9 The Letter

Jin-Ae tried to sense the oddness in the air.

She dropped her head and sighed deeply to settle down her anxious thoughts and blinked twice to inspect, what if she miraculously see something.

Soon, mild earthy smell mixed with a sense of delicacy and softness hit her. Jin-Ae got goosebumps as this was her dad's favourite, the daisies and forget-me-not flowers.

Jin-Ae took long deep breathes, taking in all of the smell, apropos of she never knows when she'll be able to this smell again, when two hands helped her remove the blindfold, slowly.

She got startled and felt something different.

Her heart thudded loudly as if it would shred out of her chest right away anytime soon.

Slowly and deliberately, the darkness faded away, she opened her eyes.

It took her a moment to adapt her eyes to the warm lighting of the cosy room.

Her eyes focused solely on the woman shoes which were there in front of her. Everything else was a blur.

She looked up while kneading her eyes to figure out the situation as her heart was beating fast whilst her mind was clinking with uncountable questions.

Jin-Ae saw a middle-aged woman, in a decent uniform, and with a confectionary smile on her face who was standing there as her posture explained her occupation.

Jin-Ae soon comprehended that she was one of the people that worked there for Taehyung. She greeted her and fixed her dress avoiding the cloud of awkwardness that was drizzling on her.

The next second, her eyes were looking for him.

Her heart was longing for his presence, she tried to scan her surroundings as she felt her fluttery nervous stomach grumbling. Her eyes searched for him but sceptically, he wasn't there.

She sauntered a few steps as she sighed radically when she saw...

Dark red foil balloons abutted the ceiling, polaroids with fairy lights were gleaming so beautifully adding a romantic touch to the warm, cosy atmosphere. Jin-Ae was in pure awe.

She walked around the room with her hand on her mouth as her eyes gradually turned glossy.

The more she paddled the more red and black balloon collided with her shoes.

A scented candle was lit on the side table whilst a small tub was filled with rose water while on the contrary, a few roses were romping on the top.

As she wandered more, she spotted a few small vases of roses with baby breaths that were set here and there giving a finishing romantic whiff to the room.

Sentimental songs playing in the background made her teary. It was so aesthetically glamorous and incredible. She had a blank look with a big smile on her face.

Jin-Ae was overwhelmed and pleased with the cute surprise that made her heart fall in love with him more. Her palms were getting sweaty as she was questioning herself a lot. She searched here and there and looked for Taehyung to appear dramatically as that is what usually ensues in the movies.

Jin-Ae soon, acknowledged the woman's presence as she scratched her head and looked towards the woman, wiping off her small tears that were about to fall.

The woman grinned as big as the moon and walked towards her.

As if she read the confusion on Jin-Ae's face, she said, "Taehyung told us to inform you that there's a message for you in the black box and the other box, there's a dress that you have to wear that is placed in the centre of the bed"

Jin-Ae's eyes widened when she realized that the romantic hour is not over yet.

"Why does this scene feel like it's straight out of Wattpad?" she reckoned.

Nose scrunched up as she tapped her fingers on her jaw, she leisurely went to the black box and opened it.

As told, there was a letter inside it.

Jin-Ae was about to open the letter when she noticed something unusual, in such a fight or flight situation she quickly looked up as her neck cracked a sound, some guy was recording her.

Jin-Ae shivered with fear as she was mentally panicking. Her heart raced again.

The woman came to her and said, "Hurry! Something great is waiting for you. Also, don't mind him, Taehyung asked him to record everything." Jin-Ae couldn't evaluate what was going on. She slightly nodded to her when in fact, she was not getting any idea with what was going to come her way.

Jin-Ae groaned loudly and decided to read the letter.

She sighed again with a smile to look excited and happy as she opened the letter before taking a glance at the remarkable and nicely decorated room.

"Hey, beautiful,

I hope, you liked it. The scented room, the balloons, and everything. I know, this must be a little confusing and a lot more complicated for you to understand but for now, if you trust me, don't think too much, and just go with the flow I defined for you.

Just be yourself and don't feel uncomfortable, you'll be seeing me soon.

Moreover, don't forget to doll yourself up, get ready fast, and smile a lot because that's how you look prettier and more like a fairy that flew out of the fairytale through an outlet.

I'm waiting for you.

Yours,

Taehyung.♡"

"He added a heart in the end.

Why is my heart fluttering so much! This is so embarrassing."

Jin-Ae couldn't stop smiling. The letter was so wholesome and gave off comforting vibes.

The letter made her feel that he's here, the warmth in his handwritten words comforted and soothed her down.

Jin-Ae kept reading the last line as this was the first time Taehyung complimented her.

"Ohh so rightfully, it's not a big deal. People do compliment me a lot. Why my cheeks are so hot right now. I need to act up accordingly."

Jin-Ae scolded herself mentally, as she again read the last line.

Butterflies danced in her stomach that were a lot excited than Jin-Ae herself.

