Login with:

Facebook

Twitter

Tumblr

Google

Yahoo

Aol.

Mibba

Your info will not be visible on the site. After logging in for the first time you'll be able to choose your display name.

If You

Someday

Emily twisted her ring around her finger as she watched the sun come up and cast the world in a pale pink light. She knew that most brides didn't sleep the night before their wedding, but instead of nerves or excitement she found herself puzzling over the future, disjointed thoughts darting through her head like mental flashes of light. Where will we live? I miss Mom. I should schedule extra tutoring for when we get back. Dad should've told me about his surgery. I hope Jiyong slept. It's so cold for March. What if Mattie does something stupid at the reception?

She turned away from the window to glance at the clock. Five-thirty. I should shower.

She padded over to the bathroom and turned on the shower, the sound of running water filling the early morning silence. At her apartment she would've had to wait several minutes for hot water, but Jiyong had insisted on bringing her to his house, a gorgeous brick mansion that sat near the city. Emily had only been there once before, and had honestly forgotten it existed, but Jiyong wanted her to think of it as her home. And what a home, she thought, looking at the beautifully tiled walls as the bathroom filled with steam. She showered slowly, letting the hot water cascade over her skin until her whole body was bright pink and beads of condensation had formed on every hard surface, then she wrapped herself in a soft robe and dried her hair as the sun cleared the horizon and filled her room with brilliance. The shower had settled her mind a little, but the wedding was still several hours away and the quiet house seemed deafening. I'll make some coffee, she decided.

She left her room and walked down a long hallway to a staircase that swept down to a red and gold foyer, all of which seemed under an enchanted sleep as she crept through. The kitchen was just past the dining room, and she quickly found the Keurig machine sitting beside the refrigerator. She brewed a strong cup and sipped it black, wrinkling her nose at bitter taste.

“I thought I heard you.”

Emily started violently. “Don't do that,” she said, turning around, “unless you want a bride with coffee burns.”

“I'm sorry,” Jiyong apologized as he leaned against the door frame. “Did you sleep well?”

“Did you sleep at all?” she countered.

Jiyong merely smiled. “I like having you here,” he murmured, “it's like all this house lacked was you.”

“Don't get mushy on me,” she teased, though her cheeks warmed pleasantly. “Shouldn't you wait to see me until the ceremony?”

“And miss this?” he said, jutting his chin at the lightening sky outside. His robe hung open, revealing his bare chest as he folded his arms loosely. His eyes traveled over her slowly, as if he was trying to memorize her. “I'd marry you right now, in this kitchen,” he whispered.

“You're getting mushy again,” she replied with a smile. She walked over to him and nestled her head on his chest, breathing him in as his arms encircled her, then she kissed him gently. “You've got shadows under your eyes,” he said concernedly. “Are you worried about something?”

“I'm not worried, just a little… preoccupied,” she admitted. “Our future has so many moving parts, and I can't seem to stop thinking about it.”

Jiyong took her hands in his and looked her in the eye. “Then let me make you a vow right now,” he said, smiling at her. “I promise that no matter what happens or where either of us go, I will always make sure you are safe and happy.” He paused, something seeming to weigh heavily on his tongue. “And I'm sorry,” he said finally, “about the tour, and the enlistment, and-”

“Don't,” she said, putting a finger to his lips. “No apologies today, okay?”

He nodded and she smiled again. “You are following your dreams and serving your country,” she reminded him, “and I promise to share you with both, as much as I can.”

She glanced at the clock on the wall. “Everyone will be here soon,” she murmured.

“Let them come,” he replied, kissing her again.

They stayed in the kitchen for a while, whispering and kissing and sipping warm coffee as the seconds ticked by, until Emily finally heard wheels crunching on gravel outside. “Sounds like the party's here,” she said, setting her mug down.

“Are you ready?” Jiyong asked her.

“I will be after you get back upstairs,” she said, shoving him out of the room. “You're not supposed to see me, remember?”

“I didn't know you were superstitious,” he teased. “I'd rather help you get ready.”

“It's all part of the fun,” she countered. “Hurry up!”

He took the stairs two at a time and Emily waited until he had disappeared down the hallway before answering the door.

“There she is!” Han Bi cheered, throwing an arm around her as she came in.

“Nice place,” Silas whistled, setting a suitcase down in the foyer.

“Don't go wandering off,” her dad told the twins sternly, “we're only here to get dressed.”

