"How long have you been together?"
"Seven years."
― Seven years?
― After seven years you should just get married
― Seven years and she's still on the fence?
― There must be a reason she's hesitating
"That's a long time. Have there been a lot of issues between you two?"
"No, nothing like that. I just can't tell if this is love or if we're just used to each other."
Ahh, that kind of dilemma.
I knew what this was.
After seven years together, the question of whether this was a marriage out of love, or just settling for someone more familiar than the alternatives.
"One moment."
"Okay."
I closed my eyes and saw a cozy studio apartment. On the desk sat a ring case.
Inside was a diamond ring, and she was staring at it with a complicated expression.
Joy? Fear? Impossible to tell.
Was it the vague weight of marriage itself?
Or something else.......
Looking into the future, she was in a wedding hall, wearing a white dress.
Gone was the complicated look — she was beaming wider than anyone. The man beside her would be the groom?
They were laughing together, looking happy.
Further into the future, she was in an apartment living room with a child on her lap.
About seven years old, maybe.
"Mommy, why did you marry Daddy?"
At the child's question, she laughed and looked over at her husband.
"Because Daddy grabbed onto my pant leg and begged me not to leave."
Her husband stared at her in disbelief.
"I did?"
"You did."
"......"
"Answer me."
Clearly a match made in heaven, these two.
When I opened my eyes, a smile had spread across my face.
"You'll live happily together."
"Really?"
"But I'm curious about something — did your boyfriend...... no, did your boyfriend grab onto your pant leg and beg?"
"Huh? How do you know my name...... no, you really are the real deal. But no, nothing like that has happened."
Not yet?
"Then you'll be able to make up your mind soon."
"I hope so."
"Could I ask one more thing?"
"Sure."
"Why is your nickname ApgujeongIronFist?"
― Jinwoo, is that really what matters right now?
― I was curious too though
― Seriously, why that nickname?
― Explain
She hesitated for a moment, then started.
"When my boyfriend and I were on a date, I used a punching machine in Apgujeong."
"I see."
"I got first place, so my boyfriend started calling me ApgujeongIronFist."
― Whoa
― What a backstory
― We might need to hear the boyfriend's side on this one
― Don't get married?
Ahh, so that's why she had him wrapped around her finger in the future.
The puzzle pieces were finally coming together.
I'd had a feeling her build was no joke.......
"Have you been using the nickname ever since?"
"Yes. My boyfriend changed it for me himself."
"For seven years?"
"Yes."
That was enough.
"Yun Sol."
"Yes."
"Affection can change."
"What?"
"But you haven't changed the nickname in seven years."
"What do you......"
"Isn't that love?"
The silence that followed was longer than before, and then I heard her sniffling.
"Why am I crying......"
"You already knew, didn't you?"
"......Yes."
"Then that's all that matters."
"Thank you......"
― She's already made up her mind
― Congratulations on the marriage, IronFist
― Be happy
― DON'T DO IIIIIT!!!
― Someone please throw that person out
"I think I'll change my nickname once I'm married."
"Why?"
"Because then he won't be my boyfriend anymore — I'll use whatever my husband picks for me."
― Lol, the husband picks the nickname
― I wonder what he'd choose
― You have to tell us when it changes!?
― Promise!? We have a deal!?
Click — she left the call room.
"BackInMyDay, come on in."
***
Yun Sol pulled out her earbuds and checked her phone — a message from her boyfriend.
[I'm at the park near your place right now. Can you come out for a bit?]
[Yeah.]
She sent a reply, pulled on a hoodie and cap, and headed to the nearby park. Her boyfriend was sitting on a bench.
"Did you wait long?"
"No, just got here."
Judging by his slightly reddened ears, he'd been waiting a while — but even now, he said otherwise.
A boyfriend who always put her first.
It was time to give him an answer.
It had been a week since the proposal.
"Want to walk a bit?"
"Sure."
