TDIMEH Chapter 43

 43. The Reason I Dislike Marriage

After an early dinner, we cleaned up the place.

Although the night seemed no different from the previous one, it felt distinctively dissimilar.

There was a subtle shift in the atmosphere, warming the wooden house.

Perhaps it was because Junhyuk had directly confessed his feelings to Se-ah. She found herself highly conscious of him now, sensing even the rhythm of his breathing.

"I—I’ll sleep over here,"

As she spread out her clothes in the usual spot, she subconsciously checked his reaction.

"Sure. You must be tired; get some rest," 

Junhyuk replied in his usual tone, leaning against the opposite wall.

Yet, he didn’t seem sleepy at all.

"Aren’t you going to sleep?"

"No. I’m just not feeling sleepy."

"Is it because it’s too early? Should we do something else?"

"Something else? Like play a game or something?"

Junhyuk chuckled lightly at her suggestion, his expression refreshingly boyish.

"Anything’s fine,"

"You’ve become so considerate,"

Of course, she had. To someone who had saved her life, Se-ah felt she could act like an angel forever. She wanted to do whatever she could for him.

But she hadn’t expected him to suddenly share something so personal.

Junhyuk, after smiling at her, casually revealed a family secret.

"My mother... she’s my father’s second woman."

"What? W-What?"

Her eyes widened in surprise, and he shrugged nonchalantly.

Although Se-ah had heard a vague version of the story before their marriage, she didn’t think much of it. Chairman Do had fathered Junhyuk after his first wife passed away, making it seem less significant.

After all, remarriage wasn’t particularly unusual.

"My father has never acknowledged my mother. Officially, she’s still considered unmarried—even with grown children like me."

Junhyuk let out a self-deprecating laugh.

From what Se-ah knew, Mrs. Min Jihee was now recognized as Chairman Do’s wife. This meant the marriage was legally registered after Junhyuk turned 20.

Why did they delay it for so long?

As Se-ah pondered whether to correct his statement, Junhyuk spoke again.

"That’s why I’m skeptical about marriage. About relationships in general. Watching my mother live her life bound by fleeting emotions has been painful."

She remembered how dismissive he was about marriage when they first met.

'I don’t like marriage. I see no reason for it. So, don’t expect anything from me.'

What must it have felt like for him to see his mother go unacknowledged for over 20 years?

It was no wonder he once described himself as an 'easy man' with that kind of personality.

Thinking back to how she once imposed marriage on him and cheerfully claimed their home made Se-ah’s face flush with embarrassment.

'That’s fine with me. I hate complications, so the simpler, the better—whether it’s marriage or men.'

If she could go back, she would’ve silenced her own mouth at that moment.

After hearing Junhyuk’s heartfelt story, Se-ah couldn’t help but wish he would forget their previous encounters, even if they reunited.

She dreaded imagining his reaction if he remembered their forced marriage and realized she was his partner. The idea of his disappointment filled her with anxiety.

Before that could happen, wouldn’t it be better to confess first? 

If he regained his memories and understood their relationship, the betrayal would crush him. 

Perhaps she had become too accustomed to Junhyuk’s kindness. Now, she couldn’t bear the thought of him looking at her with the same indifferent eyes as before.

Yes. She decided to confess—once this conversation ended.

Se-ah licked her dry lips and sat up to face him. For the first time, she saw a deep, reflective sorrow in his expression.

Despite his seemingly perfect exterior, he carried profound wounds. Feeling pity, Se-ah moved closer, knelt beside him, and patted his shoulder gently.

"Still, your existence brought about the birth of a wonderful person, didn’t it? Isn’t that meaningful in itself?"

"Meaningful? It must’ve felt like a shackle to my mother,"

"But because of you, I’m alive. Isn’t that reason enough for it to have meaning? Even if no one else thinks so, I’m more than enough proof. And..." 

Se-ah hesitated before continuing, 

"You were undoubtedly a great source of joy for your mother, Junhyuk. Even now, I’m sure she’s proud of you."

"You’re talking as if you know Ms. Min Jihee,"

"I’ve met her before,"

It was at their engagement meeting, wedding, and even during a visit to their home. She had encountered her several times.

"You don’t think she resents me now, do you?"

