The week disappeared faster than Yerin had expected.
One day, the wedding still felt like something everyone was preparing for.
The next...
It was almost here.
The Hwang Mansion had become a constant blur of movement.
People came and went carrying boxes, flowers, garment bags, invitation lists, and endless things Yerin couldn't even remember ordering.
Her mother had a schedule for everything.
Her grandmother had an opinion about everything.
And Ji-hoon had somehow found a reason to complain about everything.
"Why are there this many flowers?"
He stood in the hallway, staring at another arrangement being carried past him.
A staff member politely smiled.
"Mr. Hwang requested them."
Ji-hoon turned toward his father.
"Why?"
Mr. Hwang didn't even look up from his phone.
"Because it's a wedding."
Ji-hoon stared at him.
"I know that."
"Then you have your answer."
Ji-hoon sighed.
"Nobody listens to me in this house."
Yerin, passing by, laughed.
"You've finally realized."
He looked at her.
"Don't start."
She continued walking.
"Too late."
Ji-hoon watched her disappear down the hallway.
For a moment, his expression softened.
Soon...
She wouldn't be walking through these hallways every morning.
The thought came quietly.
And for some reason, he didn't like it.
Across the city, the Choi residence was just as busy.
Mr. Choi spent hours reviewing the final arrangements with the venue staff.
The decorations had been finalized.
The flowers had arrived.
The seating arrangement had been checked more than once.
Even the smallest details had been reviewed.
Do-hyun had watched all of it happening around him.
Yet strangely...
The closer the wedding came, the calmer he became.
Perhaps it was because there was nothing left to fight.
Or perhaps...
He had simply stopped wanting to.
His phone vibrated.
He glanced at the screen.
A message from Yerin.
Yerin:
Are you nervous?
Do-hyun stared at it for a moment.
Then typed.
Do-hyun:
No.
The reply came almost immediately.
Yerin:
Liar.
He smiled.
Do-hyun:
You?
There was a pause.
Then—
Yerin:
...Very.
He leaned back against the chair.
Do-hyun:
Then we're even.
Three dots appeared.
Disappeared.
Appeared again.
Finally:
Yerin:
Good.
He looked at the message longer than necessary.
Then put his phone away.
A small smile remained on his face.
The Night Before
The Hwang Mansion eventually became quiet.
The staff had finished their work.
The last delivery had arrived.
The final arrangements had been checked.
Tomorrow...
The house would be filled with people again.
But tonight...
It was almost peaceful.
Yerin sat alone in her room.
Her wedding dress was hanging near the wardrobe.
Aurora.
Even from across the room, she could see the soft ivory fabric beneath the dim light.
Her jewellery was arranged carefully nearby.
Her shoes sat beneath the dress.
Her veil had been placed inside its protective box.
Everything was ready.
Everything except her.
Yerin looked at the clock.
12:17 a.m.
She sighed.
"Great."
She lay back on her bed.
Closed her eyes.
Opened them again.
Nothing.
She turned onto her side.
Still nothing.
Tomorrow.
The word alone was enough to make her heart beat faster.
Tomorrow she would wake up as Yerin.
And by the end of the day...
She would be someone's wife.
She looked toward the dress again.
For months, the wedding had been something everyone else talked about.
Now...
It was hers.
A soft knock came from the door.
Yerin sat up.
"Come in."
The door opened.
Ji-hoon stood there.
He looked at her.
Then at the clock.
"You're awake."
"So are you."
"I was checking on you."
"At midnight?"
"Exactly."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
He shrugged.
"I wanted to make sure you hadn't escaped through the window."
Yerin laughed.
"I thought you were supposed to support me."
"I am."
"By checking if I've run away?"
"That's what support looks like."
She shook her head.
"You're impossible."
"I've been told."
He stepped inside.
For a moment, neither said anything.
Then Ji-hoon glanced toward the balcony.
"Come outside."
Yerin followed him.
The night air was cool.
The city stretched beneath them, scattered with thousands of lights.
