After Story 259

You two want to hold a small wedding, but your parents are opposed to it? Daemyung asked as he dipped some dumplings into soy sauce.

My mom is the only one opposed at the moment, and with that, dad is being neutral, Haneul said.

Why not just hold a big one like everyone else does? Its not like you dont have any money or dont have many people to invite.

He wasnt putting them on a pedestal or anything. Han Maru and Han Haneul. These two were actors known by most of the population, so they could easily hold a grand wedding.

I dont want it to be crowded. Its better in many ways to invite just the people who would congratulate us wholeheartedly.

Thats true, the wedding culture in our country is more like an exchange than an event. When my cousin got married, I was the one accepting congratulatory gift money at the front desk, and it felt really weird. There were many people who gave me an envelope and immediately asked for a meal ticket and then went straight to the restaurant without watching the wedding. They were mostly company coworkers or acquaintances of parents.

Daemyung thought about his cousins wedding. People were flocking and the groom was dragged to the wedding venue after greeting various people with a smile.

During the meal after the wedding, the bride and the groom went around the tables giving their thanks, but because there were so many people, they didnt even get to say a lot of things. The wedding really looked like it was quick just for the sake of it.

I dont want to conform to the schedule of the wedding venue, where you arent given a lot of time. Thats why Im looking into venues that have much longer time periods or outside venues even if it takes some money, but mom says she doesnt like it.

Haneul sighed. Even she, who was good at handling most things, seemed to have trouble resolving the conflict between her and her mother.

Daemyung swallowed the dumpling before speaking,

What are you going to do if you cant persuade her until the end?

I have to persuade her somehow.

Thats some stubbornness. Maru, what are you planning to do?

Maru looked at Haneul.

I am going with whatever shes going with. If she decides to fight, Ill be supporting her until mother-in-law is convinced.

Marriage is such a difficult problem. Even if the couple getting married is good with it, things would become messy if their houses start objecting. But they arent opposed to your marriage as a whole, are they?

We got permission a long time ago. Were planning to find a good date as soon as the wedding venue problem is solved. Maru crossed his arms.

What if they dont give you permission? I mean, where do you think Haneuls stubbornness came from? Haneuls mother must be quite a stubborn person, too, isnt she? If both of them wont relent, I dont think youll get an answer.

Daemyung had seen a few people worried about their wedding at work. Things that seemed trivial at first ended up being major enough that some of them almost broke up as a result. Two different people, two different houses forming a union was just that difficult.

Marriage felt like something far in the distant future, but now that the two friends in front of him were getting married, Daemyung also had a renewed interest. It would be helpful later if he watched carefully how these two responded to it.

Theres no negotiation. This is our marriage. I love mom and I respect her, but there are things you cant yield even between parent and child, Haneul said firmly.

Her words sounded like her resolve wouldnt waver at all.

Haneul stood up and opened the fridge.

Theres nothing to drink here.

I was meaning to buy some. I totally forgot about it.

Ill go down and get something to drink. Black coffee for you sweetie, and Daemyug, yours is cappuccino, right?

With a lot of syrup.

Haneul opened the door and left. Daemyung spoke after seeing the door close,

I dont think shell yield.

She wouldnt be Haneul if she did.

What are you really going to do? Im no marriage expert, but isnt it you wholl receive all the hate if things stay like this? Youll be in for a bad time if your mother-in-law doesnt like you before you even get married.

My dear son-in-law, arent you going to persuade Haneul? Daemyung said in a dramatic tone.

Maru smiled and spoke,

Thats why I have to balance the tug of war well so that both Haneul and mother-in-law like me.

From what Haneul says, it looks like shell hold the wedding without her mothers consent.

She wont do that. Shes a perfectionist. Shell think about resolving this problem perfectly to hold a harmonious wedding and wont just push forward with things recklessly.

Someone said to me that theres no wedding that goes well after buying a parents ire. I know it shouldn't always be correct, but it does sound plausible. Theyre your parents after all, unless you plan on not seeing them for the rest of your life.

Thats why Haneul is concerned about it. If anyone else advised us to hold a grand wedding, she wouldve smashed her head against that person right on the spot. Its because its her mother that shes thinking of a way to resolve it.

Daemyung split apart the remaining dumplings in half. He pushed one-half over to Marus side.

What about you? Do you prefer a small wedding too?

I also want to hold a small one. Haneul and I have frighteningly similar preferences. No, it was practically inevitable that it became like that.

He smiled deeply with some mysterious words. It was one of those inexplicable expressions that Maru showed despite being someone who was clear-cut most of the time.

Whenever it happened, Daemyung was curious about what the meaning behind that smile was and what the heck had happened, but he never questioned it. The reason was that first, he felt like he shouldn't ask, and second was that he felt like he wouldnt understand even if he listened to the answer.

If there was an opportunity in the future, he might ask what that vague smile meant, but he felt like that moment wouldnt come for a long time.

So theres no other way out of this than persuading her mother, right?

We know the reason for her opposition so its hard to bring it up. But still, well have to talk to her slowly about it.

Haneul came back. She, who sipped on some coffee without a word, suddenly stood up.

We should clear this up as quickly as possible. Dragging things out doesnt sit right with me.

Haneul looked at Maru and gestured. Maru stood up after picking up their luggage.

