On the morning of the wedding, Yeoju woke up earlier than expected. It was before the alarm had even gone off. Outside the window, it was still slightly cloudy, and the items she hadn't been able to organize overnight were still lying in the room. The wedding shoe box, the small earring case, the final checklist sent by the planner, and even the contract on the table. Yeoju sat on the bed and stared at the paper for a long time.
At first, I thought having this contract would be enough. I thought we wouldn't have to expect anything from each other, wouldn't get hurt, and that having a set ending would actually make it less scary. But that wasn't the case. Having a fixed ending was something that became scarier the more things grew.
The phone rang briefly. It was Seonghyeon. “Did you wake up?” Yeoju looked at the screen and smiled softly. Before she could even write a reply, a second message arrived. “I thought you might not have slept well.” Yeoju hesitated for a while before sending a short reply. “A little.” Then, a reply came immediately. “Me neither.” It wasn’t a big deal, but strangely, it calmed her down. The fact that Seonghyeon hadn’t slept either, and that she wasn’t the only one wavering in the face of this wedding, reassured Yeoju a little.
Time flew by from the moment she arrived at the makeup shop. As she styled her hair, secured her veil, put on her dress, and stood before the mirror, Yeoju caught her breath several times. The staff smiled, saying she looked pretty, and the planner asked if she was feeling okay today. Yeoju replied that she was fine. It wasn't a pretense; she really was a little bit okay. She kept thinking about what Seonghyeon had said yesterday. "I have no intention of running away." Those words kept clinging to the inside of her heart.
As she sat in the bridal waiting room, guests began to enter one by one. With every greeting, photo taking, and congratulatory remark she heard, Yeoju felt herself drifting further and further away from reality. Everyone believed this marriage was real. No, perhaps it really was real now. It had started as a contract, but the dress she was wearing now, the trembling of her fingertips, and her heart waiting for Seonghyeon were not lies.
The door opened quietly. Yeoju looked up. Seonghyeon was standing there. He looked more unfamiliar than usual in his black tuxedo. He was always a neat and tidy person, but today, strangely, he seemed like someone even more distant. Yet, the look in his eyes as he gazed at Yeoju was exactly the same as yesterday. Cautious, serious, and slightly wavering. Seonghyeon paused briefly at the door before slowly approaching. “Are you okay?” Yeoju nodded slightly. “And you, Seonghyeon?” “I’m not okay.” Yeoju blinked at the unexpected answer. Seonghyeon chuckled softly. “I’m nervous.”
Yeoju smiled slightly for the first time. “Are you nervous, Seonghyeon?” “Yes, I am.” “You look like someone who wouldn’t.” “I’m trying hard not to show it right now.” At Seonghyeon’s words, Yeoju felt strangely at ease. She liked the fact that someone who seemed so perfect was actually nervous just like her. Seonghyeon looked at Yeoju for a moment, then took a small envelope from his pocket. “I wanted to give this to you before the ceremony.” Yeoju took the envelope and asked, “What is this?” “You’ll know once you read it.”
Inside the envelope was a single folded sheet of paper. Yeoju carefully unfolded it. At first, she thought it was another contract. The format was similar, and the names of the two people were written at the very top. However, as she went further down, things became strange. There were no clauses regarding the contract period, prohibition of interference in privacy, or settlement after termination. Instead, only a single short sentence was written.
Even on days when I feel anxious enough to want to run away, I will be by your side.
Yeoju stared at the sentence for a long time. The letters were clear, but her vision was blurry. When Yeoju remained silent, Seonghyeon spoke cautiously. “It has no legal effect.” Eventually, a laugh escaped Yeoju. “You’re explaining that now?” “Because it’s important.” “That’s so typical of you, Seonghyeon.” Yeoju clutched the paper tightly with her fingertips. “This isn’t a contract.” “No.” “Then what is it?” Seonghyeon thought for a moment before answering. “It is closer to a promise.”
Yeoju lowered her head. She didn't want to cry, but the corners of her eyes kept getting hot. Seonghyeon, looking flustered, took a step closer and stopped. "Are you crying?" "No." "It looks like you are." "I said no." Yeoju smiled for no reason and pressed her fingertips against the corners of her eyes. Seonghyeon watched her like that and spoke in a low voice. "Tell me if you're still scared." Yeoju slowly raised her head. "I'm scared." Seonghyeon's expression hardened ever so slightly. Seeing that face, Yeoju added, "But it's not that I want to run away."
Seonghyeon said nothing. Yeoju took a deep breath and spoke. “At first, I was afraid this marriage would end. No, to be precise, I was afraid that I would be the only one who became sincere. You think of it as a contract, but it felt like I was the only one expecting something else.” “Yeoju.” “But now I know. What I was afraid of wasn’t the marriage, but falling in love with you.” The moment she finished speaking, the room fell silent. The faint sound announcing the start of the ceremony could be heard from outside, but to Yeoju, only the sound of Seonghyeon’s breathing was clear.
Seonghyeon slowly knelt down in front of Yeoju. Careful not to touch the hem of her dress, he took her hand very lightly. “I like you, too.” It was a short remark. However, the moment Yeoju heard those words, she felt the anxiety lingering in her heart crumble little by little. “Since when?” Seonghyeon’s answer was delayed slightly. “Since before we signed the contract.” Yeoju’s eyes widened. “What did you say?” “That is why I proposed it. Cowardly.” “So you liked me from the beginning, yet you suggested a contract marriage?” “Because I thought I would be rejected.” Yeoju looked at Seonghyeon in disbelief, then finally burst out laughing. “You’re truly the worst.” “I admit it.” “But why are you telling me now?” “I hid it because I was afraid of losing you, but I felt like hiding it made me lose you even more.”