“Is this where you're going to live?” Mandie squeaked, gazing at the ornate decor.

“If she has any sense,” Dami joked, bringing up the rear with Cheong Do, “but you strike me more as a city girl.”

Emily hugged her and Cheong Do in turn. “Where are the guys?” she asked.

“Right behind us,” Dami assured her. “They're picking up Soo on their way.”

“Where's Jiyong?” Tom asked, perusing a collection of BIGBANG pictures on the wall.

“Upstairs,” Emily replied. “He's probably already getting dressed, but I'll find a spare bedroom for you to use.”

After Emily deposited the men in the room beside Jiyong's she went back down to her room, where Han Bi had already taken charge. “Dami, plug in the curling iron,” she directed in clipped Korean, handing Mandie an assortment of hair products.

There was a loud honking noise and Emily grinned. “That must be the guys!” she exclaimed. She ran to the top of the stairs to greet them, but saw that Jiyong had beaten her down there. She watched him embrace his friends, their laughter echoing a hundred times throughout the room, and decided not to interrupt, so she caught Soo’s eye and gestured for her to come up the stairs before retreating again. “Thank you for coming,” she said as Soo came around the corner. “Were they too enthusiastic on the way here?”

“We're all filled with enthusiasm today, but they were a little boisterous for such an early hour,” Soo admitted.

Back in Emily's room Dami was already curling Mandie's hair in the bathroom while Han Bi did her makeup at the vanity. “Would you like me to prep you?” Soo asked, nodding at the supplies scattered everywhere.

“Please,” Emily said gratefully, “as long as you don't mind.”

“Never,” she pronounced with a smile.

Emily sat down at the vanity and let her mind drift as Soo worked. She pushed away all thoughts of guests and lists and tasks, and only thought of the life she and Jiyong were about to create. It was a pleasant thought, and she smiled at her reflection knowingly.

“How do you want your hair?” Soo asked. “Up, down?”

“Ooh, down would be so pretty!” Mandie chirped.

Emily tilted her head from side to side. “Up, I think,” she decided, “but leave a few pieces down.”

She looked down at her ring again as Soo started pinning her hair. It was the same ring Jiyong had given her in New York, a small silver band made of two metal pieces twisted together. Emily had been adamant about keeping it as her engagement ring, so she had had it resized and never took it off.

“Where are you going on your honeymoon?” Dami asked.

“The tour leaves for Milan next week, so we'll just spend a few quiet days here until then,” Emily replied.

“And then what?” Mandie asked.

“Then he enlists,” Emily said evenly. The room fell silent and Emily glanced at their uncomfortable reflections in the mirror. “It's okay,” she assured them, “I'm not in despair or anything. His time away will be short compared to the time we'll have together when he returns.”

“Very good,” Han Bi said, kissing the top of her head, “and we will be with you every step of the way.”


******


Jiyong’s emotions were rapidly overwhelming him as he waited in the little courtyard outside the hotel. He and Emily had decided to do a private reveal before the ceremony, and Lee Jung gave him a reassuring smile from his photographer’s perch. Keep it together, he told himself, and try not to cry.

He heard footsteps approaching, but kept his back turned. He had promised not to turn around until Emily told him to, but the suspense was almost too much to resist. “Now?” he called, tilting his head slightly in her direction.

A pair of hands covered his eyes and he smile as he felt her strain to reach. “I didn’t realize I was that much taller than you,” he teased.

“Only when you’re the one wearing heels,” she returned. Jiyong laughed and turned around. “Now?” he begged.

Emily pulled her hands away and Jiyong opened his eyes. Normally he would’ve taken in every detail of her dress and filed it away, but it didn’t matter. All he saw were her warm, familiar brown eyes gazing up at him, crowning a smile that made her whole face glow. She said something that Jiyong didn’t hear, then her eyebrows knitted slightly and she touched his face. “Jiyong?”

“Hm? What did you say?”

“I said you’re crying,” she said, wiping away tears he didn’t remember shedding. “Are you okay?”

Jiyong nodded even as more tears fell. “I’m fine,” he managed.

A sudden wind picked up and rushed through the courtyard, a rather cold wind for March, and Jiyong noticed goosebumps appear on Emily’s bare shoulders. “Here,” he said, removing his jacket and draping it over her.

“Thanks,” she said, pulling it around her. “I have a wrap inside, but I left it so we could get good pictures.”

