<Welcome to the Marriage Introduction Agency> Is Real Marriage Possible? [1]

If You're Single for 25 Years, You Become a Magician

After reading a popular online post, instead of laughing along with everyone else, I started counting down the years.

If it really meant becoming a magician, it wouldn't be so bad.

Actually... I was more curious about 'what exactly defines being single?'

If you dated even for a day, can you say you've been in a relationship?

Should you have held hands, or even kissed, to be able to say 'I'm not single'?

Back then, the criteria varied so much that it was hard to define precisely.

Now, it's settling into a more defined understanding of 'someone who has experienced '썸' (a stage of getting to know someone romantically) but not a relationship.'

While '썸' is a natural term today, it wasn't always the case. The fact that it was selected as the word of the year in 2008 indicates its history isn't that long.

Sixth grade.

I had a '썸' with a boy in my class, playfully interacting and secretly harboring feelings. I also received confessions from boys of the same age and older in clubs.

I'll never forget the day I was talking on the phone with a boy I'd had a crush on for six months, and he confessed, 'Actually, I liked you too.'

I was so thrilled that our feelings aligned, and I excitedly told my close friends that I had a boyfriend, bragging about it.

I said we'd probably be going on dates soon.

Exactly a week later, he left a message saying he had some unavoidable circumstances and then disappeared, marking the beginning and end of my first love.

The shock was so great that it took me a full three years to recover.

I diligently went through the five stages of grief – denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance – and finally overcame it by the time I started college.

Although my teenage romance was a complete failure, I was certain that once I got to college, I'd be surrounded by male classmates and seniors in a campus with lush green lawns, and I'd naturally meet someone and fall in love!

Sadly, that dream didn't come true.

I bombed the college entrance exam and ended up at a women's university. I've regretted not retaking the exam to get into a co-ed school ever since.

I often received the question, 'Don't women's universities have a lot of mixers?' But it really depends on the department.

Unless you're in dance or other arts departments, mixers aren't very common.

Women's university was a stifling place where all we did was study intensely.

Of course, I did go on a few blind dates.

A school friend dramatically grabbed my shoulder and said, 'Hey, this blind date is for you only.' and gave me the guy's number.

Being around 5'5" (170cm), I was considered tall, and that's how I ended up on a blind date with a 6'4" (193cm) guy my age.

It was the first time I'd had to look up at a man that much.

He said he'd never met a tall girl before and was incredibly happy, to the point of awkwardness.

I have a few principles when it comes to blind dates, one of which is 'unless you really don't like the person, give them at least three tries.'

You can't tell everything about a person just from one meeting, I'm not a fortune teller.

So, I went on three dates with him.

With each meeting, he became more convinced that we were a good match and actively expressed his affection.

Honestly, I didn't understand how he could express such strong feelings after just a few encounters, but I didn't say anything.

One day, we had a lunch date, and he took me to an incredibly expensive restaurant.

He must have noticed my reaction as I was counting the number of zeroes on the menu.

He said, 'Actually, I have older sisters, and my eldest and third sisters gave me money to take you out for a nice meal. Don't worry about it.'

Wait... which sisters?

He was the youngest of five children, with one brother and four sisters. He said the age difference between him and his eldest sister was close to 20 years.

He even shared our dates with his sisters and got their feedback on it.

Four sisters-in-law.

It's not just men who fantasize about the future; women do too.

His sisters were enthusiastically supporting his dating expenses, showering him with money.

And he was bragging about it without a care in the world.

Knowing that all the food I was eating was paid for by his sisters, I felt like I was going to get indigestion.

In the end, I declined his confession to officially start dating, using various excuses.

After that, I went on a couple of blind dates a year, but nothing came of it.

Time passed, and I was nearing graduation. I fulfilled my responsibilities as a student.

I even had a health issue and spent some time in the hospital, but I recovered and graduated successfully.

I turned 25. Just like that online post said, I became a magician.

But no magical powers appeared.