I do! | JJK

Chapter 4

It is the evening of my Betrothal to Jeon Jungkook. I haven't spoken to my father since Friday night. But my mom has been checking on how I'm doing every half hour since this morning. She looks excited, nervous and proud, all at the same time!

As for me, I don't even know how I'm feeling. It's like there's a huge void in place of my feelings.

*******

I have to be at the 'Haneul Palace' in 30 minutes and I'm still having my hair done. Thankfully I'm wearing my dress already and I had them put my makeup on. I have to admit I look like a completely different person. When I look into the mirror I see a more grown up, more sophisticated version of me.

I still can't believe I'm getting betrothed to Jeon freaking JUNGKOOK!!

My hair's done and I have 25 minutes, to cover a distance that usually takes about 40 minutes, to get to MY betrothal. This is INSANE.

I offer a quick prayer and hop into the car. My parents left an hour earlier. I urge my driver to step on the gas as I fish for my mobile in my purse.

As I'm moving the contents of my purse around I thing of something totally random. I realize just how EXPENSIVE I am right now. I'm wearing jewels and accessories that probably cost more than a regular person's house or all of their assets combined. (And that's not something I'm proud of) So I try and calculate how much I'd be worth if someone were to rob me right this instant. But all that math just gives me a headache so I give up.

I finally spot my mobile and see that I have 21 missed calls and 2 text messages.

Mom:
Where are you??

Jungkook:
You wouldn't chicken out at the day of your engagement right?

Missed Calls:
Mom- 5
Dad- 4
Aunt Jeon- 10
Jungkook- 2

I look at the time and see that I have only 3 minutes but as I look out the window I note that I'm almost there.

I reach the Haneul Palace when I have exactly one minute for the actual thing to begin.

I have no idea what is going to happen but as I look up at the building I realize that they've outdone themselves with the lights and the decorations. It's sooo pretty that I stare at it for 10 whole seconds. I look around and see that there are many people who have arrived already.

I call my mother.

"Katy! Where WERE you darling?!"

She answers on the second ring and sounds so relieved that I almost laugh out loud at how comical she sounds.

She directs me to where I'm supposed to go and I find the place without much difficulty.

Aunt Jeon's choice of attire to her son's betrothal is the first thing that I notice as I enter the room and it catches me off-guard.

She's wearing a traditional Chinese Beizi. I think that's what it's called. (Hoping my memory serves me right).

She runs towards me and gives me a hug. "There you are, Sweetie!"

I look around to see how the others are dressed and to my relief I see my mother in relatively normal clothes. She's wearing a white blouse, a red skirt and red heels. She looks beautiful. She is talking to someone with a chef's hat on and I come to the conclusion that he must be the head chef.

Right! The Beizi.. "Aunt Jeon, why are you dressed in a Beizi?"

I mean I do know that she loves the Chinese entertainment industry (she spend's her leisure time watching Chinese dramas), I do understand because I'm in love with a Chinese man myself. (Hint: I'm talking about Jackson Wang). And she probably respects the Chinese customs and traditions a lot but.. I see if I can spot either Uncle Jeon or Jungkook but neither of them are around.

"Why, it's because we're celebrating the Guo Da Li of course!" She says it as if it's the most natural thing in the world.

"The what?? Aunt Jeon?!"

"The Guo Da Li, Katy. And please don't call me Aunt Jeon anymore. Call me eommeoni."

"Sure Aunt... eommeoni!" I correct myself.

"That's better. You look lovely dear. I have to go socialize with the guests. I'll come find you in 15 minutes. A few important guests haven't arrived yet. And then... you can get on stage."

With that Aunt Jeon leaves.

I'm still staring blankly at the spot she just left when Jungkook enters.

He looks ETHEREAL in a black suit. He has a frilly silk white shirt underneath and a red scarf tied around his neck. I've seen him in plenty of suits but today he looks.. I don't even know how to describe how he looks.. he looks DELECTABLE!

Before I can even process the situation or even formulate a question I can ask him about the Guo Da Li ceremony he take's a 180° turn and rushes out of my sight.

So I decide I'd ask Naver all about it. Naver has never put me down. I open my browser and search for the Guo Da Li.

Thankfully, I spell it right and I open a page that says 'A guide to brides on the Guo Da Li ceremony'

What I see is definitely NOT what I signed up for. This thing is so formal and I'm someone who hates being at the centre of attention.

I read that it's the Chinese betrothal ceremony which in other (more proper) words is the 'formal meeting between the two families'. It symbolises the 'groom's sincerity towards marrying the bride and the assurance that she will be taken care of, after the wedding'.

And there's more... There were the Betrothal Gifts and the Hui Li (or the returning of gifts). It makes me want to disgorge the last meal I had. Which would be a real shame because Mrs. Choi made the most delicious pizza.

The gifts represent fertility and prosperity but all I want to do is strip this silly gown off and hug my pillow to sleep. I'm in desperate need of my bed. I want all of this to be a BAD dream.

I'm seriously contemplating running out the door when my dad and Uncle Jeon come in. Both of them are in red suits and are laughing about something when they see me and stop.

Uncle Jeon says, "Wow! You look like a doll Katy! When did you get here?"

He gives me a warm hug. I look at my dad over Uncle Jeon's shoulder and he looks like he wants to say something too. But since he doesn't I smile at him. He smiles back.

Uncle Jeon lets go of me and I say, "Hey Uncle Jeon. I got here about 10 minutes ago. Ummm.. do you know anything about this Guo Da Li ceremony?"

"Oh that.. Don't worry about it sweetheart. It's not as scary as it seems. Your Aunt Jeon wanted to do it very badly and I thought 'why not?' She has only one son and he's going to have a betrothal ceremony only once."

I can only HOPE, for everyone's good, that this is true. With Jungkook's reputation.. I don't even want to go there."

I hope you don't mind." Uncle Jeon says good naturedly.

"Of course not, Uncle." Ever the Angel.

God! My nerves are going to kill me.

"Good. Excuse us. Lots to do."

And with a wink he leaves with my dad.

I'm standing all by myself with no idea what to do again.

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Heyo. Hope you like the story so far. I will be putting the next chapter up very shortly.

What do you think of STILL WITH YOU?

I personally haven't been able to stop listening. 😭❤❤