12. zwolf

Sehun stared at his own reflection as his hand was busy fixing his collar. He was having a hard time hiding his smile ever since last night. He tried. He admitted that he tried so hard but he just couldn’t. Sehun couldn’t stop rolling on his bed, shifting here and there, and he just really couldn’t sleep. He couldn’t stop smiling because he was so excited for today.

The man checked his wrist again, already for the umpteenth time this morning. This time, he let out a soft smile and a long sigh. Today, the day he’s been waiting for so long finally came. It’s been so hard, and he knew very well how it wouldn’t just stop here. He still had to fight. He had given the chance and he wouldn’t waste it.

“Hey, Young Man. You ready?” A small voice suddenly pulled him out of his thought. He turned his head to the source of the voice and sent a smile when he caught the person he treasured the most.

“Mom,”

“Come on, it’s time.” His mom already reached his side as she inspected his son’s appearance. She smiled as she fixed the bow tie although she knew that there’s nothing wrong with it. “Ah, I can’t believe my forever little prince is getting married with the real princess.” She had her eyes welling with the happy tears.

“Mom, stop it.” Sehun whined. “You said the same thing when hyung got married, didn’t you?”

The mother just chuckled, “Of course not. You’re the only little prince I have, though.” earning a laugh from the younger.

“How’s your feeling? Nervous?” She asked playfully. “Ah, I’m going to lose another prince for a pretty girl. I’m so upset.”

“Mom…”

“I can’t believe you’re growing up so fast, baby…” The mother wiped the tears that were threating to roll down, careful not to ruin her make up. “It’s finally time to let you live with the woman you love, build your own family, and have your own children. And I’m glad it’s her.”

“I also can’t believe I’m getting married with the girl I sincerely love, Mom.” Sehun whispered. “I really thought this wouldn’t happen in the end, and I really thought I wouldn’t get the happy ending that I want. She’s a really amazing woman. From her I got to learn that loving someone doesn’t always mean having her all for yourself, but I also learn that loving someone means letting them go when you know they would be happy with that.”

“You’re going to find out a lot more about love after this, Son.” She said with a smile, patting his shoulder.

“I’m just so happy I didn’t have to let her go. I’m so happy she chose to stay,”

The older just nodded as she saw the glints on his eyes, totally understand how overwhelmed the son’s feeling right at the moment. “Now come on, you don’t want to make the prettiest bride wait too long, right?” She tugged on his arm. “Brace yourself, Darling. I met her and I’ve never seen someone prettier.”

Mom, you never lied. I’ve really never seen someone prettier than her.

The woman that I thought would never be mine.

The woman who’s now walking down the aisle with her father.

The bride.

No.

My bride.

Haneul let out a long sigh as soon as she got the chance to. She’s been busy attending the guests who came to congratulate her—mostly her parent’s relation, her friends from the college, and also her relation from the publishing company—so she didn’t get to go around a lot. She took a small sip of strawberry juice from the glass she was holding as she scanned around her. The girl couldn’t even find the man who supposed to stand beside her since there were so many people came to greet them.

Haneul took some seconds to admire her surroundings. It was beyond beautiful, she had realized it from the very first moment she stepped on the aisle, and she was still trying to sink in the fact that it was her wedding. She had gone through a lot to be there. It still felt like yesterday when she got engaged to the man she was married to. And it also still felt like yesterday she had her very first real conversation with Jongin and effortlessly fell in love with him. Never even once she thought she would need to go through all those things before she got her happy ending. But, was this really her happy ending?

“Hey, pretty,” Someone nudged on her bare shoulder from the back, startling the girl who was currently standing alone in the middle of the crowd, diving deep into her thought.

The girl turned around and found the man she stood together with in the altar earlier was now standing behind her, and she couldn’t help but suddenly blushed.

If the princesses in the fairy tale got their happy-ever-after by marrying the prince charming, then Haneul hoped Sehun would definitely be her prince charming.

Because believe it or not, Oh Sehun looked ethereal that day.

“Don’t go too far from me,” Sehun whined as he took her hand and hold it firmly. Haneul noticed her heart skipped some beats as she felt his fingers wrapped around her small ones. “What would people think when they see the newlywed went to greet the guest separately?”

Haneul just smiled as she saw the frown that formed on his face. No matter how mature he looked, there’s this childish side only he showed when he was with her, and she somehow felt special for that. “That’s okay, there are really a lot of guest to greet though, and it’ll finish faster.”

“But I don’t want to.”

“You know you’re awfully whiny these days, Sehun.” She sent him a small smile.

“Only to you though,” He stuck out his tongue, teasing her. “Are you tired, baby? Do you want to rest?” Sehun suddenly asked, concerned because of the weak smile she sent him.

The girl shook her head lightly, “A bit, but don’t worry I can endure it.” She squeezed his hand, reassuring him when she caught his expression changed to worry.

“See. That’s why you have to stay by my side.” He nagged. “There’s not many of them left, let’s greet them so you could take some rest.”

Haneul was standing in front of the mirror, struggling with her dress when Sehun came out from the shower. After greeting all the guests and finished with the party, the couple went back to their own suite at the hotel the wedding was held. Their parents and relatives also went back to their own as they want to let the couple rest after spending almost the whole day with the ceremony. Some of their foreign guests also stayed at the same hotel to make it easier for them to attend the wedding, as everyone knew that Mr. Oh had many relation not only from the country.

Sehun smiled as he caught her slightly frowning, seeming to have some problems with the dress she was wearing. She turned her head towards him when she noticed him coming out. “Sehun, can you help me with this?”

The man heard her mumbling before closing the gap between them. She already had her hair untied, curling down to her waist. He gently brushed her hair to the side and carefully untangled the ribbon on her lower back. “You look beautiful with this dress, Darling, you need to keep wearing this.” Sehun said playfully.

“You should’ve already known that I practically look pretty with anything I wear, Sehun.” She responded, meeting Sehun's eyes which dilated in disbelief. The girl literally chuckled, her eyes crinkling into a crescent moon, bringing Sehun back into the nostalgia.

His favourite smile in the world.

“Of course I know.” He teased, and the girl blushed at his counter attack.

Sehun placed his hands on her shoulder and slowly turned her body to face him. He ran his hands from her shoulder down to her waist. There’s a small distance between them, and Sehun couldn’t help but pulled her even closer, eliminating the gap. Haneul found his eyes, staring deeply into her own. She could catch the hint of endearment, that kind of soft gaze that made you feel special. For a second, Haneul saw the glint of tears on his eyes, but he blinked it away as soon as she placed her thumb on his cheek.

“What’s wrong?” Haneul whispered, asking concernedly.

Sehun just smiled and shook his head a little. “I still can’t believe that we’re married. I’m so glad you chose to stay, Cupcake.”

There. He finally let them out. The words that