If This Isn't Love

31: JUNE 2018 - The Friend Label

Selina and Yoongi's wedding reception had been in full force for several hours now, and everyone seemed to be very happy thanks to the open bar, Luisa observed. She was leaning against a wall behind the champagne fountain watching how her friends moved here and there, talking and laughing with anyone they came across.

Selina was radiant, hanging on Yoongi's arm as they strolled from table to table chatting with the various guests. Yoongi, on the other hand, looked a bit dazed, as if he couldn't believe how many people were there. He probably wished he could be anywhere else except that he would never do anything to displease Selina.

Luisa took another sip of champagne just as Megan leaned into her.

"Hey there!" the redhead said, her words slurring slightly. "Why so wallflower? I thought you'd be out there leading the dancing. Isn't that one of your duties as maid of honor?"

Luisa laughed. "If it is, I wasn't aware. But I will go out there and do my duty. I don't want to disappoint."

Megan gave her a side hug. "As if you ever could, dearie. You look absolutely beautiful. I'm so glad Sel is not the type of bride to put us in hideous dresses just so she could shine." She held her arms out wide to showcase her satin bridesmaid dress in blushing pink.

"Well, you got the subtle blush color," Luisa replied. "I got the maid of honor, 1980's dusty rose version."

"And you look incredibly hot in it," Megan added. "You should've seen the way everyone was looking at you during the presentation. I had to step on Hoseok's foot so that he'd stop ogling you." She leaned closer. "And Seokjin was drooling."

"What? No!" the brunette scoffed.

"Oh, he was," her friend continued. "Didn't you see him constantly licking his lips? My God, he was fidgeting so much as he stood next to you. He looked like a kid dying to go the restroom." She laughed. "Except we could very well guess what was the adult reason he wanted to disappear into a restroom stall."

"Oh, please stop," Luisa admonished her friend. As Yoongi's best man, Seokjin had been her counterpart during the wedding presentation. They had stood next to each other most of the evening and even shared a dance. She recalled how hot his hand felt on her waist as he led her through the waltz. At one point their eyes accidentally met, and the current that passed between them caused Luisa to stumble over her own feet.

"He's looking at you right now," Megan announced.

Luisa looked around and saw Seokjin's eyes trained on her. He smiled before turning his attention back to his date. But his stare was enough to cause Luisa's skin to erupt in goosebumps.

"I'll bet you can steal him away from his date with just one look," Megan said. "Have you ever wondered—"

"No," Luisa cut her off. Whatever her friend was going to say, she didn't think she wanted to hear it. Not because it was preposterous but because she had wondered quite often about Seokjin. "I think that ship sailed a long time ago."

"You're such a party pooper," the redhead said, her words slurring slightly. "I bet that you could still get a boarding pass for that boat if—"

Luisa's phone buzzed loudly in her small purse. She had heard it buzzing in her purse earlier during the reception, but she had been unable to answer because they were in the middle of the wedding speeches and dances and all of that.

"Maybe that's Captain Seokjin calling," Megan said.

They both looked over to his table, but he was staring off into the distance as if he weren't even listening to the girl next to him.

Luisa inhaled and fished out the phone. It was her younger sister Debbie. She was attending a university closer to home. Why would she be calling?

"Hello? Debs?"

Luisa felt the blood drain from her face as her sister's panicked voice boomed over the phone.

Megan noticed her friend's countenance and placed her hand gently on her arm. "Lulu? What is it?"

Luisa sagged against her, and Megan grabbed the phone from her hand before she dropped it.

"Uh, hello?" Megan said into the phone. "Hello? This is Luisa's friend Megan. Yes. Oh, hello, Debbie. Yes." Her eyes went round. "Oh, my God. Yes, of course. Luisa's in shock, I think. Of course. I'll take care of it. I'm so sorry."

Megan glanced around before pulling Luisa's stiff body out into the lobby. She gently pushed her down onto a plush sofa.

"Lulu," she whispered. "Dearie, can you hear me? Breathe. Just take a breath."

Luisa nodded and inhaled sharply. "Megan, I-I have to go. I h-have to... I don't know. I don't know what to do."

"Lu."

Seokjin rushed over and went down on one knee before Luisa.

"Lu, you're paler than a ghost." He looked at Megan. "What happened?"

Megan swallowed and stared at Luisa. The distraught woman just leaned over and put her head in her hands.

"Um, she had some bad news," the tall redhead began. "Her father has been rushed to the hospital." She paused. "There was an accident. It's serious. That's all I know."

"I have to go," Luisa repeated. "I must go home right now."

"Yes, of course," Megan replied. The bad news had sobered her up immediately.

"But I don't want to bother Sel."

"Don't worry about that," the taller woman said. "I'll explain to Sel later. You know she'll understand."

Luisa nodded and attempted to stand up, but her legs wobbled and she fell back onto the couch.

"You are in no condition to go anywhere alone," Seokjin said, getting to his feet. "And I won't let her get on a bus. That will take too long." He looked down at Luisa. "I will go with you."

"The drive is over seven hours," Megan said.

"We can get there in a couple of hours if we fly," he replied.

"Fly?" the tall woman exclaimed. "That'll cost a fortune!"

"She's right," Luisa spoke up in a trembling voice. "It will take almost everything I have to book a flight."

"I've got it," Seokjin said, he took her hands and pulled her to her feet carefully. "Don't worry about that. Let's get you out of here. Can you pack a bag in under an hour? I'll take you to your place and look for flights while you get ready."

"You don't have to do this," Luisa insisted. "I can't ask you to just drop everything and leave. Not to mention the expense."

"You let me worry about that," he said. "Let's go." He wrapped her arm around his to steady her. "Megan, please let Selina and Yoongi know what happened. Tell them not to worry. I'll call them later."

Megan nodded. She took a step then turned back. "Oh. And your...uh, date?"

Seokjin closed his eyes. "Ah. Yes. Lydia. Can you tell her that I had an emergency? I'll call her as soon as I can. Thanks." He looked down at Luisa. "Are you ready? Can you walk?"

"Yes, yes. Of course. Let's go." She sighed. "I'm sorry to bother you."

"Don't say another word, Lu. This is no bother. What kind of a friend would I be if I didn't offer to help you?" Seokjin placed his arm around her shoulders. "I would never let you face something like this alone."

Megan watched Seokjin lead Luisa out of the hotel. There was no way that he didn't love Luisa. And there was no way that Luisa didn't love him right back, no matter how many times they hid behind the "friend" label. It was evident in the way he rushed to help her, the way he held her so gently, and the way she looked at him. She hoped that Luisa would wise up and realize how much that man loved her before it was too late.