WD | Chapter 1.5

“Yoon Seo-on can’t hang out with us today.”

“Ugh.”

Hyesung silently approached and put his arm around Seo-on’s shoulder, almost making him fall forward.

“Why?”

“Hey. When will we see each other again after graduation?”

“He has a prior engagement. Right?”

Hyesung adjusted the bouquet on Seo-on’s shoulder and asked for confirmation. Seo-on looked at his friends with an apologetic face.

“Sorry. I have an important prior engagement. Let’s hang out next time.”

“Really? Well, it can’t be helped. If you have time, contact us. We’re planning to stay over at someone’s place.”

“Yeah, just contact us anytime.”

“Got it.”

The friends disappeared, discussing what time to meet and what drinks to buy. Seo-on finally looked up at Hyesung, who still had his arm around him.

“I haven’t met your parents yet. Where are they?”

“They’re over there.”

Following Hyesung’s nod, Seo-on turned his body and saw familiar faces. The people standing across were his parents.

“Doesn’t it feel more like a parents’ social gathering than a graduation ceremony?”

Hyesung chuckled as he released his arm.

“Yeah, it does.”

Seo-on laughed along with him, adjusting the bouquet in his arms. Since it was a private school connected from elementary to high school, familiar faces he had seen since childhood were everywhere.

“Where are Young-oh hyung and Ji-oh nuna?”

“They said they’d put the bouquets in the car and wait there.”

“Are you going to eat with your family?”

“Yeah. What about you?”

“I have to go too. Grandpa’s waiting.”

Hyesung scrunched his nose. Seo-on knew it wasn’t because he disliked his grandpa or family, just that he didn’t like being nagged by his grandpa. Generally, species in the canine family had a strong attachment to family, even if it varied in degree.

“Are you going to hang out with the guys tonight?”

“Yeah. We’re crashing at Sangpil’s place.”

“Sounds fun.”

“You’re meeting Cha Dokwon, right?”

Hyesung confirmed with a sly smile. Then, in a serious tone, he whispered to Seo-on, who nodded.

“Remember what I told you.”

“I don’t know if I can say that to his face… Anyway, I’ll try to bring it up when we talk about the contract.”

“Hey. That’s really important. If talks of divorce or problems arise later, the first thing they refer to is the prenuptial agreement, so don’t let a single word be disadvantageous. Got it?”

“I know. And both sides will have lawyers review it, so…”

Even though no one in his family had divorced, it was different for CH, so he was a bit worried. But since neither side had anything to lose, there probably wouldn’t be any major disagreements.

“Are you really getting married?”

Despite giving advice, Hyesung still shuddered as if he couldn’t believe it. Seo-on just shrugged at Hyesung’s incredulous attitude. The scent of flowers wafted up, tickling his nose.

“This is why adults say wearing a school uniform is the best time.”

Thoughts he hadn’t considered before floated around in his head. Standing in front of a neatly organized dressing room, Seo-on finally picked out a cream-colored knit and black slacks after a few minutes of deliberation. He planned to wear a coat over it, but even without it, it would be a neat outfit.

I hope I don’t look too childish.

Even if he couldn’t exude a mature aura like Cha Dokwon, he didn’t want to look like he had just become an adult. It wasn’t about pretending to be an adult; he thought it would make the other person feel less uncomfortable.

Should I wear a darker knit instead?

Seo-on was spending more time than usual choosing clothes to show respect to his future spouse. He didn’t think Cha Dokwon would pay much attention to his attire just because they were meeting, but since he would be coming from work, he would definitely be in a suit. A perfectly set-up three-piece suit was a formal attire anyone could recognize.

If he were in a situation where he wore suits regularly, he wouldn’t have to worry. But since he wasn’t, he needed to think a bit today. He had never worried about his attire before, but today he realized how comfortable school uniforms were, as adults often said.

“…It seems like I’m trying too hard to act like an adult, so I’ll just wear what I picked first.”

After having lunch with his family and drinking tea in a quiet place, he returned home, rested a bit, and took a shower. He wasn’t pressed for time, but he planned to start moving soon.

As he slowly changed clothes, the conversation he had with his family echoed in his ears.

“You said you’re meeting Executive Director Cha today.”

“Yes. I told him I wanted to meet today because of the graduation ceremony.”

Seo-on had chosen today among many days. After the wedding date was set, he thought it would be good to meet once more before then, and since the graduation ceremony was in early January, it seemed like a suitable date.

Moreover, graduating from high school was significant. Not only because he was turning twenty with the new year, but more so because he was no longer a high school student. Since his birthday was in March, he still had some time before he became an adult by age, and even as a college student, he would still be a student, but just shedding the high school student status made him feel like an adult.

So meeting Cha Dokwon was better after graduation than before. He had asked to meet on graduation day because he wanted to meet as soon as possible after graduating.

