Choi Sung-hoon, who left work at 3 pm, said softly as he hung his coat on a hanger.?

    ?

    “They said a friend was visiting.”?

    ?

    “Yes… Won-jo.”?

    ?

    “I don’t mean to stop you from seeing your friends just because I don’t like them. But I don’t want you to keep trash as a friend.”?

    ?

    “What do you mean trash. He is my friend.”?

    ?

    Crack.?

    ?

    There was a sound of something breaking. Choi Sung-hoon broke the hanger and threw it in the trash.?

    ?

    “I’m sorry. I can’t control my power.”?

    ?

    “… ” ?

    ?

    Choi Sung-hoon approached me in the blink of an eye with one hand pulling his tie. That was a sexy scene.?

    ?

    “I would like to create a place to formally greet Jang Won-jo ssi.”?

    ?

    “…It’s Jung Won-jo.”?

    ?

    “If it’s possible tonight.”?

    ?

    I nodded in amazement as I looked at his chest which was about to burst under his white shirt.?

    ?

    “Let me ask you…” ?

    ?

    “Oh, and your uncle as well.”?

    ?

    “My uncle?”?

    ?

    “Yes.”?

    ?

    I was distracted by the word uncle, but when I saw Choi Sung-hoon, who began opening the button after loosening his tie, I lost my mind again.?

    ?

    “The uncle who introduced a 40-year-old divorced Alpha to you in a hotel on December 24th at 10 p.m.”?

    ?

    Choi Sung-hoon was displaying a handsome appearance at the time, and I was at a loss for words.?

    ?

    I nodded and moved my gaze to the angry biceps and shoulder muscles that were about to burst.?

    ?

    Were you going to take your shirt off? Would you take it off??

    ?

    “Try calling him right now. You’re going to introduce someone you’re going to marry, but when would be a good time to meet?”?

    ?

    “It hasn’t even been confirmed marriage yet…”?

    ?

    “Tell him that you’re going to introduce Kongkongi’s father.”?

    ?

    Choi Sung-hoon handed the cell phone that was lying on the bed in my hand. I called my uncle in front of Choi Sung-hoon.?

    ?

    [Small Uncle]?

    ?

    “…”?

    ?

    “There was a typo while saving it, haha…”?

    ?

    I laughed awkwardly, but I don’t know if Choi Sung-hoon would believe it.?

    ?

    My uncle asked if Kongkongi’s father had a lot of money and said he would meet him over the weekend. However, he asked Choi Sung-hoon to come down because he lives in a rural area. The words made me so angry.?

    ?

    “Why does our Choi Sung-hoon have to go down? Uncle, come up.”?

    ?

    – Why do I have to go up? I’m your second father, so tell the person you want to marry to come down!?

    ?

    “Wow, uncle, did you become a comedian? Second father.  So funny. You should audition for a comedian.”?

    ?

    – The way you talk is really…?

    ?

    While arguing with him in front of Choi Sung-hoon, Choi Sung-hoon’s big hand intervened and he naturally took my cell phone.?

    ?

    “This is Choi Sung-hoon. Is this Seo-yu’s ssi uncle?”?

    ?

    – …?

    ?

    Choi Sung-hoon continued the conversation with my uncle in a heavy and low voice.?

    ?

    “Yes, we can’t get the elderly to come up. I will go. However, Seo-yu ssi needs to rest, so he won’t be able to accompany me… This is exactly what I was hoping for.”?

    ?

    “Why is Choi Sung-hoon ssi going down? It’s a waste of time. To be honest, I don’t even have to introduce my uncle.”?

    ?

    Choi Sung-hoon wrapped one arm around me and patted me softly.?

    ?

    He set an appointment time and place in a low voice from beginning to end and hung up the phone.?

    ?

    I was filled with dissatisfaction and kicked the blanket. Choi Sung-hoon comforted me by telling me not to be upset.?

    ?

    “My uncle is not like family to me. Choi Sung-hoon didn’t have to make the effort to travel down to meet him.”?

    ?

    “I know. That’s why I’m going to meet him.”?

    ?

    “I told you, you don’t need to meet him?”?

    ?

    “I’d like to meet him right now because we don’t need to meet later. Seo-yu ssi, when you get married, you have to acknowledge your uncle as a member of your family…”?

    ?

    “No, I told you we’re not family! It’s frustrating. If I get married, I will cut ties with my uncle. You don’t have to treat me like an adult.”?

    ?

    “…Is that so.”?

    ?

    I tried to explain to Choi Sung-hoon what my uncle had done to me. It felt like I was digging my own grave when I talked about these things. How can I tell you that I’ve been rolling so dirty??

