Chapter 364 – Happiness Is Forever Like a Wedding Photo
Church at lunch on a weekend.
In the waiting room near the central chapel, I was intently looking into the mirror.
Neatly combed hair.
A well-trimmed black suit.
There was no problem, but I kept getting nervous, so I turned around in front of the mirror.
… I’m just nervous
Of course, I couldn’t help but be nervous.
The wedding you’ve been waiting for for years is about to begin.
Although it will be held in secret because it cannot be revealed to the world, it is a place where each other swears to be together for the rest of their lives.
It was also a meaningful day as it was a place where our relationship was formally acknowledged by my mother, a family member.
[Then from now on….]
Her mother’s voice came from the speaker installed in the corner of the waiting room ceiling.
The ceremony was decided to be held in a simple and free format without a host or officiant, so the mother took charge of the ceremony herself.
[… Let’s start the wedding. The groom enters first.]
After taking a deep breath, I followed the speaker’s voice and came out of the waiting room.
After moving a few steps, I opened the door to the worship room I arrived at and went inside with a smile on my face.
The first thing I saw was my mother standing at the other end.
Standing in front of the podium in her usual neat suit, she was looking at me calmly without laughing or crying.
The next thing that caught my eye was the church chairs lined up on both sides.
And there were people sitting sparsely there.
It’s a secret wedding, but it might feel strange that someone else is present.
Their identities were Michelle’s parents, her sister, and Dania’s parents.
As Michelle had assured us before, her family readily agreed to our relationship.
It seems that the way they love their children is to believe in and support the path their daughter has chosen.
On the other hand, when Dania’s parents first heard of her daughter’s situation, they were shocked and opposed to her.
To be honest, my mother and Michelle’s family were unusual, it was a very natural reaction.
However, after Dania’s persuasion, her family also allowed our relationship, and they accepted everything and joined us here.
Oh, there was one more guest besides the family.
It was Liz, Selena’s high school classmate whom she first met as part-timer at the motel.
When I was taming Selena for a while, the person who watched our sex scene with interest.
I was also surprised to hear that she came as her guest, but it turns out that she has maintained a steady friendship since Selena and Liz met again through me.
Of course, it was a story that I and my girlfriends were thankful for.
Even though there was only one Liz, the fact that we had an outside guest was a great blessing for us.
“Stand there.”
At my mother’s words, I stopped in front of the podium and looked back.
Michelle’s family welcomes her with bright faces, and Dania’s family tries to smile despite the complexity.
And when her eyes met Liz, who smiled broadly at her friend’s congratulations, she realized that she was getting married only then.
[The following is the position of the brides. Bride’s entry.]
The mother’s voice in the microphone on the podium resonates throughout the worship room through the speakers.
Immediately after, the chapel door opened, and the faces of the waiting priests were seen.
“Wow….”
The sight that unfolded before my eyes was so exotic and fantastic that I was amazed.
Michelle, Anna, Dania, Verita, Angela, Selena, Hyejin, Airy, and even Dranez.
Brides adorned with pretty dresses and makeup that suited each of them were entering in a row.
All faces are bright.
Dania, Anna, and Hyejin weren’t smiling brightly as if they were embarrassed to be here, but their cheeks were stained red instead.
Oh, there was one more element that added a unique atmosphere to this situation.
The brides who entered were all full-term.
Surprisingly, on the day I decided to get pregnant, everyone really got pregnant at the same time… It’s not, but I’ve been working hard, including that day, and I got pregnant with a difference of about a week.
In addition, the wedding was delayed little by little due to various circumstances, so everyone had a full-term ceremony.
“Ian!”
Michelle waves her hand and smiles innocently.
Other brides also smile brightly at the fact that they are here with my child in their belly.
As I was smiling too, I heard her mother’s voice from the speaker.
[Both the bride and groom, please stand.]
I stood in the middle, as it was pre-arranged, followed by four priests on the left and five priests on the right.
Seeing us like that, my mom let out a small sigh in her microphone.
“Nah, to see nine grandchildren at once…”
The more I see the sight of nine pregnant daughters-in-law lined up, the more dumbfounded I am.
However, I didn’t mean it in a bad way, so the atmosphere was still friendly.
The next order was the reading of the wedding vows.
