Soulmate

Epilogue: Yoongi

August 14, 2019
Daegu, South Korea

I stand under the tree in my parents' backyard. The home of my childhood had a home-built wooden swing that hung from a tiny tree in our tiny yard space. This new tree at is old, just the the house my parents now live in after I bought it for them. I look up through the branches at the pink and orange laced sky. This backyard is quiet, secluded, warm; it's hot actually. I'm sweating profusely in the suit that I wear and I tug to loosen the tie around my neck. Originally, I intended for the wedding to be a casual affair, but since being with Areum, I've become more of a romantic. I want to wear the suit, I want more than anything to see her in a beautiful, special dress. I want to tell her every promise that burns in my heart. The romance compels me to stand in the August heat in formal dress, my brother beside me dressed the same. It's still a casual affair with no guests but our families. My brother kicks his toe into blades of grass, his girlfriend waits patiently with her camera by the back door to take photos, my father next to her. I see Areum's sister peeking out of one of the upstairs windows and a nervous lump forms in my throat when she disappears again. I stare back up at the leaves. 

"So it's really happening, huh?" my brother asks beside me, clapping a hand onto my shoulder. 

I nod. "Yup." 

"How do you feel?" 

I let out a heavy breath. "Ready. I'm really ready." 

I hear the door open. My brother chuckles and squeezes my shoulder. "Looks like Dad and I'll be heading back inside for a moment." 

I turn to watch him leave and my eyes are immediately distracted by the vision of an angel coming through the doorway. Areum stands, her skin flushed pink with the light of the sunset. She stands in a beautifully simple dress, white and elegant. The billowing sleeves fall off onto her arms, exposing her collarbones and shoulders. She looks like a fairy in the majestic dress. I feel my eyes start to sting before they well up and I rub my hand over my mouth. I let out an unsteady breath. Areum simply smiles at me and makes her way across the grass. I try to quickly swipe away the tears that start falling but it's no use. She takes my hand tightly and laughs softly, sniffling to hold in her own tears. 

"My strong, steely man is crying?" she teases, helping me wipe my eyes. I push her hands away and reach to hold her face. 

"You, Go Areum, are the most perfect human being I've ever seen in my entire life." I can't keep myself from her anymore and I kiss her, softly and sweetly, and when I pull away her face is wet, too. Her bottom lip pouts and trembles cutely. I run my thumb along her cheek and kiss her forehead lovingly. 

"I love you so much, Yoongi," she says softly. "I'm so lucky that I have you as my soulmate. My handsome, kind, caring, gentle man. I am the luckiest woman alive to be able to call you mine." 

I swallow thickly to try and calm the emotions that warm my chest and choke up my throat. I wrap my arms around her and hug her tightly. "I love you too." I'm barely able to whisper the words to her. I cup her cheeks in my hands and kiss her deeply. I try to put all the words my voice won't say into my actions. My love and devotion is present in the way I kiss her mouth and caress her face, the way my hands hold her hips and touch her back to bring her closer to me. I feel her hands on my shoulders, my chin, the side of my neck. My actions have worked. I smile against her lips and we mutter another exchange of love before we finally part. 

I look over the top of her head at our family members that peep at us through the windows. I smile and wave for everyone to come out. My brother will officiate our tiny ceremony, his girlfriend will take amazing photos with her professional camera. Our mothers will weep, our fathers pretend to be strong. Areum's sister and her husband will try to keep their two small children quiet. Areum and I will be married. It hits me as our loved ones surround us and kiss our cheeks. I am about to be a married man. I am so much more than Min Yoongi, more than Suga of BTS. I am Areum's husband. I am so much more than I was before. My life is given a new purpose. I squeeze her hand and she squeezes in return.