Suddenly, she froze in her place recalling that she was being recorded.

Coming out of her small celebration, she stepped towards the white box. She was thrilled for the new little venture that the gloomy night prepared for her, Jin-Ae extended her hand as her body wiggled a bit releasing the excess excitement trapped in her small body.

The cameraman noticed and chuckled as he mumbled, "Calm down! It's your night, you're the Queen, and the night is yours. I know you're the luckiest tonight."

Jin-Ae blushed red as she nodded to him and went on.

All these decoration, beautiful efforts and hints were making her crazy, this was so insanely beautiful but shocking too.

Before she could question more about it, the song playing in the background changed into her favourite song.

It was Perfect by Ed Sheeran.

The woman smiled at Jin-Ae while the cameraman winked at her.

"Uggh! this is so confusing", Jin-Ae thought as she shared an awkward stare between them.

She quickly took out the dress, but carefully without wasting any more time.

The second she saw the dress her jaw dropped.

Unintentionally, her one hand went to her cheek.

Jin-Ae backed off a bit to have a clear view of the dress.

It was an off-shoulder, crimson red dress striking little shades of ruby, a little short and aesthetically beautiful.

She twirled the dress twice and took her time to admire how elegant and classy it was.

Jin-Ae narrowed her eyebrows and grinned showing off her dimples as she talked to herself, "No doubts on Taehyung's choice."

Furthermore, as if all of this was not enough the black box had a silver purse and a silver set mounted in there that included a pair of silver earring with a cute silver fairy locket too. It was all her type. Pearls and small cute silver diamonds.

She infrequently jumped up and down smiling ear to ear as she ran into the bathroom to change into this pretty dress.

Nothing worried Jin-Ae more than the thought of what if this doesn't fit her.

"Huh! Typical girl problems"

After a few minutes,

She came out of the bathroom. The woman froze while the cameraman gasped with excitement. "You look so pretty", they said together.

Jin-Ae slightly laughed as her cheeks burned in delightment at the coincidence and said, "Thank you."

She quickly adjusted her makeup and wore the accessories selected by him. It made her happy whereas, her heart was dancing on a love melody.

Once Jin-Ae was ready, the woman helped Jin-Ae with her hair. She braided her hair in a cute cottage core style which swerved the beautiful dark vibes into a soft one.

"Done", Jin-Ae whimpered as she took a last glance in the mirror.

"You are looking so beautiful and pretty. Have a great night! The car is waiting for you downstairs." The woman said walking beside her down the stairs.

Jin-Ae did a little swirl for the cameraman and hunched in the car.

Her heart was battering like crazy. It was unbelievable and on the top of that, she couldn't stop thinking, about what if this is a proposal and if not then, what's waiting for her.

Her mind was loaded with a dozen of questions to which the answers were unknown.

Deep down inside, she was drowning in her dark anxious sea henceforth, her hands were getting sweaty. Jin-Ae clicked and clapped her hands together to calm herself down to stop the panic.

She continuously wished this to not be awkward or something that she never imagined or wished for. She was happy and terrified at the same time.

Why?

Maybe she was not ready. Her heart was scared now instead of being thrilled. Something felt wrong. She continuously polled her feelings trying to list down all the possibilities the night might bring her.

"Hello?" Jin-Ae peeked towards the cameraman and promptly came out of her fantasy. "The air conditioner is booming, why are you still dripping? Is there something worrying you?", he asked.

Jin-Ae immediately mumbled a no.

After a few minutes of silence, the cameraman handed her a laptop and implored her to see the video in the interim, the car gets to the destination.

"Do I need to see this?", Jin-Ae inquired in a tired tone. "Yeah, the destination is kinda far from here so, to kill your time Taehyung made this for you."

He was so thoughtful and gracious.

Jin-Ae nervously giggled and recklessly clicked on the play button to experience the new venture Taehyung readied for her.

Jin-Ae went into the video when she was trembling with anxious thoughts wandering in her mind taking over her stability.

After 30 minutes,

The video ended with Jin-Ae clutching her stomach as it was too painful for her to handle from all the laughing she had during the video.

Jin-Ae calmed down as she wiped her happy glossy eyes.

"I needed this. I don't know about anything but I am thankful for Taehyung for coming into my life and turning it into a crazy, funny endeavour." Jin-Ae responded to the imaginary anxious fairy that whirl her magic stick at unexpected timings.

It was a video of all the clicks and videos they both took together. The video recalled all the memories back.

It brought back all the times of how she ended up spending many great memories and beautiful minutes of her life with a stranger but now a best friend who was always there when she needed him. Even though, her heart and thoughts were in a battle about if she is ready to confess and shower the love that he deserves;

No matter what, he was dear to her, to her heart.

Suddenly, the car stopped.

Jin-Ae propelled as the brakes were pulled blithely.

Where are we?

Jin-Ae gaped at the cameraman who was staring at her with his signature evil smirk.