13 Dances (A Seventeen Fanfiction)

-28-

I sighed satisfied and leaned against Chan's shoulder. "Is the bride tired already?", Joshua asked with a soft, but amused smile. "Can't blame me", I gave back. Chan lay his arm around my shoulder and kissed the crown of my head. I looked at the people at our table. Parents and siblings, of course, but also people that were especially important to us. I smiled seeing Soonyoung giggling at something Dokyeom had said. Right next to him Seungcheol was having a good talk with Jihoon. Wonwoo and Minghao were probably discussing the latest politics while, right next to them, Mingyu, Jun and Vernon played rock, paper, scissors to decide who would go to the snack bar for the next round of sweets. Jeonghan joked around with Seungkwan and Joshua probably still tried to figure out why all of these guys were not only invited but also sitting at our table.

After I had told Chan about my coma-adventures, he insisted to find everyone I had danced with and invite them to the wedding. It had been quite a struggle at times, but he actually did it. And I was fine with it. Even though some considered it quite strange to have ex boyfriends of mine as well as Wonwoo, who I barely had contact with, as guests at the wedding, we didn't care. They had played an important role in making it happen, after all. But not everyone had to know what I had learned while I had been out.

The most surprised to be invited was Wonwoo, no doubt. But surprisingly enough, he remembered me. Second to him, Seungkwan and Seungcheol were pretty much flabbergasted and Dokyeom even asked me if I was sure I wanted to have him there. I don't know why they all came, but it seemed like they somehow knew just how important my memories with them were to me. Or maybe Chan said something similar to it, because most of them had mentioned something related to the memory connected with them. Whatever it was that made them coming, I was feeling so happy and overall deeply fortunate to be here, right now, in this moment.

Though I also was so exhausted. All the official stuff for our wedding now was over. The rings were exchanged, the kiss had happened, the cake was cut, some pictures were shown and some games played. Only one part was left to finally start the casual part. "May I have this dance?", Chan now asked and I realized it was time. I nodded and got up. Usually, I felt so uncomfortable when having everyone's eyes on me but this time I didn't even notice. I did not think about in how many embarrassing ways I could trip over my own feet and fall or how my dress could look weird or maybe even tear apart – All I could see was Chan, leading me to the dance floor and standing in front of me, with a warm, soft smile. And then the music started and we began dancing to it automatically.

I had to think about the dances with the others, those guys back at the table. I let them pass by my inner eye, connecting them to the present dance. Chan and I stood up for each other when someone made nasty comments about the other one. We tried to make sure the other one was happy and committed ourselves to each other, putting time and effort into our relationship. We put the other one before ourselves and seeing each other was like coming home. But even when we weren't together, we knew our hearts were connected. We accepted our weird, embarrassing sides and started to like them most of the times. We were ready to forgive each other and appreciated and did small acts of kindness for the other one. We agreed on being honest and open and we both wanted to stay with the other one even when it would get hard.

As I looked into Chan's eyes, I knew this had been the right decision. And I suddenly understood, why. I did all of the points above not because I felt the obligation. I did it because I loved him. I did it without thinking. And I could tell it was the same for him. My smile widened into a grin and Chan looked at me curiously. "What are you thinking?", he asked me. I chuckled and answered: "Oh, you know. Just thinking about how much I love you." He seemed flattered but giggled before he answered: "I love you too."

After the 13th dance I learned that true love means to do all of those things because you want to, not because you feel obliged to. I finally had learned what true love means.