It’s simple and modest and most importantly, befitting of what we wanted.
Just a small, intimate ceremony where our love and relationship were the focal point.
Jin is waiting for me at the altar, his dark eyes never leaving mine as I walk toward him down the short aisle. Mom’s already crying in the front pew, dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief that’ll probably be soaked through before we’ve even reached our vows.
A little smile teases my lips as I hold my bouquet and walk to Jin. My mind runs the gamut of everything we’ve been through together and how hard we’ve fought to make it to this moment.
It feels unreal that we’ve survived what we have. That we’ve come out on the other side and now we’re finally going to be married.
The ceremony itself is short and sweet, exactly what we wanted. The pastor is warm and kind, delivering a sermon and then guiding us through the rest of the ceremony. Soon it’s time for our vows, the pastor offering an encouraging smile as Jin goes first.
He takes my hands in his, once again looking more uncharacteristically nervous than usual.
“Monroe,” he begins, “you brought my cold, black, shriveled heart back to life. Before you, I didn’t know what love was. I didn’t think I was capable of it. But you showed me that I was wrong—behind the walls I built, I was capable of love. You not only gave me yours, you trusted me to give you mine.” He squeezes my hands, his eyes gleaming with warmth. “I promise to spend every day of the rest of my life loving you, protecting you, cherishing you. You are my heart, Tokki-ya. My little rabbit. My wife.”
My cheeks are wet with the tears that have started sliding down. I have to draw a breath as he finishes his vows and it’s my turn.
“Jin,” I say, giving him a watery smile. “Honestly? I never thought we’d be here. When we first met, I was pretty sure you hated me. You were so cold and intense and terrifying, and I couldn’t figure out why you kept showing up everywhere I went.” I pause long enough for a small laugh as Jin grins, understanding the references. “But then I realized that your obsession was your form of love. It was how you expressed yourself before you knew other ways.
“Since then, you’ve grown so much. We’re learned so much from each other. You’ve made me braver. You’ve made me feel so loved for a man who claimed he didn’t know how.” I squeeze his hands back like he had mine, my heart overflowing. “I know you’d walk to the ends of the earth just to make me happy. You’d do anything for me.Literally. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life as Mrs. Seo.”
The pastor smiles, his eyes a little misty too, and pronounces us husband and wife.
Jin wastes no time drawing me into his arms and pressing his lips to mine in a happy, celebratory kiss. We take our time as Mom’s sobs get significantly louder and she blows her nose. The pastor and his wife (who’s snuck into the room through a side door) applaud.
My eyes flit up to connect with Jin’s once we’ve drawn back, and I find myself reflected in his dark gaze. I see the incredible look of wonder on his face as he holds me close and stares at me as if he can’t believe it’s happened.
We’re married.
Rarely one to be flashy, I’m surprised when Jin insists on staying at the Bellamy Hotel—and not in one of the regular rooms either.
Jin books us a stay in what’s known as the king suite, the most luxurious accommodations the hotel has to offer. Considering the Bellamy is already the nicest hotel in Philly, it’s a little crazy.
But I know not to argue as my husband carries me over the threshold into our huge suite and my eyes round drinking in the fancy furnishings. We’re on the top floor of the five-star hotel, which means huge windows and panoramic views. It means plush furniture and champagne on ice.
There’s the ginormous bed that could easily fit four adults and the fireplace that looks cool but won’t be seeing any action in a warm month like June. Complimentary robes and slippers are ready by the closet, and I’m pretty sure I geta glimpse of a jacuzzi tub in the bathroom when I glance over.
So many amenities and so much luxury, yet Jin and I couldn’t pay it less attention. We’re in such high spirits, still reeling from our marriage today, we’re much more focused on each other.
I’m laughing as Jin finally sets me down and I kick off my heels. I wiggle my freed feet against the soft carpet and bask in how good it feels to be barefoot again.
“I still can’t believe you stepped on my toes,” I say. “Twice. Duringonedance.”
The incident happened after our nuptials, when we’d gone to the courtyard outside the chapel and shared in our first dance as husband and wife.
Our first dance period considering Jin doesn’t dance.
He loosens his tie with a look of mock offense. “That courtyard was uneven. The dirt and grass threw it off.”
“The courtyard was perfectly flat and you know it.” I turn to face him, smirking coyly. “The fearsome Baekho-je, the great Silent Hunter of Busan, humbled by a simple waltz.”
“It wasn’t a waltz. There was no music.”
“There was music on my phone!”
“Your phone was playing a ballad from a drama soundtrack. That doesn’t count as waltz music.” He tosses his tie onto the armchair and starts working on his shirt buttons, lips twitching with suppressed amusement. His signature ghost of a grin. “For the record, fighting and dancing require entirely different skill sets.”
I snort, reaching back to find the zipper on my dress. “Sure they do. You move like Bruce Lee in a fight but like a baby giraffe on a dance floor.”
