ALMOST THERE

2 days before…

Joohyun surveyed herself in the mirror.  The hanbok she was wearing was so beautiful. It had taken both Min Sun and her mother to help her put it on.  This was the first time she was ever going to wear a hanbok. Her Omma told her that she did wear one when she was 4 – during a United Nations Day parade in her school but Joohyun couldn’t remember it anymore. Her mother had laughingly promised to find the picture and give it to Yonghwa.

“Oh – are you all done?” Samonim entered the room. “You look so beautiful in the hanbok Hyun-ah! Sit down so the makeup lady can do your face and hair.  Pali – you know that son of mine is impatient.  The photographers are setting up in the living room.”

“Ah – I hope Hwejangnim doesn’t have a hard time helping Yongie dress up.” Min Sun arranged the folds of Joohyun’s hanbok as she sat down on the vanity stool.

“Ah- let him. He’s the father – he knows how to put the hanbok on his son.” Samonim responded.

Just then the makeup artist came.  Like Samonim she told Joohyun how beautiful she looked in her wedding hanbok. However 30 minutes later when the artist had finished putting on the hair stick, the wedding ribbon and Samonim’s bridal hairpiece, Joohyun’s head started to ache. 

“I hope we’re finished in an hour” Joohyun remarked as she made to get up.  It took all of her poise – not that she had a lot to being with – to hold her head up correctly and hold her skirts up at the same time.

But her nausea was almost gone.  She ate and slept well – thankful that what doctors told about her 2nd trimester being easier on her was coming true. They were getting married before their respective birthdays which made them both happy.

“Hyun-ah let me go in front of you when you go down the stairs.  Careful going thru the door.”Min Sun hurried after the pregnant young woman.

Min Sun didn’t have to worry – Yonghwa was waiting for Joohyun at the top of the stairs. Joohyun slowed down to walk towards her fiancé. He looked absolutely handsome in his blue hanbok that contrasted strikingly with her own bright pink hanbok.

“Wah – you both look so beautiful!” Min Sun clapped her hands happily.

“Oppa!”  Joohyun puts out her hand and grasps Yonghwa’s outstretched one. They smile brightly at each other. Yonghwa leads her down the stairs telling her to be careful.

The pictorial for that afternoon was for their wedding reception.  Yonghwa’s parents had insisted on a traditional Korean bridal photo to be displayed during the wedding. The couple had agreed because this was a Jung family tradition and Joohyun wanted the photo for their future master’s bedroom suite.

“Oppa I hope they finish soon.” Joohyun leaned over to whisper in Yonghwa’s ear. “My head piece is giving me a headache.”

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Yonghwa frowns at her. “I could have stopped it earlier.” He was about to say something to the photographer when Joohyun cut him off.

“Oppa – we have to do this.” Joohyun holds his arm. “I’ll be patient.”

“Aigyah is not acting up?” Yonghwa holds her hand.

“Thankfully no – but I hope we’ll finish so I can have my fruits.” Joohyun said right before the cameras started clicking.

When the photographer said that the shoot was finished – Joohyun couldn’t wait for remove the headdress. “Pali Omma – remove them please!”

Her mother and Min Sun were able to remove the headpieces quickly and a very relieved Joohyun again sits down next to her fiancé.

“Oh- that is such a relief! “ Joohyun closes her eyes and grasps Yonghwa’s hand.

“Gwenchana?” He leans over and kisses her temple. “I signalled Min Sun to prepare your snack.”  He gets her hands and starts rubbing them.

Other than the hanbok pictorial Joohyun and Yonghwa spent the afternoon and evening in quiet. The 2 families gathered for dinner and Joohyun played the piano before sending her parents home.

“Just one more day sweetheart” Yonghwa whispers as he gathers her in his arms.

“Hmm – just one more day Oppa.” Joohyun kisses his neck before closing her eyes.

The next day was pure and utter chaos. Everything startred coming - the tables, the chairs, the tents and lights. By noontime the house was busy.  Joohyun and Yonghwa ate in their room because there were just too many people and their 2 mothers worried that it would be too much to Joohyun.

“I have to go out and check on our mothers.”  Yonghwa said as he takes their lunch tray.

“And our 2 Appas?”Joohyun asks.  “Have they sorted out the problem with the bottles yet?”

They were short of 20 bottles which sent not only Hwejangnim into a fit but Atty Seo as well.  Somehow Customs had lost track of the bottles and her father was busy fixing it. Hwejangnim’s blood pressure was acting up because of it.

“Don’t worry sweetheart – Samonim and Min Sun have gone over the guest list and the 180 bolttles are enough.  They have decided who they’ll give them to.”

“Just all of the elders Oppa – our friends and your cousins we can just give another kind of keepsake.” Joohyun stood up and started removing the covers.  She was getting ready for her afternoon nap.

“Unnie!” Suzy burst into their room followed by a distressed Ga Young. Suzy throws her arms around Joohyun and starts crying.

“What’s wrong with you again?” Yonghwa puts down the tray and sits next to the crying girl.

“She’s just nervous Oppa.” Ga Young gently runs her hand on Suzy’s back.

