Author's P.O.V

Approximately 2 years ago

The smell of fresh flowers and leaves carried by the soft breeze proves the existence of beautiful nature. But the crushing worries and heartsick thoughts were enough to conquer the mind of the girl to the brim. To the utmost regret and wrenching threads of each moment.

She doesn't know what to do at this last moment. Constant fights between her heart and brain blinding her from reality.

"Wow...Ji-ah...you look beautiful." Dong-min voices out the words that his mind always screams whenever she's around. But this time, his voice fetches the trace of choked-out emotions deep down his heart. Inlayed with salty translucent fluid floating down his eyes, his mixed emotions present the lack of his usual facade.

But still, he stares at her with the same admiration and...love.

The sequence of rustic lace dominates the soft white fabric, flowing down her body with the complementation of green. Avalanche lilies peeking out from her elegant low bun. All these materialistic accessories do extend her beauty but with a hint of subfusc.

The whole environment and arrangement holler out the attempt of the perfect wedding yet idiotically inviting the air of melancholy.

"I-" She starts, only to feel the shrinking of her exact words. The sudden rush of cynical thoughts silencing out her words while her eyes display the droplets of her feelings. Her fist tightening each moment the battle inside her arises.

She couldn't bear it anymore.

"It's time." His voice accentuates quieter than usual reflecting the void of his orbs with glimmering tears underneath.

Finally, courage lets her eyes seek a glance towards the man, whom her heart demands to be hers. But the heartwrenching bullets of regrets injure her, the moment the saddened expression of Dong-min conquers, ruthlessly letting the tears tumble upon her cheeks.

Maybe it was too late for them to actually understand their feelings towards each other.

It was all confusing days ago when she thought she's in love with her fiance, till Dong-min steps in proving what actually falling in love is. And now she questions her fate, does she really need to actually fall in love?

If there's no Dong-min, then there could be no regrets, no hurt feelings, she recognizes.

She could be happily married to her fiance, chosen by her dad.

Or the man she used to have a hardcore crush on that she denied to even call it a crush.

The tension of the strange awkwardness grows in the air, nothing but the deep breaths and silent sobs. Till Ji-ah takes a feeble step forward as if pushing away all the depths of complications.

Each step of her felt like weights bounded by her ankles as she tries to gulp it away. Only to make it hard for her Dongmin stops her mid-way.

By his sudden confession towards Ji-ah for the first time, as if means of goodbye.

"I love you..." He mutters, only to receive the reaction of hitched-breath from her.

Awfully making it hard for her to continue on with her life without him by her side.

"And congrats on your wedding." He forces out of his bitter chuckle.

But never did he know that she'd be eager and reckless enough to hear that confession again and again for her lifetime, even if it costs her to step out of her glamorous life of her father's fame.

||

"Now I'm really regretting not being at your wedding..." Hoseok huffs out from the other side of the phone." Wait...I don't even properly know your fiance except that the fact she's the daughter of your dad's rich friend's."

The younger could sense the rolling of his eyes, even though he's on the call with him. And that was enough to spread that bunny grin across his flustered face of nervousness.

"Kook...Are you even listening?" Hoseok asks once more, only receiving a subtle 'hum' from the other side. "Do you really want this wedding?"

That pangs of realization yet confusion shoots through his system, giving a rise to his panic about the situation. He, himself doesn't know about the answer.

"You know, you don't have to be this much obliged towards your dad? You could've chosen the person you want to spend with your life-." Hoseok reminds him, only to get cut off abruptly.

"Ah...hyung. I've to go now." Jungkook nonchalantly proposes to hang up along with shaking heart of worries.

"Uhhh...okay. Congrats on your wedding. Be happy." Hoseok stows away the frustration back with a hearty chuckle before hanging up.

Deep breaths.

It's not like he never questioned him like that before. He indeed did. But he assumed it to be better not to question himself like that and go with the flow.

This whole Jang Family did so much for him over the past years till now. From the very first day of him being lost and crying all alone with nothing but his fragile and naive self, they cared for him. Parental affection, family gatherings... he didn't miss any of them out of his life. And all the credits go to them, he thought.

If they hadn't cared about that day's miserable kid, then he might end up in an orphanage, or worst. That's the reason, he couldn't be luckier to have them in his life as his savior. And that leads him to the mentality of never disappointing them in any case.

About the wedding, his dad achieved the most enthusiasm over the past days. Every specific kind of romantic date and all, he arranged all of that, only for me to be with Ji-ah. He still admires the memory of his dad teasing him on how Ji-ah has a fat crush on his only son, that she literally whines all the time to her dad. He even agreed to keep this wedding small, without any disruption of paparazzi.

Regarding all the happiness of his favorite people, he could do anything in appreciation.

If that's what is termed as an obligation, then he's honored to obliged towards them.

But little did he know that the tiny blocks of trust and appreciation of his would crumble in pieces in front of everyone present at his wedding.

Embarrassment...No.

He felt more betrayed.

||

" I'm sorry, Jungkook." She whispers as if he could hear. " Sorry for leaving you like that."

Her apologies mesomorphs into the breeze while her selfish mind decides to scurry away with Dongmin.

In the hope for a happily ever after.

Flashback ends.