THE WEDDING PLANNERS

*Little conclusion for LayAra's story...thanks for reading and do leave your comment, please? ^^

Lay picked up the fifth tie he tried this morning, the one patterned in black and white strips as he tried to match it with the suit that he already wore. Narrowing his eyes upon his reflection in the mirror, he still feeling unsatisfied on how he looked. Sighing at last, Lay threw that tie away and closed his eyes.

“Lalala...lalala...lalala...” he opened his eyes and peeked through the long mirror where he saw his wife, Ara just got out from the bathroom.

She was still in her towel and wet hair, looking so ily seductive as she ignored her husband and walked straight to their closet. Lay kept on watching her pulling opened it wide before she easily decided on what she should wear today. Ara pulled out a pair of knee-length dress colored in daring bright red with only one shouldered strap.

 She threw it onto the bed before plugged in the hair dryer nearby their bed and started drying up her hair, still choosing to ignore her confused husband. Lay snorted to her and he turned around.

“Ara yah...” he already stood behind her by the time he called her out and Ara tilted her head around.

“Oh you’re still here, hubby...don’t you get ready yet? I thought you’re going to check on Song Ju and Seung Min whether they are ready or not...”

Ara said but her hands continued to comb through her hair while Lay watched his beautiful wife in amazement. He always got mesmerized by her though he had often seen this. Lay chuckled to himself.

“I will after this...but I don’t know what to wear, Ara yah...every tie that I’ve tried seems to go against me today...” he complained and Ara rolled her eyes to him. She switched off the hair dryer and threw it down to the bed.

“Come on now, big baby...” she said as she took Lay by his hand and started dragging him towards the closet. Lay giggled from behind her, loving her attention and care upon him. He totally enjoyed it when he can always count on Ara about every single thing regarding him. He didn’t like to decide so he left everything for Ara to decide on behalf of him.

“Alright...let’s see...hmmm...” she let go of his hand, rubbing her chin as she scanned her eyes all over the collection of ties Lay had. At last, her eyes stopped on the one colored in red, exactly the twin of her dress and so, Ara smiled on it.

“Here you are...” she mumbled to herself and pulled out that tie from the closet.

“Lay ah...try this out...” she spun her body back to him and held out the tie towards Lay but he simply shook his head.

“I don’t know how to use my hands...” he answered childishly and it caused Ara to widen her eyes in disbelief to him.

“You what??? Aish...what a troublesome husband...aigoo...” she shook her head back to him but she took a step closer and started putting on the tie around Lay’s neck. Lay took the chance to circle his arms around her slim waist and he kissed her lightly on her forehead.

They smiled on each other once Ara had successfully helped Lay to wear it. Lay peeked on that tie, feeling magically matched with it before grinning again towards Ara.

“Thank you, darling...” he whispered and leaned it to peck a few times on her lips. But when Ara responded quickly, Lay kissed her even more aggressive and explored her lips wholeheartedly without noticing that they will be late for the birthday party today.

“Ting tong! Ting tong!” the ringing bell woke them up from their passionate kisses and Ara pulled away from Lay.

“Alright...that’s enough...we should really get going now or we will be super late!” Ara told him, rolling her eyes but she fixed his hair using her hands and Lay smirked to her.

“Then, are we going to continue what we did just now tonight?” he asked her naughtily. Ara wrinkled her nose and landed a smack on his chest but Lay laughed out.

“We’ll see for that...now, go! You’ve done dressing...let me prepare myself alone!” she shooed her husband out from the room and Lay at last gave in.

He blew Ara a kiss when she pulled close the door again. He caught sight of his wife glaring to him but Lay made soundless chuckle and he arranged his steps down the stairs. The bell was ringing again and Lay shouted towards it.

“Wait up! I’m coming!” he was about to enter the doorway but Song Ju appeared out of a sudden, running from the kitchen and he pushed his father aside to open the door.

“Great-grandpa!!!” Song Ju jumped out, throwing his little body on Mr. Zhang’s lap to hug the old man. His great-grandfather automatically laughed out and he returned his hug as well. Lay stood blinking on his son, dazed by his sudden movement but he at last snorted and walked over to stand in front of his grandpa.

“Annyeong...how do you do, grandpa? Feeling great to be out from the hospital?” he grinned upon the man but Mr. Zhang glared to him.

