AAE -- For Better For Worse

Part 2 -- Chapter 30

by LoveCR2

edited by All-About-AAE

 

 

With Hyung-Chul banished from the rectory, Cho-Jeh helps Sun-Mi into the wedding gown and starts fitting it using the hidden laces, snaps, and pleats that Madame Kim's seamstresses had added in altering the dress.

 

"You've gained some weight," she remarks casually as she diligently follows Madame Kim's instructions to mold the formfitting bodice to Sun-Mi's curves.

 

"I can't get enough of my Auntie Jin's good cooking," Sun-Mi jokes, deciding a white lie is better than full-disclosure. "And my new job keeps me so busy that I don't have time for exercise!"

 

"Before, you always ate like a horse and didn't exercise, and somehow never gained a kilo," Cho-Jeh complains, then smirks as she pokes Sun-Mi's soft belly with a forefinger. "I was always so jealous! But it turns out that you're a normal person, after all."

 

Sun-Mi frets, "Are you saying I look fat in this dress?"

 

"Quite the opposite. You look lovely," Cho-Jeh voices her opinion. "I only hope I look half as beautiful as you, on MY wedding day!"

 

 

The gown fitted, Cho-Jeh brings the Jimmy Choo's out, placing them on the floor in front of Sun-Mi. "They're so pretty!" she gushes over the sparkling, pointed-toe d'orsay pumps.

 

"Yes, but can I wear my own shoes instead?" Sun-Mi asks, concerned on eyeing the vertiginous 150mm stiletto heels and 50mm platform soles.

 

"Madame Kim told me you needed to wear them for the skirt length," Cho-Jeh delivers the expected, if undesired, answer. "I'll hold while you step in."

 

Grasping the back of the chair to stay balanced, Sun-Mi slips her feet one-at-a-time into the shoes, while Cho-Jeh secures the crystal-lined ankle straps in place. With the gown's hem now just grazing the floor, Sun-Mi takes a few tenuous steps, teetering slightly on the pencil-thin heels, as she acclimates herself to the extra height.

 

"Be careful of the train!" Cho-Jeh warns, scurrying to gather up the three-meter length of fabric trailing behind Sun-Mi.

 

Soon Sun-Mi is convinced that she can navigate her way through the wedding. "I'm ready," she announces. "We can go out now."

 

 

"One last thing," Cho-Jeh remembers, going over to her bag and taking out a baby blue, ruffled elastic garter, and showing it to Sun-Mi. "Put this on."

 

Sun-Mi is dubious."What's that for?"

 

"Good luck -- something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue -- right?" Cho-Jeh recites the wedding tradition, explaining, "I borrowed this from my friend, who wore it for her wedding last year."

 

"Must I?" Sun-Mi sighs.

 

"Why take the chance on something bad happening?" Cho-Jeh replies. "Anyway, there's no harm in doing it."

 

 

Acceding to Cho-Jeh's admonition, lifting her skirt, Sun-Mi raises her right foot. Cho-Jeh slips the garter over the shoe and up Sun-Mi's slender leg, placing it on her thigh, just above her knee.

 

"Don't touch it!" she warns. "It's bad luck for anyone but the groom to take it off, and then only after you do the deed on your wedding night."

 

Embarrassed at the frank talk, Sun-Mi instinctively blushes. "Cho-Jeh!"

 

"Still the prude," Cho-Jeh chuckles at her friend's discomfort. "You'll be singing a different tune tomorrow, after some sack time with a stud like your Prince Charming!"

 

Sun-Mi coughs awkwardly, fanning the heat from her burning face. "Please, stop it!"

 

 

A rap on the door interrupts them, then Jin-Soo's muffled voice comes through, "Father Kim is ready to start the ceremony."

 

 

Shortly, Sun-Mi emerges, decked out in her wedding finery, the long train of her gown securely clipped up for the walk back to the church. Escorted by Cho-Jeh and Jin-Soo, she practices her step-pause-step-pause cadence for the processional march up the aisle.

 

Outside the church doors, she is startled to see Hyung-Chul's father, conversing with her Auntie Jin. Flustered, she formally greets her unexpected guest with a respectful dip of her head, "Chairman Yoon, I was unaware that you were here."

 

"I 'just happened' to be in London on a business trip, and 'just happened' to be dining at your aunt's restaurant," he 'explains' his presence with a sly grin. "What an amazing coincidence!"

 

After all the other surprises of the day, Sun-Mi is certain it is not. "Thank you for coming, Chairman."

