Tensegrity

1. Family introduction

Even though it was an unexpected marriage, Jun-Kyung did everything from wedding ceremony to introduction with friends. The wedding date was fast approaching the following week when the forced long bed his mother ordered arrived. Close relatives met separately to say hello and have dinner as invitations were sent out.

The popularity of marrying a chaebol heir was astounding. Jun-Kyung smiled to the point where his cheeks became numb. He was from an ordinary family, yet there were many people here and there to invite. On the contrary, the famous conglomerate head family was quiet.

After the chaos, madam just told Jun-Kyung to take good care of his body while resting. The chairman didn’t dare to ask anything.

As time went by, his stomach got bigger and bigger, so he had to cover it with a top. After adjusting the size of the wedding suit that had been prepared in advance and finishing all the fittings, the wedding arrived.

In the meantime, madam and his mother decided on all the small things, and the secretaries took care of the troublesome things. All Jun-Kyung did was eat comfortably and rest.

Director Min went to work only in the morning and came back early in the afternoon because Jun-Kyung felt the urge to be with him 24/7. The bonding shock disappeared, but there is still a possibility of recurrence.

It was just three more days before the wedding. Director Min and Jun-Kyung ate a hearty meal of homemade rice and side dishes brought by madam. Jun-Kyung was full, patting his swollen stomach and playing games on his phone sitting next to Director Min.

Director Min’s cell phone rang. Jun-Kyung thought Director Min, this time, would as usual answer the phone, give instructions, pick up the file, get back to work, and give further instructions. However, instead of answering the ringing phone, Director Min just stared at it. His brow furrowed, and he even let out a sigh.

‘Is this Lee Si-Eun?’

After the shock incident, Lee Si-Eun sent a fruit basket along with a phone call. Since then, there has been no contact. Jun-Kyung didn’t even know if she was talking to Executive Director Min. She probably contacted him, but it could be that he intentionally made sure to not be seen by Jun-Kyung.

Executive Director Min glanced at his side, so Jun-kyung pondered for a moment whether he should vacate first. He also happens to have an excuse to refill a drink in the kitchen.

Before Jun-Kyung has a chance to go up from the sofa, Executive Director Min pushed the receive button first.

“Hello.” His voice was very low and cold. It wasn’t like that even when he was exchanging business contacts. Jun-Kyung looked at him reflexively.

“Long time no see, mother.”

Mother? She is his mother? But madam already called this morning. It hasn’t been that long since she asked about Jun-Kyung’s well-being and talked to Executive Director Min about the wedding preparations.

“I am doing well without anything special. What about you, mother?”

There was no concern or affection in his cold voice just like when he was dealing with the chairman.

‘Ah.’

His birth mother. Executive Director Min has a biological mother. Jun-Kyung was told that she was divorced and living abroad. It wasn’t from Director Min himself that he heard that, but from rumors within the company when he was a bodyguard.

Even if they were divorced, it was her biological son’s wedding after all, so of course she would have heard the news. She may even be able to attend if she has the will. Madam is not an inflexible person in this regard. Even though she may not be able to sit at the wedding with family, she can fully enjoy the qualifications to celebrate her own son’s new start.

“No. You don’t have to.” Jun-Kyung doesn’t know what his biological mom said, but Director Min’s expression hardened.

“My fiancé is not feeling well. It seems difficult to take time before the wedding.”

Am I sick? As long as Jun-Kyung is with the him, he is okay with long-term travel. Even if he is not well, he can find time to pay his mom a visit. However, Executive director Min immediately refused without consulting Jun-Kyung.

“A wreath is enough. Yes, please give my regards to the family. Yes, bye then.”

From the moment he received the signal to the moment he pressed the end call button, Executive Director Min was very businesslike and stiff. These days, even against the chairman, he was not as cold as he was today. To Jun-Kyung who was staring at him, Executive Director Min spoke plainly.

“My mother.”

As expected

“She is my real mother, so I should say hello before the wedding.”

He clearly used Jun-Kyung as an excuse earlier to not see her. He knew right away that Director Min has a bad relationship with his birth mother. The question is is it really that bad to not want to see her even before the wedding?  While answering the phone call of his step mom, Director Min was not as cold.

Jun-Kyung, who grew up without much difficulty under his biological parents, has a hard time understanding. Moreover, did this marriage not happen because of Executive Director Min’s obsession with blood ties and family?

‘There must be some reason.’

The reason Jun-Kyung vaguely guessed was uncovered on the day of the wedding.

Whereas bride and groom usually go to the beauty salon early in the morning to dress up in formal attire, Executive Director Min called a make-up artist and hair designer directly to the hotel.

