i dedicate this chapter to my good friend, GLAMROOF

who once told me, i have an inkling to do dweepy stories

i miss you my ham

"Huh?" Dara dumbfoundedly asked.


"I want to back out" Bom repeated in a much calmer and louder voice.


She has been cooped up inside the waiting room, her nerves got the best of her. Doubts of whether she and Seunghyun could pull off their plan of letting about a handful of people attending, that the ceremony that will take place later is anything but a sham, fill her thoughts.


"Wedding jitters." Dara teased.


"No. I'm serious Dara~ah, I want to back out" Bom said"I don't think I can lie to the people outside"


"Unnie, are you hearing yourself?" Dara exclaimed in panic "The ceremony's about to start in less than ten minutes and you're saying now that you want to back out?"


"Y-yes."


"You know I'd support your decision, whatever it may be, unnie." Dara couldn't help but ask "What about Bae oppa?" Aware of the reason why Bom actually conceded to such a crazy situation. "Do you have a back up plan, unnie?"


"I still have some savings, there's also the wedding funds we've saved. I-I know it's not enough. But I'll try to get some other job to get some money for Bae." Bom moved her upper body forward, braced her elbows against her gown covered knees, and buried her face into her palm "Oh, God Dara. What have I gotten myself into?"


"I'll just get you some water unnie." Dara rose from her seat and went to the door.







 

~oOo~
 

Dara headed straight to another room on the other end of the hallway. She raises a hand, and raps on the door.


"Hey" Seunghyun greeted, the look of surprise on his face, seeing Bom's cousin standing at the door "Dara, right?"


Dara nodded "We need to talk." She barged inside, not waiting for an invitation" You got a problem" She announced ithout any preamble. "Unnie wants to back out." 


"Why?" 


Dara crossed her arms "Can't blame her though. Engaged to one man a month ago, and now getting married to another. I'm surprised she hasn't gone bonkers yet. I would if it was me." Dara shrugged her shoulder "Mr. Choi, I don't exactly know all the gory details of the deal between you and unnie, but I know enough that you need a bride so much you'd agree to help her with the medical expenses for Bae oppa. Right now, Bom unnie's not thinking things clearly. I hope you got some trick up your sleeves to convince her. I don't think the wedding will proceed if you don't have a bride in eight minutes."


"I'll go talk to Bom" Seunghyun strode to the door. Before he had the door closed behind him, he heard Dara's faint "Good luck."






~oOo~






Seunghyun is now standing in front of the waiting room where Bom is. He knocked twice on the wooden door, before he turned the knob and pushes it open a bit.


"Bom?" He called out, poking his head first. When he got no response, he widened the opening and slipped inside. Eyes scanning the whole room, as he gently closed the door. 


Did she ran away?


Seunghyun already has his body angled to turn and walk back out to search for Bom, when he noticed from the corner of his eye, the door for the bathroom is slightly ajar.


Bom, who came out from the bathroom, with her head bowed down, bumped at something as she made her way back to the couch. Her breath catching in , as she raised her head and met a pair of piercing eyes. 


"W-why are you here?" Bom stuttered as guilt washes over her.


"Are you ok?" Seunghyun's asked, concern in his voice.


"I-I.... uhmmm..." Bom swallowed the lump forming in the back of before she continued "I can't do this!" She said in a rush, lowering her gaze to the floor. She can't bear to see the disappointment in his eyes.


Bom stiffened when she felt Seunghyun took her cold hands with his warm ones. She raised her head, and stared with a puzzled expression at him. It wasn't the reaction she's been expecting.


"Bom" Seunghyun's deep baritone voice, called out softly "I understand how overwhelming things are for you. It was a callous and underhanded that I had taken advantage of you, when you needed a friend." His thumb started to draw comforting circles at the back of her hand "Practically dragging you to help me with my problem"


Bom felt tears burning behind her eyes "I'm sorry"


"Hey, don't feel bad." Before he could stop himself, one of his arms reached over and cupped her cheek "If there's someone who needs to apologize, it's me."


"Mr. Choi Seunghyun?" A muffled voice came from behind the door. "You need to take your position."


"Thank you. I'll be out in a minute" Seunghyun replied, his eyes not leaving Bom's face. "Guess, I need to go out"With a small smile "Don't worry about me. Whatever decision you'll make, I know it's for the best." 


Bom was left standing in the middle of the room, her eyes followed Seunghyun as he walked out of the room. She didn't know how long she stood transified, until another set of knocks came.


"Ms. Park, it's time." The same assistant's voice who called out to Seunghyun, said from the other side of the door.


