Weddings. Who said they're fun and good?

 

"I'm going to ask Irene to marry me."

She stares at her friend as she said this.

"Would you help me pick a ring, Wendy?"

Wendy didn't respond. She merely stares blankly across the table.

"Wenwen?"

The lady snaps out of her reverie and flashes a forced smile. "Yeah… sure. I'll help you, Seulbear."

 

 

In the end, there was something different…

 

 

Wendy couldn't remember how everything changed.

One moment, she was arguing with Irene about a chicken and then the next moment, Irene's leaving her dinner in the oven and going out very late at night. Suddenly, the taller lady stopped wearing those loose shirts and started paying more attention to her appearance.

The blue haired lady should be ecstatic. She was straight and wanted Irene to get someone else's attention... Well, that's what she said but Wendy wasn't glad. She didn't like the change at all.

Yes, it was true that Irene still went out to watch those overly romantic movies, continued visiting her family. But she'd been smiling more. Laughing more. She had become even more affectionate than what one would expect from her.

She had become a lady of some sorts… and it was all because of HER.

No. it wasn't Wendy. It was not the blue haired lovely girl – the most radiant of the five beauties – who captured the heart of Bae Joohyun. No, it was the the dorky, loud, sweet member, Kang Seulgi, who softened the Icy lady's heart.

Wendy could dimly recall how her friend had suddenly stopped going out so much and started to  Irene in every thing she did. Wendy ignored it, thinking it was just a phase but still… there was a distinct change between her friend and Irene. Anyone who saw the couple when they all went out could clearly see the tenderness they shared. The gentle touches, the sneaking glances and the soft smiles they exchanged were there for all to see…

It was only when one silent night in hopes of borrowing an earphone from Seulgi, Wendy saw them in a tight embrace did she finally see the change.

Her heart lurched. went dry. Her hands turned into fists and she suddenly felt the need to physically hurt Seulgi but couldn't.

 

In the end, there was a fight that was lost…

 

Instead, she watched.

She watched how the leader's hair glowed in the moon light. How her skin looked flawless and perfect. And how she looked absolutely content – with her eyes closed and her lips scrunched slightly to prevent her moans from escaping – in Seulgi's arms as they moved slowly.

And it was there she realized in despair that she, Seungwan Son, loved Bae Joohyun.

It was the maknae who finally pulled her away from the scene. Joy was there also, her cute face bearing a sorrowful expression for Wendy.

"Have you finally noticed, Unnie?" she had asked her, Joy's voice bore a tired tone.

Yeri sighed and gave her a sympathetic hug. "Rene's in love. Seul too."

"I don't care, Joy" Wendy insisted, the tone of her voice more forced than natural. "So what if they're in love. We should be happy for them."

"Unnie..." Yeri whispered. Her eyes sad. "If you had only fought for her, then maybe it would be you in her arms and not—"

"No, Yeri."

The maknae lowered her gaze.

"I don't lo-" Wendy stopped herself and cleared . "I don't love her, maknae… there was nothing to fight for to begin with."

She remembered that she cried that night. For the first time, she buckled down and let the tears fall because for the first time… she had lost a fight she should have took care of.

---

"How about this, Joy?"

"No, Bear. I don't think Irene would like such a huge rock."

"You're right. Well, how about this one?"

"I don't think so. She detests gold and silver together."

"That's true… hmmm. Wait, how about this one? Wendy?"

The shortest lady among the group stared at the simple silver band in her friend's hand and nodded.

"That's the one."

It pains Wendyto say this.

---

 

In the end, there were things left unresolved…

 

Wendy also doesn't remember how the conversation went. But she remembers that it was the first time the older lady had ever said her name to her face.

Wannie was in the kitchen, looking for something to eat one night when suddenly the leader walked in. She was wearing a bathrobe. Obviously Seulgi's since she it was so long that it hid her silky legs and her hair was tousled. The younger girl's chest felt incredibly tight but she remained calm.

