twenty-four | sehun ✔

Epilogue I - 혜리

HYERI'S POV

Natural makeup. Check.
Pastel lilac dress. Check.
Dreamy hairstyle. Check.
Silver princess heels. Check.
Wedding gift. Check.

With all the stuffs being ready since early in the morning, I drive myself to a Disney inspired park at the bit end of Seoul. Driving alone with a cup of hot caramel latte and a track of sleazy songs to get rid of the drowning silence is definitely one of my favourite thing to be done right now.

I take a deep cautious breath once I pull the handbrake. Don't make any silly mistake here, Han Hyeri. Today, you should be a Grammy actress, smile all the way until the ceremony ends. Shake hands when people approach you, laugh when you have to, be social around the people there.

I march towards the main entrance of the huge park with a fake little smile that I form to appear more friendly in front of the other guests. Thank Lord I didn't pull my blanket again after my first alarm this morning or else I might have to spend a splendid long minutes to walk from my car to the entrance. Heck! How could all these humans come so early? 90% of the nearest parking lots are all occupied.

Following the signboards that the wedding planners already set up at every intersection and corner, I sigh in relieve to see a wide area that filled with white and light pink tables, chairs, altar, flowers and dresses. The lake nearby reflects all those beauty very well. They choose such a nice place for the event.

"You're here already Hyeri?"

"Oh..hi to you too Jongin."

"Ahh.. sassy as always. Hi Ms Han. So why are you here so early?"

"I have to. You should take a look at the parking lots. I don't want to risk my ankles to walk to my car for more than 10 minutes in these heels."

"Ohh.. half of them probably belong to us. All of us came here separately from our girls."

"That explains on why I saw 25 familiar cars at the nearest entrance. You guys are evil to do that. Ugh!"

"Yeah whatever. Do you.. perhaps.. y'know..?"

"What is it? Spill it out Jongin, I'll be fine."

"Do you want to meet the bride?"

"She's here? Sure. Can you accompany me? At least you can elbow me if I say something that I shouldn't say."

"Can I slap you instead?"

"Damn boy. You're asking for a punch from me. Just take me to her already."

Every step that I take towards the woody cabin at the other side of the lake makes my heart beating faster. I feel like my heart is sinking and crushing against my chest but I promised myself to be a strong woman today in order to keep an image as Sehun's bestfriend.

"Can I come in, Hyejung-ssi? You have a visitor."

Jongin's deep voice penetrates my silent panic and he looks at me worriedly. I pat his muscular arm once, signaling him that I am okay. Actually that gesture is a big meaning to me as I want to convince myself that I can do this.

I can't hear any reply from anyone inside the cabin but I startle a bit when the door opens out of nowhere, revealing a gorgeous lady in a cute pink romper. Her innocent eye smile invites me to smile sincerely back at her.

'She will be a good wife to him. She will be able to take care of him even better than me. She will be a good mother to his future pretty children. She will make he falls in love with her in no time. Thank God.'

Those kind words, the words that I can't say through my voice, they scratch on my broken heart simultaneously, leaving me absolutely speechless. She's perfect for him. I have no more reason left to be used to love him now.

"Uhmm.. Kai-ssi, would you mind to invite your friend in? I should introduce myself to her right?"

Her soft voice, polite manners, charming laughs, I approve her to be his. My mind wander around as I move my body to sit on a couch in front of her. My eyes glue on the vanity table between us, I can't make any eye contact with strangers too well.

"Hyejung-ssi, this is Sehun's... bestfriend, Hyeri."

I can feel a slight pressure at the little of my back as Jongin silently apologize for introducing me as someone who I am not.

"Ahh.. it's nice to meet you Hyeri-ssi. I'm Hyejung, Lee Hyejung."

I shake her hand in mine and once our hands touch with each other, the calmness floods into my system. Yes. I feel totally free to let go of my feelings now.

"You should stop using that surname Hyejung-ssi. It'll change in less than an hour."

I smash the awkward wall between us in a second, making Jongin slumps on the couch in such an obvious relief act. The conversation between us continues and Jongin excuses himself to pick a childish fight with his brothers and girlfriend near the altar. That boy surely knows how to have fun by annoying other people.

I talk with her while she's getting ready for the wedding. I dig out all her family background and lifestyle. We go from formal talk to first name basis really quick. She even calls me unnie as she's born in 1996. One year younger than me.

15 minutes to the starting of the ceremony, I text Jongin to get me out of the cabin. I can't bring myself to say that I have to go now. She looks so lonely preparing for the wedding as she has no relatives. Being an orphan is surely a hard thing to get through as a fragile girl like her and I don't want to make she feels sad on her happy day.

"You didn't curse at her right?"

"Jongin! Seriously?!"

"She looked so ready to cry at any minute just now. What were you guys talking about? Did you tell her who you really are?"

"I'm not that stupid. Duhh. She told me about her past. She's an orphan, Jongin-ssi."

"Oh. I don't know that. I bet you even he doesn't know about this as well. He met her only twice."

"Jongin, do me a favour? Make sure that he take care of her properly. She deserves all the happiness in the world."

"Hyeri, I can't believe that you just asked me to do that."

With that being said, Jongin tucks on my left arm, making me stop beside him. I look into his teary eyes in confusion. Before I could ask him anything, he pulls me into a hug that manages to comfort me. Thank God for giving me such a crowd of great friends around me. I swallow down the big lump in my throat and smile into Jongin's tux. I won't get hurt today my friends. I'll try my best.

Time flies too fast as I zoned out every now and then. The only thing that snatched me from my daydream is a clear masculine voice vowing "I do". That's when a few of warm hands grabbed mine, reminding me that if I need to break down, they'll support me, pat me, cuddle with me later on.

But I didn't cry. Which was a huge success. Not until a group of people strolled over to my seat 20 minutes later, taking off my invisible mask that I wore since 9 am.

"Hyeri, my lovely girl. I'm so sorry dear."

With a motherly hug and familiar rose scent that came from her, my first tear rolls down my sunken cheek without any delay.

"It's okay Mrs Oh. I'm fine."

Such a big fat lie.