25 June 2021

Jeju Island

"Perfect," SinB set the ruffles on my dress with her perfectionist's touch. I sat pouting impatiently under her administrations, not saying anything as the Maid of Honour muttered her worries aloud.

The other members of GFriend admired from afar before honing in to take candid shots of my magical day. Dolling me up was the perfect balm to help forget about the upset in our careers, temporarily. My make-up was done to perfection by Sowon eonnie as Yuju set my hair. Umji was placed in charge of time management and communications as Yerin fed me snacks in between my routine. Once everyone inspected me for the third time, we drove from the hotel to the quay. As it was a Tuesday, the town was virtually empty, allowing us not to worry about people selling a story to the press.

As promised, the best man was waiting in the wooden boat. My best friend held my bouquet as Seungkwan assisted me into the vessel, followed by the others. Once we were all seated, he switched on the motor and we petered along to the beach where the wedding was to take place. The sight of the sun rising in the pearlescent sky calmed my erratic pulse, the breeze slowly warming up. I could see SinB chatting up a storm with the Seventeen member and wondered if they would marry next. The other members talked about the sights they saw in the water or above us.

I tried not to squeal as we had the venue in view. Seungkwan cut the motor and raised the sail, making our arrival romantic. As if Neptune had blessed the union himself, our hairstyles remained intact as the wind lifted speed. The prow cut into the shallow waters and breached on the shore of white sand. Palm needles waltzed in the breeze as I set my ivory high heels on land, remaining stationary as the maid of honour ensured that my train was still perfect. The best man led the others ahead to the pews before joining the groom's retinue.

Once Woozi saw my family join me, he started playing the bridal march on the piano that they had perched on a platform to the right of the altar. I tried to ignore the heads that craned in my direction as I started gliding down the aisle, on which was scattered dried flowers, probably from the sea. My father's arm was the mast I clung to as I felt myself drown in the attention. I took a deep breath as I saw the sight of Hansol there and I instantly felt my lungs ease up. He was the eye of the storm and I knew that no matter what the world threw at me, he was my safe haven. As we had already had taken our official vows, the time at the altar was short. We would deliver the vows we had written for each other and then breakfast with our friends and family.

"The story of our first meeting wasn't exactly conducive to this meeting; if anything, it was expected that things would turn out contrarily. You were rushing to pick up Seokmin's homework and my-then boyfriend was tagging along. At that time, nothing held meaning for me. I was running behind in the suffocating idol life and struggling against crashing waves.

Before we met, I was just a drifting boat that had been wrecked. Then, your eyes became my compass and I started to row towards you, my lighthouse. Everyone knows that you are handsome but you looked more so today. Even now, when I could only see your back, I kept wanting to hug you.

I thought that I was too old to be dreaming Cinderella-like tales but then you walked into my life. Hansol, you're like a character in a novel. I thought about you when my life was dreary but only unsaid confessions flew on the sea breeze. I must be crazy in love but so are you, so I know that our love won't be eroded by whatever is thrown our way."

"I had a three page essay written and memorised but when I first saw you this morning, I couldn't say what I planned to say. On this beautiful day, I celebrate my beautiful love with my beautiful girl. Under the sky that shines with dazzling sunlight, I find myself questioning if you are actually a human or a fairy; everything about you is just so lovable.

When we started dancing on the same stage but with different partners, I knew I was falling for you then. I told myself that it wasn't a big deal, that it would pass. No matter how much I tried not to care, you flickered before my eyes all day. I smile whenever I see you. People will say that we're blinded by love but I know that our vision is great.

I could give you all my love but it wouldn't be enough. You shine like a rainbow above murky waters so I will always look toward you. I just want to be good to you, from now until the day that we become foam and dissipate on the shore. We were trapped between despair and a leviathan but in the end, we've become each other's healing."

The blue and pink diamonds glittered on our ring fingers as we were showered with paper confetti. I vetoed flower petals- if there was even a hint of pollen, my husband would be in the hospital. SinB would only hand me the bouquet for the toss. I had chosen our birth flowers; the Buttercup to symbolise his innocence, naivety, simplicity and artlessness while the Lilac symbolised my friendship that had grown into a sudden love. 

After receiving congratulatory hugs and kisses from our friends and family, we finally were seated at the table. The wedding cake was a great way to end breakfast and the groom wholeheartedly agreed with me before we opened up the dance floor. Once everyone tired out in a few hours, Hansol and I sat down in the cordoned-off room to receive gifts. These were all standard fare until Heejin showed up.

"Promise not to cry when you read it," she said enigmatically as she handed a message-in-a-bottle to us. I tried, unsuccessfully, to remove the cork until the Seventeen member murmured, "kyeopta" and took the bottle from me. He found the cork screw and pried the bottle away from the piece of wood. I watched him unfurl it before reading the words that forever changed my life.

'I, Park Heejin, request that I be substituted in place of Jung Eunbi, as a siren in the Yellow Sea,' was above the stamp of Woo-sa, with signatures by the sea mage and two witnesses.

"You shouldn't have," tears prickled at my duct.

"I wanted to," she shook her head. "All I do is mentor and the only time I felt alive was when I tackled the denizen of the deep with you. This way, I can even observe them from up close for research. I can save more lives if I stray out into the danger zone instead of playing it safe in the shallow waters of HRH Soyong."

"Words aren't enough to thank you," the three of us group-hugged.

"Promise to visit me occasionally," the mermaid asked before we reassured her that we would have done that anyway. She left as she heard impatient whispers with that enhanced hearing of hers and everything went smoothly after that. Once that was done, the rapper held the train of my dress as we walked to the boat.

Making sure that our bags were stowed away safely and that I was seated safely, he switched on the motor and steered us to Treasure Cove, a beach privately owned by his family and where we'd spend the week away from private eyes. I willed myself to focus on the diamante of the surf, or else my heart would burst in anticipation of what was next.

"It's beautiful," I gasped in awe at the immaculate stretch of sand and the turquoise waters, peridot jungle in view.

"We'll go exploring after lunch," his eyes turned to crescent moons at the compliment.

Lunch was a picnic basket packed by Mingyu, and my mouth watered- he was the chef of the boy band so no doubt, it tasted great. He also paid a lot of attention to presentation but that was to be expected- he was a visual too. Hansol spread a blanket on the shore before I sat down and started unpacking. After that, we changed into hiking clothes.

"What's next on the list for today?" I panted, having walked one of the arduous paths through the tropical trees.

"Cooling off in the tidal pool," he still looked dapper and fresh- what were his workouts like, if he looked this unbothered? Removing my boots and socks, I dipped my feet into the cool water- and saw sapphire scales slowly climbing up my toes. Diving fully without removing my clothes, I watched in fascination as my legs fused fully fused into a tail.

"Beautiful," my husband joined me in the water and kissed my lips tenderly, as if I were a siren and he was afraid of incurring my wrath.

"So, Umji, SinB and I are looking into agencies after our honeymoon," I scanned his face to see if he was frustrated by the change of topic and continued when I was sure that he wasn't, "but Yuju wants to pursue a solo career while Sowon and Yerin try out acting."

"That's perfect- the world shouldn't be denied of your golden voice," the rapper smiled. I don't know why I had felt nervous about broaching him. "I know that there are certain things expected of newly- married couples who are alone but we'll go at our own pace. There's no need to rush."

"Is telepathy a merpower?" I gawked.

"Only between soulmates," he reassured me with a squeeze of my hand. "I promise that it will be worth the wait, like our first kiss."