Yerin rested her hands against the railing.
Ji-hoon stood beside her.
Neither spoke for a while.
Then he said quietly,
"You remember when you were little?"
Yerin smiled.
"Unfortunately."
He laughed.
"You used to follow me everywhere."
"I did not."
"You did."
"I was a child."
"You were obsessed with me."
"That's not true."
"You cried when I went to university."
Yerin turned toward him.
"I was seven."
"Exactly."
She laughed.
Ji-hoon smiled.
Then his expression slowly changed.
"Tomorrow..."
Yerin's smile faded.
He looked toward the city.
"Tomorrow you're getting married."
He paused.
"It's just..."
He struggled to find the words.
"You're my little sister."
Yerin looked down.
"And tomorrow, you're going to walk into a different life."
Her eyes began to sting.
Ji-hoon noticed.
He immediately looked away.
"Don't cry."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"So are you."
He touched the corner of his eye.
"Allergies."
Yerin laughed softly.
"At midnight?"
"Very serious allergies."
She shook her head.
Then Ji-hoon's smile disappeared.
"I don't know when it happened."
"When what happened?"
"You grew up."
Yerin's throat tightened.
"I still remember when you were scared of thunderstorms."
"I wasn't scared."
"You used to come into my room."
"Because you had the bigger room."
"Sure."
He smiled.
"You'd sit beside me until the storm ended."
Yerin looked at him.
"You remember that?"
"I remember everything."
His voice softened.
"That's the problem."
A tear slipped down Yerin's cheek.
Ji-hoon sighed.
"I told myself I wouldn't do this."
"Do what?"
"Get emotional."
He laughed quietly.
"But tomorrow..."
He looked at her.
"Tomorrow, someone else gets to worry about whether you've eaten."
Yerin smiled through her tears.
"That's your biggest concern?"
"Someone has to."
She laughed.
Then his voice became serious.
"If you're happy..."
He paused.
"Come home and tell us."
Yerin nodded.
"If you're sad..."
"Come home."
"If you're angry..."
She laughed.
"Come home?"
"Immediately."
"What if I'm just tired?"
"Come home."
"What if I miss you?"
His expression softened.
"Especially then."
Yerin couldn't hold herself together anymore.
She stepped forward and hugged him.
Ji-hoon wrapped his arms around her.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then he whispered,
"This will always be your home."
Yerin closed her eyes.
"I know."
"No matter what happens tomorrow."
"I know."
"No matter where you live."
"I know."
"And no matter how much your husband annoys you..."
She laughed against his shoulder.
"Oppa."
"I'm serious."
"You ruin every emotional moment."
"That's my job."
She pulled away slightly.
Her eyes were wet.
So were his.
He gently wiped one of her tears.
"Don't forget who you are."
He smiled.
"Because you're already difficult enough."
Yerin laughed.
"You really are annoying."
"And yet..."
He opened his arms again.
She hugged him once more.
This time...
Neither tried to hide their tears.
Wedding Morning
The first light of morning had barely appeared when the Hwang Mansion came alive.
Doors opened.
Footsteps echoed through the corridors.
Staff members moved quickly between rooms.
Makeup artists arrived.
Hair stylists followed.
Flowers were carried inside.
The bridal room became a world of its own.
Yerin sat quietly in front of the mirror.
For once, she wasn't surrounded by noise.
Everyone seemed to be moving around her.
But she felt strangely still.
A knock came.
Her mother entered.
The moment Mrs. Hwang saw her daughter...
She smiled.
"Good morning."
"Good morning, Mom."
Her mother walked toward her.
For a few moments, she simply looked at her.
Then she reached out and touched Yerin's hair.
"You look so grown up."
Yerin smiled.
"Mom..."
"I know."
Her mother laughed softly.
"I know I'm being emotional."
She sat beside her.
"I just..."
Her voice faltered.
"I remember holding you for the first time."
Yerin looked at her.
"You were so tiny."
Her mother smiled through a tear.
