Destination Wedding

63

Seojoon was on the beach, trying to enjoy the  dissipating remnants of the late afternoon sun, while fending off deeper contemplation of his life choices. He was gently asked to move his meager camp of a beach towel and six-pack of beer by a friendly resort staff member. They were about to set up for the Kim wedding ceremony, and they were running behind schedule for the rehearsal.

Seojoon moved as asked, settling closer to the walking path to the resort so he could observe the setup but escape any awkward confrontations. He didn't know if he would attend any of the formal wedding functions, and felt compelled to get a small glimpse of the ceremonious occasion. Two people were in love to the end of getting married. He craved that for himself, and he wanted to see something. Even if it was just the arrangement of the white, wooden folding chairs or the construction of the arbor where the two would recite their vows.

A beach wedding. How lovely, pondered Seojoon. To think I believed I was on the path to get married. What a fucking joke. Maybe if I wasn't such a pushover, giving so much and asking for little in return, I wouldn't be in this mess.

"Seojoon-ssi!"

The unseriously formal call of his name shook Seojoon from his thoughts. He looked up to find three beautiful Korean men smiling at his feet.

"Jeongguk..." Seojoon whined. "I told you to call me-"

"Hyung. I'm just kidding. What brings you to the beach on this lovely afternoon?" Jeongguk questioned fondly, wrapping one arm around the waste of a slightly blushing Taehyung and another around the shoulder of a grinning Jimin. Seojoon surveyed their lighthearted expressions and lingered on Taehyung, still baffled by his kind and gentle demeanor toward's him. Towards his ex's side-piece.

Seojoon swallowed, realizing they were all waiting for him to speak. "Oh, um... I was just watching them set up for the ceremony. I got a little curious, but it's none of my business... I should actually go."

He nodded to himself and stood up abruptly. He hastily bent down to scoop up his things when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey." It was Taehyung. Seojoon met his soft gaze, and for a second, got lost in his beauty. Bogum is such a fucking idiot, thought Seojoon, at a loss for how this physically and emotionally striking person could ever be cheated on.

"Are you doing okay, hyung?"

Seojoon was broken from his thoughts again. "I'm doing... well, not that well." Seojoon internally scoffed at his disarmament by the younger, and his inability to tell the usual white lie. "I mean, I'm fine. Just fine. I'm sorry... I don't know what's wrong with me. I'm really okay."

Taehyung took a step towards the elder, leaving the other two behind him to speak lowly. "It's okay, hyung."

Seojoon could only shake his head and offer a pathetically weak smile.

"I mean it," assured Taehyung, squeezing his shoulder. "You didn't do anything wrong." Seojoon could only nod before he began to turn towards the resort.

"Wait," urged Taehyung. "Are you coming to the rehearsal dinner tonight? We'd love it if you'd come, hyung."

"Rehearsal dinner?" Seojoon appeared confused.

"Bogum didn't tell you?" Taehyung gently asked. After receiving a negative headshake, Taehyung shared the event details with Seojoon.

"Shit. Bogum hasn't really filled me in on any wedding plans. We're hardly speaking," Seojoon responded, defeated.

"Does he know... that you know?" Taehyung probed. Seojoon was immediately washed over by another wave of guilt. He didn't want Taehyung to think he was keeping all of the week's revelations to himself to preserve his relationship with someone so underhanded.

Something in him did not want to disappoint the younger. He took a deep breath and attempted to respond. "He doesn't know. But Taehyung, I can explain."

"You don't have to, hyung. You know he'd gaslight the shit out of you if you confronted him about it."

Seojoon breathed a sigh of relief. Of course Taehyung would understand better than anyone. He's been here before. "Honestly, I was hoping to make a silent exit from this relationship. I don't want to argue with him... I just want out. But being together on a little island is making it difficult."

"Just bide your time and enjoy yourself. You can always crash with us if you want to," Taehyung assured. "You can vanish from his life when you're back in Korea... Wait, you're not living together, are you?"

"No, thank God," chuckled Seojoon.

"That's fortunate. We shared an apartment when we broke up and it was so suffocating that I made the rash decision to flee the country," Taehyung laughed mirthlessly. Jeongguk's ears perked at this. So he believes the decision was rash. Just come home, please. Everyday life is hard to imagine without you in it. Fuck, Gguk. Reel it in.

"Avoidance is much easier when you have your own home to go back to. And you know it will drive him fucking nuts," Taehyung laughed, but earnestly this time. Seojoon shared in the humor, imagining Bogum completely irritated over being ignored. "I'll help you with your escape plan. We suckers need to stick together," Taehyung chided, earning a genuine smile from Seojoon.

"I'd like that, Tae... Taehyung. Thank you."

"You can call me Tae. And please consider coming tonight. I think Hobi would like another dance... mmph!"

Someone just squeezed Taehyung's ass. He looked back at Jeongguk to glare but he was whistling and looking in another direction. Taehyung gulped and continued. "Please come. It'll be fun. Did you bring your hanbok?"

"I did. I brought one and a regular suit... you never know with a Korean wedding," offered Seojoon.

"Hanbok tonight, suit tomorrow!" Jimin chimed. "We'll see you at seven."

"Okay. Thanks a lot, guys." He turned to go before calling over his shoulder. "I'm dreaming about the color of my new bike, Jeongguk!"

Jeongguk grinned. "Alpine green, hyung! Google it!" Seojoon grinned over his shoulder as Jeongguk felt a light jab in his side.

"Did you really just grab my ass, mid-conversation?" Taehyung whisper-yelled, trying his damndest to not grin and blush while admonishing the younger.

"What do you want from me, Tae? You look so good in this. Making me feel so proud to be Korean right now," Jeongguk mumbled, slinking up to Taehyung to grab his hips and check him out from top to bottom. "Plus, you were talking to him for too long."

"Oh, does bun need attention?" Taehyung teased.

"I'm right here, you horny fucks!" Jimin cried.

"Yes. I need all sorts of attention, hyungie." Jeongguk managed to make his pout look sultry and Taehyung nearly shivered.

"Just vibing, right here!" Jimin snarked. Taehyung suddenly grabbed Jimin around his waist and forced their three heads together.

"Aw! Does Chim need attention too? Let's all just hug it out," teased Taehyung. Jimin's cranky facade crumbled as he embraced his two friends and kissed both their cheeks.

"You're lucky I love you both."