They held hands and walked along the path in silence. But honestly, she still didn't know.
She'd even gotten a consultation from a shaman.
And yet her boyfriend said nothing to her — was it because he trusted her out of love, or was it......
"Isn't that love?"
Those words were still ringing in her ears.
But certainty wouldn't come.
"Can you give me a little more time?"
"Sure."
He looked at her with an awkward smile.
"Okay."
His expression was sad and pained at the same time. Neither spoke until they reached her building.
"I'll get going, then."
"Okay. Get home safe."
The instant she saw his retreating back.
Yun Sol's hand moved on its own to grab his arm.
No — she meant to grab his arm, but it wasn't his arm.
"Oh no?"
Her body had lurched forward, and she'd grabbed onto his pants.
Her boyfriend looked down at her in alarm.
"Sol?"
"Yeah."
"......My pants are coming down."
"S-sorry......"
She needed to let go, but her hand wouldn't release.
In that moment, the shaman's words came back to her.
"You'll be able to make up your mind soon."
She looked up into her boyfriend's eyes.
From the first time she'd seen him in Apgujeong. From when they'd laughed together in front of the punching machine. To this very moment.
Seven years of looking into those eyes.
Right now, they were wide with alarm.
But this was it.
"Let's do it."
"Huh?"
"Let's get married."
"Before that, could you let go of my pants......"
Yun Sol looked at her boyfriend's hem.
More precisely, at her own hand gripping it.
"You're the only person I want to grab onto and hold."
"I got it, so could you just......"
"It wasn't you clinging to me. It was me clinging to you all along."
"My pants......"
In the end, her boyfriend took her hand.
Peeled it off the fabric.
"Thank you for saying yes."
"Mm."
The villa was quiet, and sunlight was streaming in through the window.
Yun Sol stood in that light and thought.
Everything the shaman had said was right.
......Though the fact that she was the one grabbing the pant leg, not the boyfriend — that was a bit much.
"If anyone asks who grabbed whose pants, it was you."
"Huh?"
"Answer me."
At her words, he laughed.
"Sure. Let's go with that."
***
Click.
"Hello!!"
"Yes, welcome. BackInMyDay, what's troubling you?"
"It's also about my wife!"
― DON'T DO IIIIIIIIT!!!!!!!
― Dammit, that one's already escaped!!!
― GET HIM!!!!!!
― Why is everyone so desperate to get married today?
― Wait, he said "wife," so he's already married, isn't he?
"You're married?"
"Yes! Third anniversary!"
"So what's the problem?"
He paused for a beat, then slowly spoke.
"My wife said the spark was fading, so she suggested we spend a day like we used to when we were dating."
"I see."
"So yesterday we watched a movie together and had dinner at a nice restaurant."
Nothing wrong with that so far.
"After dinner, we had a drink at a bar, and then on the way home I called a designated driver. On the drive back, I stopped at my father-in-law's house and dropped my wife off there, then went home."
"I'm sorry?"
What does that mean?
"We never lived together when we were dating. So I dropped my wife off at her parents' and went home alone."
"Right...?"
"How do I survive this?"
― What did I just hear?
― He dropped his wife off at her parents' house?
― Does this man have seven lives?
― You live in the moment, don't you?
"So last night, you left your wife at her parents' house and went home alone?"
"With the designated driver!"
"Uh...... does your wife remember last night?"
"She can't hold her liquor, but she's the type who remembers everything."
So she knows he abandoned her and went home alone?
"Right. What should I do...?"
"What?"
― May he rest in peace
― May he rest in peace
― May he rest in peace
― May he rest in peace
"One moment."
I closed my eyes and looked into the future — the apartment front door appeared.
A woman standing in front of it.
His wife, presumably, was standing at the door holding her phone and a baseball bat.
"He's not even picking up? Just let him walk through that door."
What?
"You're not at home right now?"