When asked if we would respect and love each other and be together for the rest of our lives, the bride and I answered yes.
[Today, the bride and groom have vowed to become a married couple who will share the highs and lows of her life. Therefore, I solemnly declare before you here that this marriage has been successfully completed.]
Finally, me and the girls became a couple.
Since it was a secret wedding, it will not be officially documented, but the mother and guests who accompanied it were proof of that.
As she turned her head around and shared her emotions with her bridesmaids, her mother’s words continued.
Instead of the officiating speech, it was a blessing to convey to us.
[Here, a groom and nine brides have chosen each other as partners. The ten of us walked the same path as if we were one body.]
The mother with a serious expression paused for a moment before continuing her words.
[The road will not be smooth. You may receive the stinging gaze of society, and the seeds of quarrel may grow in many hearts. However, just as twigs do not break when many branches come together, I hope today’s bride and groom will overcome adversity by relying on each other.]
I could feel the sincerity in every word, and everyone in the worship room was quietly listening to the speakers.
[And this isn’t just the bride and groom’s challenges. I and all of you who have come here, as witnesses who have observed the bride and groom’s oath, should cheer them on so that they can be happy.]
Following the blessings, the time for exchanging gifts came.
Nine rings prepared for today.
He took out one of them and stood in front of Michelle, who had entered the worship room first.
The first person in an unfamiliar world gave me a friendly hand.
Thanks to her, she gained hope to live in another world and was able to overcome a critical crisis.
“Michelle.”
“Lee An-ah… We are really married.”
“Yes. I’ll make you happy in the future.”
At her sincere words, Michelle smiled.
“I’m happy now. I was like that before. There’s never been a moment where I wasn’t happy when I met Lee An.”
“Thank you, Michelle.”
After slipping her ring into her slender hand, she lightly hugged her.
Anna, who was next in line, had many thoughts, and she was welling up with tears.
She brought her thumb to the corner of her eye and her pretty eyes closed, wiping away the water droplets on her, she said.
“Don’t cry. It’s a good day.”
“Yeah. I’m so happy that I’m in tears. To be honest, I still can’t believe it… I wonder if a person like me can really marry Ian…”
Tears welled up in her eyes once again as she said that.
However, she wasn’t as worthless as she thought.
He was a good person who was aware of the fact that he would be with me for the rest of his life, and was even overdeserved by me.
“I can’t believe it either. That I could marry someone as wonderful as Anna.”
“Ian…”
He put the ring on her trembling finger.
Anna wrapped her hand around her ring and smiled at me, as if she finally realized it.
“Let’s live happily.”
“Yes….”
After hugging each other, I moved slightly to the side and found Dania standing there.
A bright expression that I didn’t show often.
It was a face that made this special day even more special.
“Dania. Thank you for marrying me.”
“I’ll say it, Ian. You’ve given my life new meaning.”
Standing face to face like this reminds me of the past.
Her first meeting with her was by no means ordinary.
When I suddenly smelled her, when I approached her to fulfill my purpose, I never thought we would be so close.
But now, just looking at this woman is so lovely that her heart skips a beat.
She also hated me at one time, but now she lit up her chapel with a full face, holding my child.
“Dania, let’s live happily ever after.”
“Yes… We will always be together.”
He put the ring on my finger.
Likewise, after the hug, Verita was waiting.
Unlike Dania, a subtle smile with only the corner of the mouth slightly raised.
But I knew she was happier than ever.
Before, I couldn’t even read what they were thinking, but now I can only communicate with their eyes.
“Berita.”
“Yes, Mr. Ian.”
“Now we’re a real couple.”
“Okay.”
A calm answer that hides emotions.
She always was
He did not express his emotions easily and did not change his expression easily.
However, he was not a cold person.
It is her way to step back and help and protect the people around her through actions rather than words.
Her dedication and warm heart is the reason I love her.
“I’ll take good care of you in the future.”
“Yes, I’d like to ask you too.”
She gently wraps around the ring she put on her finger.
At that moment, for some reason, she wanted water droplets to form around her eyes, but she quickly wiped them off and hugged me.
“Angela…”
“Huh, black… Honey…”
Angela, who had been shedding tears since she entered the chapel, was still wet on both cheeks.