Irene looked at her, surprised when she finally noticed Wendy there and smiled.

"Are you hungry? Do you want me to cook something for you?"

Wendy looked at her and her own heart tightened once again. "Uh, yeah. Could you cook up a snack or something? I'm hungry."

Irene laughed softly. It caught Wendy off guard. "You're always hungry."

Wendy glared at that statement, but her gaze softened as the leader shook her head playfully at the younger girl and started to pull out vegetables from the refrigerator.

"What would you like? Stir fried noodles? Fried shrimp? Mochi?" she asked.

"Fried shrimp."

She nodded and started with the work; cutting up the fresh shrimp and vegetables with great precision and poise. Wendy stood, watching her from the doorframe – a small smile tugging from that gloss covered lips. 'She had blossomed into a very beautiful woman. Not that she wasn't appealing before', Wendy thought to herself; it was just that – she had grown even more attractive now that she was smiling more.

And what pained her the most is that it wasn't her that caused this change.

"How have you been, Son?"

The shorter girl stood up straighter. This was the first time she had ever called Wendy by her surname before… at least, not as openly and sweetly as she had just said. Wendy cleared .

"I've been great. And you?"

She grinned. "Never better."

How strange it was that they could converse in such a civil manner. She almost forgot that Irenewas once such a loud creature. She sighed. It just goes to show that things have changed.

Wannie was thinking too hard that she hardly noticed that her companion had stopped chopping. The leader looked at her strangely, quite worried.

"Do you find it strange that Seulgi and I are…?"

"Seeing each other?"

She blushed. Good Lord, she never blushes… at least not about me Wendy thought bitterly.

"Yes. Do you find it odd?"

She avoided the taller girl's eyes as she replied. "No, not really."

Out of the corner of Wendy's eyes, she saw the older girl smile. Irene wiped her hands on the hand towel and sighed.

"You're not a very good liar."

Wendy looked at her in surprise. "I'm not?"

She shook her head. "No. Normally, if you had first heard about us, you would've have already started screaming how this was just a ploy to turn me into a lady… but you haven't done that. At least, you haven't tried to yet."

Irene shrugged as she turned back to the stove. "I just find it odd, that's all."

"And if it makes you feel any better, I didn't think Seulgi was serious at first too. But, she's proven herself. Somehow… and, actually, I didn't really want it from her but--"

"Don't tell me. I really don't care, Unnie..." The shorter girl said, stressing the word 'don't' as hard as she could as she turned away from her.

"Oh. Well, okay." She resumed cooking. "Anyway, I'll serve these for you later in the dining room."

"Yeah, sure." Wendy walked out of the kitchen, her head hung low. She stepped away from the doorway and leaned against the wall for a moment, listening to Irene hum to herself as she cooked their meal.

"I don't care. I don't care."

The words felt like metal in .

 

---

"I told you didn't, I?! I told you to do something before Irene finds someone else!" Joy exclaimed, shaking her fair head at the older lady. "But you did nothing! And now, you're wallowing in your self pity."

"I am not wallowing."

"Shut up, Unnie." She glared at her.

"You could've done something. But you didn't. Now it's you who's to blame."

 

---

She remembers she hates how Park Sooyoung was right.. About everything.

 

---

"We've been together for quite some time now… and I've never had to do this in my entire life but I want to do it… with you…"

Seulgi looked nervous which was odd and new for everyone who knew her as she took out a red velvet box from her pocket. Irene merely stared at the younger girl for a moment, before her eyes went wide.

"No. Way."

"I haven't even asked you yet"

"No. No, it's not that. It's just…" She looked at Seulgi in surprise. Wendy merely shrugged and turned away.

"I'm serious, Joohyunnie. I want you to become my wife." The hyper yong lady looked at her. "Would you?"

Silence.

"Yes. Yes, I'd love too!"

Wendy's heart tightened as they embraced.

 

---

In the end, there was just one thing you had to know…

 

Wendy does remember how Irene found out that she loved Kang Seulgi.

