A Marriage with A Reason - Chapter 30

“Senior, breakfast is ready.”

On Saturday morning, hearing Dayun’s voice calling him, Jaehoon quickly changed his clothes and headed to the kitchen.

“Thanks. But aren’t you eating?”

Noticing only one bowl of rice on the table, Jaehoon asked curiously. Dayun placed a steaming bowl of soybean paste soup next to his rice and replied.

“I’ll eat later if I feel like it. I ate too much with my friends last night, so I still feel full. Ah, it’s almost time for work, so you should eat quickly. I’ll go hang the laundry.”

“Okay.”

Seeing Dayun moving around busily in the morning, Jaehoon unconsciously smiled. He had always thought of her as just a kid, but now she seemed like a real homemaker. Just then, his phone vibrated, and he received a text message.

[Are you on your way to work? I figured you hadn’t eaten, so I made you a sandwich. Don’t go straight to the office—come to the rooftop first. – Hyeyun]

It was from Hyeyun, inviting him to have breakfast together. The smile lingering on his lips instantly disappeared, replaced by a heavy expression.

‘I really need to sort this out…’

Jaehoon’s heart was torn between two feelings—one that wanted a fresh start and another that saw the inevitable end. As he had admitted to Gyumin, his heart was leaning more toward Dayun. He found himself thinking about her, and being with her made him feel happy. But he couldn’t just ignore the bond he had shared for so long. Even if his feelings had faded, the years spent together made him feel guilty. More than anything, he was worried about his mother’s reaction. If she found out he chose Dayun, she would feel deeply betrayed—because Dayun was the daughter of the first love who had hurt his father.

“Senior, what are you thinking about? You should eat and get to work. It’s almost 8 o’clock.”

Dayun’s voice pulled him out of his thoughts. She sounded concerned. Hearing her, he suddenly remembered Gyumin’s words.

‘It’s okay, Jaehoon. Do whatever you want. I just want you to be happy.’

A voice of support. Maybe that was why Jaehoon, unlike his usual self, found the courage to speak.

“Let’s go on a trip.”

He was speaking to Dayun, who still looked worried.

“Wow, unbelievable.”

“No way… Seriously? Ahn Jaehoon said that?”

At Sojin’s hair salon, Suji and Sojin reacted in disbelief. They couldn’t believe that Jaehoon had suggested a trip. Dayun, blushing, nodded.

“Yeah, we’re meeting in front of the company at 12:30.”

She had been surprised when he suggested it that morning. He had looked troubled, lost in thought, and unable to eat. Just as she started to worry, he had said something totally unexpected. It was already surprising that such words had come from his mouth.

“Oh, a trip… That sounds fun. Then we should let the others know too.”

As she reached for her phone to contact Junseok and her friends, Jaehoon’s voice stopped her.

“No, let’s go just the two of us. You and me.”

She froze in shock.

As she placed three cups of tea on the table, Sojin sat down and said, “So, you stopped by on your way? It’s only 10 o’clock.”

She looked incredulous. The meeting time was still two hours away. Embarrassed, Dayun scratched her head.

“I felt nervous staying home… and I might be late, so I came out early.”

“What? That’s way too early. Oh well, this works out. Since you’re here, let’s do your hair and makeup. I’ll give you the full treatment.”

Dayun hesitated, waving her hands. Suji encouraged her.

“Come on, let her do it! Sojin may be a little rough, but you know she’s the best.”

“That’s true, but…”

“It’s a date. You should look your best.”

Dayun knew Sojin was talented, but she felt awkward showing up in front of Jaehoon all dressed up. Wouldn’t it be too much? At the same time, she wanted to look pretty for him. Just like any girl, she wanted to impress the guy she liked.

Sojin stood up confidently.

“Let’s go. I’ll make sure Ahn Jaehoon falls head over heels for you.”

A gentle breeze tousled Dayun’s long, wavy hair, making the hem of her white dress flutter around her pale legs. She looked beautiful, but she felt awkward, fidgeting with her arms as she walked.

“Will this be okay…?”

She wanted to look pretty for Jaehoon, but what if he thought it was weird? Caught between excitement and worry, she soon arrived in front of the company.

“Oh, there he is.”

When she spotted Jaehoon, a bright smile spread across her face. Jaehoon, seeing her from a distance, smiled slightly—until she got closer. Then his smile vanished, his eyes widened, and he froze.

“Wow…”

Unaware of his reaction, Dayun stopped in front of him, still smiling.

“You got here early. I thought I arrived on time. You didn’t wait long, did you?”

Had Sojin been right? Had Jaehoon really fallen for her? He didn’t answer. He just stared at her in a daze.

“Senior?”

Dayun, puzzled by his reaction, suddenly remembered how she looked.

“Oh… um… Sojin did my hair…”

“You did your hair. And the dress…”

Still looking dazed, Jaehoon made her feel self-conscious.

“Ah, yeah. The girls said I should dress up for a date… Well, it’s not exactly a date, but… something similar?”

Fumbling over her words, Dayun asked hesitantly, “So… do I look weird?”

Snapping back to reality, Jaehoon quickly shook his head—almost too quickly.

“No, no! It’s not weird… It’s just… I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in a dress.”

“Oh, right. I don’t wear them often. They’re uncomfortable. But since today is our outing…”

Blushing, she lowered her head and fiddled with her fingers. Then she tucked her hair behind her ear, revealing her slender neck and collarbone.

Without thinking, Jaehoon murmured, “You’re beautiful.”

“What?”

Startled, she looked up at him. He gave her a warm, genuine smile and said in a sweet voice, “Your hair, your outfit… You look really beautiful today.”

Meanwhile, back at home, Hyeyun threw her bag onto the bed with all her strength. It landed with a thud, reflecting her fury. Unable to suppress her anger, she stormed into the kitchen and gulped down water.

“So annoying!!”

Then came the shattering sound of a glass breaking. Shards flew everywhere, but Hyeyun didn’t care. Her eyes burned with rage. And the reason? Ahn Jaehoon.

That morning, she had gone to the rooftop with a sandwich she had made for him. But when he arrived, his expression was dark. His replies were short, his smiles forced. If it had been the first time, she would have let it slide. But she knew—he only acted this way toward her. Hyeyun was sharp. She wasn’t oblivious.

‘She’s annoying. So annoying.’

Dayun. She was the problem.

“Ahn Jaehoon is mine. And he always will be.”

He was her precious jewel—one she would never give up.

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