“Why are you crying? If you’re happy, you should smile.”
“I know, but I keep crying… I’m so happy…”
For no reason, I also want to shed tears.
Angela was a person who had been hurt too much for her good heart.
Still, thankfully, she promised to overcome that wound and make a fresh start with me starting today.
Wanting to show only her cool side to such Angela, she forced herself to hold back her tears and said,
“Then just cry today, I’ll make you laugh from now on.”
“Honey… Thank you.”
As soon as she put the ring on her finger, Angela’s tears grew thicker.
Even if I hugged her with her overflowing heart, her crying wouldn’t stop, and I calmed down a little after hugging my shoulder until one of my shoulders was damp.
Unlike the mother, who cried out loud, her daughter was smiling vigorously.
“Finally, we’re married. Please take care of me, Ian.”
“Yeah. I’m sorry I teased you so much.”
“It’s true. You’ll be a dad soon, so be nice from now on.”
“Well. Selena’s reaction is cute, so you don’t think that’s going to work?”
When I smiled, she smiled as if even Selena couldn’t stop it.
She was the one who reacted violently to even my lightest joke, but she seemed to be generous enough for today.
Looking at each other and smiling like this reminds me of the old days.
To think that we, who hated each other to death, shared the oath of a husband and wife.
I really don’t know what to do with people.
“Thank you for the ring. I will keep it for the rest of my life.”
As she slipped her ring on her thin finger, she said, with Selena’s relaxed look on her face.
Normally, she would have accepted her jokes to embarrass her, but today was a special day, so she thanked her and hugged her.
Next was Hyejin.
Even on days like this, she crinkled her brow and had a look of heartache.
However, knowing that it was to hide her shy heart, she grinned.
“Thank you, Hyejin.”
“What, what.”
“Just everything.”
She stood up for me even when her own life was in danger.
Even after her breakup, it wasn’t enough for her to tell her thank you all day long for keeping her heart for me for years.
“…Okay.”
She was shy and answered briefly and closed her mouth.
But that’s for a while.
Hyejin with red cheeks moved her lips avoiding my eyes.
“I, thank you too. Everything….”
Her speech trailing off, she answered her with her smile and put her ring on.
She hid her shyness, but when we hugged her, she hugged me tighter than I did, as if her emotions were overflowing.
The next person holding the ring was Airy.
She suffered big and small wounds from the society she plunged into at a young age.
She, who had restrained her Anna, in the hope that her brother would not be hurt like that.
Still, she eventually loosened her strife with Anna and they became sisters who got along better than anyone else.
She fell in love with the rest of the same man she was so good with, and thus became my wife with her brother.
“Ailee.”
“Mr. Ian… Are we really married?”
Airy asked in disbelief, smiling as she held back the tears that were about to fall.
“I’m so happy I can’t believe it.”
“Me too. I’ll make you happier in the future.”
“Mister Ian!”
Airy, unable to control her emotions, was brought to me.
Even though her order was changed, I held her ring that she was trying to put on her, and I hugged her as she came into her arms.
After being attached for a while, she put the ring on her finger, and the teardrops from Airy’s eyes managed to fall.
“Thank you, Mr. Ian…”
After hugging Airy one more time, she stood in front of De Laneige, the last one.
Even at her wedding, she was smiling as innocently as her child.
“Ian, how are you?”
“Didn’t you say hello earlier?”
“I said hello to my boyfriend earlier. Now I’m saying hello to her husband.”
“Then I’ll have to say hello to her wife again. Hi?”
“Yeah, hello. Hehe.”
Who knew she would laugh while facing her like this.
Maybe Dranez himself didn’t even think of it.
However, looking back, she also thinks that she had no choice but to become like this.
That’s why she was such a lovely woman.
“Now, it’s a gift.”
“Yeah. Thanks, Ian.”
Dranez opens his arms wide as soon as he puts on the ring.
I hugged her like I did with her other brides, and her gift exchange was completed when she put my finger on the ring they had prepared for her.
This concludes all wedding procedures.
The last remaining event is wedding photography.
Before that, I found some time to rest, and I talked with Michelle and her family.
Michelle’s older sister, her execution, as well as her father-in-law and her mother-in-law were delighted and congratulated us.
Of course, it was Dania’s parents who visited after talking with them.
