Chapter 17: Joon-ho's Return to His Wedding Day
A few moments ago in the wedding hall:
"Kim Joon-ho, hey young man, are you listening? Why are you not answering? Come on, answer me already. Hey, Kim Joon-ho!"
As Joon-ho's eyes focused, coming out of a haze, the first thing he saw was an unfamiliar old man waving his hand in front of his eyes. Judging by the man's attire, he seemed to be a priest. Looking at the priest, Joon-ho was confused, tilting his head in confusion.
The priest, angry at Joon-ho for not replying for quite a while, spoke in an annoyed tone, shaking Joon-ho's shoulder to wake him up.
"Hey, are you deaf or what? Can't you hear my voice? Sleeping with your eyes open? Wake-up already."
Joon-ho, hearing the priest call him deaf, snapped at the priest reflexively.
"Who are you calling deaf, you rotten piece of wood?"
As the words fell from Joon-ho's mouth, the murmurs around the hall quieted down, and everyone started to look towards him stunned.
The old man, hearing himself called a "rotten piece of wood," was so angry that he wanted to tear Joon-ho's mouth off.
Huffing and puffing, glaring daggers at Joon-ho, the old man pointed a finger at him, wanting to say something but unable to get the words out.
"Huff... huff... you... you... you..."
Joon-ho realizing what he had just said, hurriedly bowed ninety degrees, quickly apologizing to the old man.
"I'm sorry, sir. I didn't mean to say that. I'm really, very sorry sir."
The old man, still angry, managed to control his anger. Inhaling deep breaths, he said what he had to.
"After the kiss, you have to bow to the heavens, to your parents, and to each other. Only then will the marriage ceremony be complete."
After saying his piece, the old man left before he lost control and punched this little brat on his pretty face.
As the old man left, looking around the hall, Joon-ho was confused. Mere moments ago, he had been dying, As the emotions and memories flooded back, remembering the smile on Soo-jin's face as she died in his arms.
Unable to protect her, he was trembling inside, his hands clenched into fists. His eyes turned red, and regret welled up in his heart—regret that he couldn't save her despite everything, regret for seeing her die before his own eyes.
When tears threatened to fall, he heard a voice behind him and felt a hand touch his shoulder.
"Joon-ho, are you okay?"
Joon-ho trembled upon hearing the voice. With shaky eyes, he turned, not daring to believe what he thought.
As he saw the person standing there, tears began to flow uncontrollably.
Hugging the person tightly, as if they might disappear any moment, he finally let go of his pent-up emotions.
This time the emotions he was feeling were quite different opposit to regret—he was happy, very happy because...
It was his grandpa—or, more precisely, the butler of the previous family head, Butler Han.
In Joon-ho's own family, Butler Han was the only person Joon-ho regarded and acknowledge as his family. Even though Butler Han was not his biological grandfather, he raised Joon-ho and loved him as his own grandson. As Butler Han saw Joon-ho crying while hugging him, he began to soothe him.
"You puppy, why is a grown man crying? Stop crying immediately! This is your wedding day; you should be happy."
Hearing the word "puppy" again made Joon-ho happier than ever before. Hugging him even tighter, he said, "I missed you, grandpa."
Butler Han gently caressed Joon-ho's head, thinking that Joon-ho must have felt lonely abroad all these years.
He let Joon-ho hug him while patting his back, saying, "Let's talk after your wedding. You should probably go on stage and wait for your bride."
As Butler Han's words reached Joon-ho's ears, Joon-ho released the hug nodded saying "okay".
Joon-ho looking around, started walking towards the stage, seeing the luxurious big hall, he recalled the most beautiful memories of his life.
This was the same hall where Soo-jin and Joon-ho's wedding had taken place ten years ago. Everything was exactly as it had been back then.
As the smile formed on Joon-ho's face unknowingly, Joon-ho wondered what was happening to him right now. Was this a dream? A memory? Or is this what happens after death?
Back when Soo-jin got her first drama and he helped her practice her lines, there was a scene—or should I say, a line at the end of the script—that said,
When you die, your brain remains alive for seven minutes, showing you the most beautiful memory of your life.
Am I experiencing that memory? The seven minutes after death? Is this my most beautiful memory? Joon-ho thought.
"Ha." Of course, nothing is more special in my life than the day I got married to Soo-jin.
Joon-ho still clearly remembered the day his beloved wife looked the most beautiful woman in the world, donning a black wedding dress, looking as stunning as the stars in the sky.
He still remembered the blue pearl necklace around her neck and her blue earrings that complemented the necklace. Soo-jin wearing the dress enhanced the dress's beauty.
Ah, I cannot describe how breathtaking Soo-jin looked at that moment.
Walking on the familiar stage, Joon-ho felt excitement and was thankful. Thankful to God. Not knowing if this was a memory or something else, he was still thankful to God for letting him marry Soo-jin once again.
Joon-ho glanced around from the stage at the empty wedding hall. There were only four people sitting in the audience for their wedding: Soo-jin's mother, father, sister, and his grandpa, Butler Han.
And one more person was going to arrive with Soo-jin—her friend, Ji-eun. That was it; no one else was there for their wedding besides them, because Soo-jin, being an actress, didn't want to ruin her career by exposing her marriage. No one else was invited to keep the marriage a secret.
His father and stepmother were also invited, but they never showed their faces hear in the past.
As time passed, waiting for Soo-jin's arrival on stage, Joon-ho saw Soo-jin's mother abruptly stand up in the audience. Seeing her walk out the door, it seemed she was going to fetch Soo-jin herself.