 

"Don't you mean, Father-in-Law?" He corrects her, reaching out to give Sun-Mi a fatherly hug. "I've never seen you look more beautiful," he compliments her. "Since we last met at your father's house, I've anticipated this day with great pleasure."

 

 

From inside the church, they hear the pipe organ start playing an introductory prelude.

 

"It's almost time, Sun-Mi," Cho-Jeh warns.

 

"May I escort you to your seats?" Jin-Soo asks Chairman Yoon and Auntie Jin, offering her his arm. The three enter the church, leaving Sun-Mi alone outside with Cho-Jeh.

 

 

Taking the opportunity of an idle moment, the butterflies in Sun-Mi's stomach start fluttering. " Is my makeup smudged? My hair all in place?" she frets with last-minute jitters.

 

"You look fine! Really!" Cho-Jeh assures her.

 

But Sun-Mi isn't convinced. "What if I catch a heel on my skirt, and fall flat on my face? Or Jin-Soo loses the rings? Or I faint during the ceremony?" she nervously sketches out imaginary disasters.

 

"Everything will be fine. It's just nerves talking to you."

 

"Are you certain? ... Then why am I starting to feel really queasy inside?"

 

 

Alarmed by the pallor on her friend's face, Cho-Jeh realizes that Sun-Mi is worrying herself sick. "Take a deep breath and calm yourself down, Sun-Mi," she quickly instructs, "or you'll hyper ventilate and pass out right now!"

 

Sun-Mi closes her eyes and inhales slowly, counting to ten, and exhales in the same manner.

 

Cho-Jeh releases a sigh of relief as the color returns to Sun-Mi's cheeks, just as the organist switches to the opening trumpet fanfare of Richard Wagner's 'Bridal Chorus'. "Hurry! Take your bouquet!" she anxiously shoves the flowers into Sun-Mi's hands.

 

 

The church door swings open and Jin-Soo motions for Sun-Mi to enter. When she steps from the bright sunlight into the narthex, Sun-Mi is astonished to find her father, waiting.

 

"Daddy? Is it really you?" she cries happily as spontaneous tears flood her eyes.

 

"Do you think I'd miss my only daughter's wedding?" Gwi-Sung replies jovially, handkerchief in hand, prepared for the moment.

 

As Cho-Jeh daubs the tears off Sun-Mi's cheeks, he steps up to his daughter's side and offers his arm. Blindly, she feels for his elbow and slips her hand securely into the crook.

 

From the choir loft above them, the organist insistently repeats the trumpet fanfare for the third time.

 

"Ready?" he asks.

 

Sun-Mi nods, and Gwi-Sung guides her forward. Behind them, Cho-Jeh spreads the gown's train out, and they start their processional down the nave's long center aisle.

 

Sun-Mi's mind is swirling in a daze. She can barely see through her tear-drenched eyes, and her entire body quivers, singing head to toe with the joyous emotions pouring out from deep within her heart. Only the steadying arm of her father keeps her moving slowly forward, each measured step in rhythm with the organ's majestic tones that resonate throughout the church, charging the atmosphere with anticipation of the sacred ceremony about to begin.

 

On both sides of the aisle, the pews are crowded with pots filled with roses -- thousands of blooms in every shade from deep red to pure white, turning the entire nave into a colorfully carpeted garden -- it's fragrance pervading the air with a heady perfume.

 

Nearing the sanctuary apse, Sun-Mi eyes finally clear enough for her to make out Auntie Jin standing with Chairman Yoon on one side in their pew. On the other side are her Auntie Song, and Cho-Jeh with Jin-Soo. In front of the altar, Father Kim is positioned with Hyung-Chul at his left. Dapper in a dark grey suit and dusky rose tie, color-matched to her bouquet, her soon-to-be husband beams with the biggest smile she has ever seen on his face.

 

As the final organ notes fade, Gwi-Sung stops at the head of the aisle. The focus of the everyone centers on Sun-Mi, resplendent in her gleaming white gown and flowing, floor-length sheer tulle veil, edged with fine lace and crowned with a circlet of white spray roses.

 

 

Father Kim steps forward, his warm, reverent voice welcoming the congregants, "In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, grace be to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

 

"And with your spirit, Amen," the voices of all present respond as one.

 

Everyone, that is, except the bride and groom, who with eyes only for each other, communicate in a language that only True Hearts, destined by eternity, can fathom. All other sights and sounds and sensations fade to insignificance as the words spoken by Father Kim reverberate in the depths of their souls...

 

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the sight of God and the presence of these witnesses, to celebrate the union of Yoon Hyung-Chul and Jin Sun-Mi through the Rite of Holy Matrimony..."