Mochi

CHAPTER TWELVE

By the time Seokjin arrives to escort me to the ballroom, Namjoon in tow, Kyungmin is positively glowing.

"You look like a real princess, " she gasps, clearly pleased with her efforts.

She spins the chair around, bringing me face to face with my own reflection. She's applied something shimmery to my face, something that makes my skin nearly glow with an inner light. My eyelids she has only dusted with the faintest of blues, with subtle eyeliner to match.

I can't help but gush over the way my lips look, innocently pinkened, but only in the center. It seems she gradually blended the lipstick out from there. She's even highlighted my high cheekbones, which are only amplified by the fact that my hair is pulled entirely into an elegant updo.

I honestly don't even recognize myself.

Kyungmin assures the boys that I am almost ready, and nearly slams the door in their face. I can actually hear Namjoon as he shuffles about in boredom on the other side.

She helps me slip into my dress, and then into a pair of dark, cornflower hued pumps. Butterflies erupt in my stomach, but I'm at least grateful that the heels are actually relatively comfortable.

She clasps a pair of intricate pearl earrings to each lobe gently, and then pushes me away slightly to gush.

"You are so beautiful!" She exclaims. "Oh, I am just so proud right now, I could cry!"

She fans at her face, apparently fighting the urge to do just that.

She scurries to the door, opening it with an adorable revealing flourish.

"Ta-da!" She exclaims brightly.

"Wow Olivia, " Seokjin whistles lowly. "You look like you came straight out of a fairy tale."

He smiles brightly, before adopting a crooked parody of an evil grin.

"Tonight, I am your villain, " Namjoon announces, bowing slightly.

He nearly looses his footing in doing so, and Jin actually cackles even as he helps right the poor man's footing.

They both look incredibly dapper though. I have to admit.

Seokjin had chosen a pale blue, both fabric and cut clearly tailored specifically for him. The color is really quite striking on him, especially given his shiny, ebony hair.

Namjoon, on the other hand, has gone with more of a dark, forest green shade. The color truly makes his darkly brunette hair pop, giving it a bit of a lightning effect. And just like Jin, he appears to have gotten his suit tailor made for this occasion.

Suddenly, I feel an overwhelming amount of panic.

"What if I'm not pretty enough? What if he can't see me the way I see him? What if he brought someone else?"

Jin takes my chin in his hand, smiling reassuringly as he addresses me.

"Tonight might not go the way you want it to, " he admits, "things could go sideways, or events might arise that you are forced to deal with. Just remember, tonight is your fairy tale, and it's your job to close a chapter in your life. One way, or another."

His smile only grows brighter as he continues.

"And I think you'll surprise yourself. I think you can handle it." He confesses softly. "Or I wouldn't push you so."

I take a deep breath, attempting to fill my lungs with confidence. But courage, I suppose, does not work that way, and instead I am left feeling more like a floundering fish than a princess of any sort.