"Resent you? Absolutely not. If anything, she probably cherishes and loves you even more."

"...That’s a relief," 

Junhyuk said, scratching his cheek in an awkward show of gratitude.

"That’s not why I brought this up. Anyway, that’s why I didn’t care about anyone until I turned 20."

Even now, at 33, he still wasn’t interested in marriage, but Se-ah chose not to comment on that.

Instead, she nodded slightly, prompting him to continue.

"On top of that, I went through a lot a few months ago. The idea of trusting and relying on someone else didn’t even cross my mind."

"I understand. If I had been through something like that, I’d probably be terrified of people too,"

"Exactly. At first, the jungle scared me, but I eventually got used to it. Then I realized it was people I feared. Although I managed to return alive, I was convinced I’d spend my life mistrusting everyone. But meeting you has started to change that mindset. Like I told you earlier, I like you. The familiarity of this feeling proves that even when I was 33, I liked you."

Junhyuk’s confession made Se-ah recall how he had risked his life for her, diving into the water and staying by her side. She had always thought of him as a comrade in survival, but his words suggested there might have been something deeper.

Her face grew warm at the possibility. She instinctively moved to cover it with her hands, but Junhyuk reached out and held them.

"Thank you. I can’t express how grateful I am that you’re the one here with me."

The sincerity in his touch was undeniable.

Se-ah responded with a soft smile, her eyes curving into a gentle crescent as she looked at him.

"I feel the same. It’s been such a comfort having you with me, Junhyuk," 

"Once we leave this place, let’s meet properly,"

"Huh? What?"

Her eyes widened in surprise.

"I think I understand what you’re worried about now. I can see why you drew that line between us. Maybe you think this is just an impulsive feeling caused by being stranded on this island."

"That’s… true," 

Se-ah admitted, marveling at how well he understood her thoughts.

"Plus, I realized asking you to accept my feelings here, where we’re the only ones around, might come off as unfair or even demanding."

"But it’s not like that…,"

Junhyuk had never once forced his feelings onto her. In fact, he had hidden them, making her think she was the only one who felt anything. His confession wasn’t one-sided at all.

As Se-ah shook her head in denial, Junhyuk gripped her hand a little tighter.

"Like I said earlier, no matter where you are, I’ll go with you. If you want, we can stay comrades here on this island. But once we leave, I’ll be right by your side, unapologetically. Will that be okay?"

Se-ah nodded repeatedly, her mind reeling from the dream-like confession.

Even if he forgot this moment after regaining his memories, his sincerity now was more than enough.

And so… for now, the topic of their divorce would remain unspoken. 

She couldn’t bring it up in a moment like this.

***

"Coco! President Do!" 

A cheerful voice rang out as Boss Nam approached, waving with the sunset at his back.

He was loaded with supplies, enough to suggest he had been on his own for much longer than just a day.

They had only been apart since the morning, yet the reunion felt as emotional as if they had been separated for years.

Behind him, Moon Sohee followed slowly, her pale face showing exhaustion as though she had been stranded for over a year, not just a week. Despite this, her beauty remained striking.

As Se-ah watched the wind play with Moon Sohee’s long hair, she instinctively glanced at Junhyuk’s face.

She had never imagined herself feeling jealous of anyone, but the fear of his gaze softening unsettled her.

Thankfully, Junhyuk showed little interest, continuing to transfer fish from the traps to their storage.

Relieved, Se-ah let out a small sigh.

Boss Nam, now standing closer, glanced around as he began a conversation. 

"How have you been? Any trouble?"

"It’s only been a day, what about you?"

"I had a great time! Honestly, it’s amazing we’re all still alive and together."

Though his money-driven tendencies were sometimes irksome, Se-ah appreciated the humanity he showed in moments like this.

As Boss Nam started unloading and organizing his belongings near the wooden house, Moon Sohee brushed past Se-ah without so much as a greeting.

While Se-ah hadn’t expected an apology, the blatant disregard left her stunned. 

Moon Sohee walked straight toward Junhyuk, who was carrying a container full of fish. He paused, his expression indifferent as he watched her approach.

"Junhyuk!" 

Moon Sohee cried out, tears streaming down her face as she threw herself into his arms.

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