“Anyway, since I’ve graduated, I hope the Executive Director won’t mind my age as much.”

He wasn’t so oblivious as to not know that the Executive Director was aware of his age.

“There’s not much time left until the wedding, and it’s better to meet as soon as possible to wrap things up.”

“The prenuptial agreement?”

At Yoon Young-oh’s question, Seo-on put down his teacup and answered, “Yes.”

“I decided to talk with the Executive Director before putting it in writing.”

“That’s why nothing has come to us yet.”

Yoon Ji-oh, who had been listening quietly, joined the conversation as if she finally understood.

“Got it. Then let’s talk about the prenuptial agreement tomorrow.”

“You won’t be home late, right?”

At his father’s words, which appropriately wrapped up the topic, his mother, sitting next to him, asked another question.

“I don’t think I’ll be too late. The Executive Director will be busy too.”

“If you’re late, call your brother. He’ll come to pick you up.”

“Last time, the Executive Director gave me a ride home… Okay.”

The day they went to get the suit fitted, Cha Dokwon giving him a ride home was unexpected. Seo-on recalled almost calling the driver but thought the Executive Director might be busy today, so he accepted his brother’s offer.

“I don’t know how long the conversation will be.”

Having changed clothes, Seo-on picked up his coat and muttered to himself. He was worried about whether the conversation about the prenuptial agreement would extend into personal matters, but he decided to worry about that when the time came.

For now, it was important not to be late for the appointment.

“Hey.”

Seo-on stopped in his tracks without realizing it.

Am I late? He checked the time unconsciously, but it was ten minutes before the appointment. Seeing the man already seated, whom he expected to arrive on time or late, made him think he was late.

“Were you early last time too?”

Cha Dokwon raised an eyebrow, seemingly not expecting Seo-on to arrive so soon.

“Yes. Not by much, just about ten minutes.”

“So you waited longer than I thought. Sorry.”

“It’s okay. I know you’re busy.”

Having heard similar words from his brother and sister, Seo-on lightly smiled as he sat down. Hearing an apology for being late from someone other than family felt novel, making him smile unknowingly.

“…”

However, the other person seemed oddly troubled. It was hard to be sure since he didn’t seem to have a very expressive face, but his slightly raised eyes seemed to reflect his troubled mood.

Why is he like that?

While Seo-on was puzzled alone, there was a knock at the door.

“Excuse me.”

Instead of saying come in as usual, Cha Dokwon stood up. He opened the door himself.

The secretary, who seemed surprised by the sudden opening of the door, stepped back but handed over the item he was holding when he saw it was Cha Dokwon. The man took the item and closed the door.

“Congratulations on your graduation.”

“Huh? Is this for me?”

“It’s not much of a graduation gift, but I couldn’t just let it pass.”

Seo-on’s eyes widened at the bouquet Cha Dokwon handed him. He had received so many bouquets that they were hard to handle, but he never expected to receive one from Cha Dokwon.

“I didn’t know you’d arrive early, so I had someone else pick it. Sorry I couldn’t choose it myself.”

Only after hearing the apology did Seo-on realize why Dokwon had made that peculiar expression. It seemed he was embarrassed because it looked like he had someone else deliver the gift during their conversation instead of giving it directly when they met.

However, even though he hadn’t chosen it himself, Seo-on was very pleased with the unexpected gift.

“No, it’s fine. Thank you. I didn’t expect the Executive Director to give me a graduation gift.”

The gift, which he neither expected nor hoped for, made him feel even more excited.

“I’m glad you like it.”

Cha Dokwon still had a slightly furrowed brow. Seo-on discreetly observed his face.

It seems like giving flowers is a first for him.

Although there was no trace of surprise at Seo-on’s early arrival, his expression clearly showed that he found this situation awkward. Considering he hadn’t made such a face when they first met or when they went to get the suit fitted, it seemed giving flowers was quite unfamiliar to him.

Interesting. I thought the Executive Director would be used to everything.

Thinking back, he seemed to have made a similar expression when receiving a bouquet.

“This is just a question.”

Seo-on carefully placed the flowers on the table and asked.

“Is this your first time giving flowers to someone?”

Seo-on often bought flowers. He would buy them for his parents’ birthdays or wedding anniversaries, and for his brother and sister’s birthdays, but even on ordinary days, he would sometimes give flowers if he thought of it.

Giving flowers when he first met Cha Dokwon wasn’t a meticulously planned act. It was more of a sudden impulse. Since he was meeting his future spouse, he wanted to give something, but choosing flowers wasn’t unusual for Seo-on.

However, it seemed like a very unexpected choice for the man.

“It’s my first time buying flowers.”

And Cha Dokwon didn’t deny it.

“Wow, then I’m the first person to receive flowers from the Executive Director.”

I didn’t know it felt like this when you receive them.