"And now you're sitting here waiting to become a bride."
Yerin reached for her hand.
"Don't cry."
She squeezed Yerin's hand.
"I used to imagine this day."
"What did you imagine?"
"Everything."
She laughed softly.
"Your dress. Your flowers. Your hair."
Then her expression softened.
"But I never imagined how difficult it would be."
Yerin's eyes filled.
Her mother gently touched her cheek.
"Listen to me."
Yerin nodded.
"You're not leaving me today."
"You're not losing your family."
"You're simply beginning another part of your life."
Yerin nodded again.
Her mother pulled her into a hug.
And for a few quiet moments...
There was no wedding.
No guests.
No expectations.
Just a mother holding her daughter.
The Groom
Across the city...
Do-hyun stood in front of the mirror.
His tuxedo was perfectly fitted.
His hair was neatly styled.
His cufflinks were in place.
Everything looked exactly as it should.
His mother entered the room.
She stopped.
For a moment...
She didn't say anything.
Do-hyun turned.
"Mom?"
She smiled.
"Nothing."
"You're crying."
"I'm not."
He raised an eyebrow.
She laughed softly.
"Come here."
He walked toward her.
She adjusted his collar even though it was already perfect.
"I still remember when you were little."
Do-hyun smiled.
"You tell me that every year."
"Because every year I get older."
She touched his cheek.
"And you somehow keep growing up."
He looked at her.
"I'm still your son."
"I know."
She hugged him.
Do-hyun held her tightly.
Then she whispered,
"Take care of her."
He answered without hesitation.
"I will."
The door opened.
Mr. Choi entered.
He looked at his son.
His expression remained composed.
He walked toward Do-hyun and adjusted his tie.
"Too loose."
Do-hyun looked down.
"It was fine."
"Now it's better."
His father stepped back.
For a moment, the two simply looked at each other.
Then Mr. Choi placed a hand on his son's shoulder.
"You've spent a long time thinking about what this marriage would take from you."
Do-hyun listened.
"Don't spend the rest of your life thinking that way."
His father paused.
"Think about what you can build."
Do-hyun nodded.
His father gave his shoulder one final squeeze.
Then he walked away.
Do-hyun looked at himself in the mirror again.
For the first time...
He didn't see a man being forced into a wedding.
He saw a groom.
Aurora
Back at the Hwang Mansion...
The bridal room fell silent.
Yerin stood in the center.
Aurora was finally brought out.
The dress she had chosen only days ago.
The fabric was carefully arranged around her.
Every fold was adjusted.
Every detail was checked.
Her jewellery was placed carefully.
Her hair was finished.
Then...
The veil was lifted.
Yerin looked at herself in the mirror.
For a moment...
She simply stared.
She barely recognized the girl looking back at her.
Then the door opened.
The bridal room had finally gone quiet.
Yerin stood in front of the large window, her back turned toward the door.
She could hear the faint movement of people behind her.
The soft rustle of fabric.
The quiet footsteps of the attendants.
Someone adjusting the edge of her veil.
But she didn't turn around.
She had been told to wait.
"Don't turn yet," her mother had whispered earlier.
So she waited.
Her hands rested gently over the bouquet in front of her.
Her heart was beating faster than it had all morning.
Then...
The door opened.
Her grandmother entered first.
Behind her came her father.
And finally...
Her mother.
The three of them stepped into the room together.
And stopped.
For several seconds...
Nobody said anything.
They simply looked at her.
From behind, Yerin looked completely different.
The ivory gown fell gracefully around her.
The long veil cascaded down her back.
The delicate train stretched across the floor.
Her hair was perfectly arranged.
The jewellery caught the morning light with every small movement.
But they still hadn't seen her face.
Her grandmother slowly brought a hand to her chest.
Her eyes immediately began to glisten.
Mrs. Hwang covered her mouth.
Even Mr. Hwang, who had been determined to remain composed throughout the morning, went completely still.
He looked at his daughter.
His little girl.
