TYW Ch 4.2

Woogeon woke up in the early morning. Half of it was out of habit, and the other half was because he suddenly realized that this was Wooheonwon. In addition, the fact that Rieul was sleeping next to him also played a big role in waking him up. Rieul was fast asleep with her slender face half covered by a pillow. Her colorful breath sounded innocent. She didn’t realize how comfortable her body was. Woogeon tried to reach for something, but he canceled his intention and carefully got up, heading to the bathroom.

Under the shower booth, he took a cold shower to refresh his mind. Every drop of cold water that touched his body made his eyes open slightly, and Rieul’s shadow kept flashing in his eyes. After showering, he looked for comfortable clothes in the dressing room, then sat on the edge of Rieul’s still sleeping bed. With the dark curtains covering the light, the bedroom atmosphere became dim. Rieul’s slender and white face, sleeping peacefully, really captivated him since morning.

“Rieul.”

Rieul moved a little under her eye cover, seemingly not easy to wake up.

“Today we have to get married.”

Rieul showed no signs of waking up. Woogeon looked at her for a long time in the dark, then leaned down and kissed her forehead, continuing to find her lips. The dry and rough taste of her lips sent shivers down his spine. When Woogeon lifted his body, he placed the back of his hand on Rieul’s cheek.

“Wake up.”

“Mm what? We’re late. We’re getting married.”

“Uhm.”

“Rieul, I’m going to put a clip on your wings.”

“No… No…” Rieul mumbled softly, still trying to get her head together. Woogeon chuckled and pulled Rieul’s cheek a little.

“No? It’s okay. You used to chase me while saying, ‘Woogeon, you have a forest.’ Even when I signaled you to stop bothering me, you still chased me. I’m going to freeze you and watch you forever, Rieul. Live only in my forest—”

***

His father, who was sitting on the living room sofa and doing something with a pad, looked at Woogeon coming down the stairs, then opened his eyes wide.

“What is that? Why are you coming down from there?”

His mother came out of the dining room because of the commotion.

“My goodness, why are you coming down from there?”

“I slept in my room last night.”

“When did you come?”

“Early morning.”

“Rieul?”

“She’s taking a shower, she’ll be down later.”

“You slept together?” The parents exchanged meaningful glances.

Woogeon pretended not to know and headed to the dining room. He sat in the chair in the dining room which was his seat. A moment later, grandfather and the parents came in with a commotion.

The grandfather, walking with the aid of a support, sat in his place. “Last night, didn’t you sleep well?”

Woogeon frowned. ‘These parents, so many comments.’

“Yes, just holding hands.”

“Ah, I see. Oh, Rieul has come?”

***

Rieul was applying cream while looking in the mirror. Her hydrated face looked bright. It seemed the skincare she did with her mother-in-law yesterday gave good results. When she opened her eyes, in the dark room, Woogeon was looking at her from above, making her wake up startled from her sleep. Woogeon, with a normal face, stood up and told her to shower and come down.

Rieul, who woke up, felt her heart beating very fast, as if it was about to come out of her mouth. After changing clothes, as she was about to leave the room, Rieul saw herself and Woogeon standing in front of the room door. Rieul hurriedly opened the door, crossed the corridor, and went down the stairs to the dining room. All the adults were there, including Woogeon.

“Rieul, good morning.”

“Did Rieul sleep well?”

“You slept well, right, Rieul?” The mother-in-law and grandfather greeted her warmly.

Woogeon looked at her and gestured for her to sit by nodding his chin. Rieul stood still, unable to move. Everyone called her gently, “Rieul, Rieul,” full of warmth, without violence or oppression, only a life full of care. She stood in a place that was no longer dirty or smelly.

“My goodness, Rieul, are you crying?” Hearing her mother-in-law’s words, Rieul lowered her head.

The sound of chairs being pushed back was heard from various directions.

“This kid, did you make Rieul cry?”

“No, I didn’t make her cry.”

“Rieul, why? What happened? What did Woogeon do?”

“He didn’t do anything.”

The girl replied in a low voice. Her mother-in-law quickly approached and hugged Rieul.

“Did Woogeon scare you?”

