William was a positive, optimistic person, rich in emotional expression, and he adored and cherished Yeehyeon. At times, Liu would have to step in and separate them, telling him to stop pestering Yeehyeon.
But Yeehyeon didn’t mind William’s affection and cheerfulness. He was especially grateful beyond words for how friendly and attentive William was to his uncle and aunt.
Yeehyeon’s uncle and aunt, Liu’s father and mother.
The four of them were like childhood friends from the same hometown.
Friends who had left their hometown and friends who had stayed behind. Though the paths their lives had taken since were different, making them seem like people from different worlds on the surface, the underlying color was still the same, allowing them to mingle without barriers….
Even now, laughter was incessant from where they sat on the sofa. While mingling with the guests on his side, Yeehyeon occasionally glanced toward the adults, but it seemed he had no reason to worry at all.
“Why are my mom and dad so excited? Since last night?”
Seo Yeehan, who had sidled up next to Yeehyeon, said with a smirk. Yeehan himself looked to be in quite a good mood.
“Are they that happy about Seo Yeehyeon getting married? They’re all smiles. Then again, I guess they must be overcome with emotion, seeing the little kid who used to scribble all over the cement patio with crayons now all grown up and getting married.”
“What? When was that?”
Yeehyeon grew slightly sullen at the mention of his childhood mischief.
“When was that, you punk? That was when you were eight. The summer vacation of your eighth year, to be exact.”
“You have a good memory, hyung.”
“I may not have the brains for studying, but my memory isn’t half bad. Do you remember when we fought and Mom hit us both with a broom?”
“I remember. That was when we were all grown up.”
It had happened after he went to live at his uncle’s house in Donghae. He and Yeehan, who had rarely fought even as children, had raised their voices over something trivial. As the argument escalated, his aunt had taken a broom to the grown boys.
At that time, his aunt hadn’t given Yeehyeon any special treatment. Yeehyeon was hit on the thighs and bottom, just like Yeehan. Yeehyeon, who rarely showed his emotions, had cried his heart out, his sobs filling the house. It wasn’t because he felt it was unfair that his aunt had hit him. It was the opposite.
He had cried loudly out of relief. He was reassured by the fact that there was still someone in the world who cared about him, who tried to set him straight, who looked after him with affection.
“Don’t tell Liu-hyung that I fought with you, okay?”
“Why?”
“If he finds out I smacked you back then, I think he’ll try to get revenge.”
Yeehyeon burst out laughing at the absurd idea.
“What are you talking about? That was ten years ago.”
But Yeehan just clicked his tongue at Yeehyeon.
“You still don’t know that hyung at all.”
“What do you mean, I don’t know him? I’m marrying that very person today.”
“Jeez, you’re so defensive. That’s why there are things you can’t see. He’s the type of person who would track down and get revenge on anyone who messed with you, even if it was 30 years ago, not 10.”
“He’s not that extreme.”
“I’m saying I’m glad you’re marrying someone like that, you punk.”
Yeehan reached out to ruffle Yeehyeon’s hair, then stopped his hand mid-air. Avoiding the hair that had been perfectly styled for the wedding, he patted Yeehyeon’s tuxedo-clad shoulders. Then he slung an arm around them.
The two cousins stood side-by-side, arms around each other’s shoulders, and looked toward Liu’s parents and Yeehan’s parents.
“My dad isn’t usually that talkative. I guess he’s gotten really close with Liu-hyung’s parents.”
“Well, they’ve traveled together and all.”
“I think he likes them more than my in-laws.”
“Aren’t you on good terms now?”
“Well, rather than being on good terms… it’s more like things are no longer awkward. For my father-in-law, even that is a huge change.”
Morae’s father, who had vehemently opposed his relationship with Yeehan, had finally relented a few years ago. Thanks to that, the two no longer had to live in hiding. They were now able to visit Korea about once a year to see their families.
What if Morae’s father had never opposed their relationship? The thought suddenly occurred to Yeehyeon.
If that had been the case, Morae and Yeehan would have had no need to run away to Seoul on that rainy night.
And even if they had run away, what if those two hadn’t taken Yeehyeon with them?
