice. Then Junseok pressed harder.

“Do you act like this in front of Dayun too? Like a damn jerk?”

Seeing how angry Junseok was made Jaehoon feel both dumbfounded and angry too. He knew Junseok was doing it out of concern for Dayun—but still, it made him mad. Because it was about Dayun.

“Even if you love someone else, even if your marriage is just a contract with no love, don’t show this kind of behavior in front of Dayun. Don’t hurt her!!”

“And who are you to say that?”

Jaehoon shook off Junseok’s hand forcefully and replied coldly.

“No matter how close we are, you don’t get to interfere in someone else’s marriage. Unless… is it because you like her?”

“What?”

Junseok’s eyes widened. He had tried so hard to hide his feelings because she was his friend’s wife, but now it was all out.

“Why are you so surprised? You weren’t trying to drop hints so I’d notice and back off? Hoping I’d see it and disappear?”

Jaehoon’s sharp words made Jiwoong, who had been silently watching, step in to stop him.

“Jaehoon, calm down. You’re too worked up right now.”

Even though Jiwoong tried to stop him, Jaehoon kept going.

“Lee Junseok. I don’t care what you think, but Choi Dayun is my wife. Not yours. Whether I hurt her or heal her, that’s my responsibility!”

“I know, okay?! I know that very well!”

Junseok shouted. It felt like he’d been punched in the gut. He knew Dayun had liked Jaehoon for a long time. He knew she was married to him, even if it was a contract. But hearing it from Jaehoon hurt so much more—because no matter how much Junseok worried and cared, the only one who could truly make her smile was Jaehoon.

Junseok lowered his head. His voice was quieter now.

“I know better than anyone… that’s why I’m asking you to stop. I just want her to be happy, without pain.”

Seeing Junseok calm down helped Jaehoon cool off too. He could feel Junseok’s sincerity.

“I know. I don’t want to hurt Dayun either.”

Junseok suddenly looked up at Jaehoon. He couldn’t believe what he just heard. Jiwoong, too, stared at Jaehoon in surprise. With a trembling heart, Junseok asked carefully,

“Do you… like her?”

There was a brief silence. Then Jaehoon spoke with an unreadable expression.

“Honestly, I’m not sure yet. But… I can’t stop thinking about her.”

Those words—I can’t stop thinking about her—stayed in Junseok’s mind for a long time.

Then—

“Hey, Lee Junseok! What’s with you? Why are you spacing out in the middle of talking?”

Gyumin’s loud voice snapped Junseok back to reality.

“Shut up, man. I wasn’t spacing out. I was thinking.”

“Whether you were thinking or spacing out, I don’t care. But what are you guys going to do from now on?”

“Huh?”

Junseok pretended not to understand and took a sip of beer from his glass. The beer had gone flat, but it wet his throat anyway. Minseok spoke up, sounding frustrated.

“I mean your feelings for Dayun!”

At that, Jaehoon, Junseok, and Jiwoong’s eyes met in the air. Jiwoong, who had once liked her and now found his feelings resurfacing. Junseok, who had liked her for as long as Jaehoon had known her. And Jaehoon, who still wasn’t sure how he felt.

Junseok gave a small laugh and looked at Jaehoon.

“What are you going to do? Since she’s your wife now, I’ll consider your position a bit. What do you want us to do?”

Jaehoon seemed to think for a moment. Everyone watched him tensely—especially Junseok and Jiwoong.

“I mean… even if I tell you to stop, you won’t be able to forget your feelings anyway. And none of us knows who Dayun likes now or who she might like in the future. So… let’s just leave it to fate.”

“Meaning…?”

“Lee Junseok, Nam Jiwoong. From now on, let’s compete fairly. You protect your love. I’ll protect my wife and my home.”

At those words, Junseok smiled with a lighter heart.

“Just don’t regret it. I’m going to go all in.”

But his smile felt like a warning. Meanwhile, Jiwoong simply said,

“Watch closely. I’ll take her away—quietly but surely.”

Finally, Jaehoon spoke.

“I still don’t know if this is love or not. But for some reason… I don’t want to lose her. Just imagining the woman who was once my wife standing next to one of you—it pisses me off.”

Once again, Jaehoon, Junseok, and Jiwoong’s eyes clashed in the air. But this time, their gazes burned with fiery intensity.

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