Chapter 9.9 - Act 9: Whimsically 9 (2/2)

‘…What should I do, seriously…’

*

10 minutes before the start of the ceremony, Lee Suh-ah appeared strange.

Stealing glances, she gazed at the surroundings like she was looking for someone and suddenly, she deeply lowered her head in surprise. Then, she was completely still, as if she was afraid of her face being seen by someone.

She’s not playing heads down thumbs up right…

Looking at her hair flowing down like strands of seaweed, I asked in bafflement.

“What are you doing?”

“Hey…! Be quiet…!”

Hearing her whispering complaints, I shrugged my shoulders when she opened her mouth again with a murmur.

“…Can we sing the wedding song while wearing masks?”

“Kukuk. What are you saying? Are you going out on Masked Singer?”

“I’m super serious right now okay?”

“You’re serious? That thing about singing with a mask?”

“Haa…”

I stared at her heaving out a sigh but her expression could make others speechless. Just like the black clothes she was wearing, dark signs of despair filled her face as if she had committed a grave sin.

She was like that ever since I mentioned Song Mirae though…

When I thoroughly searched for a possible reason, a rough gist of the situation started being formed in my head.

The song we will be singing soon, the existence of Song Mirae and Lee Suh-ah’s attitude of trying to hide the fact of her working. Adding these three to one, it led to a simple conclusion.

‘She doesn’t want to have her friend see herself working huh.’

I thought with a nod.

Thinking back on Lee Suh-ah’s actions so far, it was natural. Her acting and desperately hiding the family situation was perfect and even I was completely deceived into thinking that she was a daughter of a noble family.

The reason for doing that was obvious as well.

Most of the students in Future Arts High were from rich families and feeling the awkward sense of distance due to the differing family situations wouldn’t result in anything pleasant. It was something I felt personally while attending the school back when I was young.

After a slow nod, I opened my mouth.

“Would your voice be hidden by just hiding your face? Anyone can tell by just listening to it.”

“…You’re right.”

Seeing Lee Suh-ah responding blankly, I thought with my fingers on my chin.

‘At this rate, she might make a mistake while singing…’

No, actually, she would definitely make a mistake at this rate. It would be a mistake that cannot be fixed; a mistake that would ruin our employer’s one and only wedding ceremony.

With squinted eyes, I contemplated before throwing my eyes to the watch.

It was 3 minutes till the start. There was still some time.

Shooting out of my seat, I pulled Lee Suh-ah by her arm.

“Let’s go.”

“Huh?”

Pulling her who didn’t know what was happening, I walked across the venue and while walking, I glanced around as the destination soon entered my sight. Perhaps she at least had some etiquette, as she had gotten rid of the fancy accessories which she always hung around her.

After finding Song Mirae who was sitting down with a bored expression in a reddish-black dress, I walked towards her.

While grabbing onto the arm of Lee Suh-ah who was quietly thrashing around in fear of making a sound, I walked.

“…Waittttt…!”

“What do you mean wait. You should greet your friend at least.”

“That’s not the important bit!”

I pulled her along while bickering when Song Mirae turned her eyes towards us after noticing the noise. My eyes could see her expression changing vigorously, from boredom to doubt, from surprise to joy.

“Huh? Suh-ah! Yunjae!”

“Hi.”

“…Hi.”

I raised my hand and greeted as Lee Suh-ah raised her lips awkwardly and powerlessly after giving up on resisting. Seeing us, Song Mirae floated a bright smile and made a fuss.

“What’s going on? Were you invited as well? That’s strange. Suh-ah might have been but there’s no way that guy invited you.”

Song Mirae tilted her head as I immediately gave her a reply.

“That’s because we came here to sing the wedding song.”

“Hn? The wedding song?”

I slowly began reopening my mouth while looking at the frown on Song Mirae’s face and caught sight of Lee Suh-ah stiffening in nervousness from the corner of my eyes.

No need to be that frozen.

Thinking that, I smiled inwardly and gave a simple reply.

“I’m doing these kinds of casual jobs during holidays.”

“Ah… I see?”

Staring at Song Mirae who cautiously threw a glance up at me, I opened my mouth while tapping Lee Suh-ah.

“But this time it was a duet song, and she was the only one I knew that had free time. She’s your friend as well.”

Blinking her eyes, Song Mirae glanced over the two of us before eventually breaking out into a smile with sparkling eyes.

“I see~ A duet of two full prac mark students… Isn’t it too much for that guy to enjoy?”

…As expected of Song Mirae, it was easy.

When I looked sideways with a small smile, I found Lee Suh-ah staring at me. She gazed blankly at me before soon heaving out a sigh of relief.

After that, the wedding ceremony continued without any problem since Lee Suh-ah had regained her composure. Once the officiant was over with his turn, we went out and sang the song – one of the most famous musical songs, ‘Take me as I am’.

Apparently it was a song the groom liked and since it was a song I had experience singing in, I didn’t need to practise either. I sang it as wedding songs a lot as well.

I tried incorporating expressions I was practising recently and put several points I understood as well. Especially because it was a musical which could be considered an offspring of opera, there were many common aspects with opera acting which I was studying recently.

‘Musical, a musical huh…’

In the midst of singing, I glanced at Lee Suh-ah and found out she was singing more zealously than usual.

It was pretty good. Since it was my first time seeing her sing a musical song, I wondered if she would be okay but as expected of a master of all trades, since the fundamental vocalisation was good, she copied me immediately when I taught her a little bit about musicals.

“Take me as I am–!”

After our song ended, rounds of applause reverberated as the ceremony continued with haste. The bride and the groom cut the cake into two as the parents of each family greeted each other and took a photo. Then, there was the bouquet being thrown.

Staring at the groom smiling with wetted eyes, I felt a strange sense of satisfaction feeling my heart and smiled.

The first couple blessed by my song.

Though I only talked to them once, I wished they could live happily ever after.