At the End of That Memory - Chapter 1

When I heard that I should get married, only two thoughts came to my mind. One was ‘I knew it would happen’, and the other was that it was really over now. Whether it was my life or family responsibilities. Or the minimal reward they were expecting from me.

It was not a cliché that marriage was the grave of life. It was something I had to do anyway, but of course even later than expected. However, even the moment I got out of the long bridle, I had no choice and my expectation led to be futile.

“It’s a good thing. Since they are accepting a foolish Omega like you.”

My father could not hide his uncommon nervousness throughout his speech. Sometimes he raised his voice and his eyes lit up like someone who had seized an opportunity. Of course, the occasional scornful gaze was full of hatred towards me, a foolish Omega.

“Don’t feel too sad about it. That’s what business is all about. I hope you will understand your father’s feelings now that you have grown up.”

If he wanted to say this kindly, I wish he could at least hide his expression. The eyes glistening with greed seemed to be selling valuables. Where there should be trust, only ambition remained. What kind of feelings should I understand?

“I have high expectations from you, Sejin. If you do well, you will become a hero who will save our company. You know this is your last chance, right?”

“…Yes, Father.”

This time I had no choice but to answer. It was an insincere reply, but my father was so excited that even he didn’t notice. Father cleared his throat and forced the corners of his mouth to pull down.

“Next Saturday, we will be holding the engagement ceremony so it’s best you clear your schedule and prepare for it properly. I am talking about the place Minjae goes to, so you can head there too.”

Next week. That meant that this marriage had been discussed for quite some time. Knowing that I would not be able to refuse, he proceeded with his narrative, omitting only the person concerned. No, it was clear that he hadn’t even considered including me, since he had no choice anyway.

“If you understand, you can leave.”

In fact, there were many things I wanted to ask. Why did the other company accept me? Why did they choose a male Omega instead of a talented female Omega? Plus, what did my Father, no, Haeshin Group receive in exchange? 

“What are you doing? Go and prepare.”

But even if I did ask, nothing would change. Would it be enough to know a person’s value? At times like this, avoiding reality was advisable.

“I will take my leave then.”

I bowed my head in greeting and slowly turned my back. Normally, I would have exchanged my regards, but today I just wasn’t in the mood to do that. My shoulders were heavy as if a boulder had been placed on me, resulting from the lack of sleep all night.

“Oh, right.”

My father let out an exclamation the moment I grabbed the doorknob. He asked me to stop for a moment and rummaged through the drawers of his desk. As I turned my head, a small object flew by.

“I asked Professor Choi to get it for me. Don’t come out with a sour face and embarrass the family. Eat that and get a good night’s sleep this week.”

The medicine bottle that fell on the floor rolled up to the front of my shoes. While intentionally throwing it where I wouldn’t be able to catch it, my Father was busy kicking his tongue, asking if I couldn’t even catch it. Even as I bent down to pick up the medicine cabinet, a low murmur could be heard from his bedside.

“The guy only has his face going for him…”

Should I say I’m lucky? The fact that I didn’t have anything to show off, and there was just one thing I was proud of. So my Father must have suggested an arranged marriage using that as an excuse.

“You knew I couldn’t sleep.”

“Of course, you are my son after all.”

I held the round medicine bottle tightly in his hand. At first glance, between my fingers, I could see the ingredients listed. It was funny how those words without sincerity were comforting.

“Thank you for looking after me.”

With a gentle smile, satisfaction bloomed on his father’s face as well. His wrinkled eyes were filled with pride for himself. He nodded his head and waved his hand.

“Yes. On your way now.”

“Yes, please take your health as well, Father.”

I lightly bowed and left the chairman’s room. Director Kim, who was waiting outside, silently followed behind. I gnawed at the medicine bottle with my fingernails and accelerated my steps.

Zolpidem Tartrate. Needless to say but I had already developed a resistance to it.

* * *

Last year, an application released by Haeshin Bank was infected with a malicious virus. The personal information of 90% of users was leaked and stored authenticated certificates were abused more than 100 times. Security was hurriedly strengthened, but the lost trust did not return.

But the problem did not end there. Soon after, the head office of Haeshin Finance was accused of being corrupted. Father immediately fired the employee involved, but the controversy only grew more and more due to the suicide of a user of their services at the same time. Naturally, Haesin was hit by the media and began to crumble.

The stock price has not recovered until a year later. No matter how much Haeshin tried to change its corporate image, Haesin never regained its past reputation. There was only a difference between late and early, but the trend has already been irreversibly tilted.