Jiyong had completely forgotten about Jung and glanced up to where he was furiously snapping pictures. “We could still do it, you know,” he said, looking back at her.

“Do what?”

“Get married in the kitchen.”

Emily laughed and shook her head. “I don’t think your mother would ever forgive us,” she said dryly.

Jiyong took her hand and laced his fingers with hers. “I know we should be nervous,” he murmured, “but I just realized that I wouldn’t have my life turn out any other way than this.”

Tears welled up in Emily’s eyes and clung to her lashes as she looked down at her feet. “Come on then,” she said, pulling him onward, “let’s get started.”


******


The ceremony went beautifully, despite Emily’s earlier anxieties. The bridesmaids looked perfect in their light green dresses, and Mandie had been all poise as she walked down the aisle on Youngbae’s arm. Everything was very straightforward and traditional, with the exception of Emily laying a rose on an empty chair beside her father. It was a little over a year since her mom died, and it had taken every ounce of Emily’s strength not to completely break down as she paid her little homage to her. Then in a flurry of words and rings and kisses they were running back down the aisle to the waiting car outside the hotel. “Well, Mrs. Kwon,” Jiyong said, “how do you feel?”

“Relieved,” she pronounced. “I feel like the hardest part is over and everything else will be easy.”

The car turned a corner and Emily checked her makeup in her compact. They would circle the block before re-entering the hotel for the reception, but something caught her eye in the window and she looked up instantly. “Stop the car!” she yelled, hitting the window with her palm.

The car screeched to a halt and Emily threw the door open.

“Emily? Emily!” Jiyong called, but she ignored him as she scanned the street for what she had just glimpsed.

“Honey, what's wrong? Are you okay?”

She spotted her goal and nodded. “Yeah, I just need to make a quick stop,” she replied.

“Where-”

She gathered her skirts in her fist and ran down to the crosswalk, then zipped across the street and up the other side before Jiyong could blink. “Emily!” he called again, following her as closely as possible.

Emily stopped and looked up. There was no doubt about it: this was the same convenience store she had taken shelter in on that dreadful night so many months ago. Jiyong soon caught up to her and she came back to herself. “What's going on?” he panted. “I thought brides took off before the ceremony, not after.”

“I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you,” she said, looking back at the building, “I just had to be sure.”

“Of what? What is this place?”

Emily smiled thoughtfully. “This was my sanctuary,” she replied. “There's someone I need to see. Wait for me, please?”

Jiyong seemed too surprised to dissent, so Emily entered the store and looked around slowly. It was empty, save for a slack-jawed young man behind the counter. He clutched a magazine in one hand, now forgotten as his eyes flicked from Emily to Jiyong through the window. “Can… I help you?” he stammered.

“I'm looking for Go Jin,” Emily replied. “We're not really acquainted, but he helped me once and I wanted to thank him.”

“Go Jin was my grandfather,” the young man replied. “I'm Taejin.”

Emily frowned. “Was?” she repeated.

Taejin nodded. “My grandfather passed several weeks ago,” he said quietly, “but you're not the first to come offer him thanks. He helped many people, and his legacy is richer because of it.”

Emily felt an odd flash of grief and dabbed at her eyes. “I see,” she whispered.

“You're, ah…” Taejin nodded at her dress. “You're getting married today?”

“Just did,” she said, “but I'm not sure I would have done so without your grandfather's kindness. Please accept my thanks in his stead.”

Taejin nodded and glanced out the window again. “Is that-”

“Yes,” she confirmed.

“Awesome,” Taejin breathed.

“I should go,” Emily said with a bow. “My husband is probably going crazy out there.”

Taejin got up and bowed in return. “Your kind words about my grandfather are appreciated,” he said softly.

Emily left the store and Jiyong raised an eyebrow. “What just happened?” he asked, taking her arm in his.

Emily leaned into him and smiled. “I'll tell you someday,” she whispered.

Notes

Comments

Please please please continue this. I've read it three times now and it just makes me fall in love every time. It is a wonderful story. Also, please put it on AO3, its a very friendly community for writers.

Maliciouspixie5 Maliciouspixie5
11/13/19

@Maliciouspixie5
Thank you!

Oh I just love this. Beautiful story.

@k pop lover
Haha thanks, I'll try!

please update more often. caus ei reallyl ike this story

k pop lover k pop lover
8/29/18