The first step was taken.
Then another.
Yerin walked slowly beside Ji-hoon, her fingers tightening around her bouquet.
The soft music filled the hall, but somehow she could barely hear it.
All she could see was him.
Do-hyun.
Standing at the end of the aisle.
Waiting.
He looked calmer than she expected.
Almost too calm.
But as Yerin came closer, she noticed the smallest movement of his fingers.
He was nervous too.
For some reason...
That made her feel better.
Ji-hoon glanced at his sister.
"You okay?"
Yerin nodded.
"Yeah."
He gave her a small smile.
They continued forward.
Do-hyun's eyes never left her.
The closer she came, the more difficult it became for him to pretend that this was just another ceremony.
This was real.
She was really walking toward him.
As his bride.
Finally, they reached the altar.
Ji-hoon stopped.
He looked at Yerin.
Then at Do-hyun.
For a moment, the two men exchanged a silent look.
Ji-hoon's expression was serious.
Almost protective.
Do-hyun understood.
He gave him a small nod.
Ji-hoon turned back toward Yerin.
"Take care of yourself."
Yerin smiled.
He squeezed her hand once.
Then slowly let go into Do Hyun hands.
Yerin watched him walk away.
She took a breath.
And turned toward Do-hyun.
They stood beside each other.
Not touching.
Not speaking.
Just standing there while everyone watched.
The priest smiled warmly.
"Please take your places."
They moved forward.
Yerin stood beside Do-hyun.
Their hands rested at their sides.
Neither looked at the other.
The priest began.
"Dear family and friends..."
His voice echoed softly through the hall.
"Today, we gather to witness the union of two people as they begin a new chapter of their lives together."
Yerin listened quietly.
Do-hyun remained still.
From the outside...
They looked perfectly composed.
Calm.
Elegant.
Ready.
But beneath the surface...
Yerin's heart was beating far too quickly.
Do-hyun could feel his own pulse in his hand.
The priest continued speaking about marriage.
About patience.
About trust.
About standing beside one another through difficult days and joyful ones.
Yerin glanced down.
Then toward Do-hyun.
He happened to look at the same moment.
Their eyes met.
She immediately looked away.
He did too.
A second later, they both almost smiled.
Almost.
The priest noticed nothing.
Or perhaps he did.
He simply continued.
"And now, I ask both of you to hold hands."
Yerin froze.
Do-hyun looked at her.
Neither moved.
The priest waited patiently.
Yerin slowly extended her hand.
Do-hyun reached for it.
Their fingers touched.
Both hesitated.
Then he gently took her hand.
His palm was warm.
His fingers trembled slightly.
Yerin noticed.
She looked at him.
He looked back.
Neither said anything.
But somehow...
The trembling stopped.
Their hands remained joined.
The priest smiled.
"Marriage is not about finding someone perfect."
"Rather, it is about choosing someone and learning to walk beside them, even when the path is unfamiliar."
Yerin listened.
The words settled somewhere deep inside her.
She had never imagined standing here.
Not like this.
Not with him.
And yet...
Here she was.
Holding his hand.
Do-hyun glanced down at their joined hands.
The ring she had chosen rested against his fingers.
He swallowed quietly.
Then looked at her again.
This time...
Neither looked away.
The Vows
The priest turned toward Do-hyun.
"Mr. Choi."
Do-hyun straightened.
"Yes."
"Do you take Hwang Yerin as your wife?"
The hall became completely silent.
Do-hyun looked at Yerin.
She looked back at him.
For a second...
Everything else disappeared.
Then he answered.
"I do."
His voice was calm.
But Yerin could hear the slight nervousness underneath it.
The priest nodded.
Then turned toward her.
"Miss Hwang."
Yerin took a breath.
"Yes."
"Do you take Choi Do-hyun as your husband?"
She looked at him.
Her fingers tightened slightly around his.
"I do."
The words felt strange.
Simple.
Only two words.
Yet somehow...
They changed everything.
The priest smiled.
"Please repeat after me."
Do-hyun nodded.
He repeated the vows.
Nothing exaggerated.
Nothing overly poetic.
Just promises.
