I love Korean-American weddings. I think it’s the unpredictability that draws me in. Because before Henry started bringing me to these things, weddings in my world were monotonous and dull.

            Bride walks down the aisle, preacher says stuff, the rings, light the unity candle, or drink the whatever wine, or jump the broom. Introducing Mr. and Mrs. So and So. Applause. Applause. Reception. I dreaded the predictability of such events.

            But can you blame me when in my hood, walking down the aisle to Luther Vandross is practically martial law. Hell, I thought the wedding march was just some Hollywood myth until I was like twenty-five. I thought ‘Here and Now’ was the wedding march and that one they play in all those movies just some chords the organist decided to throw together at the last minute.

            Then when I was twelve, the Cho’s brought me to Soo-Min’s wedding, and boom! Colorful Costumes, envelopes full of money, tiny tables, tea ceremonies, chestnuts, wooden ducks…

            And nobody’s ever really told me what the wooden ducks are about. I only know that they are awesome, and therefore justified.

            The best part though, is that the weddings are usually a mix of the two. The best (and sometimes worst) of both worlds.

            Will there be a white gown or a hanbok? Don’t know. Will the bride be walked down the aisle by her father? No clue. Will they do the Pyebaek ceremony? Who knows? Will there be a reception? Couldn’t tell you. Will there be wooden ducks? If there is a God.

            That’s the beauty of these fusion weddings. Each one is so distinctive and unique to the bride and groom. I never feel like I’m at the same wedding twice.

            “Are you going to stay mad at me the rest of the night?” Henry asked me.

            “The rest of the night? I’m going to be mad at you for the rest of our lives.”

            “Shit, hold a grudge why don’t you.”

            “I’m actually thinking about disinviting you to the party on Thursday.”

            “Come one Evie. You know Grandma Sophie would never forgive you if you forgot to bring me along.”

            True enough. I’ve long suspected my grandma loves Henry more than me.

            “Fine. But you still fucked up.”

            He shushed me. “There are children like three feet away from you.” He leaned close to me. “But yeah, I did fuck up.”

            “What happened?”

            “I tried to break up with her, I did. But she got weird on me then I-“

            “Chickened out.”

            “Yep. Forgive me?”

            “I suppose I have no choice. It takes too long to break in a new best friend anyway. But you owe me.”

            “I can live with that.”

            Jenna came back from the ladies room. “Did I miss anything?”

            Han and Lauren were kneeled in front of a square cloth covered table, a teapot in Han’s hands as he poured wine into the cup that Lauren held. Han passed two cups over to the opposite side of the table were Papa and Mama Cho were sitting. They took a drink. Lauren and Han held out the white cloth. Then the Cho’s tossed chestnuts into the cloth. Han and Lauren caught them all. Everyone cheered.

            “What are they doing?” Jenna asked.

            “The chestnuts are symbolic of children,” Henry said.

            The four of them stood and then Lauren’s parents took the place of the Cho’s. Han and Lauren bowed low to their parents. They poured the wine then drank. Han handed Lauren’s parents the wooden ducks.

            “What’s with the ducks?” Jenna asked.

            “They’re supposed to be wild geese. Because they mate for life. He’s promising his in-laws that he’ll take care of her for life and be faithful and stuff.”

            “You know, they used to give real geese back in the day,” Harley said.

            “I never understood why people stay with tradition when the world keeps changing,” Jenna sighed. “What’s the point of the ducks if they have no relevance today, except superstition? It’s just a waste of time.”

            “I think it’s sweet,” Abby was enthralled with the ceremony. Her eyes shone as she watched Han and Lauren each grab a hold of the white cloth, ready to catch the chestnuts from her parents.

            The room burst with applause as the couple caught all the chestnuts. Then they all rose and we watched as the bride and groom left the room. We all wandered to the other side of the ballroom where the reception was to be held.

            Circular tables were shattered about, cloaked with white and gold tablecloths, and topped with elaborate candle centerpieces. A long buffet table lined the front wall. Everyone beelined for the bar. I got there first.

             “Two strawberry daiquiris, please.”

            The bartender gave me what I asked and I took the drinks back to our table. I sat one daiquiri in front of me, and the other in front of the empty chair beside me.

            “You don’t waste time.” Harley smiled at me from his seat beside Abby. I had sort of hoped he’d somehow end up next to me. Instead I had to sit next to that damn Jenna. “How have you been anyway?”

            “Good. Taste Teas is doing great. Going into our fourth year.” I took a sip of my daiquiri. That felt better already. “How’s it been with you?”