Rieul shook her head in her mother’s warm embrace.

“Why cry on this beautiful morning?”

“Because I’m happy.” Rieul’s soft voice silenced everyone.

Sunlight filled the dining room. The yellow morning sunlight in early October.

***

On the slopes of Buam-dong, the gallery where the wedding would be held one day looked magnificent, like a party scene Rieul had seen in a fantasy romance drama, set in a castle. With high open ceilings, white fabric hung like curtains decorating it, while a large dazzling crystal lamp hung low.

As the wedding planner said, the gallery was filled with fragrant flowers. Flowers hanging from the ceiling, blooming flowers, flowers decorating the tables and various corners of the room, all emitting a strong aroma. At 4 PM, the warm crimson sunlight shone on the gallery and colored the flowers.

With elegant classical music playing, Rieul and Woogeon read their wedding vows, then sat at a long rectangular table with a white tablecloth, attended only by their immediate family who ate together, holding their wedding. Yeon Rieul wore a beautiful white A-line dress, covering only her shoulders, looking like snow and as white as ice flowers, and held a bouquet of rare silver lilies, which only bloom in May.

Wife Yeon Rieul and husband Lee Woogeon vowed to love and respect each other, build a household as one, and trust and love each other until the end of their lives. Wife Yeon Rieul vowed to respect, care for, and protect husband Lee Woogeon with affection, while husband Lee Woogeon vowed to respect, care for, and protect wife Yeon Rieul with full respect. They both vowed to be a loving couple every day, keeping their trust and love for each other, though separated in body, but one in soul. The day felt like a distant and blurry dream.

When Woogeon opened his eyes, Rieul, who was a stranger yesterday, was now asleep as his wife. Woogeon reached for his wife’s hand and held it. A small and soft hand, compared to his big hand. Throughout his life, he had never done anything for a woman. He had never said that he would risk his life for that woman, or make a foolish decision to give up everything to protect that woman. He had also never made a romantic decision to look only at one woman. He had never even felt a form of relationship beyond that of parents and children.

Therefore, he couldn’t understand love in a relationship with a woman. If he looked for a woman because her body was beautiful or because of pleasant physical intimacy, that might exist. But he had never felt a pounding heart or a deep longing. His parents started their love in a turbulent time, and now they say that they can trust each other because their love is built on a foundation of friendship.

‘Rieul. What binds you and me? Without love, without dating, without friendship. With this feeling, with this humble feeling, how far can we be strongly intertwined? When I see you, I feel only difficulty. It’s like seeing only a small nameless flower growing in a rock crevice. Small, fragile, easily swayed, but its roots are deep, not easily broken, and the flower doesn’t easily wither. My eyes keep looking at you, my hands always want to reach out, and my heart feels drawn. If this cautious feeling, this humble feeling, is the beginning of something, if the confused and chaotic feeling in the past few days is the beginning of something, if the awkward and clumsy feeling with both hands holding you is the beginning of something, I want to gladly accept this new and interesting feeling. I want you, who are like a white butterfly, to only fly in my forest.’

***

Rieul opened her eyes, but a strange feeling enveloped her. She wanted to reach for something, but realized that her hand was already being held. Next to her, Woogeon was sleeping on his side, using his arm as a pillow.

‘Why is he sleeping in such an uncomfortable way?’

Rieul turned on the phone screen on the bedside table to check the time. It was almost noon. When Rieul was startled and tried to get out of bed, her hand was held even tighter, and Woogeon pulled her into his arms.

“Where are you going?”

Rieul’s back felt Woogeon’s hard and strong chest. Woogeon’s lips touched the back of Rieul’s head, and every time he breathed, Rieul’s hair swayed slightly.

“Ah, I slept too long.” Rieul whispered softly.

“Sleep long? Why?” Woogeon pressed his lips on the back of Rieul’s head.

“It’s almost lunchtime now.”

“Then why?”

“Woogeon.”

“What?”

Woogeon turned Rieul’s body so she was lying on her back. Woogeon landed a brief kiss on her forehead and looked at her with half-closed eyes. In the middle of the day, even though the dark curtains covered, the shapes in the room began to appear more clearly. “P-Parents.”

