Loveless in Seoul

Chapter 4

When I first awoke, I thought I was in my apartment back in New York. The early morning sun hit my eyes just like it did there, kissing me good morning. But once my vision cleared, I realized I was still at the hotel in Seoul. I rolled onto my back, staring up at the ceiling. In a few hours, I'd be married to a man who not only just met me, but wants nothing to do with me. Every girls dream.

The abrupt knock on my door made me jump, taking a sharp breath an hurried to the door. When I opened it I was greeted by my beaming mother and Jihoon's mother, Hana, along with another women I didn't recognize. My mother swung her arms around me, embracing me tightly.

"Rosie!" she cried happily, pulling away "Oh, I'm so excited for you! This is going to be such a great day."

My mother's enthusiasm was far too extreme for being so early in the morning. Since today was going to possibly be my worst day, I just plastered a smile over my lips and mumbled "Hi, mom. Good to see you."

The four women let themselves into the hotel suite, the two extra woman Hana kindly hired to do our hair and makeup. The makeup artist sat me down by the window and began to work on my face, her hands gracefully applying it. Hana sat next to me, getting her hair put up.

"I'm so sorry we couldn't come last night." mom said as she sipped her coffee at the desk "There was a terrible storm in our layover in Paris and we were delayed nearly ten hours, if you can believe it! Your father was so mad, but I was just worried about you the whole time."

"It's okay, I managed." I lied as they applied blush softly to my fair cheeks.

"What do you think of...you-know-who." she grinned at me, not wanting to draw Hana's attention by saying Jihoon's name out loud. I pressed my lips together, not wanting to say anything negative about him right off the bat. And yet, there was nothing positive about him.

"He's handsome." was the only positive trait of him I could think of.

"Well, that's a plus! What else, my darling?" she beamed, her eyes wide with excitement to hear more about thoughts about him. I had a hard time keeping eye contact with her as I looked back to my evening with him yesterday.

"He was kind enough to offer to hire a tutor to teach me Korean." I said, grasping straws at the point. My mom nodded, looking as if she was anticipating more. But when I remained silent she stopped.

"Alright! Well, that was very nice of him. I'm sure over time you will get to know him, darling." she smiled at me to cover how flustered she was becoming. I don't know what she was expecting the outcome of our first meet to be, but if I know my mother, it was much more fairytale-ish than I experienced. If only, mom.

When my makeup was done and my hair was straightened and put into a bun, small white flowers pinned to the sides, Hana pulled out a long, ivory bag.

"Rose," she called out for me, motioning me over. She opened the bag, pulling out a white and soft pink bridal hanbok.

"Oh, this is lovely." I smiled at her, gently touching the soft; embroidered fabrics "Very beautiful, thank you."

Hana smiled brightly, seeming genuinely happy since I've first met her. She patted my arm and said something to me in Korean I didn't understand. Based on her tender voice and smiling eyes, I could only assume it was good.

Her and my mom helped me get dressed, and when I looked in the mirror I didn't feel the way I think a bride is suppose to when wearing their wedding dress. I had no problem wearing a hanbok for the ceremony. In fact I wanted to, it would be a fascinating experience and I wanted to pay respect to my new husband and in-laws. But this dress was beyond unflattering on me. It was too tight and too lose on all the wrong places. It added a nice twenty pounds to myself. I think Hana could see the expression of "Oh my God this was a mistake" written all over my face and stepped over, beating and smoothing out the invisible wrinkles in my skirts and muttering harsh words in her native tongue. The dress was not the problem, it was down right beautiful. My fuller figure was the problem.

"Don't worry, darling, you get to change at the reception. I've brought your dress from New York." Mom whispered to me. I suddenly felt like a child, clinging to my mom's arm as I stood before the mirror.

"Mom..." I whispered, my feet rooted to the ground. My nerves were getting to me, panic rising in me. I turned and faced her, but she was glancing at her phone.

"Oh, your father said the driver is here. Come on now, we gotta get going." she smiled brightly, taking my hand and ushering me and Hana to the lobby. We rushed down, seeing my Father and Hyunwoo wearing their suits and chatting happily together, along with a few other men. Amongst them was Jihoon, wearing a light blue and white hanbok. His face was usually stoic and hard as a rock, but right now his gaze seemed a million miles away. It wasn't until my dad saw me and waved us over did Jihoon seem to snap out of it and look over at us.

My father and Hyunwoo seemed thrilled and impressed to see me, their plans of marrying into the company running oh so smoothly. My dad came over and gave me a quick peck on the cheek, simply patting my arm before annoying "Alright, cars are here. Let's get a move on."

We all got to the cars outside, everyone loading in. Before I knew it, I was standing next to Jihoon as we waited to climb inside. I could practically feel his intense and cold aura radiating off of him. I pressed my lips together, wanting some sort of peace between us today.

"You look handsome, Jihoon." I said softly to him, looking up at him. He glanced down at me, raising an eyebrow as his eyes trailed up and down my dress. For a moment it seemed like he was stifling a snicker as he saw how my hanbok sat on me. The impressed look on his face I was anticipating was no where in sight, instead he looked at me like a child wearing a costume.

"You...look good." He said shortly before turning his attention away from me and got into the car. I took a deep breath, feeling far from a beautiful, blushing bride. Now, to go further embarrass myself further at my own wedding.