Promised Marriage

According to the news, this afternoon the heat index would be 39 degrees Celsius. Mayu tried to wander on the streets with the heat surrounding her sweating body as she went to the art gallery from the bus stop. Everyone was in their summer uniform while some were solely wearing the fashion trend for the heat. Few people were walking on the side road while wiping the sides of their faces. Some who moved leisurely on the streets have some cold iced drink on their hand and a handkerchief on the other. Mayu arrived at the gallery where she went straight to the restroom to wipe her sweat back and face. When she’s done wiping her face, she takes out the face powder and lipstick to retouch.

After that, she went to her desk in the back office of the gallery, where she opened her computer to continue writing the article about the upcoming photo exhibit of Hwan. She also thought that they needed a photo of Hwan to be included in the poster. After so many days of thinking, she has finally thought of a title to Hwan’s exhibit.

Many hours have passed of listening to the recording. She kept on writing, editing, and revising the article where she had almost forgotten the time. When she noticed that it was already past 11 o’clock in the morning, someone stood near her desk. When she looked at the person in front of her, she was surprised to see Bu Chun-ae, who’s obviously clothed with expensive fashion summer trends.

“Do you have time during lunch?” Chun-ae asked Mayu.

“N-ne, waeyo?” Mayu said.

“Meet me at the coffee shop during your lunch break.” Chun-ae said before she immediately left Mayu confused, “Moya*? Why does she suddenly want to talk to me?” (What the heck?)

Minutes passed then lunch break came. Mayu immediately went to the coffee shop. Outside the coffee shop, she could see Chun-ae through the glass wall who’s sitting cross-legged with two iced cold americano on the table. As she walked, she could sense that Chun-ae seemed serious and that made her feel nervous. She somewhat could sense that the conversation would be about Hwan and Chun-ae.

She entered the coffee shop and walked towards Chun-ae’s table. She then took a seat across her in front of the drink which was obviously bought for her. Mayu took a sip first of the drink, after that she thanked her for buying it for her.

“Let’s be honest with each other, okay?” Chun-ae said while she wrapped her arms around her chest.

“Okay, but about what?”

“Hwan and I were planning to get married. Before my father died, he promised to him that he would marry me.”

Mayu was surprised by what she heard. She could not hide the shock in her eyes. But she also wonders why she’s hearing this from her.

“J-jeongmalyo? But, why are you saying that to me?”

“I’m saying this to you to make you understand my relationship with him.”

“He told me that you were not together although you’ve dated several times.”

“But a promise is a promise. I made him remember that.”

“I understand your relationship with him. But I don’t understand, what’s the point of telling this to me?”

“You are a threat to me.”

“I-I—I’m a threat?”

“Do you like him?” Chun-ae asked her.

Mayu once again was startled by the question and it made her eyes stop blinking. It made her dumbfounded that she couldn’t think of the proper answer. Then she thought that she could say that she doesn’t like him but her lips won’t open. Seconds later the words of the marriage of Chun-ae and Hwan echoed in her mind. Then it reached her chest where she felt a sting, which made her remember the emotion when she told Areum her feelings for Hwan.

“H-h-he’s a close friend, of course,” Mayu said. “Who doesn’t like Hwan?”

“That’s what I need to know,” Chun-ae said before she stood up from her seat. “Thanks for your time. You may take your lunch alone.”

Chun-ae walked away from Mayu to leave the coffee shop.

Meanwhile, Mayu remained quiet while in her seat. She was left stunned which made her continuously drink the iced americano. She felt like her past feeling went back for a second. She could not believe that memory could also bring back the emotion. Now she finally realized that it was not a scar but a recollection.

###

After lunch when she was seated back on her desk, she forgot her engulfed feeling. During the afternoon her mind was occupied by the upcoming event. She even had a meeting with Madame Choi. She made her read the article she'd written to promote Hwan’s photo exhibit. She even told her the title she thought for the event. She also suggested that on the poster they need a photo of Hwan on it. Madame Choi has approved of the article to be posted on the website. She also likes the idea of including Hwan in the poster. She told her that she’ll talk to Hwan about it. While she had a meeting with Madame Choi, Hwan texted her to ask her about what time she would be out. She immediately responds that after 6 pm she’s done.