            “I’m getting pretty popular—in Asia anyway. I got a billboard. I’m booking fashion shows like crazy. I did a few commercials. Most were non-speaking though.”

            “Speaking or not it’s fantastic. Is modeling everything you dreamed it would be?”

            “Better.” He put his arm around Abby. “I’m trying to get this one into the game.”

            The DJ got on the microphone. “Ladies and Gentlemen. Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Cho.” Elegant wood craved double doors opened and Han and Lauren walked into the room hand in hand. Han had changed into a tux that made him look downright dashing. Lauren wore a floor length white gown, as simple and elegant as the woman herself.

            The reception was typical enough. The couple sat at the head table. Close family members made toasts and offered words of comfort and hope for the future. The bride and groom had their first dance, so entranced in each other’s eyes that it seemed as if they forgot about the rest of us.

            The DJ called the tables up to get food. We all ate and chatted. After forty-five minutes the DJ put on some dance music and people started drifting to the dance floor. Most of the elder people said their goodbyes and left.

            Jamie walked up to our table. “They want to get some pictures of the groom and his brothers.”

            Harley and Henry excused themselves, and I suddenly found myself stuck between two blondes. Jenna stared at her plate a little too hard. Abby looked at me.

            “Harley’s such a nice man.” She said all too abruptly. “You know, I only met him a week ago.”

            And he’s already inviting her to meet the family? “Oh, really?”

            “Yeah. In a bar. He just walked right over and introduced himself. I think he could tell I was having a hard time.” Her eyelids dropped and she smiled. It was such an oddly bashful gesture. “We talked and he told me that if I was unhappy with my old job, I should leave.”

            “What job was that?”

            “Stripping.” Jenna looked up from pushing her food around on her plate and curled her lip.

            “Oh.” I can’t believe Harley had the nerve to walk into the wedding with a stripper on his arm. If Mama Cho found out, she’d lose it.

            “I told him I didn’t know how to do anything else and then he offered to hook me up with his old modeling agency. It’s been so much fun; taking pictures and getting a makeover and Harley teaching me how everything works. He’s got to be the nicest man I’ve ever met.”

            “He is pretty great,” I said.

            “I could really see myself falling for him.”

            In two weeks? I doubt it. But looking at the dreamy look on her face I knew it was true. The pretty little airhead had fallen in love with Harley in just two weeks. I wonder how Harley feels about that. I emptied my glass and switched drinks with my imaginary date.

            God, she couldn’t be any more than twenty. Is this the type of woman Harley goes for? Why do I bother stressing myself out over him when he obviously likes his women dumb and insanely naive? But that could just be the indigestion talking.

            “The wedding was so fun,” Abby said.

            “It was alright,” Jenna added. “Though personally I don’t understand how any woman could get married without the white dress. That’s the best part.”

            “Yeah well, we can’t all be as uninteresting as you,” I said barely containing my attitude.

            As usual, Jenna didn’t notice because Jenna is only concerned with Jenna. “I already know what kind of dress I’m going to be wearing at my wedding. If I play my cards right, it might be soon!”

            I had to stop myself from laughing. I would just love to burst that delusional little bubble of hers, but it’s not my place to spill the beans about her imminent dumping.

            “Who’s the lucky guy?” Abby asked with enthusiasm.

            Jenna frowned. “Henry, of course.”

            “Oh. I thought you two were just friends,” When Jenna raises her eyebrows Abby continues. “Well it’s just that he seemed more cordial to you than romantic.”

            I’d actually kind of like this chick if she weren’t here with Harley. There’s something so genuine about her.

            “What’s that supposed to mean?” Jenna’s tone grew dark.   

            Nothing would have been better than watching this thing play out, but I don’t want to have Abbey’s blood on my hands so I decided to inject a super obvious diversion. “So Abbey, you liked the wedding then?”

            “It was wonderful,” she said. “I’ve never been to a wedding before.”

            “Uh, you mean you’ve never been to a Korean wedding before, right?” Jenna said.

            “I actually mean that this is my first wedding, period.”

            “Seriously,” I said. “Your parents never took you to a family members wedding?”

            “I only know one person in my family; my mom.”

            “No dad?” I said.

            “No dad.”

            Something the stripper and I have in common. That’s when Henry and Harley decided to come back.

            “Man, isn’t it weird that one of us is married now?” Henry said.

            “Right,” Harley sat two champagne flutes in front of himself and Abby. “It feels like just yesterday we were all under the same roof, just kids. Now my big brother’s married and my little brother’s writing novels.”

            “You write books? That’s so cool!” Abby practically squealed.