    ?

    “But since we made an appointment, let’s meet him.”?

    ?

    “Do whatever you want!”?

    ?

    I put on a blanket and lay down. Choi Sung-hoon hugged me from behind and continued to comfort me.?

    ?

    When I saw Choi Sung-hoon treat trash like my uncle as my family, I felt as if my clothes were going to be turned inside out. It was a relief that I wasn’t present at the meeting.?

    ?

    At Choi Sung-hoon’s urging, I also contacted Won-jo, but he declined with various excuses. In any case, they’ll have to meet someday.?

    ?

    Two days later, the day Choi Sung-hoon and my uncle decided to meet, I was standing up from the morning.?

    ?

    I was so worried that my uncle would say useless things to Choi Sung-hoon, so I sent a separate message.?

    ?

    [Don’t talk too much to Choi Sung-hoon, especially about the past.]?

    ?

    Small Uncle [I see what you’re doing.]?

    ?

    [If you don’t want to end someone else’s marriage, please do me a favor]?

    ?

    Small Uncle [Well, if you’re getting married, he needs to know everything about your past.]?

    ?

    I wondered if I should deposit even pocket money.?

    ?

    Choi Sung-hoon arrived in Yeosu 10 minutes before the scheduled time of 7 p.m., and I received a call. It was a phone call in which he stated that he was close to the meeting location, that he would have a good conversation, and said he would return to me today.?

    ?

    I was so anxious that I called my uncle as soon as I hung up with Choi Sung-hoon.?

    ?

    “Choi Sung-hoon is near. Uncle, where are you?”?

    ?

    – I’m almost there too. Why are there so many gangsters going around today??

    ?

    “A gangster?”?

    ?

    Choi Sung-hoon… I hope there won’t be a fight with the Yeosu gangster. It’s just that this was not his domain…?

    ?

    “Anyway, please be careful with what you say. Choi Sung-hoon is also a scary person, so you shouldn’t say things like I’ve met someone in the past. Please do me a favor.”?

    ?

    – It’s scary. However, knowing someone who likes people on your level is worthwhile.?

    ?

    My uncle laughed at me, but perhaps seeing Choi Sung-hoon in person would change his mind.?

    ?

    – By the way, I should reschedule the meeting. There are a lot of gangsters. There are some people who are very big and scary.?

    ?

    “Very big and scary.?”?

    ?

    – There’s a gangster leader. It was terrifying to see everyone bowed at 90 degrees. The scar on his face is very…?

    ?

    He’s very big, he looks scary, and he has a scar on his face??

    ?

    I wasn’t expecting it, so I just kept listening.?

    ?

    – Hey, they’re coming this way. Seo-yu ya, call your Alpha and ask him to change the appointment.?

    ?

    “…”?

    ?

    – What, what… Why are they heading this way…?

    ?

    “…”?

    ?

    – They foll, followed me. Hiik.?

    ?

    After that ‘hiik’, a low voice was heard from the other side of the phone saying, “Are you Seo-yu’s uncle?” And the phone hung up.?

    ?

    I was lying in bed, clutching my cell phone, waiting to hear from either of them. About 20 minutes later, a message came from Choi Sung-hoon.?

    ?

    [It was nice to see your uncle. I’ll go back now.]?

    ?

    I immediately called my uncle, but he didn’t answer.?

    ?

    Then, about an hour later, my phone rang, and it was a trembling voice like a sheep in a storm.?

    ?

    – Seo-yu ya, will you please stop talking about me to your lover? What I’ve done to you in the past.?

    ?

    “…I see what my uncle trying to do.”?

    ?

    – If you don’t want to end my life, let it slide. Please do it like this. Okay??

    ?

    “Well. He’s the one I’m going to marry, so shouldn’t he know everything that happened in my past?”?

    ?

    I had no intention of speaking, but I answered crookedly for no reason, and my uncle trembled the entire phone call. He kept apologizing for doing things he shouldn’t have done up until now.?

    ?

    I was so relieved. To some extent, I felt relieved because the stone that had been weighing on my mind for more than a decade had been shattered and disappeared completely.?

    ?

    So, when Choi Sung-hoon returned home late at night, I jumped into his arms, lifted my feet, and poured kisses on him. Choi Sung-hoon wrapped his arms around my waist and accepted the kiss.?

    ?

    The only blemish of the day was the fact that our progress ended with hugs and kisses.?

    ?

    * * *?

    ?

    Sung-hoon ssi? [Are you going to post it on social media again?]?

    ?

    [Yes]?

    ?

    [Aren’t you addicted?]?

    ?

    [I only post five a day. I didn’t post it anywhere else.]?

    ?