"I woke up and ran straight out. I'm sitting on a chair at the convenience store!"
"......Go home."
"Right now?"
"Yes. Your wife is waiting."
"......"
With a baseball bat.
"If I go in now, I think I'll die."
"Not going is more dangerous."
― More dangerous, he says lol
― Fair point though
― Dead now or dead later, same difference
― Even a man walking to his death deserves one last beer
"Hang up and answer your phone."
"Huh? How did you know I'm getting a call right now?"
"Your wife is holding a baseball bat in one hand and calling you nonstop."
"......"
Ah, I shouldn't have said that.
He was already terrified.
"Am I going to die today?"
"No, don't worry. There's a way out."
"Really?!"
I looked into the future and saw the man answering his phone.
"So NOW you pick up?"
"I love you."
"Get. Home. Now."
"Will you spare me?"
"I'm going to kill you."
His wife's voice was audible — and quite loud.
He apologized profusely and groveled, and when his wife told him they'd discuss it at home, he went back.
When he opened the front door, his wife was standing there with her arms crossed. The one silver lining — the baseball bat was nowhere in sight.
"So you dumped me and went home alone?"
"I love you."
"Are those your last words?"
"Spare me."
Scary as it was, looking further ahead, by evening the two of them were sitting side by side on the sofa.
So it does work out.
Now I just needed to find the solution.
I rewound to his past, and while examining it, I found something useful.
"BackInMyDay."
"Yes."
"When you go home, buy one flower on the way."
"A flower?"
"Yes. A red rose."
― Lol, a flower?
― Gotta offer something up to survive
― What wouldn't a man do to live?
"When you walk in, say this."
"What?"
"'Remember our first date?'"
"How did you know about...?"
"'I bought you a flower that day — and you told me roses were your favorite.'"
He went quiet for a moment — maybe he was reminiscing, or maybe he was just stunned.
"It'll be fine. Your wife actually laughed about this whole thing when she was alone."
"......Really?"
"Yes. It's just a funny story, that's all."
"......Thank you."
Click — he left, and I didn't need to check on him.
Tonight's incident would become a story they'd laugh about for years.
"Next up is ForValhalla."
That's when it happened.
― 5yOy2yEy donated 500,000 won! ―
[Yo, can I go first?]
500,000 won?
I liked money, but this was different.
The tone had no manners.
"Get in line."
Kind words coming in are what make kind words going out.
― What? Is that the Jinwoo I know?
― I've watched his stream for a year and I can tell you
― He hates rude people
― The tone is pretty rude
― 5yOy2yEy donated 1,000,000 won! ―
[Was it the informal speech? Sorry. I'm really in a rush]
......A million won?
"Ahem, the answer is still no."
A man's word, once spoken, must be kept.
Appearances aside, I was a man of principles! And pride!
― Our Jinwoo, unmoved by money, how cool!
― THIS is what our streamer should be!
― A streamer whose convictions don't waver!
― His name is Kim! Jin! Woo!
― 5yOy2yEy donated 1,500,000 won! ―
[Please. I'm genuinely in a rush]
"......When someone asks that earnestly, I have to oblige."
― Anonymous donated 1,000 won! ―
[The amount was a bit too big for that]
― Anonymous donated 1,000 won! ―
[For 3 million won you've got to forgive him lol]
― Anonymous donated 1,000 won! ―
[Famous fortune tellers charge a million won I heard]
― Anonymous donated 1,000 won! ―
[For real? Then this is three times more expensive so he should go first!]
"ForValhalla, I'm sorry, but could you wait one more round?"
I was about to invite 5yOy—
Why is the nickname like this?
I was about to invite the viewer when the unexpected happened.
― ForValhalla donated 3,500,000 won! ―
[Some young punk thinks he can cut the line just because he's got money? Host, see me first]
I rubbed my eyes and double-checked the number — I hadn't misread it.
I did not see this coming!
......Welcome, valued customer!