It was enough for Jun-Kyung to get up, wash up, and take a luxurious car to the hotel. He then went to a separate room close to the wedding hall to change his clothes and styled his hair.

Since both of them are grooms, the preparations for the ceremony were completed quickly. It took the mothers of both families much longer.

Both of them went down to the wedding hall to greet the guests who had arrived early. Executive Director Min and the chairman advised Jun-Kyung to rest in the waiting room before the guests arrive in earnest as he might be tired. However, Jun-Kyung, who was worried about the subtle treatment of a bride, stood next to his dad until the end.

He greeted his relatives whom he hadn’t seen in a long time, and sometimes went over to greet them at the gesture of the chairman. It was the same for Executive Director Min, but the entrance was so crowded due to a large number of guests. Most of the time, Jun-Kyung stood alone.

A tall foreigner appeared. There were quite a few foreigners among the chairman’s guests, so Jun-Kyung thought it was theirs, but unexpectedly, the foreigner walked straight toward him. He was a white man with well-groomed gray hair, and an Asian lady was standing next to him.

Unlike other guests who dressed up glamorously enough to feature in luxury magazines, she stood out enough to be featured in magazines in a different, unique sense. She wears a slightly crumpled linen dress and a huge, colorful, exotic necklace and earrings. There were several bracelets of various beads on her wrist, and most of all, her gray hair, which was far from being dry, was impressive.  She looked more like someone from a gardening magazine or a hippie magazine than a fashion magazine.

The foreigner and the middle-aged woman looked like a couple, followed by a teenage man and women believed to be of mixed-race.

“Hello.” A slightly shrill voice rang out. Jun-Kyung reflexively lowers his head and held out his hand.

“I am Min Hyun-Seung’s mother. His real mom. My name is Yoo Min-Jung.”

Jun-Kyung opened his eyes wide in surprise.

“Oh, hello. nice to see you. I am Ho Jun-Kyung. Hyun-Seung probably is over there…”

“That’s okay. I came because I wanted to see you rather than Hyun-Seung.” She was as outspoken as she looked. She quickly scanned Jun-Kyung up and down.

“This is my husband.”

“Hello.”

Jun-Kyung, who had been offering greeting, was frozen at the sudden introduction. The gentleman, who was as impressive as his appearance, was from Italy, and his name was Alfredo Moreno. His hand, which Jun-Kyung shook, was slightly rough but warm. It was the hand of a farmer.

“Jihyun-ah, Jiyoon-ah. Say hello to Hyun-Seung’s marriage partner.”

“Hello.”

The two, presumed to be twins, offer greetings as lively as their father, Mr. Moreno. Even though they were half-siblings, they did not bear the slightest resemblance to Executive Director Min. Is it because they are of mixed race and are foreigners?

As soon as they exchanged greetings, Hyun-Seung’s biological mother Yoo Min-Jung spat out coldly, “It’s a lot better than I thought. I was wondering what kind of a crazy person would marry Hyun-Seung Min”.

“Excuse me?”

Jun-Kyung thought he heard it wrong. As he looked blankly at the other opponent, one of her twins pulled Yoo Min-Jung’s arm.

“Mama.”

It was a criticism. She seemed to know how to speak Korean. The other twin said something to Mr. Moreno in fast Italian. Then, Mr. Moreno immediately frowned and spoke quickly to Yoo Min-Jung.

If it was English, he would be able to understand it even in fragments, but Italian was impossible. Rolling his eyes, a savior appeared.

“Mother.”

Instead of matching with Jun-Kyung who chose a black suit, Director Min’s body looked bigger than usual thanks to wearing white. He stared coldly at his very tiny and skinny biological mother.

“Why are you here?”

“Hello, Hyun-Seung.”

It was Mr. Moreno who answered the cold question. Director Min couldn’t ignore the stepfather’s handshake who has a nice smile. He kept a reasonable distance from the twins and exchanged greetings, but he did not greet his real mother until the end.

Jun-Kyung wasn’t the only one who was uncomfortable by the cold air between the mother and son. Mr. Moreno and his twins also noticed.

It was madam who saved the frozen atmosphere. Madam, who appeared with Jun-Kyung’s mother, welcomed Yoo Min-Jung more than anyone else.

“You are here!”

“Long time no see.”

Even Yoo Min-Jung was the same. They hugged each other lightly and patted each other on the shoulder as if they were two sisters who were separated after a long time. Madam also introduced Yoo Min-Jung to Jun-Kyung’s mother. Although slightly surprised to learn her identity, Jun-Kyung’s mother also happily greeted her.

As expected, mothers are great. Even in a relationship like this one, they can laugh and talk casually.