“I do feeling better but what kind of grandchild are you? Sending someone else to pick me up at the hospital? It’s great that the person is a prince! At least I stand a chance to ride such a luxurious car...” as soon as Mr. Zhang commented like that, someone appeared from behind his wheelchair and Lay looked up to him.

Kyuhyun broke out into his own laughter, shaking his head when he heard Mr. Zhang was commenting like that about him. Lay shared their laughter too and he held out his hand towards Kyuhyun.

“Hello, your Highness...I hope you don’t mind coming for a humble party in my house...” Lay but he bowed in proper courtesy to the royalist. Kyuhyun laughed again, shaking his hand and he shook Lay’s hand with his before letting go.

“Not at all...I’m so excited that you invited me to come over...at least I can take a peek on your beautiful wife...” Kyuhyun replied him joyfully and Lay widened his eyes.

“Not a chance! I won’t let you too...” he pretended to get angry but they just ended up laughing again and Lay stepped aside to welcome them into the house.

Kyuhyun wheeled Mr. Zhang into the living room while Song Ju jumped off from his lap and ran upstairs. Lay ordered him to go looking for his little brother and Song Ju bumped with his mother on his way there.

“Omo! Careful, honey...” Ara held up on Song Ju’s arms, looking down in worried to him but he chuckled and continued running again.

“Oh, Zhang Ara sshi!” Kyuhyun who gazed up upon hearing her voice instantly greeted her loudly and Ara curved up a broad smile on his sight.

“Annyeong! How do you do?” Ara resumed walking down the stairs until she stopped beside Lay and bowed down towards their grandpa. Mr. Zhang smiled warmly to her, admiring the pretty wife of his grandchild but Kyuhyun smirked to them.

“I’m just like you saw me now...always single and available...so how is it? Wanna leave your ordinary husband and marry a royalist like me?” he still went on teasing Lay but Lay snorted and slung an arm tightly around Ara’s waist, pulling her closer to him.

Ara giggled silently upon watching the cute jealousy of her husband. “There’s no way I’ll let that happen you brat! Don’t make me swear in front of the elder, please?”

Lay eyed him closely with one of his eyebrows twitched up. Kyuhyun shared the same amused laughter with Ara while Mr. Zhang agreed with his grandchild and went on clearing his throat.

“Well, enough of talking...you has seen how well my grand-daughter in law has been doing now so shut the flirting away, okay?” Kyuhyun quickly bowed a bit towards the old man once he heard Mr. Zhang was warning him.

Of course, no one ever wanted for the same scandalous history to be happened again. Like a few years ago where Kyuhyun was destined to encounter with Ara and eventually got himself involved in her secret marriage with Lay. Everything was a total mess back then but when Ara recalled it again now, the images played in her sight were merely a collection of lessonful memories – something to treasure and something to learn from.

“Omma! Appa!” she was instantly snapped out from her memory land when the four adults were all startled by the alarming sound of those childish screams.

The Zhang couple, Ara and Lay simultaneously turned their heads around only to greet their sons both with opened arms when Song Ju and Seung Min stormed down from the stairs towards their parents.

Mr. Zhang and Kyuhyun plastered the same blissful smile on their faces when they watched the happy family broke out into laughter together. The older brother, Song Ju, as per usual being closer to their father, straight away throwing himself into Lay’s strong embrace while the cute younger one – Seung Min – hyperly hopped on his feet and ended up being enclosed within Ara’s arms.

The family exchanged laughter again before it subsided and Song Ju tilted his head towards Mr. Zhang.

“Great-grandpa! For your birthday celebration today, Seung Min and I have prepared something special as your birthday present!” the older brother of the two siblings told him and Mr. Zhang curved him a thrilling smile.

“Really? Then when can I wrap open my present?” he questioned but Seung Min naughtily wagged his thin finger up in front of the old man’s eyes.

“Nope! It’s not a gift that you can actually wrap...it’s actually something to hear at...something that you should enjoy from your soul...” such meaningful words explained by a small kid like him attracted the interest of their Kyuhyun adjusshi.

He wrinkled his nose while Seung Min was grinning to him. “Hmmm...your words raise up the curiosity in me, kid...this is interesting, indeed...so bring it on...I want to hear it too...”

Kyuhyun agreed with them at once and the pair of brothers clapped their hands in high enthusiasm. Ara and Lay whom had before aware of their surprise plan for Mr. Zhang, set their sons free on their feet again and they welcomed Mr. Zhang to take his place properly by the couch set.