The same girl he had once carried through the halls of this very house.
The same girl who used to run toward him whenever she heard his car arrive.
And now...
She was standing there in a wedding dress.
His daughter was a bride.
His wife reached for his hand.
He quietly held it.
Neither of them spoke.
They didn't want to break the moment.
Finally, her mother took a small breath.
"Yerin..."
Yerin's fingers tightened slightly around her bouquet.
She heard the emotion in her mother's voice.
She smiled faintly.
"Can I turn around now?"
Her mother laughed softly through her tears.
"Yes."
Yerin closed her eyes for a moment.
Then slowly...
She turned.
First, her shoulder moved.
Then her body followed.
The train of her gown shifted gently across the floor.
Her veil moved with her.
And finally...
She faced them.
Silence.
Complete silence.
Yerin looked at the three people standing before her.
Her grandmother.
Her father.
Her mother.
All three were staring at her.
Her grandmother was the first to break.
A tear slipped down her cheek.
"My beautiful girl..."
Yerin's smile trembled.
"Grandma..."
Her grandmother walked toward her slowly.
She reached for Yerin's hands and held them between her own.
"You look like a dream."
Yerin laughed softly.
"You're going to make me cry."
Her grandmother smiled through her tears.
"Dont cry or your make up will be ruined."
She gently touched Yerin's cheek.
"You've grown into such a beautiful woman."
Yerin's eyes filled.
She leaned into her grandmother's touch.
Then her grandmother kissed her forehead.
"May you always be happy."
Yerin nodded.
"Thank you."
Her grandmother stepped back.
And then...
Yerin looked toward her father.
He hadn't moved.
He was simply standing there.
Looking at her.
His eyes were wet.
Yerin's smile softened.
"Dad?"
He swallowed.
For a moment, he seemed to struggle with what to say.
Then he finally walked toward her.
He stopped in front of her.
He looked at the dress.
Then at her face.
Then back at her eyes.
"My little girl..."
Yerin's eyes immediately filled with tears.
She smiled.
"Dad..."
He reached out and gently touched the side of her head.
"I don't know when you grew up."
A tear finally slipped down his cheek.
He quickly wiped it away.
"I thought I would be ready for this."
Yerin laughed softly through her tears.
"You don't have to be."
He smiled.
"You're right."
He looked at her for another moment.
Then said quietly,
"You look beautiful."
Yerin couldn't hold herself together anymore.
She stepped forward.
Her father immediately wrapped his arms around her.
He held her carefully, mindful of her gown.
Yerin buried her face against his shoulder.
For a few seconds...
Neither spoke.
Then he whispered,
"No matter where you go..."
He paused.
"...you'll always be my daughter."
Yerin nodded against him.
"I know."
He kissed the top of her head.
Then slowly let her go.
He wiped another tear from his cheek and stepped aside.
Yerin turned toward her mother.
And the moment their eyes met...
Her mother's tears returned.
Yerin smiled.
"Mom..."
Her mother shook her head, laughing softly.
"Don't."
"You're already crying."
"So are you."
Yerin laughed.
Her mother walked toward her.
She didn't say anything at first.
She simply looked at her daughter.
Then she gently adjusted a small section of Yerin's veil.
"You look exactly like the little girl I used to imagine."
Yerin's eyes softened.
"Really?"
Her mother nodded.
"Except..."
She smiled.
"...you're even more beautiful than I imagined."
Yerin's lips trembled.
"Mom..."
Her mother pulled her into a hug.
Yerin immediately hugged her back.
Her mother held her tightly.
"I wish I could stop time."
Yerin closed her eyes.
"Why?"
"So I could keep you like this for a little longer."
Yerin's tears fell.
"But you can't."
"I know."
Her mother pulled back and cupped Yerin's face.
"But that's okay."
She smiled through her tears.
"Because you're not disappearing."
Yerin nodded.
"I'm still here."
"You'll always be here."
Her mother kissed her forehead.
Then she stepped back.
The three of them stood together.
