I’ll Handle My Marriage Myself

“—jin, Haejin.”

“Mmm…?”

Someone was shaking his body.

The shaking pulled his consciousness to the surface of sleep, and he barely roused his heavy mind, opening his eyes.

Beomwoo, sitting in the driver’s seat, was waking him up.

Only then did Haejin realize he had dozed off during the journey.

He thought he couldn’t sleep with these feelings, but contrary to that, he had fallen into a deep sleep without waking.

Actually, Haejin tended to get a bit carsick, so he usually slept during car rides.

Earlier, he had tried to stay awake, thinking it was impolite to sleep in the passenger seat or because of his mood, but the encroaching carsickness made his eyelids feel heavy, as if weighted down, and they kept closing; his head grew heavy, and he fell into a deep sleep.

“I must have dozed off… I’m sorry. Are we there already?”

“Nothing to be sorry about. We’re not there yet, but you must be tired from sitting so long, and it’s mealtime, so you’re probably hungry. Let’s take a short break before continuing.”

“Ah, okay…”

As Haejin tried to wipe the sleepiness from his face and mumbled a reply, Beomwoo faintly raised and then lowered the corner of his mouth as he answered.

The one who should be tired is the driver; he just slept obliviously…

Though embarrassed, he was relieved he hadn’t drooled in his sleep and got up, smoothing his ruffled clothes.

He thought they had arrived at a rest area, but when he got out of the car and looked around, they were in front of a restaurant nestled against a mountain.

The place seemed too clean to be just anywhere along the road, and the parking lot was filled with sleek, luxurious cars.

It seemed he didn’t want to eat just anywhere and had looked up a restaurant.

Considering he was picky about food, it made sense.

Meanwhile, Beomwoo, having parked and gotten out of the car, approached him and said.

“Let’s go in.”

“Ah, yes.”

Following Beomwoo’s lead, Haejin entered the restaurant.

A restaurant in such a location seemed like it would have few customers and be quiet, but as many cars were parked outside, the interior was bustling with patrons.

It was so crowded there were even waiting customers.

With this, it seemed they wouldn’t have a seat either.

Thinking they might have to wait, Haejin awkwardly looked around.

Beomwoo, who had followed, said something to the counter staff, and the employee immediately guided them to a seat inside.

It seemed he had made a reservation.

Inside, there was a private room.

It seemed whenever he ate with Beomwoo, it was always in such private places; finding these kinds of restaurants was a skill in itself.

As he sat down, Beomwoo spoke somewhat awkwardly.

“I wanted to treat you to something better, but being on the road, options are limited. Since you seemed carsick, I chose a spicy fish stew place. Is that okay? They have other menus too.”

“Ah, I’m fine with it.”

“That’s good. Then I’ll order this menu.”

From the building, he knew this was a specialty restaurant for spicy fish stew.

Fortunately, Haejin liked fish, and while he didn’t have strong feelings about spicy stew, his stomach wasn’t great after sleeping due to carsickness.

While not nauseous enough to vomit, he felt queasy, and a spicy broth seemed like it would help settle it.

When Haejin nodded, saying it was good, Beomwoo finally relaxed his expression and placed the order.

Again, they looked at the menu together, but they ordered what he recommended.

Perhaps because it was cooked at the table, the food came quickly.

While waiting for the stew to boil, Beomwoo poured water into a cup and started a conversation.

“You seem very tired. I wonder if I shouldn’t have asked you to come along.”

Worry tinged his voice as he asked if Haejin seemed very tired.

Sitting in the car for hours wasn’t an easy schedule, but Haejin had been sleeping in the passenger seat the whole time; he wasn’t in a position to be worried about by the driver.

“Ah, no. I just slept…”

“It’s because of carsickness, isn’t it?”

“That’s true, but that’s inevitable when I’m in a car… As I said, I didn’t come because I felt pressured or was forced to follow you, Beomwoo. I came because I wanted to. So you don’t need to worry.”

“Is it because of anxiety?”

Sleeping is a common symptom of carsickness.

So, it was kind of him to recognize that he didn’t sleep on purpose but because of carsickness.

But choosing to go to Busan with him was his own decision.

So he told Beomwoo he didn’t need to feel sorry or worry about him suffering from carsickness.

But Beomwoo seemed more concerned because he knew that choice was because of Jeong-yeon.

Of course, that was the biggest reason… but it was hard to readily agree.

Beomwoo seemed to think failing to protect him before was also his own fault, and if he said yes, it might feel like he was saying Beomwoo wasn’t even on his mind.

While he thought drawing a line was right, it wasn’t that easy.

He thought it was difficult on his conscience to be firm because he was grateful for the help, but even beyond that… it was hard.

