9

As the main gate opened, it was a remark of a new chapter in my life. With a heavy heart, I stepped my left leg into the banquet hall. I held the talisman in my hand, so tight that I almost crashed that green emerald jade. 

Behind that red satin veil, I cried silently. A wedding is the most anticipated event in everyone's life; men or women. But, for me, that day was the day when I pronounced myself dead.

When I arrived at the stage of the altar, I stopped moving. I told myself to stop crying and accept my fate. There is no turning back. I need to open my heart and move forward. 

"The Royal Bride, please step forward and join your husband," the announcer was calling my name. I jolt a bit. Unable to take a first step on the stairs.

The bride's assistant finally stepped in.

"Come..." she whispered. I took her hand, shivering inside as I took my steps one by one. Once I arrived at the altar, she made me stand straight next to the groom.

"Bow to The Heaven..." we bow meticulously.

"Now, face your parents and bow..." the body was following, though it was not voluntary. 

"Bride and groom, please stand up and face each other," it's the moment of truth. He will look at me for the first time, live. My heart is stoic. Ice coated. Cold. Chill. 

Dead.

"Groom, please lift the veil," slowly, four fingers held the tip of my veil, lifting with care. I felt the air washing my face. I lift my face slowly and open my eyes...

::: 

Beep! Beep! Beep!

I jolt on my bed. My brain stops functioning- nah! That's an exaggeration! My thoughts are the ones that stuck!

Fuck, who calls at this hour!?

"Sweet... It's still early..."

"Unnie, when will you come???"

"Why...?"

"The front lamp is out. Can you buy a new one?"

I huff a bit. Sweet has her method of words. Lamping out means I need to replace the bulb. Sometimes, I wonder how can I understand her so easily. Maybe because she's a simple girl behind those complex words. Simple girl, simple world.

"Fine. I'll be there soon. Don't touch anything," I gave her a guarantee so she won't bother me anymore. As usual, I go straight to my morning routine and ready to work.

Out of nowhere, suddenly rain pours quite heavily. I pedal faster to the cafe. I park my bicycle at its usual place and storm into the cafe, wagging my T-shirt because it's wet.

"Unnie!" Sweet jumps towards me in merry. I frown, looking at her smile. 

"Gosh, I forgot the bulb!" I smack my cheek a bit.

"No need to... The problem is solved!" Sweet points her finger to the front area. Someone is on the ladder, fixing the bulb. I look at Sweet with my eyes doubting her.

"I mean, can you see the different, unnie?" 

She expands her arms wide. The act that makes me suddenly aware of the surroundings. The cafe feels... Different. 

"The lighting seems..."

"Aesthetic, right? Our cafe looks exclusive now!" 

Now, come to think of it! Before this, my cafe looked kind of white. Now, it feels warm all of a sudden. 

"Yo, did you call an electrician without my consent? Now, who's gonna pay, huh??" I chase Sweet, trying to grab her. 

"Ah, unnie! No! I didn't!" she runs behind the counter

"So, who did this? Hera!!!" I scream her name. The girl dashes out from the kitchen, with a mixing bowl. Sweet took a shield behind her.

"Unnie, it's not me!"

"It's me..." says the guy from the top of the ladder. I looked up but since my glasses were stained with water droplets, I couldn't see properly. He climbs down slowly.

"You're soaking wet," he disengages my glasses from my face. My sight caught his feature right on the spot.

Groom, please lift the veil...

"Here!" I come to my senses when Hera passes me a towel. I grab the towel. My hands a bit fidgeting. 

"Let me take that..." Hera takes my bag and glasses from Khittan. We still lock eyes but after some time I walk into the kitchen.

"Girls, please tell me you're not selling me out!" I shriek. Hera and Sweet almost hiding behind the shelves, hugging each other.

"I swear, Unnie. We're not..." Sweet is whining.

"He came early and saw the light is out. So, he offered to fix the bulb. We thought he just bought one..."

"In exchange for what? My mobile number?"

