Epilogue 2.2

Epilogue 2.2

After hearing his explanation, Miran let out a long breath of relief.

For a moment she had imagined something bleak, like an unwelcomed couple rushing through a hasty marriage at City Hall without family or blessings. The fact that she hadn’t felt even a sliver of hesitation despite that scenario made her feel a little embarrassed.

Becoming Andre’s wife.

She squeezed her eyes shut and kicked her feet in the air.

Even if they were physically apart for a while, it meant being tied to him for life. Whether they married tomorrow or the day after, there was no reason to dislike it.

“Andre…?”

― Hmm?

“I miss you so, so much.”

It had already been nearly two months since they last met.

On the other end, he let out a long, heavy breath.

“I love you, Andre.”

Miran whispered.

― ……

Andre didn’t say anything for a while.

Long ago, whenever she told him she loved him, he always answered with “I know.” As if he didn’t love her, but he would generously permit her to love him.

So whenever that same man now said “I love you” in a voice that sounded just a little shy, a shiver of delight shot through her. Miran pressed the phone tight to her ear and waited for him to speak.

― Ahem, hm.

He cleared his throat awkwardly, as if his perfectly normal voice suddenly needed fixing.

― I’ll push the spouse visa application through as fast as possible. Before autumn comes, I’m going to have you right beside me. Keep that in mind.

His voice rumbled low and deep. Beneath that brusque, almost threatening tone, Miran heard it clearly.

I miss you.
I love you.
So hard for him to say aloud.

She rolled onto her back.

“How am I supposed to wait until autumn? I miss you so much I can’t even breathe properly. Hoo, ha, hoo, ha.”

When she teased him with a giggle, she heard a soft laugh drift faintly through the receiver. She could picture him smiling and shaking his head.

― Check your email right away.

He repeated the reminder in a voice edged with a hint of laughter.

“Okay, I will.”

Just then, Juran called from the living room.

“Miran, dinner’s ready! Stop running up poor son-in-law An’s phone bill, will you!”

“Yeah, coming!”

Miran covered the receiver and shouted back, then uncovered it and whispered:

“Andre, I have to hang up now. Mom wants me to eat dinner.”

― All right. Go.

“Then, see you soon in New Yooork, bye bye!”

With a triumphant grin, she said her farewell in English and was just about to hit the end button when Andre stopped her in a rushed voice.

— Miran!

She lifted the receiver back to her ear.

“Mm? Why, do you have something else to say?”

After a brief silence, he spoke awkwardly.

— I love you.

She sucked in a startled breath.

“Me too!”

The moment she answered breathlessly, the call cut off.

Miran tossed the heavy phone onto the bed and rolled around until her face was buried in the pillow. She punched the mattress over and over with her fists.

A while later, her face still red, she pushed herself up and connected to the internet again.

She opened her Hotmail account, which Andre practically treated as his personal domain, and the email he mentioned was already there. She saved the attachment to a floppy disk, planning to stop by a stationery store or copy shop in the morning to get it printed.

She lingered at her desk for a moment when Juran knocked again.

“Miran, are you still on the phone? The stew is ready.”

“I hung up. I just need to check an important email, then I’ll come out.”

The hinges squeaked and Juran slid her head through the small gap in the door. Curiosity gleamed in her eyes as she came closer and peeked at the computer.

“Look at that. So amazing. You can chat in real time with someone all the way in New York on a computer.”

“Mm, yeah.”

Miran answered absently as she slid the palm-sized floppy disk into the drive. A few clicks later, she saved the file and pulled the disk back out.

Watching the whole process, Juran let out a soft exclamation.

“It looks so complicated, but of course. You’re young, so you pick it up fast…”

Miran shut down the computer and gave her mother a mischievous sideways look.

“Mom, I’m getting married next Wednesday.”

Juran’s eyes went so wide they almost popped out, and her jaw dropped straight down.