NLFSD Chapter 55

Chapter 55

The car drove for over an hour before reaching the campground located inside a national forest reserve. Across the colorful lawn decorated for the occasion, there were five other couples besides Jiwoon and Seo Taecheon.

Because this was an event specifically designed for Alpha–Omega participants, the gender pairings varied widely. The one thing they all had in common was that, as couples seeking reconciliation, they all displayed openly affectionate, tender behavior.

Jiwoon was reminded of when he had attended an offline Reflection class before. During the drawing session and the reflection‑journal exchange reading, one couple had even started fighting in front of everyone. Compared to that, the atmosphere here was far more peaceful, almost sugary sweet. There were couples walking arm in arm, others linked at the elbow.

Wait… Taecheon‑C and I are just standing side by side. Everyone else seems physically entwined, practically one body — why are we the only plain ones…

Jiwoon began to feel awkward, but at that moment, Taecheon reached out and clasped his hand. Startled, Jiwoon glanced up — to see him smiling faintly, lifting one corner of his lips in a way that was effortlessly charming.

“You two really suit each other,” said a couple across from them.

“Us?”

“Yes. You look picture‑perfect together.”

The other Alpha–Omega pair even gave them a thumbs up, declaring them a well‑matched couple.

Yes, that’s right. Anyone can see we’re a perfect pair! Giddy, Jiwoon squeezed Taecheon’s hand tighter, doing his best to rein in the grin trying to split his face.

“Welcome, everyone.”

“Hello!”

From one corner, the camp supervisor and a few government staffers appeared.

“Glad you all arrived. Since everyone’s here, let me explain today’s schedule. As we mentioned in the text, this camp is carefully designed as a special course for couples hoping for reconciliation. Its motto is: Fun, Comfortable, and Shameless!”

When the supervisor proclaimed this through a Bluetooth mic, the couples laughed awkwardly.

“Come on, repeat after me! What kind of camp is this? A fun, comfortable, shameless reconciliation camp!”

The participants halfheartedly muttered the motto. Stray visitors in the forest reserve glanced over curiously, making Jiwoon feel faintly embarrassed.

“That energy won’t get you reconciled. Try again, louder!”

“Fun, comfortable, shameless!”

This time, voices rang out more clearly. Satisfied, the supervisor applauded them.

“Good. Now, let’s begin with the first game.”

The opening activity was a quiz game. Its format was the popular kind seen on variety shows: one partner would be shown a word or idiom, but could not speak — instead, they had to act it out while the other guessed. Only the spouse’s “body language” could be used to guess the words.

“The winning couple gets a prize, so try your best!”

The mention of prizes immediately pricked Jiwoon’s ears. A prize? Could it be like the vacation vouchers we got at company workshops? Or maybe cultural gift cards, musical tickets? At least a movie pass?

“Taecheon, let’s do well.”

“Let’s. It’ll be fun.”

As if encouraging him, Taecheon gently ruffled Jiwoon’s hair. The tender touch made Jiwoon’s heart flutter.

“Alright, Team 1, come up. Here’s the sketchbook. One explains, one guesses.”

On the grass, the first couple began awkwardly miming. The word was “love.” The Alpha kissed the air, danced clumsily, flailed — the Omega never got it, and the crowd dissolved into laughter.

Team after team followed. Each was given ten prompts, but the ban on speaking left them stumped. The highest anyone managed was four correct out of ten.

“Our last team, Number 6 — let’s see what you’ve got,” called the supervisor with anticipation.

Now it was Jiwoon and Taecheon’s turn. Taecheon would guess, Jiwoon would act.

Phew… nervous. We need to score high.

For Jiwoon, this game wasn’t merely play. The score felt like proof of their sense of connection. Since their marriage had begun by accident rather than romantic courting, he wanted to prove that they could sync perfectly.

The first word appeared.

“…Oh.”

Because they were last, the prompts had grown difficult.

“Steamed Egg Custard (Gyeranjjim 계란찜)”

People are supposed to act that out? Is that even possible?

Baffled but determined, Jiwoon thought quickly. He clutched his stomach, groaned dramatically, mimed pointing at a watch as though timing cooking, then let his face melt in bliss — before giving a thumbs‑up and collapsing on the lawn as though fainting from deliciousness.

The audience roared in amazement at the sheer absurdity. How could that mean steamed eggs?

Then Taecheon calmly said, “…Egg custard?”

“My God, that’s correct!”

Applause burst out. Jiwoon jumped up, clapping with delight. That morning, Taecheon had cooked him steamed eggs so delicious they made him swoon — his acting had been a deliberate callback.

“Amazing! Let’s go to Round 2.”

The word: “Mad Scientist.” (미치광이 과학자)

The crowd groaned. No way. Impossible.

But Jiwoon scratched his hair wildly until he looked like a scruffy Maltese, widened his eyes with mania, and began frantically fiddling with imaginary test tubes and levers.

“…Scientist?”

“Close!” the supervisor encouraged.

Jiwoon then looked skyward with a crazed expression, wildly mixing phantom beakers, before collapsing to his knees.

“Mad Scientist!” shouted Taecheon, snapping his fingers.

“Correct! Unbelievable — we wrote this word to ensure failure, and yet they cleared it!”

The officials applauded in genuine astonishment.

By the end, Jiwoon and Taecheon had answered all ten prompts correctly. One’s wild acting, the other’s uncanny intuition — a perfect match.

“First place goes to Couple 6! Everyone, applaud!”

Gasps erupted. Even Jiwoon couldn’t believe it himself.

“Is that couple for real? Weren’t they supposed to be on the brink of divorce?”

“Exactly my thought.”

Whispers spread, marveling.

“The highest score ever in Shameless Camp history! Congratulations!”

The supervisor urged everyone to cheer, and applause thundered.

“Taecheon!”

“Jiwoon!”

Across the lawn they rushed to each other, hugging tightly.

“How did you read me so perfectly?”

“You acted so clearly. I could tell at once what you meant.”

“Thank you… for trusting me.”

They praised each other endlessly, glowing with excitement.

“Now for the prize! You’ll be delighted. Open it up!”

The box was smaller than hoped, but Jiwoon eagerly imagined cash vouchers, wireless earbuds, maybe even a tablet. At least a massage gun?

But when he opened it — his face fell. Inside was something eerily familiar, packaged meticulously.

“Congratulations! A set of Sook‑ryeo‑Doong‑i mugs!”

The supervisor announced it like a grand treasure.

Jiwoon thought Really? That’s it? Still, winning together was joy enough.

“Thank you. We’ll use them well,” he said.

While Jiwoon was disappointed, Taecheon was composed.

“We’ll keep them at home. Couple mugs, after all.”

…Oh. True, wasn’t it? Couple mugs. The victorious, one‑and‑only couple item of the reconciliation camp quiz champions. That did sound meaningful.

“You’re right — it’s a couple’s item.”

Jiwoon smiled as brightly as a flower greeting the sun. He marveled at how even silly, frustrating things, when reframed by Taecheon, came to bloom with new meaning.

Just like their accidental marriage was shaping itself into a new, unique form of love.

Footnote

 

1. Gyeranjjim (계란찜) — Korean steamed egg custard, often soft and fluffy; culturally known as comfort food eaten hot with rice.