The temperature has dropped to 3 degrees when the evening arrived. It was already passed 6 o’clock when Mayu saw the time in her wristwatch. She started fixing her desk and closing her computer before she leaves. When she was walking inside the building Hwan called her on the handphone.

She answered, “Wae?”

“I’m here. I’m waiting for you outside.”

“Why would you be waiting for me?”

“You told me if I need a drinking buddy, I’d call you.”

“Ah, araso, I’ll be there in a minute.”

When she ended the call, she instantly ran going to the restroom. She faced the mirror and looked for the face powder inside her handbag. She put some powder on her cheeks. She also searched for her lipstick on her bag then she put some on her lips. She also combed her hair and fixed her dress. After all that she walked out of the restroom to immediately move fast.

When she arrived at the exit door of the building, she saw Hwan standing far in front of it.

“Hwan-ah!” She called him and then went to him.

Hwan looked at her as she walked towards him. “How was work?”

“I was busy the whole day, but it was fine. Where do you want to go?”

“What do you want to drink?”

“Soju and sundae*?” (Blood sausage)

“Do you know a place?”

“Yes, I know, kindly follow me, Nam-nim.”

“Stop that.”

She started walking while Hwan followed her by her side. “Why don't you want me to call you, Nam-nim?”

“I feel the old me. I kinda missed the old days.”

“Then come to the reunion, everyone will call you, Ye-sung-ah!” Mayu imitated the way Hea mentioned it.

He chuckled, “Maybe I should.”

“You should organize it. Hea said she once organized it.”

“Maybe I should someday.”

“You know what, I have noticed that you matured into a young respected artist.”

“Me? Why did you say that?”

“You talk with consideration and you seem gentle and dejected and alone.”

“Was I talkative before?”

“You were harsh. You were extroverted before.”

He gently smiled, “I think I was.”

“I think doing art has changed you.”

“I think I became introverted when I did paint to save my family,” Hwan said. “You also have changed.”

“I did?”

“Yeah, you don’t talk too much before. Every time I’d speak to you, you were always frowning and upset. I also found you alone by yourself while I was surrounded by

friends.”

“I was like that. But I wasn’t sad.”

“I was happy at that time.”

Mayu arrived at an ordinary eatery on the side road. The place was packed with people that eat and drink as they talk to each other. Mayu and Hwan took a seat at the right corner of the area away from any individuals. Mayu called out the waitress who was an old woman and she told them their orders which were kimbap, sundae, and 5 bottles of soju. Minutes later the orders arrived and the ajumma placed them above the table then both of them thanked her.

Mayu has eaten the kimbap* and sundae* first. But Hwan already opened a bottle of soju and then drank it. (cooked rice and ingredients such as vegetables, fish, and meats that are rolled in kim)

“Eat first. Your stomach needs food first.” Mayu said to Hwan.

Hwan shakes his head while he drank another shot of soju.

“What seems to be the problem?” Mayu asked.

“I feel like I’m a cat with a leash.”

“Cats don’t usually have a leash.”

“Exactly, that’s what I meant.” He drank another shot. “I am a cat with a leash.”

“Is it about the promised marriage you have with Chun-ae-shi?”

He was about to pour on the shot glass but he paused. “How did you know that?”

“She talked to me this afternoon.”

He smirked then he drank the shot. “You know why I did that?”

“Why?”

“My father needed an open-heart surgery when I was a student. He had a heart attack at work. We don’t have the money.” He poured another shot before he drank it.

“My professor recommended that a friend of his would be willing to buy my painting. And that was the father of Chun-ae. When I met him, I told him that I need money for my dad’s operation. He liked the painting. He asked me how much I need, so he would give it to me. I told him the price.”

He drank two more shots before he talked, “He gave me the money. He saved my dad. After that, he liked every painting I made. He personally endorsed it to his close friends. That made my works be displayed at the galleries. He was the one who started it all. As years went by, he liked me as his son, he suggested dating Chun-ae, so I did. I did for a couple of years. But he became ill and before he died, he wanted me to promise to him that I would be marrying his daughter. I have received too much gratitude from him, so I said, I would.”

He poured another on the shot glass then he drank it, “I was young and I was also indebted. But now I realized you cannot enforce love. I have known Chun-ae for years now. I understand that she’s not perfect but still…” He signed, “I cannot love her.”

“Did you tell her that you cannot love her back?”

