16-2
by Han Yong-un
“Then…”
Daechul said quietly.
“There’s no reason to delay any longer.”
Soon-young swallowed hard.
“…….”
“Us.”
Daechul looked straight at her.
“Let’s get married.”
It was a phrase that Soon-young had waited for countless times—
but hearing it again made her heart tremble.
She quietly nodded her head.
“Yes…”
Her voice trembled softly.
The air in the room was strangely warm.
The two talked about their wedding late into the night.
When to hold the ceremony.
Where to live.
How to live in the future.
But the reality was still not easy.
The mining work was still in the initial stage.
They were also short on money.
Daechul was likely to have to move around for a while longer.
Nevertheless, strangely—
Soon-young felt not a bit of fear.
Being poor was okay.
Struggling was okay.
Only one thing.
As long as she could be by Daechul’s side.
That alone was enough.
In the end, the two even set a date.
There was no need to worry about an auspicious day.
“How about in about a week?”
At Daechul’s words, Soon-young smiled instantly.
“Sounds good.”
She looked as if she wished it could be even sooner.
Thus—
the two promised to get married a week later.
And the news spread surprisingly quickly throughout Incheon.
People were fascinated by the story.
The man who saved her life in the Wonsan sea.
The woman who could not forget that grace.
And the fate that led them to eventually marry after a chance reunion.
It was like a story from a novel.
“Is there really such a fate in the world?”
“Soon-young is truly loyal.”
“Where can you find a woman who repays her grace like that?”
People praised Soon-young.
Daechul’s story was not left out either.
The story of the two became a topic of conversation at every drinking gathering, and people talked about it as if it were their own affair.
There were even customers who used to visit Sun-young sending money as congratulations.
Silk or fabric.
Cosmetics.
There were also quite a few people who contributed various things.
And as for the wedding reception, Suk-ja took it upon herself to handle it directly.
On the surface, she acted gruff—
but anyone could see she had the face of a mother sending off her daughter.
As the wedding date approached, the atmosphere in Incheon began to gradually lighten.
And finally—
The day of the wedding arrived.
The ceremony was held at the Geonbongsa temple.
The time was eleven in the morning.
That day, the inside of the temple was filled with people from early on.
It was already a famous story among the people of Incheon.
A connection that started at sea.
A heart that wanted to repay a favor.
And ultimately, a marriage that followed.
People gathered with half sincerity and half curiosity.
As the hour approached—
A gentle sound of bells resonated within the temple.
The scent of incense slowly spread into the air.
The atmosphere inside the temple naturally became quiet.
Sun-young quietly took a breath under her white veil.
Her fingertips trembled slightly.
‘Really… I’m getting married.’
It still felt like a dream.
Soon, the officiant stepped forward and began the sermon in a calm and solemn voice.
The smoke from the incense swayed gently.
The murmurs of the crowd gradually subsided.
And—
Before the Buddha, the two stood side by side.
Dae-cheol and Sun-young.
Like a pair of mandarin ducks.
Under the officiant's guidance, the two vowed to bind their fates together.
In that moment—
Someone in the crowd scattered flowers.
“Hooray!”
A cheer mixed with laughter erupted from somewhere.
People applauded.
But Sun-young felt her vision gradually blur amidst it all.
At first, she tried hard to hold it back.
Because today was a day to smile.
It was a happy day.
Yet still—
The thoughts of the deceased parents suddenly surged from deep within the heart.
‘Father… Mother…’
Eventually, tears welled up.
Clear tears slowly flowed down beneath the veil.
People simply thought of it as tears of joy.
But—
No one truly knew the feelings in Sun-young's heart.
Perhaps only the Buddha did.
Sun-young quietly recited a prayer in her heart.
Wishing for her own happiness.
Praying for her deceased parents.
She also prayed for Hong Suk-ja's future.
And she prayed for the happiness of all those who had cared for her.
After the ceremony, a reception was held at Suk-ja's house.
The house was filled with people.
The sounds of laughter and clinking glasses never ceased.
People gathered to praise Sun-young.
“What a loyal woman.”
“There are no women like her in this day and age.”
Suk-ja's story was not left out either.
“Hong Suk-ja has done a great job.”
“Still, she knows how to be a proper person.”
Suk-ja pretended to be gruff on the outside—
But on that day, she spoke unusually little.
She was smiling, but her face showed some sadness.
As if she were truly sending off a daughter in marriage.
And that night.
The two of them first set up their bridal chamber in the house that Dae-cheol had separately acquired.
The night air was quiet.
But Sun-young's heart—
Was beating more strongly than on any day she had lived until now.
-- The End --