What if he hadn’t been reunited with Manager Han at his part-time job at the moving company?
If even one of the countless links in the chain had been broken, he might never have met Liu. Just imagining it made the hair on Yeehyeon’s arms stand on end.
He had met a man named Liu Weikun and started painting again. They had hurt each other and been hurt, yet they had moved forward and were able to hold each other once more.
He couldn’t say that he was standing here today by his own strength alone. The influence of his relationships with so many people, and their choices, was something he could not ignore.
Liu, Manager Han, and Suki Kim, who had pushed him to start painting again. Baek Yuni and Michelle, who had stayed by his side so he could endure his lonely life in Paris. His colleagues at ‘The Hands.’ Kwon Juhan, whose affection was as great as his jealousy, and who had held on to the thread of their connection even while they were far apart….
I did it all by myself. I’m such a great person. —No matter how much time passed, Yeehyeon felt he could never say such a thing.
The people who had guided the human being Seo Yeehyeon to this place today.
Only those precious and cherished connections were gathered here.
Here at ‘Phantom,’ the very place where Liu Weikun and Seo Yeehyeon first met.
For the sole purpose of celebrating his and Liu’s wedding.
The sound of their voices as they mingled and talked, their joyous laughter, filled the garden.
Yeehyeon looked around him with a fresh sense of wonder. It seemed impossible to be happier or more grateful than this. But amidst the bright, radiant fulfillment, he couldn’t ignore the deep, black darkness, like a sunspot.
Yeehyeon knew what it was.
At the family meeting, on his uncle and aunt’s trip to Hong Kong, at the wedding rehearsal last night… Yeehyeon’s father was never there.
It wasn’t that he had expected him.
His father was a man who had turned his back on the world; though he was physically in this world, his heart was as good as gone. Still, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of disappointment and emptiness.
‘Don’t be too upset that your father isn’t here. It’s not because he isn’t thinking of you.’
At the rehearsal last night, his uncle had come over, patted Yeehyeon on the back, and offered that quiet comfort.
‘He even has the suit you and CEO Liu gifted him hung up on his wall where he can see it clearly.’
‘My father did?’
‘Yes. He may not have the courage to wear it and come out, but he must be happy.’
‘I was already thinking he wouldn’t be able to make it. He’s been there for so long. Just coming up to Seoul would probably be a burden for him.’
Even though he had said he understood, Yeehyeon’s gaze kept drifting toward the garden entrance. Even knowing it was absurd to think his father would leave Donghae on his own and come all this way….
Even while basking in happiness, surrounded by the people he loved and cherished, he couldn’t erase the absence of his father. A single spot of black darkness always stood out more in a brilliant light.
■ ■ ■
“Is that for real? Liu Weikun did that? I can’t believe it.”
Shu Shu tilted her head, a puzzled smile on her face.
“Have you been deceived your whole life? I’m telling you, the CEO really got down on one knee on the Pont Neuf!”
Yuni emphasized once more with an aggrieved expression.
On behalf of the two tight-lipped protagonists of the day, Yuni was passionately recounting how their proposal had gone down.
“But CEO Liu is the type of person who hates that kind of old-fashioned proposal the most.”
Manager Han also found it hard to believe. As the audience’s skepticism continued, Yuni urged Yeehyeon on.
“Yeehyeon, you tell them.”
“Me?”
“These people don’t believe me. You have to be the witness. On the Pont Neuf, the CEO, got down on his knees and proposed, yes or no?”
Yeehyeon hadn’t expected the method of proposal to attract so much attention. Everyone was staring at him, their eyes demanding the truth. Yeehyeon, who had been standing behind the sofa listening as if he were a third party, felt pressured by their gazes. With Liu having stepped away for a moment at the wedding planner’s call, there was no one else to save him.
“Uh… yes. He did.”
Finally, Yeehyeon gave a slow nod.
“See? What did I tell you?”
Yuni lifted her chin with a confident look and glanced around at the others. Unlike the other guests who were listening with sparkling, intrigued eyes, Choi Inwoo, who had been listening with a bored expression, shook his head and muttered.
“I can’t believe it. I just can’t believe it.”
It was then that Liu reappeared.
“I am a rather unbelievable man.”
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