“Please take good care of my daughter.”
“It’s okay to talk comfortably. You’re a father-in-law.”
“But she is also Angela-sama’s husband…”
It seemed like it was because it was a family of butlers belonging to the Branzel family, but it was very uncomfortable, so I politely shook my hands.
“No, father-in-law. Please be comfortable with me. Angel would like that too.”
“Well, then…”
My mother-in-law held my hand instead of my father-in-law who was hesitant because his lips didn’t come off easily.
“Please take good care of my daughter.”
“Yes, please leave it to me. Thank you very much for allowing me, mother-in-law.”
“She was really worried, to be honest. But come to think of it, she always made Dania fit her family, but she never did what he wanted.”
Dania was made a butler at a young age in accordance with her family tradition.
The fact that her daughter has lived a fierce life since childhood because of her family’s will seemed to remain a pity for her parents.
“So the father and I thought it was right to let Dania live the life she wanted.”
“Boo, please make her child happy. We’ll do our best to help.”
“Yes, thank you. I will definitely do that.”
When the conversation with Dania’s parents was over, Liz, who had come as her guest, was seen talking to Selena.
“Mr. Liz.”
“Ah, Mr. Ian. Congratulations on your marriage.”
“Thank you. Thank you so much for coming.”
“I was shocked when I heard the news. You can’t imagine marrying nine people… Oh, I’ll keep it a secret from others, so don’t worry.”
Liz hurriedly shook her hand.
Selena, who was watching her, said.
“You can trust Miss Liz. She’s loyal.”
Even if she doesn’t say it, she believes it.
I had sex with her lovers several times in front of Liz, but she never leaked out.
“Okay, okay. I’ll believe it. Thank you for coming again, Mr. Liz. How should I return it?”
“It’s all in return. It’s okay. Oh, if it’s okay…”
As she slurred, me and Selena listened to her.
“When you think of it, call me like before. I want to see you two again…”
It seems that her tendency to get excited while watching other people’s sex is still the same.
Selena, who was listening with her, was blushing as if she was embarrassed but didn’t hate it.
“Ah… Yes. I will.”
I left my seat so the two could talk.
The next place she headed was in front of her mother, who had just finished talking to the brides.
“Mom, thank you so much for today.”
“It’s okay. I’m just trying to belatedly become a mother, so don’t worry too much. More than that, when is her due date?”
“Everyone has a month or two left.”
Mom, with her usual hard expression, nodded her head.
“Yes. All nine are daughters?”
As the saying goes, both of her wives had daughters.
However, her mother’s expression when she asked her question was unusual, so she said cautiously.
“I wish I had a boy, but it’s a pity.”
“What are you talking about? All of them are precious grandchildren. Gender doesn’t matter.”
As she let out a sigh of relief, she heard her mother’s voice again.
“I’ve ordered clothes and toys for the children when they’re born. They’ll probably arrive at your house soon.”
It was an unexpected story, so I asked her with her eyes wide open.
“Clothes and toys?”
“Yes. And when the children are born, take pictures often and send them.
He pretends not to be so, and seems excited about seeing his grandchildren.
“Yes. I’ll take a video often and send it to you.”
“…Be sure to keep those words.”
After a brief break, the photo shoot time finally arrived.
Mom, I, the bride, as well as Michelle’s family and Dania’s parents gathered in one place.
Mr. Liz, who decided to help with the shooting, was operating the camera on the other side.
… Finally.
If the shutter of that camera blinks, the wedding really ends and the life we hoped for begins.
Thinking so, my heart, which had been quiet, began to beat again with anticipation and excitement.
Of course, it may not be an easy road, as her mother said.
If someone finds out about our unusual relationship, they might frown and say they don’t understand.
But something was certain.
If there is anyone who has watched the whole process of me and the girls meeting, surely that person will support our lives.
And we will rely on each other and live happily ever after.
“It’ll be taken in 5 seconds!”
Having said that, Liz ran towards us and took her seat.
Everyone who was with us smiled brightly in unison, and the image was captured on camera with a clicking sound.
The moment I’ve been dreaming of so much, the moment when a new chapter in my life begins.
The smile of that moment stayed on the faces of me and the people I love even after the filming was over.
Like us in the picture just taken, forever.