While Kyuhyun was settling down next to the old man, Lay walked over to follow his sons as Song Ju started approaching a big white piano, situated nearby the television stereo at one corner of the living room. Lay grabbed Seung Min up from behind and he helped him sank his on the small bench facing the piano now. Song Ju took the vacant place next to his brother before they both waited as Lay set up the piano to be ready for them to play it out.

“Alright, boys...there you go...remember to perform like we’ve long practiced before, okay?” Lay shot both of his sons a wink each and Seung Min made a thumb up towards his father as well as Song Ju.

Lay clapped his hands, grinning in excitement as he spun his body around to face the awaiting Mr. Zhang and Kyuhyun.

“Ladies and gentlemen...now let us hear a humble performance from these two gorgeous young men, Seung Min and Song Ju with their song, ‘Happy Birthday’!” he announced before the house was roared by the shaking sound of applauses from Mr. Zhang, Kyuhyun and Lay himself.

Ara could only smile proudly when she entered the living room again in time with a tray of soft drinks carried in her hands. She set it down on the coffee table in front of Mr. Zhang and Kyuhyun as she gestured to them to enjoy the drinks prepared for them.

Mr. Zhang simply nodded his head to her a bit but his eyes still interestingly glued upon Seung Min and Song Ju instead.

“Honey, come here...” Lay called for Ara, waving out his hand to her as he signaled for her to come and stand with him by the wall next to the piano.

Ara silently was obeying her husband when she felt her feet arranged the steps to stop exactly next to him. As soon as he got to circle his arm around her waist, exchanging a quick smile with Ara, then only Lay turned his attention back to his sons.

Song Ju seemed to close his little eyes, inhaling a deep breath down his lungs before he opened them again and slowly placed his fingers down on the keyboard. One, two and three...before he started tuning the soft melody out from the magical instrument.

“Happy birthday to you...happy birthday to you...happy birthday, dear grandpa...happy birthday to you...” Seung Min took the role as the singer as he followed syncronizedly with the rhythm played by his brother.

Mr. Zhang nodded his head with wide smile spread across his face. His expression was radiating such a great happiness when he realized that his two lovely great-grandchildren were performing the birthday song as his surprise present.

Kyuhyun shared the same satisfied smile too while his hands slowly rose up and he clapped it gently to match well with the cute, joyful tones.

“Happy birthday to you...Grandpa, we all will love you...please be health and get well soon...happy birthday to you...”  Song Ju continued the singing, adding the part where Lay had helped them to compose the lyric of the original birthday song to a bit different one.

They repeated the chorus once again before Song Ju swept his fingers one last time for the ending notes of the song and the house was once again shook by their earth-shaking applauses.

“Splendid!!! My great-grandchildren are both very much talented! I’m so proud of you, boys!!! Thank you very much!!!” the old man praised them out loud with high-pitched voice that clearly was showing his gratitude upon the surprise performance.

Song Ju and Seung Min exchanged grin between them but they counted one to three soundlessly from their mouths before they jumped down from the bench together and wheeled straight towards Mr. Zhang.

“Omo!” he unfolded his arms wide to both side of his body when Song Ju and Seung Min suddenly attacked him to reward the old man such a big, tight and warm hug.

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!!” the kids screamed out loud and they simultaneously landed a kiss on both cheeks of him.

Mr. Zhang blinked his eyes for a moment while Kyuhyun had already laughing out loud for the boys upon watching their overload cuteness. Their parents, Lay and Ara also could only grin pridefully from the corner as they stayed holding each other tight, feeling too much happiness was poured down to them from the God above.

Today, in this small and ordinary party was truly something that turned out to be a matter that was very extraordinary for them, for their family.

“Thank you, dear...thank you so much to both of you...I will never forget this birthday party ever till my last breath...” Mr. Zhang whispered down to Song Ju and Seung Min with his eyes started being clouded by pleasurable tears.

Song Ju shook his head slowly but he wiped the corner of the old man’s eyes, preventing the tears from falling down to his cheeks.

“No, great-grandpa...you’ll live long more after this...Seung Min and I have made a wish for your birthday today...we prayed that you’ll live longer and stay healthy by our side...always...” he reminded him and Mr. Zhang stared with warmness sipping all over his heart.