But she still had no idea why she even came to their wedding. But she was there that day, and the damage was done.

The bride was in a room, getting ready for the wedding when someone came knocking on her door. She was beautiful, with her hair down and no make up. She looked sheepish for a moment, with a bracelet in her hands.

"Could I talk to you for a moment?"

Wendy took a step back she timidly walked in. She stared down at  for a minute or two before speaking. She remembers how her heart felt, beating madly that moment.

"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to get ready now? I'm sure Joy's already looking for you."

She looked up at her now. Irene's eyes were dark and her heart started beat faster. "What is it?"

"Seungwan-ah, hey… I love Seulgi. Truly."

Wendy's heart squeezed. Did she really have to rub it in? She grunted. "Yeah, I know that."

"No, wait, you don't. I love her but I've always wondered how it would have been like if I ended up with you."

Wendy stopped breathing for a moment. Did she just hear that right?

"What are you talking about?" Don't give me this crap.

Irene sighed. She rubbed her arms in nervousness and looked at everything but the younger lady in front of her.

Wendy studied the baby-faced leader for a moment, taking in every detail as she stood there in front of Irene. Her eyes were tangled but looked soft and smooth. Her skin was beautiful and her eyes even more. Wendy stopped herself from taking Irene in her arms, reminding herself that she was the best woman… And that holding the bride and thinking about how much she loved her would be against the 'Best Woman' Code.

If there was one such code.

"Bae, maybe you should just go get ready."

"I know we've never gotten along. We tolerated each other most of the time, but I've always thought that you were the closest friend I've had since… forever." Irene smiled sweetly, still not looking at Wendy's direction. She walked towards the bride's dresser, the wood of it.

"Joy and Yeri used to tease us a lot. And it always got me to thinking about how she would have thought that we would be good as couple. To be honest, I still haven't found a reason."

Irene swallowed. "Do you think… if things had been different… we would have ended up together?"

She looked at Wendy this time. And the shorter girl wanted to say yes but couldn't. If she did, then that would require her to spill her feelings… and that wasn't something she wanted to do. Especially not at one of her best friend's wedding.

And so she kept quiet. She tried to anyway. And Irene took that as an answer to her question.

Irene nodded once and cleared . "Right. Sorry about that. Uh… see you at the church later. And please, don't forget your speech."

She turned to walk out but Wendy stopped her. Her arms came wrapping the leader into a tight embrace as she buried her face into the bride's dark hair. Seungwan breathed her in for a moment before pulling back, her hand moving towards the older girl's cheeks.

Wendy leaned towards her and softly, placing her lips on hers.

Wendy kissed her. For the last time since their meeting four years ago. And in that kiss she poured her emotions. Then she pulled away, leaving Irene staring at her – confusion etched in her eyes.

"I probably won't say this later because Seulgi might kill me but… you make a beautiful bride, Rene." She grinned slightly, staring into the leader's eyes.

"You're the most amazing girl I have ever met. And" Her heart was stuck in as she continued, "Seulbear's lucky to have you."

"Wan-ah…"

"I love you. Bae Joohyun."

 

"Do you take this woman to be your life and your breath? To have and to hold. In sickness and in health, till death do you part?"

 

"… Wendy…"

"And I always will love you." Wendy closed her eyes as she opened .

"But I'm not your groom. And you are not my bride."

 

Irene looked at Wendy. Her eyes sad for a moment… her stare seemed to last for an eternity.

 

"Would you give me a reason not to go through with her wedding?" Her voice was soft but it seemed to echo across the room.

Seungwan could give a million reasons as to why she shouldn't go through the wedding. And she could even think of a million more reasons as to why she should be with her.

But…

"She is my friend."

"She is mine too."

She held her breath as she looked back at her groom… her friend.

 

"No. You love her."

"Yes but I…"

"I had my chance, Irene. I had my chance for years. I don't deserve another chance. I've already wasted all of them."

-------

 

 

"I do."

Wendy's heart breaks once again.