Not knowing that silence often means affirmation, Haejin didn’t answer.

Beomwoo pursed his lips bitterly and then spoke again in a calm tone.

“I checked Jeong-yeon and Hyun-nam’s movements on the way; they’re in Seoul. No other suspicious movements. I’ll keep checking, but for now, it seems you don’t need to worry much.”

“R-really…?”

At Beomwoo’s words, Haejin’s face showed a hint of color, barely perceptible.

It was welcome news.

He had pretended not to care, but inwardly, he was worried about Jeong-yeon and Hyun-nam; hearing there was no reaction…

He expected Hyun-nam to lie low for a while, but not Jeong-yeon.

He didn’t seem the type to give up after one failure.

Was he not the person he had feared?

While he couldn’t let his guard down, as there might be some scheme, with Jeong-yeon not showing up or contacting him for days, he felt relieved for now.

As Haejin’s expression relaxed, Beomwoo, who had been seriously explaining the situation, also softened his stiff facial muscles and continued.

“So, since we’re in Busan, if there’s anywhere you want to go or anything you want to do, let me know. We have enough leeway for that much of a change of pace.”

“Ah, that…”

“It’s boiling now. We can eat.”

A change of pace.

He had said it himself, but at that time, it was just an excuse because Beomwoo seemed not to believe him; he didn’t have any particular place he wanted to go.

He was about to say he hadn’t meant it seriously, that it was just something he said, but Beomwoo changed the topic, saying the stew was starting to boil and they should eat.

Beomwoo was usually the type to say only what he needed, but not to the point of cutting off conversation.

It was evident he was deliberately cutting it off and changing the subject, perhaps knowing he was about to refuse.

Seeing it was intentional was more than just embarrassing—it was absurd.

But Haejin didn’t say more and closed his mouth.

If it had been done with malice, he would have said something, but he knew Beomwoo was doing it because he was concerned about him.

Feeling he had no choice, Haejin picked up his utensils but inwardly pondered Beomwoo’s words.

The thought of researching and going somewhere as if on a trip with him felt new, overlapping with what he said earlier when they set off for Busan, about looking forward to this business trip.

It’s just a business trip, yet… it keeps feeling like they’re on a trip alone together.

That’s really not it.

Beomwoo came on business out of necessity, and he only came because he was scared to stay alone in that house.

Yet, whenever his anticipation started to settle, his heart would flutter like this again.

He shouldn’t be like this.

Thinking he had no backbone, Haejin tried to shake off his thoughts and focus on the spicy stew in front of him.

The food was delicious enough to elicit admiration, but his mind was too distracted to focus solely on the taste.

****

Buzz, buzz—

Near the end of the meal, a vibrating sound came from somewhere.

It seemed like a phone call… He checked his phone, but it wasn’t his.

It seemed to be Beomwoo’s.

As he looked at him curiously, Beomwoo checked the phone he had placed on the table.

His expression contorted sharply upon seeing the caller.

Beomwoo let out a small sigh, stood up from his seat, and said.

“I need to take this call. Keep eating.”

“Ah, okay. Take your time…”

He would have said anyone should answer their call, but the fierce expression made him unconsciously watch his reaction as he answered.

Beomwoo seemed to glance at him briefly, as if checking his reaction, then, unable to ignore the ringing phone, hurried out of the room.

Haejin watched the door he left through, tilting his head in thought.

Who called to make his expression so hostile?

He usually showed little expression, and when he did, it was minimal, so seeing such an expression meant it was likely someone he really disliked.

Who would he force himself to answer, having cut off those he found disagreeable?

Other than his brothers…

After a moment’s thought, Haejin shook his head.

It was pointless to speculate when he couldn’t ask directly.

Remembering Beomwoo’s words to keep eating, he picked up his utensils again, but he was full and finishing his meal, so he couldn’t eat anything.

“…Maybe I’ll use the restroom.”

He thought Beomwoo would probably leave soon after the call; using this time for the restroom would save time and be less awkward.

Haejin asked an employee for the restroom location, quickly took care of business, and came out.

Thinking, ‘He’s probably still on the phone,’ he planned to sit back down as if nothing happened, but Beomwoo was on the phone in a passageway leading to the annex.

He wasn’t there when he went to the restroom earlier…

Hadn’t he gone outside?

Come to think of it, considering how crowded the restaurant was when they entered, it didn’t seem like a good environment for a quiet call.

He seemed to have found a relatively quiet spot.

Feeling awkward since he had sneaked out to the restroom…

As Haejin considered pretending not to see and passing by, at that moment, he heard Beomwoo’s voice, as if suppressing anger.

“How many times do I have to say I’ll handle marriage myself?”

…Marriage?

Haejin stopped in his tracks at those words.