To respect her.
To stand beside her.
To support her.
To remain beside her through difficult days.
Yerin repeated hers afterward.
Her voice trembled slightly at first.
But as she continued...
It became steadier.
When she finished, Do-hyun looked at her.
There was something different in his expression.
Something softer.
The Rings
The ring boxes were brought forward.
Yerin looked down.
Her wedding ring.
The same one they had chosen together.
Do-hyun took hers first.
He held her hand carefully.
His fingers trembled again.
Yerin almost smiled.
She whispered so quietly that only he could hear.
"You're nervous."
He glanced at her.
"So are you."
She looked down.
"...Maybe."
He smiled faintly.
Then carefully slid the ring onto her finger.
It fit perfectly.
Yerin looked at it.
Then at him.
Her turn.
She picked up his ring.
His hand was waiting.
She slowly slipped it onto his finger.
For a second...
Neither moved.
They simply looked at the rings.
Two simple bands.
Two promises.
One marriage.
The priest continued.
"May these rings remind you of the promises you've made today."
Yerin and Do-hyun looked at each other again.
This time...
Neither looked away.
The priest smiled.
"And now..."
He paused.
"You may kiss the bride."
Silence.
Yerin's eyes widened.
Do-hyun blinked.
They both stared at each other.
Neither moved.
The guests waited.
The priest waited.
And somewhere in the front row, Ji-hoon was probably enjoying every second of their discomfort.
Yerin's face grew warm.
Do-hyun cleared his throat.
He glanced toward his family.
His mother was smiling.
She gave him a tiny nod.
Go ahead.
Do-hyun looked back at Yerin.
She looked equally nervous.
Then his eyes fell on the veil.
He slowly lifted his hand.
"May I?"
Yerin swallowed.
Then gave the smallest nod.
Do-hyun reached for the edge of the veil.
His fingers gently lifted it.
The fabric slowly moved away from her face.
And for the first time that day...
He saw her clearly.
Not through the veil.
Not from across the aisle.
Not beneath the soft shadows of the bridal room.
Yerin.
His bride.
His eyes remained on her.
For a moment, he completely forgot about the hundreds of people watching them.
Yerin looked up at him.
Her heart was racing.
He looked...
Different.
Not because of the suit.
Because of the way he was looking at her.
Neither spoke.
The hall seemed strangely quiet.
Then Do-hyun glanced toward his mother again.
She gave him another small nod.
Yerin noticed.
She almost laughed.
Instead...
She looked back at him.
Do-hyun leaned closer.
Yerin hesitated.
So did he.
For one final second...
Neither moved.
Then they shared a brief, gentle kiss.
Nothing more.
Just enough.
When they pulled apart...
Yerin immediately looked down.
Do-hyun cleared his throat and looked toward the priest.
The guests applauded.
Ji-hoon's applause was noticeably louder than everyone else's.
Yerin glanced toward him.
He was grinning.
She narrowed her eyes.
He only smiled wider.
The priest laughed softly.
"With that, I now pronounce you husband and wife."
The applause grew louder.
Yerin looked at Do-hyun.
He looked at her.
Husband.
Wife.
The words were still strange.
But now...
They were theirs.
The Photographs
The ceremony ended in a blur.
Congratulations.
Handshakes.
Smiles.
Flowers.
Too many people telling them how beautiful they looked together.
Eventually, they were guided toward a quieter area of the venue for the official photographs.
The photographer looked through his camera.
"Alright, let's start with something simple."
Yerin and Do-hyun stood beside each other.
"Closer."
They moved slightly.
"Closer."
They moved again.
The photographer lowered his camera.
"You're married."
Yerin looked at him.
"I know."
"Then stand like it."
Do-hyun looked away, trying not to laugh.
Yerin gave him an annoyed look.
The photographer pointed.
"Mr. Choi, hand around her waist."
Do-hyun froze.
Yerin froze too.
They looked at each other.
Then at the photographer.
"Is that necessary?"
"Very."
Yerin sighed.
Do-hyun slowly placed his hand around her waist.
Both of them became stiff.
The camera clicked.
"Relax!"
Neither moved.
