MidMarch, it’s spring, but it’s still chilly in the mornings and evenings. Shivering in the cold wind seeping through her thin spring jacket, Si Hyun sent a message to Woo Jin.

Oppa, I drank a lot, can you come and pick me up?
A reply came quickly.

Sorry, I’m working late again tonight.
Laughing it off, Si Hyun put her phone in her pocket.

Back when they first started dating, even if she told him not to come, he would insist and come. Now, even if she said she drank a lot, this was his response.

She was just sitting on the bench at the bus stop when the phone rang. She quickly answered, thinking it was Woo Jin, but the voice that came was from her aunt.

It’s me.
Her aunt asked immediately, not even asking how she was.

How is it going with that guy? Did you meet his parents?
With her aunt’s pressure, Si Hyun felt a lump in her chest. It was a relief she had set a date.

“Next week, we’re planning to meet them and say hello.”

Dress properly and prepare a sincere gift. Don’t get in any trouble.
“Yes, Auntie.”
So, when are you coming to greet us?
“After I greet them first, I will set a date and let you know.”
Hurry up. You want to have a formal meeting and hold the wedding this year, don’t you?
Her younger cousin Ah Hyun was twentyeight this year. Her aunt had started showing Ah Hyun a line of potential husbands from doctors, lawyers, to businessmen when she was still in college, but she hadn’t been able to get married yet.

Si Hyun’s uncle, a businessman, was very conscious of other people’s eyes.

Therefore, he insisted on getting his niece Si Hyun married first. He was afraid that if he sent his daughter off to get married first leaving his orphaned niece, people would point fingers.

Thanks to that, Si Hyun got into trouble with her aunt when she went to pay respects at the beginning of the year.

[Doesn’t that man want to marry you?] [No, Auntie. We promised to do it this year.] [Pull yourself together, girl. If you lose that man, it’s over. Women your age aren’t even wellreceived at the marriage market!] Her aunt stomped her feet.

[When will you stop causing trouble for our family? Because of you, our Ah Hyun is only getting older!] A burden they wanted to get rid of as soon as possible.

That’s what thirtythreeyearold Kang Si Hyun was.

“Yes, Auntie. I’ll contact you soon.”
After hanging up the phone, she climbed onto the bus that had just arrived and sat down. A deep sigh naturally escaped from her.

In the middle of March, the socalled spring, it was still chilly in the morning and evening. Shivering in the cold wind seeping through her thin spring jacket, Si Hyun sent a message to Woo Jin.

“Bro, I drank a lot. Can you come pick me up?”
An answer came in no time.

“Sorry, I’m working late again tonight.”
“Well, that figures,” Si Hyun chuckled as she put her phone back in her pocket.

In the early days of dating, even when she told him not to come pick her up, he would insist and come anyway. Now, even when she said she had drunk a lot, he would be like this.

Sitting idly on a bench at the bus stop, a call came in. Thinking it might be Woo Jin, she quickly answered, but the voice on the other end was her aunt’s.

“It’s me.”
As soon as she answered the phone, her aunt skipped the pleasantries and asked,

“How are things with that guy? Have you met his parents?”
Feeling pressured like a debtor being hounded, Si Hyun sighed with relief, glad she had set a date.

“We’ve arranged to meet and greet next week.”
“Dress neatly and prepare a thoughtful gift. Don’t screw this up.”
“Yes, aunt.”
“So, when are you going to greet our family?”
“I’ll let you know as soon as I have greeted them first.”
“Hurry up as much as you can. You are going to hold the wedding ceremony this year, aren’t you?”
Her cousin, Ah Hyun, was twentyeight that year. Since Ah Hyun was a university student, her aunt had been lining up prospective suitors who were doctors, lawyers, or businessmen. But, ironically, Ah Hyun hadn’t married yet.

Si Hyun’s uncle, who was a businessman, was extremely conscious of others’ perceptions.

He was adamant that his older niece, Si Hyun, had to get married first. The reason was fear of being criticized for marrying off his own daughter before his orphaned niece.

Thanks to this, when Si Hyun went to give New Year’s bows earlier this year, she was scolded by her aunt.

“That guy, he doesn’t intend to marry you, does he?”
“No, aunt. We’ve promised to definitely get married this year.”
“Get your act together, girl. If you lose that guy, it’s over. Women at the age of thirtythree are not wellreceived even in the marriage market!”
Her aunt stomped her feet in anger.

“Just how long are you going to cause trouble for our family? Because of you, even our Ah Hyun is getting older!”
Si Hyun was seen as a burden that needed to be removed as quickly as possible.