“We’re married.”

“Because grandfather is sick, we didn’t even have time for a honeymoon. Should we feel awkward even to rest like this?”

“I will prioritize my feelings with Rieul. Others are not important.”

Rieul’s heart was pounding. Like running in the middle of summer and almost out of breath, her heart felt like it wanted to pierce her breastbone, and her breath was difficult to control.

“Why does your breath sound so seductive?”

“What?”

“Every breath of yours is so colorful, it arouses me.”

Rieul swallowed her saliva. A few days ago, the man who used to be sharp like a thorn had now turned warm like the back of a hand, and Rieul was amazed why this man’s feelings were progressing so seamlessly. A few days ago, only Rieul felt this way. When expressing her feelings, Woogeon felt awkward and even pushed her away. Although they kissed, Rieul thought it was just because of the situation at that time.

Therefore, she was confused by Woogeon’s attitude, which now seemed to skip steps without transition. Why has this man become so gentle? Is it because they are married, so they can have free sexual relations? They have kissed, so is this the right time to take it further? Suddenly, Woogeon pulled Rieul into his arms and in her heart, Rieul panicked. Rieul pushed Woogeon’s solid chest hard. In the not-so-thick darkness, Woogeon looked at Rieul with wide eyes. So, that wasn’t his intention, but…

“I, I’ll take a shower first, then come down.” Rieul walked quickly to the bathroom without wearing sandals.

After washing her face and changing clothes in the dressing room, Rieul heard the sound of the bathroom door opening and closing. She felt relieved. Rieul didn’t know how she should face Woogeon, her husband. Rieul quickly opened the dressing room door and headed to the corridor. As she went down the stairs, perhaps because it was lunchtime, the atmosphere in the dining room was quite lively, while on the living room sofa, her father-in-law was watching TV.

“Ah, father—” Rieul called her father-in-law with a rather awkward term as she came down.

Her fatherin-law smiled broadly when he saw Rieul. “My youngest daughter, did you sleep well?”

“Yes, father. I slept too long.”

“No, you must be tired.”

“I’ll go to the dining room to prepare food.”

“Okay.”

Rieul headed to the dining room. After passing the dining room, she headed to the kitchen, where her mother-in-law, a maid, and her mother-in-law were.

“Ah, good morning.”

Rieul greeted awkwardly, not knowing whether to say “good morning” or just call her

“Mother.”

“Rieul.” Her mother-in-law smiled brightly at the sight of her. “You must be tired, right? Rest more.”

“I’m sorry, I slept too long.”

“It’s okay, you must be tired. Even if you’re newly married, should resting also depend on the situation? I don’t want to be that kind of mother-in-law. I heard young people nowadays are like that. If the mother-in-law wants to be approached like a daughter, then the daughter-in-law has to say, ‘Mother, please get me water,’ and the daughter-in-law has to get the water.”

Hearing her mother-in-law’s words, Rieul’s face turned red.

“I, I’m not like that…”

“Just words. Think about it, isn’t it true?”

Her mother-in-law turned around and checked the taste of the doenjang jjigae (soybean paste soup). In the earthenware pot, doenjang soup containing tofu, potatoes, zucchini and onions was boiling fragrantly and spicy.

“My Jia also often calls me ‘mother, mother,’ asking for this and that. Yes, even though she’s my daughter-in-law, she’ll still be treated like that.”

Rieul smiled faintly.

“Rieul is also my child, and the arrangement of this house is my responsibility, so you don’t have to worry. While living in Wooheonwon House, the arrangement of this house is my business, so you just live comfortably.”

“But, mother…”

Her mother-in-law checked the taste while glancing at Rieul.

“I didn’t grow up with much affection, so it will definitely feel awkward.”

Her mother-in-law’s eyes changed with tenderness. Rieul smiled slightly.

“So even if I’m a bit stiff, please look favorably.”

Her mother-in-law put down the spoon and fork, then grabbed Rieul’s shoulders.

“My Rieul is so sweet, how can she be stiff? You’re always beautiful. You act beautifully, that’s why I love you more, take care of you more.”

