Friendships Desires and Secrets

In Known Memory

There was a pressure building in Alex's head that was sure to turn into a stress migraine. Every detail of her wedding had gone off without a hitch except for the timing. She was looking forward to a late spring wedding, but the venue they wanted to book wasn't available until mid summer. No way was she sweating her way through her vows in a soggy hanbok.
Namjoon kept telling her that everything would work out. All she had to do was believe like she had done when she set out to find him. His words lost more and more of her faith as summer grew warmer.
She didn't know what he had been up to, though.
He had let his mother and sister plan out the details. They were the ones who told her the venue was unavailable. Namjoon had had other plans all along, and when he broke the news in late summer that a venue had come up in mid fall, Alex jumped at the chance.
Little did she know that the Kim family had planned the event all along.
On the twelfth day of September, Tae drove her to the site with Hoseok, Shelia, and Amy. Alex was still in her pajamas and felt very nauseated. She had never been more nervous. She hadn't even thought to look up and see where they actually were. When she glanced out the window, her mouth fell open.
The road leading up to the pavilion was lined with tall, graceful bamboo. At the decorated building, an usher showed them to the last of four drives, clearly marked Kim Wedding.
Alex's heart rate redoubled, and she put her head between her knees.
"Just breathe, girl." Amy pat her friends back, trying to sooth her.
After a few deep breaths, she sat up and looked around again. There were white guide ribbons looped through pole tops. Sashes gathered at each held indigo colored roses. Tears welled in Alex's eyes and threatened to spill. The SUV came to rest in the spot marked BRIDE, and Alex looked around. This wasn't the park she and Namjoon had looked at online. This place was stunning.
The large building must have had a capacity of 1000 people. There was a decorated archway to the left. It crossed a stone pathway that led back to the buildings side doors. The sprawling yard was lined by romantic garden benches set up as rows of seats. There were more guide ribbons here, creating an open plan yet contained space. There was another larger archway at the end of the path. Lattice work ran the back and sides of the structure. It was also shot through with ribbon, but of white and indigo with roses sprinkled throughout.
Alex was ushered quickly out of the vehicle and into the building where they found the room marked BRIDE. Once inside, Alex saw her dress hanging on a gold and silver mannequin. The headless form unnerved her for some reason, and she plopped unceremoniously into the chair by the vanity.
Amy and Shelia had rushed away with their bagged garments over their arms to change into the bridesmaids' gowns. Traditional flowing hanbok in light green and trimmed with dark green. Alex had no sooner closed her eyes than they were back to dress her. Amy did her makeup in very natural tones, and Shelia got the dress off the mannequin, helping Alex with the ties. Alex had gone with a soft pink instead of traditional red since she had been married before.
The wedding guests had begun to arrive, and Namjoons mother and sister popped into the bridal suite for a visit. The exclaimed over the hanbok Alex had chosen and told her that a last-minute guest had shown up. They wouldn't say who it was and only smiled. Kyung Min pulled Alex to the side while Amy and Shelia talked to several guests who had come to the door.
"How do you like the park?" Kyung Min said softly.
"Park?" Alex quirked an eyebrow. "You mean the venue?"
Kyung Min nodded. "This is where our parents wanted to be married, but there wasn't enough at the time to afford it. It's beautiful here."
"It is, from what I saw. I'm glad Joonah didn't go with what I chose."
"Oh! I'm so sorry! I didn't know we overstepped plans." Kyung Min looked saddened.
"No, no." Alex waved her hand. "I wasn't set on anywhere. I just wanted space and sky and flowers. You know, nature."
They both smiled.

It felt like only a few moments had passed, then she was there. Standing at the top of the walkway. The sun sparkled off the dresses and ribbons, flowers, and polished poles. Everything was almost perfect. In that briefest of moments, Alex missed her friend. She looked down at the bouquet in her hands and shifted, waiting for the music to start. There was an intro song, then a song she had picked instead of the wedding march. Yoongi, as the ring bearer was supposed to walk first. Alex saw his shoes appear on the ground below. She looked up, and instead of a ring box, he held a beautiful baby, all decked out in pink.
Alex fought the tears that threatened to rain and smiled huge at the proud papa before her. Tucked in the folds of the pink blanket was her ring box.
Surprise guest indeed.
Yoongi walked away as the music began, followed closely by Shelia and Amy in their Koya blue gowns. The rest of the Bangtan Boys led up the rear, and the procession song came to a close.
Alex's eyes locked on Namjoon's as her song began.
The song that welled up in her each time she looked up at him, and as the words drifted through the gathered throng, she mouthed each one with trembling lips. The tears that she had fought all day, now coursed down her cheeks freely. She stood, still in disbelief that her dream of him was just as she had imagined. As the song began to close, she took a step towards him.
An arm suddenly tucked into her own. She looked up, startled to see Namjoon's father smiling back at her. She felt suddenly complete, returning his smile warmly. When they reached the front, he kissed the top of her head and handed her off to his teary-eyed son.
"Alex," Namjoon cleared his choked up throat. "I have searched through the languages of the world to find a word that was more than love. I looked for a greater meaning. I wanted a deeper depth. I never imagined that I would end that search in the eyes of the person I want to spend the rest of my life with. In the heart of someone that filled my own heart so fully. In the soul of someone who understands me so absolutely, and in the mind of someone with whom my own mind finds an equal. Now, with you here, I comprehend my misery and failed attempts to define that which can only be shown. I see it every time you look at me. I feel it in your touch. I'm proud to give you everything I am and thankful for your love."
Alex took a shaky breath. They had kept their vows secret from each other, and now she paused and gathered herself. "Namjoon. I knew from the moment you revealed your search for a better word than love that you had the heart of a poet. I grew to love the man I saw and the man you became long before I had the chance to meet you. As we know, I've never been one for the conventional."
There was a soft giggling from the crowd.
"My love for you was definitely no exception. Every strength I have gained is from your struggles. Every hope I believed in is from your belief.  Every ember of the dreams I drempt was stoked by your encouragement, and every improvement I made was influenced by your determination. You are my missing pieces, my anchor on choppy seas. You are my inspiration, my light in the dark. A seal upon my arm, a seal upon my heart."
There was a brief pause before the traditional vows and rings were exchanged. And suddenly Alex found herself to be Mrs. Kim Namjoon as his lips sank to hers.
"Best birthday present ever." Namjoon said as he kissed his wife again.