————.ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎.————
*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧
°･:*✧✧*:･ﾟ
:・ﾟ
･ﾟ✧
'

[ ㄥ|爪|ㄒㄥ乇丂丂 ]

*:･ﾟ✧*

³⁴—a reunion of hearts

It is a sea of emotions, that occupies my heart and mind, enthusiasm and excitement at their very peak. They leave me breathless, for, the first time, the thought of the future has me giddy instead of anxious.

As I stay seated in front of the giant, embroidered mirror, with young girls buzzing around me, and Her Highness, The Queen, doing her best to guide them to do things a certain way or the other, I watch how I change gradually, but not drastically.

It is a pretty cream hanbok, the fabric soft and light as a feather, that sits upon my body, a thin white undershirt covering my chest, and utop of its collar sits delicate piece of necklace. The waistline of the hanbok is tightened to fit the around me with the use of a pretty silk belt which is just a shade brighter than the hanbok itself, and it sends pretty and thin braids of gold threads trickling down.

"You look utterly angelic, my darling. I'm sure the stars are envious right now." The Queen says, a smile in her voice.

A shy smile graces my lips, which I try, but fail to hide.
"I owe it all to you, Your Majesty. I do not even know how I will be able to ever repay this gratitude that I —"

"No repayment shall be needed or made, for this is just a fraction of what we owe to you for the service you and your family has provided to the nation, my child." She giggles lightly, coming to stand in front of me, and takes both my hands in Her's. "You have also made a dream come true for me." She looks into my eyes. "I have wanted to have a daughter since forever, though God had different plans for me. I wanted to love her, smile, play in gardens, watch her grow, fall in love, dress her, marry her..." Her smile turns melancholic for a moment, but returns back brightly after. "Today I shall call you my daughter, my dear, if it isn't an issue to you."

The servant girls share knowing smiles with each other.

My eyes well up, though I try to keep the tears from falling over. "It'd be the greatest honour, My Queen." I take a shaky breath, trying to calm my sentiments down. "I, too, had dreams, wishes, for the day of my wedding since I was little. I had always imagined it with my father, my mother, my two brothers and my dear sister in law by my side." Carefully dabbing the tears away, I try to put on a smile. "Though it is okay. I know they'd always be by my side. And I'm so grateful to have you as my mother this day."

The Queen smiles, and leaves a small accessory in my hands to cup my face. Puzzled, I look down to find a pair of earrings.

"A wedding gift with love from me and The King."

My eyes widen at the implication, but The Queen interrupts my protest.

"It is an heirloom, handed down to me by my mother, and to her by her mother. I was to give this to my daughter on her wedding day as the tradition goes." She takes a deep breath. "You are my daughter today, HaeJin. I want you to have it. Wear it to the ceremony, keep it. If possible, you can hand it to your own daughter someday in future." She lightens the atmosphere with a playful wink.

I giggle, looking down at the beautiful pair of earrings, made out of pure gold.

"I'm indebted forever. Thank you so much for everything, Mother." I say with a playful smile of my owe.

The Queen helps me put the earrings on.
"Well, if you still feel so adamant to thank me, do not do it just yet."

A little frown settles in my expression in confusion, as I turn to her with a question on my lips, but it is yet again interrupted when —

"HaeJinni!"

A gasp leaves my lips, and I freeze in place for just a moment. That sweet, sweet voice has my tears coming back, though I do not even try to halt them. I swiftly turn in my seat when a tiny load throws itself on me. It takes me a moment to discern, before I press the bundle to my chest tightly. My eyes shut together tightly, though it does nothing to stop the flow of tears.

It is surreal.

"Jun!"

My little baby, my little brother is finally against me, against my heart, and I've never known a greater happiness than this. After being away from him, not seeing the lovely face of my baby brother in days and weeks I feel like I am over the moon.

A pair of arms wrap around me from behind, and my heart immediately recognises them.

"Rae!" I squeeze her forearm closer to me, opening my eyes to lay them on my family for the first time in weeks.

"H-How?" a broken voice leaves my lips.

"Your elder brother requested the presence of the rest of your family, HaeJin. He knew you'd be to shy in gratitude to ask for more. The King sent a chariot for Rae and little Jun to be present for you in time for your special day." The Queen replies with that ever so gentle and genius smile of Her's.

I see my brother standing by the grand doors with a smile and tears trickling down his face, watching over silently.

"I'll give you a moment, my dears." The Queen generously announces, leaving the room with the maids.

"You've grown up, my dear. Look at you getting married." Rae says with a watery smile.

I laugh, "I am so glad you both are here with me."

Jun hops down from me, jumping up and down. "Look at me Hae, I'm so tall now."

I dab my tears away, giggling heartily. "Yes, you are! It is a matter of days you'll surpass Tae-Oppa."

Taehyung comes over, and crouches in front of me and takes my hands, Jun throwing himself on his broad back.

He looks at me with his starry damp eyes, with pride, and overflowing love.

"I need to join your soon to be husband again shortly," he teases with his eyebrows, "but I needed to say this to you, my little sister, that I've never been prouder and happier than today."

A watery giggle escapes my lips, and I lean down to put my arms around his neck, and bury my head in the safety of his shoulders. Jun chuckles in delight, being surrounded by his loved ones yet again.

"I feel so fortunate to be able to have you and love you as my sister, Juju-ah."

Feeling the joint embrace of Rae, Jun and Tae, I feel whole again, like I have never before.

To forget about the ever looming presence of the War just for a few hours is precious and refreshing.

"Now, I need to let go of you for a few minutes, so that I can join your nervous wreck of a husband. For a soldier, he sure is a hell of a timorous person." My brother teases, having me go through a number of shades of red and pink. Rae chuckles, joining in, "Or maybe that is just your doing, Hae."

"Rae! Tae! Do not just say that in front of Jun!"

"Hae- unnie! I like Jeonggoo hyung!"

*:･ﾟ✧*

1300 words.

————.ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎.————
*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧
°･:*✧✧*:･ﾟ
:・ﾟ
･ﾟ✧
'

[A/N: I'm back 🙂]