Grandmother.
Father.
Mother.
Looking at Yerin.
And Yerin looked at them.
For one quiet moment...
She wasn't a bride.
She wasn't someone's future wife.
She wasn't the center of a wedding.
She was simply their daughter.
Their granddaughter.
Their little girl.
And they were looking at her as if they wanted to memorize the moment forever.
Then her father quietly said,
"We should let her breathe."
Her mother laughed.
"You're the one who was crying."
"I wasn't."
Grandmother raised an eyebrow.
"I saw you."
Yerin laughed through her tears.
For the first time that morning...
The room felt light again.
Her mother took her hand.
"Come."
Yerin looked toward the mirror.
Her reflection stared back at her.
Aurora.
The veil.
The jewellery.
The bouquet.
Everything was ready.
Her mother squeezed her hand.
"Today..."
She smiled.
"...you become a bride."
Yerin took a slow breath.
Then smiled.
"I think I'm still not ready for this."
Then...
The door opened again.
Ji-hoon walked inside.
He looked at Yerin.
His expression remained calm.
He didn't cry.
Instead, he smiled.
A proud smile.
He walked toward her.
"Well..."
Yerin laughed softly.
"What?"
He looked her up and down.
"I suppose the dress wasn't terrible."
She smiled.
"atleast be nice to me for today."
"Never."
He stood in front of her.
Then his expression softened.
"You look beautiful."
Yerin's smile trembled.
"Thank you."
Ji-hoon looked at her for a long moment.
Then opened his arms.
Yerin stepped forward.
He hugged her tightly.
For the first time that morning...
She felt completely calm.
He whispered,
"I'll see you at the end of the aisle."
Yerin closed her eyes.
"Okay."
He pulled away.
Adjusted the edge of her veil.
Then smiled.
"Ready?"
She took a breath.
"Not really."
She looked at him.
He smiled.
"Neither am I."
He stepped backward.
Then left the room.
The door closed.
Yerin stood alone.
Her fingers tightened around her bouquet.
Outside...
The wedding music had begun.
The Ceremony
At the venue...
Guests slowly took their seats.
The Choi family entered first.
Mr. and Mrs. Choi walked down the white carpet.
Their relatives followed.
Soft music filled the hall.
Then...
Do-hyun appeared.
He walked toward the altar.
Every step felt strangely heavy.
He reached the front.
Stopped.
And looked toward the entrance.
The doors remained closed.
His hands rested loosely in front of him.
His expression was calm.
But his eyes betrayed him.
He was waiting.
Waiting for her.
The music suddenly changed.
The hall fell silent.
Everyone stood.
Do-hyun's gaze lifted.
The large doors slowly began to open.
Light spilled through the entrance.
And then...
He saw her.
Yerin stood at the doorway.
Aurora flowed around her.
Her veil concealed her face.
And beside her...
Was Ji-hoon.
Do-hyun froze.
For a moment...
He forgot everything.
The guests.
The music.
The flowers.
The ceremony.
None of it mattered.
He had seen the dress before.
He had watched her choose it.
He had seen her wearing it at the boutique.
But this...
This was different.
Because now...
She was his bride.
His eyes remained fixed on her.
Yerin looked toward him.
Even through the veil...
Their eyes met.
And stayed there.
Neither smiled.
Neither looked away.
The attendants carefully moved around Yerin, arranging the long train of her gown across the white carpet.
She remained still.
Her eyes never left Do-hyun.
He couldn't look anywhere else.
For those few seconds...
The entire wedding hall seemed to disappear.
There was only the distance between them.
A distance that was slowly becoming smaller.
Ji-hoon glanced at Yerin.
Then followed her gaze toward Do-hyun.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
He leaned slightly toward her.
"Ready, little sister?"
Yerin's fingers tightened around her bouquet.
She took one quiet breath.
Then nodded.
Ji-hoon smiled.
Together...
They took the first step down the aisle.
And Do-hyun never looked away.
...To Be Continued...