"Unnie, he HAS your number..." Hera emphasizes the verb. I smack my mouth. Looks like I forgot about the detail.

"Sorry," I apologize for my eccentric behavior. Those girls are not to blame. I mean, Khittan did make an offer that they can't refuse. Knowing these two girls, they will accept everything free and convenient. Besides, I made them wait. They need to start operating.

"Can I order now?" our conversation ends when Khittan suddenly pokes his head out behind the wall. Hera and Sweet quickly dismissed from the kitchen, leaving me alone, drying myself after soaking in the rain.

"Thanks... For the bulb..." I murmur a bit, almost inaudible. I didn't plan to start the conversation, but I don't wanna be rude either. He helped those girls and I had to thank him.

"Do you like it?" he asks, slowly moving closer to me. I turn around and face him.

"I'll pay you back. We have the budget for that,"

"No need to. I'm glad that I can help, even just a bit," 

"There's nothing free in this world,"

"Let's just say that I repay my debt to you,"

"I owe you nothing. So, please-"

"I am. I did." he grabs the towel from my hand. Softly dab the fluffy fabric onto my head. He scrunches my hair, eyes gazing deep into my iris.

"Such a beautiful peony but I waste it," Khittan slowly moves his hand to my shoulder. He held me softly. 

"I'm a bad person," 

I can see a streak of tears coming from Khittan's eyes. He brushes off the hair strain that covers my face. Seeing him like this makes me feel guilty of all a sudden. 

But I don't know why my heart still won't let it slide!

"Karin, will you forgive me for what I did in the past?" Khittan asks. I grab his hands from my shoulder and let them down.

"Khit, let's just say I don't know you. So, we can move on and be guilt-free. That past was too... Ancient. Just pretend we just met. And we don't know each other," I take a safe route, forgiving him and perhaps chasing him away from my life.

He suddenly smiles. 

"I love it when you call me Khit," I frown. Maybe he could see the confusion streak, so he put his face closer to mine.

"You used to address me like that to others. Khit,"

Am I?

I push him away from me, fixing my T-shirt.

"This doesn't mean we are close now. Maybe... I.. It came out of the blue!"

"You jumble your words too much. I don't know which one I should grasp first," he rests his back against the counter while keeping his hand in his pocket.

Okay, Karin, you're dumb! Slow down, or he will realize that you're in a panic state!

Am I in a panic state now?

"Shibal!" I curse myself. I'm losing my sense now!

Fight him, Karin! You hate him... You HATE him!

"Did you just curse... At me?" Khittan's eyes are getting darker.

"I- none of your business!" 

I can see him chuckle a bit. Later, he pokes his cheek with his tongue.

"Hot..."

My face's getting red. 

"Listen, fixing the lamp in my cafe doesn't mean we are friends now! We are not!" I am firm on my ground.

"Yes. We're not friends. We are spouses,"

"We.Are.Not!" my head feels hot. Khittan scoffs and laughs in tiny. 

Then, slowly he walks towards me and closes the gap between us. My face is almost a foot away from him.

"Stay away. Or, I'll smack you for real!" I warn him. He stares at me, smiling.

"I bet you can't. Even if you try..."

Bam!

Yep, that's it!

The sound of a pan hitting the head of a shameless cheesy guy!

"Ops, I just did..." I smirk. Khittan winches in pain. He rubs his head.

"Shi-" he scoffs and pulls himself away from me. I think he got the memo. 

I thought he would just leave in anger. But somehow, he closed the gap between us. This time, even closer, even a piece of paper can't go through! I almost could hear his breath. Even my breath.

Now, I'm scared!

"Cute... And feisty," he complimented me. 

"I can kill people if I have to," I reply. He nods.

"Good..." then he pulls back. "I'll be back soon. Don't be shy to call me for help. Till then.." he smiles and ruffles my hair. "Take care of yourself," he winks at me, casually walking out of the kitchen.

Leaving me alone, stoic.

What just happening?

God, my heart almost got burst!