            “Yeah, mostly Science Fiction,” Henry instantly perked up. “It’s about a group of humans, who travel aboard a spaceship after the Earth has been destroyed, searching for a new world to inhabit.” Dear Lord, please don’t get him started on them damn books.

            ”Wow, how’d you come up with that?”

            “Ideas come from anywhere,” He shrugged. “I actually had an idea the other day while reading the paper.”

                “That must have been some article,” Harley said.

            “Well, a couple weeks ago this woman was thrown out of a moving vehicle and left on the ground in front of the emergency room. Had a ton of cocaine in her system—overdosed. Still in a coma I think.”

            “I hear they get a lot of drop offs at the hospital,” Harley said.

            Henry nodded. “Well, anyway it turns out that the woman wasn’t a woman at all,” He leaned up in his seat. “She’s the Mayor’s sixteen year old daughter!” Abby’s smile dropped.

            “No way!” Harley chuckled.

            “Yep, I’m talking prep school attending, straight-A making, upper class kid. The Mayor’s pissed. He wants to know who brought the drugs into the city, who sold it to her,” He shook his head. “He’s about to start an all out war on the local gangs. Especially The Brotherhood.”

            The DJ put on a slow jam and dimmed the lights. Couples drifted to the dance floor. Harley turned to Abby and held out his hand. Without a word she grabbed it and the two glided off to the dance floor together.

            “I think I’ll get another drink,” I said to no one in particular.

            “Evie, don’t do this to yourself,” Henry said. “It was ten years ago. Let it go.”

            “I know, I know,” I sighed. “It’s just—he was supposed to be my ‘the one’.”

            “You’re going to have to let that go one day.”

            “Yeah, yeah.” I watched them move around the dance floor; the airheaded stripper in the arms of my man. Eventually Jenna forced Henry to dance, and I was left by myself.

            When I got bored enough, I got up to make another trip to the bar. What did Henry know, anyway? As I was weaving my way through the crowd, Harley swept up behind me.

            “Hey Kid,” He said. “Me and Abbey were about to get out of here.” My poor mistreated heart fell yet again. “But not before I had the last dance with my favorite wallflower.”

            And suddenly my mood was lifted. My spirits rose, like an elevator in a high rise. He grabbed my hand and led me to the dance floor, all while my legs were seemingly floating on air. When we got to the center of the floor he pulled me into his arms and instinctively I wrapped my arms around him. When his hand drifted to the small of my back I almost forgot how to breathe.

            Calm down, Harper! It’s not like you’ve never danced with a boy before. You’ve even played a game of Parcheesi with a boy or two in your day. If you know what I mean.

            But he made me forget all that. It was like I was seventeen again, with all the raw vulnerabilities and bogus expectations. For the three minutes that we coupled together in dancing bliss, he was everything. Just like when we were young.

            “Remember when we were little,” he said. “And you named me?”

            “Yes.” It was an easy mistake for a seven year old to make. “Your parents have thick accents. I misunderstood.”

            He smiled. “I’m thinking of getting my name legally changed to Harley.”

            “And what’s so wrong with Ha Le?” He twirled me around.

            “Everyone already calls me Harley anyway. I might as well make it official.” The music stopped and we stood still in the middle of a crowd, fixated with each other. “I never thanked you for that—my name. It’s a hard name for people to forget. It’s probably even helped me get a job or two.”

            “Does that mean I get royalties?”

            He leaned down, pressing a kiss on my cheek so dangerously close to my lips that I trembled in his arms. He must have felt that, but he didn’t say anything.

            “See you around, Kid.”

            And just like that he blew right back out of my life. Like he always does.

            He said goodbye to Lauren, pulling Han to the side to speak with him in private. They said their goodbyes and well wishes and Han asked if he really had to leave so soon.

            “You know how it is when pussy calls,” he whispered. “Have fun on the honeymoon.”

            Then he and Abbey left. I sulked back to our table, where Henry was sitting alone.

            “Where’s Jenna?” I said.

            “She had to work tomorrow. Caught a cab.”

            “I am miserable. Are you miserable?” I slumped into my chair.

            “Hell yeah, but what can you do—except get drunk.”

            Hey, I’m suddenly feeling perkier. “I’m game if you are!”

            “Oh,” he smirked as he pulled a bottle of wine from under the table cloth. “I’m always game.”

            “Did you steal that from the bar?”

            “Steal is such an ugly word. I prefer to think of it as borrowed. After all, we’re going to give the bottle back.”

            Okay it’s official; our friendship is formally reinstated.