Catch 22 - JJK (21+)

Chapter 36 - Personal

ARIA

Today is my wedding day.

The day I've dreamed of my entire life.

Lana grabs my hands and pulls me in for the biggest, most loving sisterly hug, being extra careful not to muss my dress and veil. "Ari, you're the most stunning bride I've ever seen. I'm so happy you've found your soulmate. You both deserve the world." She fights back tears as she hands me my bouquet before slipping through the door to take her place as matron of honor.

I place my hand on my chest in an effort to calm my racing heart. My dad moves closer and looks at me with a knowing smile and that adoring twinkle in his eye. You know, the kind that dads only have for their little girls.

"You look beautiful, Princess. I'm so proud of you."

His voice is a little unstable and his eyes well up. Mine mirror his as he kisses me on the cheek, but I fan away the tears because I can't afford to ruin my make-up before Jungkook sees me.

"Thank you, Daddy." I reply once I'm able to speak without crying. He pulls the veil down over my face and offers his elbow as we await our cue to begin our journey down the aisle. When the double doors open, the room is full of people who have come to witness our union, but the only one who matters is the man waiting for me at the end of the aisle.

The moment Jungkook comes into view, my breath catches. His smile is so beautiful and bright, I can see it clearly from where I stand, and I can't help but smile too because I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to be marrying him.

The song plays and we begin taking slow steps in time with the music down the long aisle. I try to focus on breathing and not falling on my face in front of all these people. I can hear gasps and whispers of awe as we pass each row of guests. The closer we get to the front, I can see Jungkook has a similar twinkle in his eye to my dad's. The kind every bride wishes her groom will have when he sees her for the first time on their special day.

My father and I continue until we reach the front row of chairs. My mom is there, and she makes her way over to hug me, of course, only to keep up appearances. She says nothing, and I can see that her face is emotionless like it's been most of my life, but I don't care. Not even she, with all of her negative energy, can dull my sparkle or kill my joy in this moment. It's my day, and I'm about to marry the love of my life.

And oh my God... Mi Mi is here?!

The dam breaks when I see her, and I can't hold back my tears any longer or stop my feet from moving towards her, but my dad gives my hand a little squeeze to remind me where I am. Mi Mi tries to smile, but her expression is somber. I can see now that she's crying, and the tears are clearly not of joy. I'm taken aback and confused by how heartbroken she appears to be, and now I want to run to her even more.

Is she not happy for me?

Distracted by my perplexity, I don't focus back in on my wedding until my dad takes my hand and places it in the hand of my groom. I close my eyes and take a deep breath to center myself again as my veil is lifted. But when I open my eyes, it's not the man I expect to see.

It's Siwon!

Startled awake, my body on its own accord, bolted upright in bed. I was drenched in sweat, my heart pounding as I clenched my chest and gasped for breath. Though the room around me was shrouded in darkness, I was instantly soothed by the sound of Jungkook's voice in  the distance.