“Of course...I strongly hope so...thank you, Song Ju ah...” he immediately agreed with him as he leaned in, repaying the kiss gave by the children earlier. Seung Min shrieked out happily as well until Lay suddenly cleared his throat.

“Em, ehem...grandpa ah...” Ara turned her head sideway to check on her husband when he sounded so serious out of a sudden.

Seung Min, Song Ju and Kyuhyun stopped laughing at once while Mr. Zhang peered up to his only and one grandchild curiously. “What is it, Lay ah?”

“I...” he dropped his hand from around Ara’s waist and took her hand instead to pull her walking with him as they approached the couch together. Lay paused standing straight and awkward while facing Mr. Zhang meanwhile Ara was blinking her eyes cluelessly. She changed her eyes from Lay, down to his grandpa and up to her husband again. Okay, what was going on now?

“Lay ah...” she was about to start calling him but Lay quickly continued. “I have something to tell you...a thing that I’ve been hiding from you long enough...”

Kyuhyun raised an eyebrow upon hearing him but Mr. Zhang held his breath in curiosity and nodded. “Alright...go on then...what is it?”

Lay bit his lips, squeezing his hand that was linked to Ara’s before he took a quick look sideway at her pretty face. His wife was staring back at him with question mark drawn upon her face but he flashed her his infamous, attractive dimple that was since the very beginning was being a powerful charm to make Ara fell helplessly in love with him. Feeling defeated by that sweetest dimpled-smile of him, Ara couldn’t say more or less but to only smile back.

“I did once vow to myself...that somehow, one day, I’ll be telling you the truth...” he started again and threw his eyes back on Mr. Zhang. His grandfather eyed him questioningly. “...and?”

“...and in my vow, I also promised myself that the truth will only be revealed to you if my dream has become true in reality...and now...I’m so much thankful to the Lord above for allowing my dream to truly become a reality...”

He explained with wide smile curved on his face and Lay winked cutely towards Ara. She pouted to him but she can’t resist the urge to ask him. “And what was your dream, actually?”

Lay didn’t immediately give her a reply. Instead, he stayed reading her beautiful expression that he thought was the beautiest he had ever seen from a woman. He could see the anticipating desire that grew impatiently on her face until at last, Lay broke out laughing shortly and he leaned down to her, landing a kiss upon Ara’s forehead.

“Idiot...why are you being so clueless huh? Since the first time I’ve met you...until right now, you’re always the clueless one...of course you’re that dream, babe...I’ve been dreaming of having a small happy family like this with you...with Go Ara by my side, we share the laughter together and we watch over the smiles and grins of our kids...that were all my dreams...and now that my dreams had become a true, it’s time for a real confession from me to my grandpa...”

Ara was about to feel touchy about his confession to her but Kyuhyun cleared his throat and he shifted uncomfortably on his seat.

“Okay, that’s romantic...but can you skip all the speech and drama later? Let’s just get to the main point, shall we? What is your confession then?” the impatient feeling got the best of him and Kyuhyun bravely cut in while suggesting.

Mr. Zhang nodded his head in agreement to his words while Seung Min and Song Ju waited in silent on each side of their great-grandpa’s thighs. They watched their parents through wide, doe eyes but at last, Lay in a deep breath and he looked out to Mr. Zhang straight into his eyes.

“Grandpa...actually...Ara and I have never married on the ticket of love...”

“Huh?!” the word escaped both from Kyuhyun and Mr. Zhang’s mouths almost simultaneously.

“How...how come?...” the prince asked in confusion while Mr. Zhang lost for his words. His mind worked very slowly as he couldn’t quite remember on how to place in the puzzles together to make a sense to him. Ara dropped her eyes to her feet but as she slowly grasped the meaning behind the confession of her husband, she nodded her head as well.

“Yeah...we were actually...just meant to meet unexpectedly...we’ve never come across the idea of getting married to each other...it just...suddenly happened...” she supported the confession of her husband.

Ara knew that Lay decided to reveal the truth to the root of where their love story started even after so many years had passed because she could understand that Lay didn’t want to keep it as a dead secret from his grandpa. The longer he kept it secret, the longer he had been lying to the old man – and Ara knew that her husband won’t want to be such a disgrace grandchild like that. And so, they decided to tell the truth after both Ara and Lay were so sure about their feelings for each other.

