Strategic Mating Partner Chapter 128 - Epilogue

“Ah…….”

And Taehyun could feel the blood drain from his face once again. Jet-black hair, white skin, red lips, and even an innocent impression. White skin, glossy straight black hair, a slightly prim impression……. For a moment, Taehyun quickly tried to recall if he had ever specifically talked about his preferences in front of Sejin.

‘I was just thinking that I must like people with white skin.’

Ah. At least I only talked about skin. But it was too early to be relieved. Because the expression on his groom-to-be’s face, who would soon be walking down the aisle with him, was similar to that of a cat full of vigilance, just like four years ago.

“…….”

Taehyun hurriedly explained to Sejin, who was looking at him without a word.

“No, I didn’t invite him! Really, he just tagged along with an acquaintance who received an invitation and came on his own.”

Even without explicitly explaining who he was and what his relationship with Taehyun was, the awkward atmosphere made it clear. Ah, damn it. I was going to be called a bad guy anyway, I should have just been a little more of a bad guy. I should have told him to leave without listening to whatever he had to say. By the time the late regret set in, it was already too late.

🤺

The ceremony that followed passed by in a flash, as if roasting beans over a lightning fire. From the beginning, this whole chaotic affair was due to his grandfather’s desire to show off, so the entire ceremony was filled with nothing but old-fashioned bragging. Sejin had not been to many other people’s weddings, so he did not know if other weddings were like this, but the endless recitation of which corporate chaebol or congressman was among the guests, as if boasting, felt like a completely useless act. I want to be alone with Taehyun as soon as possible. Taehyun had said he was fine, but there was no way he wasn’t feeling fatigued during his pregnancy, and it bothered him that he was pretending to be okay. Listening to the officiating speech of an old man who was the president of some sports association was nice for announcing that Taehyun was his in front of everyone, but it also felt like a bit of a waste of time.

Besides….

‘Just because the word written in my secondary gender column changes from beta to omega doesn’t mean the preferences I’ve had my whole life change in an instant, you know.’

Of all the things to hear right before entering the wedding hall. While standing next to Taehyun and being forced to listen to the nonsense of old geezers, the subtle atmosphere between that woman he had never seen before and Taehyun kept coming to mind and bothering him.

Of course, he did not doubt Taehyun’s sincerity because of that, nor did he misunderstand that Taehyun had lingering feelings for that woman. But it still got on his nerves. Of all times, it was right after he had heard some gossipy talk from Hoyong while preparing his schedule with Hoyong’s help, ahead of the honeymoon.

‘Hya…. There are a lot of women who would cry if Sung Taehyun got married.’

He wasn’t sure if it was fortunate, but Taehyun had mostly kept his relationships secret, and it seemed he was especially tight-lipped when he dated men. So, the past lovers or flings of Taehyun that Hoyong, who had watched over Taehyun as his manager for a long time, knew of were all women. Others might say Taehyun was the bigger catch, but he seemed to have said it with the intention that Sejin was the bigger catch since he was young and had only ever dated hyung.

‘Ah, I don’t know if I should be telling you this. But honestly, as a man, aren’t you curious? Who Taehyun has been dating.’

Then, as if rattling off his own achievements, he mentioned three individuals, all of whom had one thing in common. They were all beauties with innocent looks, famous for their voluptuous bodies. An idol, an actress, and a current athlete, all of them. So his mind could not help but be troubled. Honestly, he was not lacking in the looks department, and in fact, he was better. But as for his body. And as for his gender, those were areas he could do nothing about now, so he kept dwelling on it.

He thought that if it had not been for him, Taehyun would have normally met and dated similar women, and if his father’s problem was resolved, he would have continued a relationship not much different from others, and lived as an ordinary head of a household and a father. He knew it was a meaningless hypothetical, but he kept thinking about that slight possibility.