At that time, marriage proposals popped up for me, the president’s son. A company that would be tied in marriage with Haesin Financial Group, which was in trouble. It was obvious what it would be like without experiencing it with my own eyes.

“…What did you say just now?”

Yeah, that’s what it should be like.

“I wanted to inform you that you have an appointment with Seonho Group next Saturday.”

You can’t touch the pith without being defiled. Yet, the thoughts that came to my mind were completely white. The uplifted face of my Father filled my mind. Director Kim continued to report with an expressionless face, looking at me blankly.

“The place is Myungsung Hotel, and the time is 5:30 PM. From the evening, Jung Sejin…”

“No, no, wait a minute, Director Kim.”

The employee who was tying my necktie pursed his lips. Manager Kim, who noticed my hesitation, sent the employee out of the fitting room. It was only after the door was closed that a question popped out of my throat.

“Is my marriage partner from Seonho Group?”

Next Saturday was the engagement date that my father had told me about. Director Kim expressed it as an ‘appointment’, but there was no way to double schedule with such a heavyweight opponent. In addition, Myungsung Hotel was affiliated with Seonho Group.

“Yes, that’s right.”

The answer was clear, without any hesitation. He wanted to imply why I asked something obvious, but the problem was that I couldn’t even imagine it. I asked again while fumbling with my tie.

“My marriage partner is from Seonho group?”

“Yes, it is, but…”

Kim’s face was slightly crumpled. I looked at him blankly with curious eyes.

“Weren’t you aware?”

I didn’t know. Nobody told me. Whether the other person was a woman or a man, how old was he and what he looked like. Not knowing what kind of company it was, I just guessed that it would be Alpha.

“…Were you tailoring the wedding dress for the engagement ceremony without knowing who the other person was?”

So, it was not unreasonable for him to make such a shocking expression. Father who left out the most important information, and me who did not ask in detail. In the eyes of others, both are ridiculous.

“Well, it’s not like we’re going to meet naked…”

I put my silk tie on the hanger and turned around. It was to get away from Chief Kim’s gaze, but unfortunately, there was no special outcome as there was a mirror on the opposite side. Director Kim sighed quietly and met my gaze in the mirror.

“Aren’t you going to ask more?”

“What?”

What more should I ask? I wonder why Seonho chose Haesin, but that was a matter for my father to care about, not me. It was enough to just match the clothes appropriately and get married with a smile.

“As far as I know, there are two unmarried children in the Seonho Group.”

“Yes, as far as you know.”

He answered meekly, but Director Kim’s face did not relax. On the contrary, this time, he sighed with a mixture of sounds. Through his thin glasses, I could see eyes filled with all sorts of emotions.

“Aren’t you going to ask which of the two you are going to be tied with?”

“Ah.”

In an instant, a stupid exclamation came out. Not because I didn’t think of it, but because I didn’t expect Director Kim to ask such a question.

“Why should I ask?”

Kwon Sangmi, vice chairman of Sunho Group, has a total of three children. One was a vice president who had already been married, and the other two were Alphas who had vaguely passed the marriageable age. Coincidentally, both of them had backgrounds that were too much for me.

“Anyway, it’s fine as long as they are from Seonho Group.”

“It’s not like that…”

Director Kim, who was about to refute it immediately, swallowed the remark with an apologetic face. It was because I turned my head and met his gaze with my naked eyes, not a mirror. Slightly averting his gaze, he spoke in a much more refined voice.

“Since Jung Sejin is getting married to someone from Seonho Group….”

It was a word that showed the reality that I had barely turned away from. As if telling me not to evade any further, he looked straight at me and added.

“The person you are getting married to is the second son, Kwon Yido.”

Kwon Yido.

I was tired of hearing his name. One of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people of the year and one of the most noteworthy young entrepreneurs. At the age of thirty-two, he became the managing director and was entrusted with the position of general manager of Seonho Electronics.

“That…Well, that’s surprising.”

In fact, I thought this marriage would be with his older brother, not Kwon Yido. Although they are only three years apart, unlike the young and intelligent Kwon Yido, Kwon Yijung was just a blank piece of paper without a proper position. In order to strike a balance between the Seonho and the Haeshin, it was profitable to offer someone with defects.

“Is it because of maintaining the aesthetic…”

“Did you say something?”

“No, nothing.”

Director Kim narrowed his eyes as he saw me waving his hand. I should have been more surprised, and it was obvious that he was thinking the same way. Instead of living up to that expectation, I just smiled with a kind face.

“Please call the staff. Since my partner is Kwon Yido, I have to stop by the salon Minjae goes to.”