At those words, Yeoju could not say anything more. Holding her hand, Seonghyeon spoke in a very low voice. “If you don’t want to walk into the wedding hall today, you don’t have to. I’m fine.” Yeoju looked at Seonghyeon. “Are you really okay?” “I probably won’t be okay, but I can still wait.” “How long?” “As much as I need.” That answer was so typical of Seonghyeon that Yeoju laughed as she cried. Then she slowly shook her head. “You don’t have to wait.” “What?” “I will go in. But not because of the contract, but because I want to.”
The tension on Seonghyeon's face gradually eased. He didn't hold Yeoju's hand any tighter. Yet, he didn't let go either. A moment later, the wedding planner knocked on the door. "Bride, please prepare for the entrance now." Yeoju was about to answer when she looked at Seonghyeon. He quietly stood up and adjusted Yeoju's veil once. His fingertips were gentle. "You look beautiful." Yeoju said, feeling her face flush. "Is this just a role today, or are you serious?" Seonghyeon answered without hesitation. "I am serious."
As she stood in front of the wedding hall door, Yeoju took another deep breath. She could see the lights beyond the door and hear the murmuring of the people. Seonghyeon waited for her by her side. He did not reach out his arm first as he had before. Like someone waiting for her to make a choice. Yeoju carefully placed her hand on his arm. Seonghyeon turned his head ever so slightly. “Are you okay?” Yeoju nodded. “Yes. I’m fine now.”
The door opened. Lights poured down onto the aisle. Yeoju walked slowly. On the day she first checked the venue's layout, this path had felt so unfamiliar and frightening. But today was different. Seonghyeon was by her side. The one who started with a contract, the one who said he didn't want to leave her alone, the one who promised he had no intention of running away. Yeoju walked, feeling the warmth of his fingertips.
Even after the ceremony ended and the proceedings had passed, Yeoju felt unreal for a while. Congratulatory messages continued, the photo shoot concluded, and the train of her dress was stepped on several times. Each time, Seonghyeon silently stayed by her side. He told her to sit down if she felt tired, brought her water, and blocked the crowds one step at a time whenever they swarmed in, allowing her to breathe. Watching him, Yeoju thought to herself, "He has been like this from the very beginning." He had merely been hiding behind the word "contract," but Seonghyeon had always been by her side in his own way.
Late at night, after all their schedules were finished, the two sat side by side in a quiet car. Yeoju gazed at the bouquet resting on her lap and suddenly smiled. “We’re a real married couple now.” Seonghyeon looked at Yeoju for a moment. “Now?” “Since when, Seonghyeon?” “From the very beginning.” Yeoju turned her head to look at Seonghyeon. “You say things like that so easily again.” “I’m saying it with difficulty.” At Seonghyeon’s answer, Yeoju smiled faintly.
A moment later, Seonghyeon took a familiar piece of paper from the passenger side storage compartment. It was the contract the two of them had signed at the beginning. Yeoju looked at him in surprise. “Why do you have that?” “I plan to wrap things up today.” Seonghyeon quietly unfolded the contract. A piece of paper with their names written side by side. One-year contract period, settlement upon termination. Seeing those sentences, Yeoju strangely felt no pain in her heart. Now, that paper was neither binding the two of them nor defining an end. It was simply akin to the starting point they had passed through.
Seonghyeon folded the contract in half and slowly tore it. Yeoju listened quietly to the sound. The short thudding of paper echoed in the car. Seonghyeon put the torn paper into an envelope and looked at Yeoju. “I don’t need this anymore.” Yeoju asked softly. “Then what do you need?” Seonghyeon pointed to the written agreement he had handed her that morning. Yeoju still had it in her bag. “That will do.” Yeoju chuckled for no reason. “But you said it has no legal effect.” “Even so, I will keep my promise.”
A quiet laugh spread through the car. Yeoju looked out the window and leaned slightly against Seonghyeon's shoulder. It was the first time. An action not for the sake of a contract or a role. Seonghyeon froze for a moment in surprise, but soon took Yeoju's hand very carefully. Yeoju did not pull away. The night streets were quiet, and the car was warm.
The anxiety she felt leading up to the wedding hadn't completely vanished yet. There would undoubtedly be days when she wavered. Their relationship had begun as a contract, and given how long they had misunderstood each other, there would be many awkward moments. However, Yeoju now knew. Just because she was anxious didn't mean it was over. Even on days when she felt like running away, as long as there was someone willing to stay by her side, she could walk forward again.
Seonghyeon asked in a low voice, “Are you tired?” Yeoju answered with her eyes closed, “A little.” “Rest when you get home.” “What about you, Seonghyeon?” “Me too.” Yeoju remained silent for a moment, then spoke softly, “We don’t have to break things up anymore, do we?” Seonghyeon’s hand tightened just slightly. “We won’t.” “Really?” “Yes.” Seonghyeon looked at Yeoju and spoke slowly. “Instead of an extension, let’s start over with a lifetime contract.” Instead of answering, Yeoju held Seonghyeon’s hand tightly. The names of the two people written on the original contract were now torn away, but strangely, it felt like a real beginning only then.
A heart not in the contract. A relationship with no set end. And a real marriage starting today.
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Completed
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