The wedding was a beautiful affair. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm, golden glow over the stunning venue. Y/N and Jay walked hand in hand, their fingers entwined, as they explored the wedding venue together. "Are you having fun?" She turned to him, her eyes sparkling with happiness.
"I'm having the time of my life, but you know what would make it even more perfect?" He asked and she raised her eyebrows. "Dancing with you, sunshine."
"Really?" Her cheeks flushed with a rosy hue, and she smiled. "Come on, then. I'll show you some moves." Y/N led Jay to the center of the dance floor, their steps light and full of laughter. She gently placed her hands on his shoulders, and he took her hands in his, his other hand placed on her waist.
"You look beautiful," He whispered while the two swayed to the soft music in the background. "Sunshine, you shouldn't be prettier than the bride."
"Oh, come on," She teased, not able to stop herself from laughing. "I can't help it if I'm stealing the show." Being with Jay felt like being wrapped in a warm, cozy blanket on a chilly winter's night—comforting, familiar, and filled with love. However, the rain and thunder always managed to add an unexpected twist to their story.
Just as Y/N was lost in the dance, her eyes locked with Jungho who stood across from her, his jaw clenched as he watched her dance with Jay. Her heart sank at the sight of him and she let go of Jay while swallowing a lump that formed in her throat. "Everything okay, sunshine?" Jay looked behind him and at wherever Y/N was gazing.
"Oh yeah, I'm fine. Everything's fine." She nodded, holding his hand to make him look back at her. "I'll just use the bathroom real quick, okay? I'll be back in a moment."
Jay gave her a gentle smile, though he knew there was something bothering her. "Sure, take your time, sunshine. I'll be right here when you get back." With a final reassuring glance, Y/N turned and made her way through the crowd toward the bathroom.
As she walked, she couldn't shake off the guilt that still gnawed at her heart whenever Jungho appeared in her life. She almost felt like she had committed a crime when all she did was find love. She knew Sungho was his best friend and it didn't sit right with him that after his passing away, she just moved on. But she also knew that her feelings for Jay were genuine and that she couldn't change the way her heart had chosen to love.
"What-" When she stepped out of the bathroom, someone held her hand and dragged her to a quiet corner before she could even react. Her heart raced, and she was about to cry out when she realized it was Jungho. "What are you doing?"
"Me?" He scoffed. "What are you doing with another man after your boyfriend barely has been gone for a year? How could you, Y/N?"
Y/N's tears welled up as she struggled to find the right words. "Please, let's not talk about this here. It's a wedding, Jungho, and tonight is about celebrating love. We can talk, but not now, not in this place." But when she tried to move away, Jungho held onto her hand, pinning it to the wall behind her.
"No, let's talk here. Don't you feel any guilt at all, Y/N?" Jungho's voice was filled with pain and anger, and his grip on her hand tightened. "He passed away and you're fucking dancing and laughing with another man like he never even existed? You're such-" Jungho couldn't finish his sentence because Jay pulled his hand off Y/N and shoved him against the wall, gripping his collar.
"Say that again and I'll break your teeth," Jay threatened, his eyes burning with anger. "I'll make sure you regret ever uttering a word about her." He released his grip on Jungho's collar, taking a step back but still glaring at him. Jungho, too, reluctantly backed away when he realized that he couldn't push the matter any further in this heated moment. "Leave us alone, will you?"
Jungho, though still visibly upset, finally nodded and stepped away from Jay and Y/N. He turned and walked back into the crowd while Y/N let out a shaky breath and leaned against the wall for support. Her dress clung to her like a second skin, the vibrant colors now muted by everything she was feeling.
"Are you okay, sunshine?" He gently approached her, concern etched across his face as he brushed a stray strand of hair away from her face. And when she wasn't able to hold back her tears, he pulled her into a comforting embrace, holding her close. Y/N buried her face in Jay's shoulder, her tears flowing freely now. The emotions that had been pent up inside her for so long were finally breaking free, and she couldn't help but sob in his arms. Jay held her tightly, his hand gently rubbing her back in soothing circles. "It's okay, I've got you. I won't let anyone hurt you."
"I'm sorry, I'm just..." Her tears soaked into his suit jacket, but he didn't mind in the slightest. "He always makes me feel like I'm betraying Sungho but I just love you and I can't change that. I hate how he tries to make me feel guilty for moving on and finding happiness with you. I promise I never wanted to block you but when he said the same thing back then, it just brought up a lot of emotions and I didn't know how to handle it."
Jay tensed. "Sunshine, did you block me because... he made you feel guilty?"
Y/N nodded against his shoulder, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yes, but I know it was wrong. I know it was unfair for you. I was overwhelmed by everything he said, and I thought maybe it was for the best. But it wasn't. I missed you every day."
He sighed, his grip on her softening as he listened to her words. "Sunshine, I..." He put his forehead against her shoulder, his warm breath tickling her skin. "I'm sorry he put you through all of this. Your heart is your own. Sungho will always hold a special place in your heart, and no one can take that away from you, including me. I respect that, and I would never want you to feel like you have to choose between your past and your present."
"I know," She knew it very well. Jay was the most understanding and supportive person she could ever hope for. "But I just thought that you deserved a love that wasn't clouded by guilt and doubt. You don't deserve that. You deserve a love that's wholehearted and free, and I didn't want to taint it."
Jay gently lifted her chin with his finger, locking eyes with her. "I can't love anyone else, sunshine. Your love is everything I've ever wanted. It can be messy and imperfect and I'll still choose it every time because it's you. Your love is real and it's the most beautiful thing in the world. I don't want a love that's easy; I want a love that's worth it. And you, Y/N, you're worth every bit of it."
"Are you trying to make me cry?" She chuckled through her teary-eyed smile, feeling overwhelmed with love for him. "I love you so much, Jay."
"I love you too, sunshine. You're my first, last, and only love."