Youre leaving?

We should.

Daemyung saw the two of them out of the office and to their cars. He watched as the car went into the distance before speaking,

Its not my turn to be worried about those two.

He rubbed his rather lonely flank and turned around. Those two would do well, so there was no need to worry.

* * *

Maru exchanged gazes with his father-in-law. Father-in-law smiled bitterly and looked away. Where his eyes stopped was where his wife and his mother-in-law had entered the state of a cold war.

The two women were sitting at the dining table, face to face. In front of them were some water and some fruits. The slices of apples, which were prepared about 30 minutes ago, looked pitiful, with their flesh turning brown.

When do you think that would end?

It would end once one side yields, but I dont think it wont happen, so it should take a pretty long time.

I have the same opinion. They are mother and daughter alright. Even their stubbornness is the same. Haneul looks like she has changed a lot, but her stubbornness hasnt changed at all.

She really takes after mother-in-law.

Youll have a hard time once you get married. Haneul, shes no ordinary character either.

Whenever that happens, Ill come over and ask for advice.

Hey, do you like fis.h.i.+ng?

You can consider me a master. I like fis.h.i.+ng in rivers and also in the sea. Oh, and I also like indoor fis.h.i.+ng where I can listen to the radio.

Haha, sounds like youll get along with me.

Since thats the case, cant you give some support fire?

For who?

Haneul.

If I do that, Ill get nagged for life. Why dont you side with your mother-in-law for once?

If I do that, Haneul will bring this up every single night for the rest of my life.

Thats true.

Maru carefully spoke,

Do you know the reason shes opposed?

There should be multiple reasons. Shes really innocent and doesnt have a lot of greed, but how many people in this world dont like to boast? She must be looking forward to having her child hold a big wedding, getting congratulated by many people, and all that.

Im sure she does.

And at our age, what else do we have to boast about? In the end, it comes down to our children. Also, if not for things like this, there arent many occasions where the whole family would gather. I can think of multiple reasons off the top of my head. But if I had to pick just one

With each start of a new life, many things had changed, and the lives of his in-laws had changed a lot as well. Maru listened to his father-in-laws words.

While the men had a secret conversation, the womens side was still at a stalemate.

Maru had a look at his mother-in-laws complexion but then made eye contact with her. He slowly lowered his head. Even after having experienced all sorts of things, this was still too much for him.

Sweetie, can you come over for a second? Haneul called him.

Maru suppressed his smile and stood in front of the two people.

We were wondering if we could listen to your opinion. How do you want to hold this wedding? asked his mother-in-law.

His beating heart came to a halt for a moment. The fire was on him now. It was natural that she came to him for help after having failed to persuade her own daughter.

Maru looked at Haneul and his mother-in-law alternately before speaking. The story that his father-in-law told him felt like it could become a clue,

Father-in-law has told me about you, maam. To be precise, when the two of you got married.

His mother-in-law looked at his father-in-law. His father-in-law started coughing.

Moms wedding?

Haneul looked at her mother. She was really insightful and knowledgeable about many things, but she shouldnt know what kind of life her mother had lived. After all, she hadnt talked to her parents at all before her memories returned, and after that, she was very busy with all sorts of matters.

Maru closed his mouth and looked at his mother-in-law. The one who had some explaining to do was not him, but her. Having understood his intent, she spoke with a soft sigh,

Im sure I told you that I was raised alone under my grandmother. I had no parents and no relatives either. I have not resented my environment even once. But just once, I felt sad at my wedding. For the brides side, I barely managed to contact a few coworkers and a few of my friends from high school that I stayed in touch with. That was it. On the other hand, your dads side had many people. When we all took a photo together, it was so empty behind me. Thats why some people from your dads side came over and filled the gaps. Thats how the wedding photo in the bedroom came to be.

His mother-in-law continued with a softer face,

I know that its nothing to be sad about, but it remains in my memory to this day. Thats why I thought that I would have all the people in the world stand behind my daughter when she gets married. So that she doesnt feel sad or lonely.

Haneul, who was listening to those words, frowned before speaking,

Mom, I dont need anyone else I know standing behind me. I just need you by my side. Other people? I dont need them. Youre the most important to me.

Mother-in-law sighed softly before smiling.

You might regret this later, thinking that you held a small wedding while everyone else had big ones.

Mom, just because its called a small wedding doesnt mean that itll look empty. Im going to spend tons of money. Should I get some of your favorite fireworks in too? Im good as long as moms good.

What are you going to do about the adults who will be left disappointed? Im sure theyll be disappointed if they find out they cant go to your wedding after having looked after you, you know?

I will be the one to handle that. Ill visit each one of them after the wedding and greet them. If theres anyone who reprimands me for being rude, then I just have to not see them for life.

Who do you take after to be like that?

Who else? Its you, mom.

No parent can win against a child, and eventually, mother-in-law declared do what you want.

His mother-in-law looked at him.

To be honest with you, I was going to hold on if you didnt come. But she brought you here and made things uncomfortable, so how could I hold on?

Haneul will do a lot better in the future. You lost to her wishes once, so if shes smart, shell treat you better.

Thats right, youre on my side, arent you, Mr. Han?

Eh? Yes, well. Im on your side, and her side.

Maru smiled. It seemed that the tug of war had ended successfully, with neither side losing.