It was already annoying enough to hear their names, but for one of them to appear before his eyes. On top of that, the woman named Yunji or Yunjung or whatever seemed to be full of lingering feelings for Taehyun. He did not know how Taehyun took it, but as someone who had also had a one-sided love for him for a long time, Sejin knew better than anyone. The way he looked at Taehyun was that of a person ready to throw away all his pride and everything else and cling to him if Taehyun would just say yes right now.

How in the world did they date? Of course, Sejin knew well that Taehyun was a hard person to give up on. That made him even more furious. If he had met him at least six years ago, it meant he had known and liked Taehyun even earlier than he had.

Even though he knew it was a similarly meaningless hypothetical, as long as he was the one holding his hand and entering the wedding hall. What if he had gotten pregnant from a one-night stand with Taehyun? It was not impossible, since an omega male’s reproductive functions as a male were not non-existent. If that had happened, Taehyun would have gladly taken responsibility for the child and headed to the wedding hall with him. Because he would have thought it was his duty to take responsibility for the child, even while bearing the risk caused by his father.

So his mouth kept tasting bitter. The fact that if his hypothetical had been reality, he would not have even had a chance, was just so annoying and irritating.

“……”

He could not take this irritation out on Taehyun. He should not, and he did not want to make Taehyun worry about this. While this aimless irritation swirled within him, the officiant was wasting time by dragging out his nutritionally void speech, and hyung kept showing signs of anxiety every now and then, as if he was worried about him. He could not, on a fundamental level, tolerate the seed of such discord being sown in this moment that should have been nothing but happy.

‘Ha….’

But if he went and confronted him separately or snapped at him to never approach Taehyun like this again, Taehyun would be extremely troubled and would take his side. Not because he truly treasured him, but because he would be afraid that he might say something strange in this crowded place and ruin this joyous occasion. Even though he knew this perfectly well, he was burning up inside. Could it be that hyung was disappointed that he was not a woman? Could it be that he was dissatisfied that he was the one to receive the other’s genitals deep inside his body, to carry and give birth to a child in his womb? Such doubts continuously widened and dug into the cracks of his anxiety.

“Now then, for the final part of our ceremony, the grooms will greet the distinguished guests who have graced this precious occasion today.”

Finally, even as they exchanged rings and all the events announcing their new start as a married couple concluded, Sejin, knowing he should not, continued to be bothered by the existence of that woman whose face he did not even know.

And that agony continued to follow Sejin even after the two arrived at Incheon Airport to depart for their honeymoon destination. Isn’t hyung just settling for me, unsatisfied because he prefers women but has no choice? Wouldn’t he have liked me more if I were a woman? As he was lost in all sorts of strange thoughts, his mind elsewhere, there was no way Taehyun would not notice.

‘I’m screwed.’

Taehyun, too, had noticed Sejin’s strange mood and was awkwardly trying to break through the tense atmosphere, wondering what to say.

“…….”

How should I start? No matter what he said, he could not shake the thought that it was an inappropriate topic to bring up before departing on their honeymoon.

‘But if I don’t say anything, it’ll just stay like this.’

Sejin was originally a man of few words. Unlike himself, who could filibuster for 24 hours straight if he felt like it, unless he wanted to rest, Sejin had a personality that only said what was necessary even in normal times. The only time he became a bit more talkative was in front of him. Knowing that he was the type who could zip his lips and engage in a silent vow if he had nothing particular to say, ignoring any awkward atmosphere, made him even more concerned.

‘Why did he have to crash the wedding like that….’

Blaming Yunji again in hindsight was like crying over spilled milk. Haaa…. In the end, until they sat down side by side in the connected seats of first class, the plane was taking off without them having exchanged any words other than the bare minimum for check-in procedures. This can’t go on. Finally, Taehyun, having made up his mind, let out a sigh and opened his mouth.

“Sejin-ah.”

At that, Sejin, who had been avoiding his gaze the whole time, slowly turned his eyes and looked at Taehyun without a word.