Rieul felt her emotions suddenly clog her throat.

“My Rieul must have walked a long way to achieve happiness after marriage. Now, you don’t have to be an adult, don’t have to worry about adults. You can act like a young twenty-two-year-old girl, who is sometimes childish, so don’t worry too much.”

“Thank you.”

In the dining room, there was the aroma of warm and savory glutinous rice, the sound of boiling doenjang soup, and the sound of cutlery clinking, all flowing like life.

*****

“Grandfather, are you going for a walk?”

“Should I?”

As they were almost finished eating, Rieul asked. The grandfather smiled happily.

“Should? What does that mean? Grandfather, you overdid it yesterday. Let Rieul rest too.”

After putting the last bite into his mouth, Lee Woogeon drank water. The grandfather laughed heartily.

“Yes, yes, I can’t even go on a honeymoon because of this “

“Grandfather! Don’t call me again.”

Hearing that, the grandfather laughed even louder, and the parents also laughed softly. Rieul’s face turned red with embarrassment.

“Do you have to say that?”

Lee Woogeon held Rieul’s hand and went up the stairs. As they were almost on the second floor, Rieul spoke softly on her husband’s back. Her husband, Woogeon, didn’t turn around at all and walked with long strides towards the room.

“Rieul, you married me. I didn’t come to Korea to be a jinx remover for grandfather.”

Rieul’s face turned red. ‘That jinx remover again.’

“Don’t you like it if I feel like grandfather’s granddaughter?”

“Grandchildren don’t suffer that much either.”

“I never felt suffering. Michael is very precious.”

Her husband’s eyebrows furrowed with a dissatisfied expression, as if it was his habit.

“Am I not precious?”

Rieul opened her eyes wide. ‘Precious? Of course precious.’

A precious person.

“If I rest today, tomorrow I’ll go back to working overtime, have to leave early in the morning. It’ll be difficult to see Rieul’s face properly.”

Rieul blinked.

“But you said you liked me.”

“You said I smell of wood or something—don’t be sneaky, just say it, how often do you say sentences like that?”

“How often do you trap men with words like that?”

“There’s no man like that.”

“Ha, you’re as if you want to climb onto the stove every time.”

“What do you mean?”

“Never mind, let’s rest.” Her husband, Lee Woogeon, passed Rieul and went to the bedroom.

“No, it’s you, Lee Woogeon.”

“What does that mean?” Lee Woogeon stopped walking slowly and turned to Rieul.

“Well, I mean…” Rieul bit her lip.

“What don’t you like?”

Rieul sighed softly and looked at her husband. Her husband’s eyes narrowed with a dissatisfied look.

“Now you’ve decided to be sweet.”

“Me?”

Woogeon looked at Rieul with a slightly crooked look, without saying anything.

“Listen, Lee Woogeon.”

“Say it.”

“I’m a bit confused.”

“What are you confused about?”

“A while ago, Lee Woogeon, even though your words were sometimes strange, you always listened to me. But now…”

“Now what?”

“Like this. Suddenly, as if everything has become natural, you act so close, attentive, as if we’re playing a role, acting sweet like a child.”

“Rieul, do you feel like I’m playing around?”

“Yes, I’m confused.”

“Confused?”

“Yes, because you’re too nice.”

“So, you’re confused because I’m nice to my wife?”

Rieul was surprised. “So, you’re saying you’re nice to me because I’m your wife?”

“Then, is there another reason?”

Rieul suddenly felt annoyed. ‘So, I thought you were acting like this because you like me, but it turns out you’re acting so heartlessly.’ With annoyance, Rieul bit her lower lip and walked with quick, emotional steps.

“Rieul.”

As Rieul was about to pass him, her husband grabbed her wrist.

“What’s wrong? Why are you so angry? Isn’t it a husband’s duty to be nice to his wife?

What makes you so angry?”

“Well, well.”

The husband, who was handsome, smart, and very quick to grasp situations, looked confused, not understanding at all. Like an idiot.

“Then, what do you mean?”

“Kissing and hugging. Is that because I’m your wife?”

Rieul suddenly felt very sad.