The Wedding Plan

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The savory aroma of traditional Korean dishes flowing into the dining room from the kitchen floods into Byulyi's senses. As a wedding planner, Moonbyul had her fair share of wedding menus from the simple pasta and salad to ethnic Brazilian or Italian cuisines, but her favorite menu would always be Korean. So she was quite delighted and surprised when Irene had expressed her preference for a traditional Korean menu for the wedding. Byulyi had unconsciously been planning for some fancy foreign dinner based on the bride's initial expectations.

Again, it's almost as if her body has some type of sensor built in, she locks eyes with Seokjin when he steps through the restaurant entrance. His gaze is hardened, and it made sense based off how their last meeting played out.

"The food already smells amazing!" Irene excitedly exclaims as she takes her seat at the dining table, leaving Seokjin with no choice but to sit directly across from Byulyi.

"This restaurant caters the best Korean dishes, wedding planners honor." Byulyi comments, raising her hand as if she's making a pledge. The bride giggles, but the groom remains stoic.

"Anyways, I've already placed an order in for the menu tasting based on previous experiences the caterer." And based on what she knows Seokjin likes, she unconsciously adds in her head. Byulyi slides over the burgundy velvet menu for the couple to look at.

"But if you see anything in the menu that you would like to try as well, please let me know." The planner insists.

Byulyi watches, like a complete outsider, as the couple peer into the menu, their heads on the verge of bumping into one another. She can't help but steal a glance at how Seokjin's hand securely rests on Irene's waist as he nods very engagingly at her comments. It hurts. He must've felt her stare because his eyes flicker up from the menu, abruptly meeting hers. She gulps, taking a moment too long to avert her attention to her glass of water. She only prays that her face wasn't flushing an embarrassing shade of pink.

Irene's eyes light up as the waitstaff lay out the assortment of Korean dishes on the white linen cloth. There was a bit of everything from stews to meat to infamous side dishes. The bright colors of the vegetables were stark against the white top of the table. Byulyi would definitely be ordering some to go before she leaves.

"It looks so good! Irene gushes, her hands clasped in anticipation.

"But there's no cucumbers?" The bride points out after further surveying the array of dishes presented before them.

Seokjin doesn't like cucumbers, the word floats around Byulyi's head. He had made that very clear to her many years ago when he picked out every hint of cucumber from his food during dinner.

Did Irene not know that?

The thought of knowing something about Seokjin that Irene didn't brought a warm, yet cunning, feeling inside of her and she hated herself for it. Irene was the bride, Seokjin was the groom, and they're happy together. She shouldn't feel this way.

"Oh, I requested it without cucumbers because a lot of my previous clients preferred it like that. We can always add it into the menu later on, if you'd like." Byulyi lies, not necessarily eager to spill out why she knows Seokjin's preferences. She noticed him raising a brow, catching on to her pathetic lying, as he continued to munch on the food.

"That strange, but you know best." Irene goes along with a bob of her head, grabbing the utensils off her napkin.

"Actually before I dig in, I'm going to use the restroom first." The bride states as she slides out from her seat, an apologetic expression sprawled on her face for making them wait. Byulyi only smiles, gesturing her arms in the direction of the bathrooms.

The two of them watch as Irene strolls through the maze of clothed dining tables before disappearing down the corridor.

Byulyi again, refuses to look at Seokjin and instead busies her gaze on the fancy light fixtures hanging around the restaurant. They were nice, she would have to note their sleek design to add to her future wedding designs.

"You remembered." Seokjin breaks the deafening silence that had developed at the table.

His voice is gentle, luring her to finally make eye contact with him. The hard look in his face when he first walked in is no longer there. Instead, she's looking into those all too familiar kind eyes of his eyes. Her heart leaps against her will.

Why can't she control these sensations that keep unraveling themselves? Seokjin was a big gaping hole in her life.

Seven years, to be exact, should have fixed it. But the void remains there.

Both of them turn their heads when they hear the clicking of Irene's heels hitting the dining room floor. Byulyi turns back to face Seokjin face, her eyes unwavering when he meets her gaze once more.

"I'm just doing my job, Mr. Kim."