“About what? She’s made that cake since she was 12.” Yonghwa leans over and pulls Suzy from Joohyun’s arms. “Bae Su Ji – what’s wrong? Tell Oppa.”

Gentle hands gather the sobbing girl and her face laid against the familiar chest that had given her comfort ever since she could remember. Her hands wrap around his waist and she starts crying again.

Yonghwa just held Suzy - quietly rocking her.  Suzy was understandably nervous about baking the wedding cake.  The Jung clan were very critical of her – she wasn’t as academically bright like Yonghwa and Ga Young or above average like Yunho – she was just average.  She was rebellious and refused to be trained in any feminine pursuits and preferring to be tomboyish which was directly opposite Ga Young.

“Did someone say something again?” Yonghwa looks at Ga Young.  His youngest cousin nods her head.

“Suzy – I love the cake you made for me when I was in the hospital and as the bride I get to choose who makes our wedding cake.” Joohyun takes a tissue and blots the younger woman’s tear streaked face. “It is after all our wedding not theirs.”

“Grand Aunt Sung said she was tired of it.” Suzy hiccupped. “She said that was the only feminine thing I can do.”

Yonghwa was about to say that it was the only feminine thing that Suzy could do – her cakes were dainty and feminine. Other than that Suzy could do all the sports that Yonghwa and Yunho could do including dirt bike racing. Even when she dressed to go clubbing Suzy gave off a tomboyishness which Yunho laughingly referred to as “gangster style”.

Catching Joohyun’s warning glare Yonghwa had to bite back his remark. “Joohyun’s right – it’s our choice and you have to make that cake or else.”

“Or else what?” Suzy looks up and scowls at her cousin’s face.

“I don’t know yet but there are lots of ways to make you sorry you didn’t make our wedding cake.” He smirks at her.

“Argh Oppa! I didn’t come here for you – I came for Unnie!”  Suzy leaps out her cousin’s arms and turns to Joohyun. “Unnie – I’m sorry I was scared for a moment – but I’ll make you the best cake ever.”

“I know you will.” Joohyun embraces Suzy. “Now – I have to go to sleep for a bit. I’ll see you both later.”

The 2 younger women were going to sleep over so that they could start making the cake in the morning.  Min Sun and the kitchen staff would be helping in cutting the fruit after dinner.

When the two left their suite Joohyun turns to Yonghwa and frowns at him. “You’re too hard on her Oppa.  Sometimes you tease too much.”

“Well, I can’t tease you too much right now – so I take it out on her.” He grins at her cheekily as he slid on the bed next to her. “Close your eyes for a bit and I’m just going out to check on everything.” He kisses her lips gently and stands up from the bed.

“Don’t disrupt them too much Oppa alright? They have their jobs to do and you’re sometimes too opinionated and over bearing.” Joohyun yawns as she snuggles under the covers.

“But you love me right?” He smiles at her.

“Always.” Her eyes were closed.

When Joohyun next opens her eyes she was wrapped in Yonghwa’s arms. He was still asleep. Gently untangling herself, she looks at the clock on the bedside and sees that it’s already 5. Putting on a light cardigan she lets herself out of the room as quietly as possible.  With her hand on the stair rail Joohyun could still hear the noise downstairs.  They were still at it.

“Ah – Samonim and Min Sun would probably be so tired.  I must go downstairs to help out a bit.”

“Agassi – what are you doing here?” One of the househelp looked up and saw her coming down the stairs. The girl was struggling with table covers and napkins – the pile was taller than her.

“Let me help you with that.” Joohyun takes half of the pile. “Now where are we taking it?’

“To the terrace.” The girl replied.”But Agassi –“The girl had to run after Joohyun who was walking towards the terrace.

Joohyun sees a big table where all the covers were and hurries to put the ones she was carrying on top of it. The girl who was hurrying after her almost tripped and fell. ‘Agassi – no- you can’t help.”

Turning to girl Joohyun frowns a bit. “Why not? It’s my wedding after all.” She turns and looks out into the sprawling garden.  The sun was setting and it was cooling down.  Tomorrow it would be just like this except that tomorrow was her wedding day.

“Agassi! What are you doing here? Ommo! Doryeonim will all scold us for sure.” Min Sun was carrying a tray of cutlery followed by 2 more young girls.

“Madame – please – I’ve stayed in my room for 2 days already. I’ve finished 2 books and it’s no fun watching dramas alone – or worst watching with Oppa because all he does is make fun of them.” Joohyun goes near Min Sun and puts on her most charming smile. “Please – let me do something. Even just polish the cutlery or fold napkins.”

“But Yongie –“Min Sun puts down the tray and motions the girls to start sorting.

 “Is asleep.” Joohyun smiles and takes one of the soft clothes and picking up a heavy silver spoon and starts polishing it.

“Mind your manicure. Give Agassi a pair of gloves.” Min Sun tells one of the girls. “If I get scolded –“

“You’ll scold him right back. Gomawo Madame for letting me help.” Joohyun smiles at Yong’s nanny.

For the next hour Joohyun and