“I did, I apologized. But still, she insisted on the promise.”

Mayu has opened another bottle of soju because Hwan has finished the first one. She poured soju on her shot glass then drank it. “She’s doing that because she already loves you.”

He smirked, “Is that love? Or being selfish?”

“Love can make you selfish. It can make you a bad person.”

“I shouldn’t have said I will,” Hwan said as he continued drinking shot after shot. “Do you think it’s my fault?”

“Ani, it’s not your fault. She’s not at fault either.”

“Should I just marry her?”

“Would that make you happy?” He shakes his head sideways. “Then don’t.”

“Why do you think she sees in me?” Hwan asked.

“I don’t know. Ask her about that.”

“I should not have been nice to her.”

“Were you nice?”

“I was nice because of the gratitude I had for her father.”

“Then tell her that.”

“You told me I was harsh. I think I did with her.”

“I’m sorry I can’t do anything to help you.”

He gently chuckled, “Talking to you like this helps. I like being with you and talking to you. It’s like the old us.”

“Maybe we were like this before without the soju.”

“Thanks for coming back. I need you at times like this.” He drinks the entire bottle of soju.

“Yah, drink responsibly! I cannot carry you home!” Mayu took the bottle in his hand. “Stop drinking you already had 2 bottles.”

“Would you promise me one thing?” Hwan said.

“What is that?”

“Don’t leave me without saying goodbye.”

“I will not leave. I have planned to stay in Seoul.”

He smiled, “If you leave again, I will search for you.” He took another bottle to open it again but Mayu took it from him.

“Araso, I will not leave. Stop drinking.”

“Are you not going to ask me?”

“Ask you what?”

“What happened to me after you left?”

Mayu was astounded by what he said. While Hwan took another bottle of soju from his side to open it, and then he poured it on his shot glass before he drank it.

“Are you going to tell me?” Mayu asked with curiosity.

“O-o-of course!” Hwan said obviously intoxicated.

“Then tell me when you are not drunk.”

“I don’t have the courage when I’m not drunk.”Hwan’s cheeks are already turning red. “I was sad when you left. No, I was devastated.”

“Why would you be when you had Areum as a girlfriend?”

“I shouldn’t have accepted her confession.”

“But you did.”

“Losing Areum had made me do the painting. If losing you too would make me do painting, then I don’t want to paint again.” Hwan drank the bottle of soju and he almost

finished it.

“Yah! Stop that!” Mayu immediately took the soju but when she grabbed it, Hwan suddenly dropped hard on his head on the table. “Yah, wake up!”

Mayu tries to wake Hwan but he’s not responding. And then she first went to the owner to pay for their bills. She went back to their table to carry Hwan on the other side of her shoulder. She put his arm on her entire shoulder to carry him but he could not stand. So she decided to bear him on her back as they went outside to wait for a taxi. She hailed a taxi while he was on her back on the side road. The taxi stopped in front of her. She opened the door when she tried to put Hwan inside with her back. Then she laid him on the back seat first before she seated in the front seat. She told the driver her home address and then she called Hea.

She answered, “Hea, are you at home?”

“Yeah, why?” Hea asked.

“I’ll bring Hwan home, he's drunk.”

“Araso.”

“Can you wait for me outside? I can’t carry him alone.”

“Okay, I will,” Hea said before Mayu ended the call.

Minutes later Mayu arrived at the home while Hea’s waiting outside. Mayu thanked the driver and paid him before she opened the back door of the taxi and Hea held Hwan’s arm to carry him on her back while Mayu assisted her. Hea brought Hwan inside the house and laid him on the sofa in the living room.

“He’s dead drunk,” Hea said while looking at him lying on the sofa. “What happened?”

“Remember when I mentioned the name Bu Chun-ae?”

“Yeah, so?”

“Hwan promised to her dad before he died that he would marry Chun-ae. But now, Hwan cannot do the promise.”

“Why?”

“He does not love her.”

“Then is he in love with someone else?”

“I don’t know? I did not ask.”

“Maybe he loves someone else.”

“Ask him tomorrow when he wakes up.”

“Why did you bring him home?”

“I do not know his house’s passcode.”

Hea stared at him while she was standing on his side, “Whoa, he looks handsome.”

“Behind his art, he had a tough life. Poor Hwan.”

“He did?”

“I’ll tell you.”