    I rolled around after lunch and texted Choi Sung-hoon. It was a critical message about whether or not I could post a picture of roses surrounded by baby’s breaths he bought yesterday on social media.?

    ?

    Originally, I planned to delete my social media, but Choi Sung-hoon told me to keep it after removing my ex-boyfriend from the list of followers. It became easier to post because the only people who followed me were Won-jo, Sung-hyun, Choi Sung-hoon’s father, and the company employees.?

    ?

    Sung-hoon ssi? [Do whatever you want. If you want to upload it, you can do it.]?

    ?

    [I’ll upload it] ?

    ?

    It was the moment I got permission from Choi Seong-hoon to upload the photo.?

    ?

    The screen changed at the same time as the vibration sounded.?

    ?

    I jumped out of bed when I saw the name [Choi Sung-hoon’s mother]. ?

    ?

    “Yes, mother.”?

    ?

    – Good, you pick up quickly. Did you eat your lunch??

    ?

    “Yes, did mother eat?”?

    ?

    – I’m going to eat now. He’s grumbling and setting it up.?

    ?

    We had an appointment to eat together a week ago, but Choi Sung-hoon canceled it because his flight was delayed (the first time I knew that the private plane was also delayed). Sung-hyun told me that father was very upset that day, so there was no talk of eating out these days.?

    ?

    After a short greeting, my mother talked about the main topic.?

    ?

    – Did you recommend that Director Choi seek consultation??

    ?

    “Consultation?”?

    ?

    – …You didn’t know??

    ?

    “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve never even mentioned the word counseling to Choi Sung-hoon ssi.”?

    ?

    When I answered with certainty, mother let out a long sigh of embarrassment.?

    ?

    – I’m sorry. Please forget about this. If you don’t know, that’s fine.?

    ?

    “Yes, mother. If you say something you shouldn’t tell me, please let me know. I will forget it too.”?

    ?

    -… Aren’t you giving up too quickly??

    ?

    “Yes?”?

    ?

    – Aren’t you curious??

    ?

    It’s not that I was not curious, but I’m not sure if I have the right to be, and if there was something I needed to know, wouldn’t Choi Sung-hoon tell me? But mother seemed to want to talk.?

    ?

    When I hesitated to answer, mother spoke up a little faster.?

    ?

    – Actually, I called Director Choi separately yesterday and advised him to seek psychiatric counseling. I’m concerned about what will happen if a cold-blooded person like Director Choi meets a kind and tearful person like you.?

    ?

    I don’t cry often… It seems that crying once at that time had a significant impact on my image.?

    ?

    Mother kept talking without waiting for my response.?

    ?

    – Until now, I pretended not to notice Director Choi’s personality, but now he will become someone’s lifelong partner, and moreover, that partner is a tearful and fragile person who doesn’t fit in with an inhuman and mean person like Sung-hoon. I feel the last responsibility as a parent. I’m not sure how a guy who didn’t do anything good ended up with a good boy like you.?

    ?

    Those words reminded me of something I’d heard before. I remembered the words I secretly heard when I went to Choi Sung-hoon’s house during the Lunar New Year holiday.?

    ?

    ‘It doesn’t suit you… ‘?

    ?

    ‘… How did you end up with that… ‘?

    ?

    Did the conversation, which I misunderstood after hearing only fragments, actually mean this? Was it just me who misunderstood what his parents’ thoughts about me??

    ?

    I stroked my pounding heart, which had been overwhelmed by the newly realized fact.?

    ?

    – So we found a few people who could consult with us, and we called yesterday to discuss it, but Sung-hoon has already accepted it. He only recently began counseling.?

    ?

    “…”?

    ?

    – I thought you advised him to accept it after hearing what I was worried about last time.?

    ?

    “I had no idea. I’ve never thought of that.”?

    ?

    My voice was dazed like a fool even when I heard it. Mother paused for a long moment before saying, “Ummm,” and then she spoke again.?

    ?

    – Sung-hoon decided to consult on his own. Even if I told him before, he wouldn’t listen.?

    ?

    “…”?

    ?

    It was a light voice as if it’d had a good experience. My attention was drawn to the vase of roses and then to the marriage certificate next to it.?

    ?

    A thin sheet of paper that I left to write on at any time.?

    ?

    If Choi Sung-hoon really started counseling because of me…?

    ?

    It means that his thoughts while filling out the marriage certificate was not done lightly.?

    ?

    It was never a lighthearted one.?

    ?

    – It’s a bit cliché, but love is great. Right, Yu-ya??

    ?

    When mother asked a playful question, I pressed my throbbing chest down and said, “I guess so,” in a very small voice.