"You're both looking like you're waiting for an exam."
Yerin almost laughed.
Do-hyun whispered,
"He's not wrong."
"Don't talk."
The photographer smiled.
"Good. Now look at each other."
They turned.
Their eyes met.
One second.
Two.
Three.
Yerin looked away.
The photographer groaned.
"Again."
Do-hyun was trying to control his laugh.
Yerin looked at him.
"Stop laughing."
"I'm trying."
"You're terrible at it."
"So are you."
The photographer raised his camera.
"Perfect."
Click.
The photograph captured them mid-laughter.
He looked at the screen.
Then smiled.
"That's the one."
Yerin blinked.
"Really?"
"Yes."
She looked at the photograph.
For once...
Neither of them looked uncomfortable.
She smiled.
Do-hyun looked at the picture too.
"I like it."
Yerin glanced at him.
"Me too."
Eventually...
The photographs ended.
The guests had begun leaving.
The final congratulations were exchanged.
And then Yerin realized what time it was.
It was time to leave.
Her smile slowly faded.
She looked toward her family.
Her mother was already emotional.
Yerin hugged her first.
Her mother held her tightly.
"Take care of yourself."
"I will."
"Call me."
"I will."
"Every day."
Yerin laughed softly.
"Mom..."
"Every day."
"Okay."
She hugged her again.
Then she went to her father.
He pulled her into a warm embrace.
"Be happy."
Yerin nodded.
He kissed her forehead.
"That's all I want."
Then her grandmother.
Yerin knelt slightly so they could hug comfortably.
Her grandmother held her face.
"Always remember where you came from."
"I will, Grandma."
"Good."
Yerin smiled.
Then looked around.
Something was missing.
She frowned.
"Where's Oppa?"
Her mother glanced around.
"I thought he was here."
Yerin looked toward the entrance.
"He was here."
She paused.
"Can someone bring him?"
A staff member nodded.
"I'll find him."
Yerin waited.
A few minutes later...
Ji-hoon appeared.
The moment Yerin saw him...
She stopped.
His eyes were slightly swollen.
His expression was calm.
Too calm.
Yerin stared.
"Oppa."
He smiled.
"Congratulations."
She narrowed her eyes.
"Were you crying?"
"No."
"Your eyes are swollen."
"Allergies."
Yerin stared at him.
"Again?"
He nodded seriously.
"Very serious."
She laughed.
"You are such a liar."
"I'm offended."
She stepped closer.
Then hugged him.
Ji-hoon's arms immediately wrapped around her.
His smile disappeared.
For a moment...
He closed his eyes.
Yerin felt him hold her tighter.
She whispered,
"I love you."
His voice came quietly.
"I love you too."
She pulled away.
His eyes were even wetter now.
She smiled.
"You're definitely crying."
"No."
"Oppa."
"Go."
He pointed toward the car.
"Your husband is waiting."
Yerin laughed through her tears.
She looked at him one last time.
"I'll come home."
She hugged him again.
Then finally stepped away.
Do-hyun was waiting near the car.
He opened the passenger door for her.
Yerin looked back.
Her entire family stood together.
Her mother was crying.
Her grandmother waved.
Her father gave her a proud smile.
And Ji-hoon...
Was trying very hard not to cry again.
Yerin waved.
Then got into the car.
Do-hyun closed the door gently.
He walked around to the driver's side.
A few seconds later...
The engine started.
The car slowly pulled away.
Yerin watched the Hwang Mansion through the window.
Her home.
Her family.
Her old life.
The building slowly became smaller.
Smaller.
Until it disappeared behind them.
She lowered her gaze.
Her wedding ring caught the sunlight.
Do-hyun glanced toward her.
Neither spoke.
The silence wasn't uncomfortable.
It was simply...
New.
After several minutes, Do-hyun finally broke it.
"So..."
Yerin looked at him.
He kept his eyes on the road.
"We're married."
Yerin looked down at her ring.
Then back at him.
A tiny smile appeared.
"Apparently."
Do-hyun smiled.
And for the first time...
Neither of them knew exactly what came next.
But they were going to find out.
Together.
...To Be Continued...