Lifetime

Too Much

Seokjin rarely had difficulty with the art of persuasion, but it took a little more effort for him to convince me to relinquish control of our wedding planning to him. We went back and forth even after I initially agreed, under the influence of pleading lips that promised perfection. Across one another for meals and in the car on route to his appointments I found myself in need of more details, frustrated with the way he walked the line of sharing information.

"Faye and Dad will be present for the wedding to sign the marriage certificate as witnesses." When I'd asked him about the number of guests.

A shrug to accompany my inquiry about color schemes or themes. "There isn't really one."

And when I'd come to him about the overwhelming amount of money he seemed to be spending for a wedding that he said would only include two guests, he waved me off completely.

My mouth pressed into a hard line at his disregard as he turned back to the meat he prepped for grilling. He chuckled when I let the metal bowl I'd been mixing ingredients for a sauce in clatter a little too loudly against the countertop, rinsing his hands to attend to the disdain I felt at his ambiguity.

"If it's that bad I'll tell you everything I'm working on." He leaned against the island, wiping his hands clean with a towel. "But it'll be worth it to wait."

I kept my eyes on the bowl, a million little questions forming in my head. When we first discussed him taking over, it seemed like an easy yes. I didn't have very particular visions of my wedding day. The ultra poofy dress and classic five tiered cake I imagined as a child now felt outdated. Meeting him at the end of the aisle was the only sure thing.

"Okay, but are we doing anything after? Like maybe a dinner with the four of us? I wouldn't mind still having a first dance." I tapped my pinky against the sauce-covered spoon, lifting it to his mouth to taste.

"A little chili oil." He noted, moving to the seasoning cabinet and returning with a jar. I scooped a small spoonful to mix in, passing him the concoction to cover the meat. "I have all of it covered and everything will be solidified by the end of next week. Trust me, and if it comes to it, let Faye reassure you tomorrow." His hands were sticky with glaze so he craned his head, beckoning me for a kiss as acceptance of his suggestion.

I'd been assigned only two tasks for the wedding day, to choose a dress for myself and a ring for Seokjin. Still, he'd arranged for my flight to New York City, a weekend of shopping and playing dress-up with my best friend.

I went from struggling to leave Seokjin's arms as he saw me off to my flight to bounding into Faye's open ones when she greeted me at landing, holding up a little sign with my name as if she were my driver. Our chattering was nonstop, on the ride to her apartment and through half of the box of pizza she had delivered. She even perched on her vanity while I showered, leaving the door cracked to let out steam while she gushed over the Bronx born man who claimed that he'd met his future wife when she was shoved into him by an aggressive passenger on the subway.

Seokjin arranged several appointments at high-end bridal shops. We were met with bubbly at each, the first boutique stocked with dresses that weren't made for a woman with my waist to hip ratio despite having assured Seokjin otherwise.

I didn't let it discourage me. Instead, we stopped for hot dogs at a street cart between the first and second store, where I narrowed my style a little further. I was more keen on ivory than stark white, floral appliques over crystals. We counted out any dresses that used taffeta, the swishing noise of the material at my every movement sending Faye and I into a fit of laughter.

Much to the stylists initial dismay, Faye followed her through racks of dresses, making the final few selections. They returned to the fitting area with dress bags slung over their backs, the weight leading them to move a bit slower as they put their first selections on display as if in a competition to see whose would be chosen.