The wedding march resonated within the ballroom. Outside the double doors, Ye Jin bent down to remind the flower girl and Paige boy of their conduct, before taking her place right in front of the bride. Clutching the small bouquet of lilies tied with a cream satin ribbon with both hands in front of her torso, she let out a small sigh. Ye Jin had dreamed of such an occasion ever since she was young. It’s finally here. It seemed so far away when I fantasized about it when we were still in school and even when I started planning, but it’s really here; she smiled at sweet remembrance of all the good times.

The double doors swung open and the wedding procession began. As Ye Jin stepped into the ballroom, she smiled, straightened and lifted her head. She had rehearsed this almost a thousand times in her head since she was little, and she was going to enjoy every minute of it. As she stepped gracefully down the aisle, she couldn’t help but notice Tae Min, with a loving smile plastered on his face as he watched Soo Yeon walk down the aisle behind her and Kai, by his side, appraising the bride’s maids one-by-one as they reached the front and lined up in a line. Don’t bother about him, Jin-ah; she reminded herself when she felt herself becoming bothered with his presence.

Ye Jin stood at the end of the line of bride’s maids closest to the aisle. As she watched the wedding proceedings, she continued to reminisce the times she spent fantasizing of her big day. When she and Soo Yeon were still children, they used to draw pictures of them with their ‘prince charming’, Disney’s fairytales taking a toll on their imagination. Then, as they moved on to adolescence, they would giggle and appraise guys they saw from afar and soon experienced the heartbreaks and make ups that dating life brought. Soo Yeon and Ye Jin had weathered through it all, firmly promising each other that on their big days, they would be each other’s maids of honor. That promise was coming true today, and Ye Jin felt a tear slip from her eye at the appreciation of such a poignant moment she would remember forever.

From the other side of the aisle, Kai saw the tear slip discreetly from Ye Jin’s eye. He couldn’t help but be surprised by her appearance after almost 10 years. Though it was a small world, it was too much of a coincidence that she was his best friend’s wife’s best friend. However, Kai was absolutely sure of one thing, Ye Jin had changed greatly.

The last time Kai had seen Ye Jin was at their school reunion. They had only graduated the year before and it had been customary to meet up the following year. Back then, she was still the shy, ordinary teacher’s pet who had been a below average student and had gone on to an all-girls institution. But now, she had matured into an elegant and beautiful lady, no longer the wallflower she was back then. Her hair still held the natural waves but now the locks and fringe framed her heart shaped face unlike back then when it was pulled away from her face in a tight ponytail. She had lost her baby fat, grown taller and was slender with just the right amount of curves. When she moved and walked, she possessed grace and command unlike the way she shuffled uneasily back then. And, of course, the feature that struck Kai the most - her eyes. Kai never observed in the past how large her eyes were, thick lashes framing her double eyelids and how her eyes seemed to tell a whole different story from her stoic expressions.

“...And now you may kiss the bride.” The pastor announced, to the cheers of the guests. Tae Min lifted Soo Yeon’s veil and kissed her tenderly. Ye Jin’s heart melted at that sight. When would my day ever come? I’m such a hopeless romantic! Ye Jin stared enviously at the blissful couple.

After the recessional, the bride and groom stood on stage to thank the guests. Ye Jin’s mind was buzzing with the last few duties she had to take care of before she could call it a night. The catering should be ready; I hope the supervisor remembered my instructions. Ye Jin did a mental check of the preparations when Soo Yeon’s voice caught her attention.

“Last but not least, I’ll like to thank my very best friend in the whole wide world, Jin.” Soo Yeon angled her body to face Ye Jin. “I know you’ve gone through many sleepless nights to plan our wedding single-handedly so I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You’ve always looked out for me like an older sister since we were kids and done so much for me all these years. I’ll always remember, even now that I’m married, how we used to daydream of our weddings. I love you, Jin” Soo Yeon’s voice quivered as she reached the end of her ‘thank you’ speech, eyes welling up with tears, her tender emotions mirroring those of Ye Jin’s. I love you very much too dear, Ye Jin thought as she grinned back at Soo Yeon through the tears.

*****

“Aaahhh...” Ye Jin sighed as she settled herself down onto one of the chairs at an empty table nestled at the corner of the ballroom. Her feet ached from standing in stilettos all day and she was way beyond feeling tired. A