She found herself automatically following the assistant. They stopped once they've reached the doors of the wedding hall.


"Ms. Park, you'd start onceyou hear the wedding march play." The assistant reminded while she fixed the gown's train. 


Bom was left alone out on the hallway, after the assistant finished fussing over her gown. A small movement from her right side, made her whip her head towards it. Her eyes widened, learning the staircase is right there. She could go ahead and walk out of here.


Seunghyun said I can back out.


The first notes of the wedding march strain the air. Bom didn't move a muscle. Her hands gripping tightly the bouquet of lillies the assistant handed over.


If she walks to her left, it's definite that Young Bae has a chance of being taken care of until he wakes up from his coma. If she choose to walk to her right, her guilt won't eat at her conscience for lying to almost everyone inside the wedding hall, and for somehow cheating behind Young Bae.


Bom's heart begin to hammer inside her chest. She needs to decide, fast. The music had stopped, and she could hear the hushed voices.


"I'm sorry" She whispered to no one in particular. And with one deep breath, she took a step forward.





 

~oOo~
 

Seunghyun stood by the altar, facing the door, where Bom would or would not be walking through. His eyes roam over a handful of familiar faces he trusts the most, present inside the room. People who he knows would keep about this wedding a secret, as what he and kikoman had requested. 


It was to protect kikoman's chances of rising to supermodel status. kikoman is just starting to reap the results of her hardwork, being thecurrent hottest commodity in the modeling scene. The guests complied with the secrecy, despite the fact that the bride's identity is a secret and would only be revealed on the wedding day itself.


He didn't regret though what he said inside the room, when he met her earlier. If Bom decides to back out from their deal, he wouldn't hold it against her. She was in a vulnerable state and he was an a$shole to think of himself first, when he offered his asinine proposal.


His mind is also made up that no matter what happens, he'd help Bom with her problem. It's the least he could do, for the trouble he'd caused.


Since he is in a blindspot, he mentally prepared a short speech that will reveal part of the truth. He'd come clean. Bom doesn't deserve to be chastised. He's aware how fond Bom is towards his parents as they are to her.


The first notes of the wedding march began to play, Seunghyun focused his eyes intently towards the door, the guests also did. Almost a quarter of the song had played, and not even the edge of her gown to peek from the door. Soon the music stopped, the guests bear a worried expression on their faces, and a hum of their murmurs buzz around. 
“Excuse me” Seunghyun spoke aloud, positioning himself at the center of the altar, garnered the attention of everyone in the room “I would like to apologize for letting this go far. The truth is, my bride is... ” Before he could continue though, the assistant who fetched him from the room, approached from the side, and motioned for him to bend down and listen to what she’s about to say.


Seunghyun’s forehead crease into a frown, he stared at the assistant with question in his eyes. The assistant nodded her head, before she walked away back to the side.


He turned his attention back to the crowd inside the wedding hall. He could clearly see on their faces, the curiousity to know what’s happening. He made a small coughing sound to clear his throat.


“As I was saying. The truth is, my bride is a very shy person. But she’s willing to go through the agony of the wedding to be with me.” Seunghyun joked, making the people chuckle “Please play the march again. Thank you.” That being said, he went back to his earlier position. Quickly sending a prayer of thanks for the way things had turned out.


He angled his head to face towards the doors once more, the second the music filled the air for the second time. And when Bom drifted to his view, he couldn’t help but puffed his chest out and feel proud as the handful of people present to witness their ‘union‘, gushed out at how lovely the bride is.


Seunghyun met Bom’s eyes and held it until she reached his side. He offered his hand for her to take. And the moment their hands touched, he felt something stirred inside him. Bom’s hands were icy cold, and he gave her a reassuring squeeze, hoping to let her know how thankful he is.


The ceremony proceeded. During the time when they were exchanging the vows, as Bom was reciting hers, her voice was steady, belying the quesiness she feels inside.


“I know pronounce you, husband and wife”The reverend ended the ceremony with “You may now, kiss the bride.”


Her veil was lifted. Bom had her eyes down, not able to meet Seunghyun’s as they stood facing each other. He tipped her head up with one hand, by the chin.


“Trust me” He whispered softly.


Seunghyun then lowered his head, and placed the gentlest of kiss on her lips, a lone tear escaped from one of her eyes, and fell down on her cheek. The guests became teary eyed and was moved by this scene, oblivous to the truth, that everything is nothing else but a lie.




 

nyahahaha
after 7 months of not touching this one
finally!

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much ♥
CHET