They were hundred percent sure that they will never wanted to be separated anymore despite any obstacles in the future. They just wanted to be clingy upon each other, to love each other wholeheartedly. On top of that, the decision finally was made.

“So, grandpa...I just want you to know that...I had been lying to you about the root course of our marriage...our marriage had never been started with love just like I used to tell you before...when you purposely arranged my wedding with Miss Kyung, I started planning a perfect way to escape from it...and when I first set my eyes on Ara...” Lay stopped from a while, grinning all the way he was remembering the memories.

“...I had decided to come out so bluntly with the plan of marrying her...she did agree with me first as a ticket to get her new client as the wedding planner but right now, you did see it for yourself at how this accidental marriage has brought us together...” Lay finally finished his whole confession and he let go of Ara’s hand to come and kneel down in front of his grandpa. Mr. Zhang eyed his beloved grandchild very closely with ceases folded on his forehead.

“Now that I’ve tell you the truth, please forgive Ara and me on behalf of that mistake...please, grandpa...we don’t want to keep this sin forever for lying to you...but I am very sure of a thing...I can never live without Ara...so, grandpa...please, give your forgiveness to us and continue blessing our marriage like you genuinely did before...” Lay pleaded to him, bowing down his head low to the man in order to beg for his understanding and toleration.

Upon seeing her husband begging like that, Ara joined him short by kneeling down next to him and bowed her head as well. Their sons watched them cluelessly but at last, Mr. Zhang let out his long sigh.

“Look at me, Lay ah...Ara yah...” he called out gently towards them. Ara and Lay slowly raised up their heads to study his face.

Mr. Zhang looked serious at the beginning but a few minutes passed after that and his lips slowly curving up a thin smile.

“I knew it, Lay ah...I’ve long predicted that your marriage with Ara was something that had been planned but I chose to keep myself silent because as days past by...I could see the massive happiness that Ara had brought into your life...she was changing you to be a better person...she did bring out the best from yourself...that’s why, I decided...there’s nothing wrong to let both of you in your marriage...as long as you’re happy, son...grandpa will always be happy too...” he concluded his words and both Lay and Ara were gazing with teary eyes to him.

They stared upon each other long enough before Lay gave him a nod and he stood on his knees, reaching out to hug Mr. Zhang tightly.

“Thank you, grandpa...thank you so much...” Mr. Zhang laughed a bit and patted his grandchild against his back.

“It’s nothing, son...but, aish! You’re still the same crybaby as before...my little grandchild...my Zhang Yixing...stay at it and do not change it...okay?” Mr. Zhang whispered to him and Lay quickly agreed.

Seung Min and Song Ju were back with their laughter upon seeing Ara was grinning widely. Though they didn’t quite understand the matter but as long as their parents were happy, and so were they.

Lay let go of Mr. Zhang while Kyuhyun raised his hand so suddenly. All eyes went to look at him.

“Em...sorry...but are we done with the drama? Cause I’m kind of hungry here...so, yeah...mind to serve anything for your prince?” he asked innocently and the family broke into funny laughter again.

Ara replied him a quick nod and she got up to her feet. “Alright, prince...just wait up for me while I’m preparing the meals...”

Without bothering to wait for his answer, Ara paced her way into the nearby kitchen. Lay excused himself as well when Seung Min and Song Ju resumed playing with their great-grandpa. As soon as he entered the kitchen, Ara already stood facing the sink while peeling off some fruits and Lay decided to snake his arms around her waist from behind.

“Hi, wife...” he greeted her, breathing warmly into her ear. Ara flinched a bit but she rolled her eyes.

“Hi, husband...what do you want?” she asked, giggling a bit as she felt Lay landed butterfly kisses all over her earlobe and neck but even before she could catch up with his movements, Lay already pulled off the knife and apples from her hands and he dropped it down carelessly into the sink.

Spinning Ara around so that her body could face him instead, Lay gave her the most dashing and irresistible smile ever. She tried to smile back at him but Lay was enough to lean in and whispered against .

“...I want you...forever...” and he captured her lips at once, never wanted the kisses to end at all, ever.

“I love you, Zhang Ara...”

“I love you too, Zhang Yixing...”

“You’re mine...”

“Yeah...always and forever...” the vow pledged as they continued their tiny pieces of happiness that began with two strangers, continued with awkward newlyweds and now, ending with inseparable husband and wife.

"I was supposed to be his wedding planner, not his bride!"