The Beauty of What Could Have Been

Chapter 11 - Monumental Moment

Author's Note:

Dear readers, thanks so much for the comments and for the votes.

Here's a continuation of the sweet events in Chapter 10. Hope you like it! Keep safe everyone!

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Complete silence engulfed the room.

Not a soul moved.

All eyes were fixed on Son Ye Jin as she sat in her chair, staring at the magnificent ring that glistened majestically in front of her, and on the gorgeous man who was bent down on one knee with the ring in hand, who was hoping against all hope for one answer from her.

Her thoughts went blank except to repeatedly ask herself "Omo, is this really happening?"

His thoughts were singularly focused onto one objective, which he kept repeating to himself as he knelt in front of her: "Babe, make me the happiest man in the world. Please say yes."

The Cinderella sisters who were standing across the table from Son Ye Jin were transfixed on the life-changing event playing out in front of them, each one feeling privileged to be right there to witness it and to share in sister Ye Jin-ah's special moment.

Oh Yoon Ah was clasping her own hands as she stood beside Lee Jung Hyun, unaware that her knuckles were turning white as she had been squeezing them too tightly. Lee Jung Hyun was frozen where she stood, tears already cascading down her chin.

To Oh Yoon Ah's other side stood Song Yoon Ah who unconsciously still held a spoonful of Daechu Blanc (a dessert made from sweet jujube ice cream) which started dripping onto the floor.

Uhm Ji Won who was seated beside Son Ye Jin, luckily the closest to the action, held her breath and thought that she could almost hear both Son Ye Jin's and Hyun Bin's hearts beating wildly. Or was it her own heart beating a thousand times a minute? She wasn't sure. She really didn't care. She was fully absorbed in the event in front of her, trying not to miss anything.

As droplets of stress-induced perspiration collected on Hyun Bin's forehead, he continued to talk to himself repeatedly. "Take your time Babe. If I need to kneel in front of you for hours, I would gladly do so. I can wait forever if I have to, but please, please say yes...."

The silence stretched for a few more seconds as the world stood still.

Overcoming her initial shock and panic, Son Ye Jin was finally able to take control of herself.

A tear escaped her eye. She bowed her head, her face momentarily blocked from Hyun Bin's view by strands of her hair. Her cheeks blushed uncontrollably.

Hyun Bin's hopeful eyes were drilled onto her. The hand holding the ring never wavered. "Please, please....babe...." his thoughts went.

As if in slow motion in his eyes, she looked up, slowly turning her face toward him as she moved, and he saw a gentle smile forming on her lips.

"Yes, Binnie! Yes!"

Instantly, cheers and clapping erupted in the room. No cheek was left dry. Everyone's heart fluttered. The spoonful of Daechu Blanc in Song Yoon Ah's hand flew to the table, splashing dessert everywhere. Hyun Bin could not control his smile. The Cinderella sisters hugged each other.

Son Ye Jin stood slowly to face him. He took her left hand and gently slid the ring onto her finger, then kissed it. He then stood up and before he had the chance to hug her she jumped onto him with an embrace.

Quickly his lips found hers and the world dissolved around them as they were instantly transported to an island that they've created just for themselves, savouring each other's undying love.