Chapter 2

I blinked, realizing I was still sitting on the edge of the bridal suite sofa, fingers nervously twisting the lace trim of my dress.

Soyoung stood near the mirror, fixing her makeup. "What are you thinking about!?" she asked, tilting her head toward me, a teasing smile forming.

I shook my head lightly giving her the usual answer "Nothing".

"You say that, but I bet you were thinking about him again."

My cheeks flushed before I could stop them.

She walked over, and sat beside me.

"You know he's here, right?"

I looked up, startled.

" Dongmin. Junghwan texted me. He just arrived."

Just then her mother arrived and told her to get ready to enter the aisle.

I stood up slowly, smoothing the creases in my dress, even though my hands were slightly trembling. Soyoung didn't notice – or maybe she did and chose to stay silent, like always.

The double doors to the hall opened, and light spilled in like water– warm and golden.

The music had started.

Everything looked straight out of a dream – flowers in soft pastel, fairy lights twinkling overhead like stars and the murmur of guests filled the air with quiet anticipation.

I sat at the far end of the bride's side, tucked in the last row. Out of sight, not entirely by accident.

Soyoung

She was walking down the aisle, her hand looped through her father's arm, her smiling steady and serene. She looked like that kind of woman who had already chosen her happiness and stepped into it with grace.

And I was proud of her– truly.

It felt like I was walking her into a new life...while mine stayed right where it always had.

As I shifted my gaze along the rows of guests, I saw him...

Dongmin.

Sitting on the groom's side, third row from the front. Wearing a royal blue suit that somehow made him look sharp, quiet and handsome like always.

The music shifted to something softer– a piano melody that made even the air feel delicate. Soyoung stood at the front now, her hands holding the bouquet tightly, a smile fixed on her face but her eyes shining from joy. Seeing Junghwan's eyes filled when she walked in was a sight to be remembered.

Everyone around me was smiling.

The officiant began to speak, voice echoing warmly across the hall. But my attention flickered – wandered ... Until it landed again...on him.

Dongmin.

He wasn't looking at the couple. He was looking down at his hands, fingers interlocked in his lap. Or maybe at the floor. His face unreadable.

We'd never spoken. He probably didn't even remember I existed. But I remember everything – the way he leaned back in his chair during math, the way his hoodie strings always tangled, how his tie would loosely hang around the collar of his shirt, like he never really belonged in it.

Sometimes, I wondered if he ever noticed anything in return. Of course, he never did. Not once.

I only ever talked about him to Soyoung. And now, here I was sitting as she married someone she loved.... Junghwan. While Dongmin sat far away, as unreachable as ever.

"..... You may now kiss the bride."

Everyone clapped.

I didn't notice I had been holding my breath until then. Then something happened.

He looked back. And just for a heartbeat – just one – his eyes flicked towards me.

Not long enough to mean anything.

But long enough to ruin me all over.

Soyoung walked down the aisle with her now husband, her hand looked in his arm and walked away– the bride and the groom disappearing through the doors to the reception hall, laughter trailing behind them.

I was left in the echo.

And some where in that echo .... Dongmin stood up and left.

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