His tightly pursed lips were swollen. It was obvious he wanted to ask something. Something like…Is that it? Or…Do you have any other questions? But Director Kim chose the latter.

“Do you have any more questions?”

The straightforward gaze was full of unknown expectations. No, not exactly expectations, but lingering feelings. He haven’t seen me for a day or two, but what was he wanting to ask? He probably didn’t know that I don’t have a choice anyway.

“There is. I’m curious.”

So I hinted at my words. Director Kim, who was standing upright, blinked. I shrugged and pointed to the tie I had hung on the hanger.

“As expected, a tie would be better than a bow tie, right?”

The entire time I was fitting his clothes, Director Kim kept his mouth clamped like a seashell. Whether his heart was twisted or not, it was the same even at the moment when the staff should have been stopped. So I had to accept lip service from a long-time employee in exchange for a little grumpiness.

“There are very few people who really suit this colour. Your body shape is almost identical to that of a mannequin..Whenever I fix your clothes, I feel like I’m doing a great job.”

The normally friendly staff evolved to become more talkative when no one stopped them. They say that a two-button jacket is better than a one-button jacket and that a vest should be a little tighter. How long are your legs and what is your skin tone? The employee, who was helping to get dressed in all the clothes in the store, nodded in satisfaction only after tying a tie with a unique knot.

“As expected, you have fair skin, so bright colours suit you well.”

“Haha…is that so?”

“Sure. This fabric is new this time, but men don’t suit pearl colour well. But Chief…”

Do we really need to work so hard to choose a wedding dress for an engagement ceremony? From what I had heard, it was said that the ceremony would be held quietly between families without disclosing it to the media. Of course, we should prepare as carefully as possible so that there will be no gossip later.

Shouldn’t it be over soon though…With that thought in mind, it was the moment when I sent my eyes to Director Kim asking for help.

“Jeong Sejin!”

Bang! With a harsh sound, someone opened the fitting room door. When I reflexively turned my head, a familiar face was entering with two employees hanging from him. The staff behind me begged him not to do this, but the man didn’t seem to hear anything.

“Fuck, Jung Sejin…!”

The man who found me strode inside. With that threatening attitude, the employee who looked after my clothes politely blocked my way.

“Sir, you must not come inside.”

It was a truly professional response, but the person did not take it lightly. The man paused and glared at the employee with his angry face.

“Move. Get out of my way.”

The man smelled of a faint aroma. He was wrapped in luxury goods from head to toe, and his brightly dyed hair was perfectly set. Where did he receive such a get-up from? Recalling such an impression, the man stretched his lips as if grinning.

“Hey, you guys don’t know who I am? Do you want to get fired? Huh?”

An embarrassment came to the staff’s face. For a customer who said such a line, they were clueless on how to settle with him. Was he a VIP or just someone simple? Nevertheless, the reason why I couldn’t keep a low profile was because I was a VIP as well.

“Sir, first of all, please wait outside…”

In the end, the employee who stood in my way resolutely opened his mouth. Despite the very kind expression, the man’s expression only grew more and more ferocious. I checked the man’s face and hurriedly interrupted the employee’s words.

“He is my brother.”

The surroundings became quiet as if cold water had been poured on them. The staff who continued talking, those who stopped the man, and Director Kim, who stood like a decoration, looked at me without saying a word.

Haeshin Financial Group’s second son Jung Minjae. The someone, everyone now remembered, showed it off proudly.

“Fuck, I told you so.”

“…Everyone, go out.”

I said it lightly, but the staff hesitated without going out. The quivering eyes seemed to show how embarrassed they were. In order to reassure them, I added in the kindest voice possible.

“It’s okay, you can go. I will call you if necessary.”

Minjae frowned dissatisfiedly but seemed to have no objection to sending the staff out. For a long time, the staff who had been absent-mindedly bowed and greeted me only after I smiled slightly.

“Please excuse us.”

In fact, they just did what they had to do, but the scenery that always unfolds was like this. Even more disturbing were Minjae’s words to them as they rushed out of the fitting room.

“They’re nothing…”

I guess it would be better to buy all the clothes I tried. It just happened if that this or that looked similar, so I could ask Chief Kim to choose one of them.

“Director Kim!”

“Yes, Sir.”

Minjae sat down on the sofa in the middle of the room, even though I was there. The way he crossed his legs was very confident. He shook and nodded his head toward the closed door.

“I’m telling you to fire all of those bastards.”

It wasn’t a big deal at all. He even looked at me with a displeased face.

“The ones who served him as well.”