<Welcome to the Marriage Information Company> Is Real Marriage Possible? [10]

Compatibility Chart (Sa Ju)

My boyfriend had to attend a family gathering, so I ended up spending the weekend alone.

It was a bit disappointing since we had just started dating, but it was a pre-arranged schedule before we started dating, so there was nothing I could do.

As the weather gradually turned colder, I was searching for places to go on our next date when...

I received a text message from my boyfriend, who was out of town.

He said his younger cousin had been self-studying Sa Ju and offered to look at our compatibility chart. He asked if I could provide our birthdates and times.

I had heard a few times that his mother occasionally consulted Sa Ju practitioners.

There were episodes like changing his name's Chinese characters because things weren't going well, or something similar.

I just thought, 'Oh, he must believe in Sa Ju a lot.'

“If it's bad news, tell me everything. Otherwise, don't tell me.”

“Of course, I'll tell you everything.”

And after a while, a late-night call came through.

He seemed to have had a few drinks, his tongue slightly slurred, but it didn't sound like he was completely drunk.

“Sorry, is it noisy?”

“You said you were meeting up with your relatives. Are you having a good time?”

“Yeah, it's been a while since I've seen everyone. The elders said they'd see me at my wedding next time.”

“Oh, really?”

“Everyone's congratulating us.”

“So, what did the compatibility chart say?”

“Oh yeah, it said it's a good chart, nothing majorly bad. It said you went through a really tough time in your 20s but are now experiencing great success.”

“That's good to hear.”

“Is there anyone in your family, like your brother-in-law or older relatives, who works overseas?”

“No? Not that I know of.”

“Really?”

“Did you look at my Sa Ju? You said you'd look at our compatibility chart.”

“Ah, I'll tell you in person when I see you. Hehe”

He seemed to be having a good time, showing off photos and boasting about it during the family gathering.

It had only been a week since we started dating, and I felt it was a little too soon, but I didn't say anything because I wondered how happy he must be.

However, the longer the call went on, the more he poured out his pent-up grievances under the influence of alcohol.

He said I always told him I loved him but he never heard it from me, that he was sorry for acting out, but that he loved me.

I soothed him, like a broken machine repeating the same phrases, and ended the call. That night, I couldn't fall asleep easily.

But it was on our next date that I sensed something was amiss.

“Why didn't you tell me?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You said your cousin would look at our compatibility chart and tell us when we met, right?”

“Ah~ That. There wasn't much to say.”

“Why, what was bad about it?”

“No, it said everything was good.”

He was terrible at lying, and I was incredibly perceptive.

“I think something's up with your boyfriend.”

“Why?”

“I saw him briefly after he came back from that family gathering last week. And he left for a pre-planned trip with his friends yesterday.”

“Oh, he had plans this week too.”

“I had a hunch when he left on Friday. He deleted his social media profile and stuff, and he's been kind of avoiding me.”

“Suddenly?”

“Yeah. I don't know. Maybe people were telling him he's being too clingy or something. He was sighing and saying he felt like he'd get depression.”

“Whoa, what kind of person does that?”

He, who used to send me messages every minute, disappeared as if by magic.

No matter how many times I asked what was wrong, he replied that he couldn't explain it, that his mind was empty, and that he didn't want to do anything.

That nothing was wrong, and that it had nothing to do with me.

I didn't know what was going on, so I decided to just leave him alone for a while. I thought he'd talk to me when he was ready.

They say that when a man goes into his cave, you shouldn't nag him, but just wait for him to come out on his own.

A few days passed, maybe.

It was past 11 pm on a weekend night.

I was watching TV with my mom, talking about my boyfriend who had gone silent, when suddenly, my phone rang.

“Hello?”

“Ah, excuse me. My name is XXX, a friend of his.”

I had heard of him before. He mentioned that he had a close friend from middle school who lived in the neighborhood.

“Yes, I've heard of you. Hello.”

“He asked me to meet him today, and he's completely wasted now.”

“Wasted?”

“I've known this guy for over 10 years, and I've never seen him like this. He's completely passed out and can't seem to come to his senses. I'm in a situation where I can't take him home.”

“He's completely out of it?”

“Yes. Did something happen between the two of you?”

“I'm curious too. I have no idea what's going on.”

“Could you come and pick him up?”

I didn't know his exact address, and even if I took a taxi for an hour, it wouldn't have helped much.

“Could you check his phone to see if his sister or brother-in-law is listed and call them? I can't go right now, and my boyfriend lives with his parents. I don't think I should call his parents. His sister lives nearby, so I think I should call her and ask for help.”

“And, I'm sorry, but I'm worried, so could you at least text me and let me know what happens?”

But there were no more calls, and I spent the rest of the night wide awake.

No matter how hard I racked my brain, there was only one thing that seemed suspicious.

The compatibility chart that his cousin had looked at for the two of us at the family gathering.

I imagined all sorts of scenarios in my head.

1. The chart showed that we were the worst possible match.

2. The chart showed that if we were together, there would be problems for him.

3. The chart showed that if we were together, there would be problems for me.

If it was something he couldn't tell me, then either 1 or 2 would be the most likely scenarios. But what did he hear that made him act like this?

I wondered if this was going to happen and the next day, I immediately booked an appointment at a well-known Sa Ju café that a friend had recommended.

I told them our birthdates and asked them to look at our relationship.

“Has your boyfriend ever been divorced?”

“Divorced? Unless he was deliberately trying to deceive me, I don't think he's ever been married.”

“This chart is REALLY difficult for marriage. Someone like this, even if his parents tried to set him up, if he doesn't like it, he won't get married, which would be very frustrating for his parents.”

“He did say that he only dates people he likes.”

“Anyway, his chart makes it incredibly difficult for him to get married. So, no matter who he brings home, his family would have to accept her.”

“What about our compatibility? Is it bad or something?”

“Honestly, I feel bad for you. There's nothing inherently bad. Ah... it's just such a waste for him.”

“Instead of 'a waste', is there anything bad about it?”

“If you go anywhere and show this chart to anyone, it shows that he absolutely needs to cling to you.”

I couldn't understand his actions even more with this chart.

But what if his cousin, who had self-studied Sa Ju, had told him differently?

“Okay, some families take Sa Ju very seriously. It can happen.”

“But let's say that his cousin, who was self-studying Sa Ju, looked at it and said it was bad.”

“I would've asked my mom to find a really good fortune teller. And then I would've asked if it was truly bad.”

“And if it was bad, I would've gone to another place to confirm it. At the very least, wouldn't he have checked it out like that?”

I complained to my best friend, apologizing for bothering her, and poured out my heart.

Everything about the situation was absurd, but what disappointed me the most was his ability to handle a crisis.

If he's a guy who crumbles like glass in such a small crisis, drinking himself silly and doing nothing...

“You should dump him, if he's like that.”

It was the busiest time of year at my company.

I kept telling myself to just forget it, but the more I thought about it, the more absurd and infuriating it became.

I even explained the whole situation to my colleagues and asked for their understanding if I acted strangely.

Frustrated, I asked the person who introduced us to look into the situation.

“His family has no idea what's going on, and they're just curious why he hasn't been seeing you lately.”

“Really?”

“From what I hear, he's a bit of a strange guy. Just cut ties.”

I was on an emotional rollercoaster several times a day, and finally issued an ultimatum.

It hasn't been long since we started dating, and I don't think this is right. Can I assume that you don't want to see me anymore?

Half a day later, his reply was simply, 'I'm sorry, let's break up.'

Ah... am I going through a bad luck period?