"Mummy, please reconsider. I promise to get married before my birthday!" I begged, practically crawling on the floor like a K-drama heroine who just discovered her inheritance had been stolen by a long-lost cousin. It had been precisely 15 hours since they collectively decided to ruin my life — and no one seemed to be backing down.
My mother was already elbows-deep in kimchi, happily fermenting away like this was the most exciting event of the century. Excuse me it's not! She'd stocked our fridge and freezer like we were preparing for an apocalypse. But oh, the cherry on top? My soon-to-be in-laws had already bought us an apartment. An ocean-view apartment. With a bedroom bigger than my dreams and probably my personality.
It was about 2,000 square feet — yes, two thousand — like something straight out of a rich CEO K-drama, except here I am, the unwilling bride who suspects the house might've been stolen. Okay, maybe not stolen-stolen. They're rich, sure. But planning a wedding without telling their son? That level of audacity feels criminal.
The apartment had four bedrooms. One was already decorated like we were expecting a baby. A whole nursery. Like, hello? It had a crib and pastel wallpaper. Where exactly are we ordering this child from — Amazon Prime with express shipping? Either they were hoping for a grandchild ASAP or I was missing some key information.
After my Oscar-worthy performance of crying and throwing myself dramatically on the living room couch, no one responded. Zero. Zilch. Just the comforting aroma of kimchi in my nose and emotional defeat in my chest.
By afternoon, Amber and Roy dragged Kael and me out for a fitting. His tuxedo? Gorgeous. But the man wearing it? Let's just say the illusion of a dreamy groom shattered faster than my patience. I, on the other hand, looked like a literal goddess. My wedding dress was long, flowing, and expensive enough to make my ancestors weep.
I thought maybe the madness would end there. Ha. Silly me. Next came the wedding photoshoot.
Bride and groom took separate pictures first — thank the heavens. I looked stunning. And, not to brag, but if beauty could end wars, I would've brought world peace that day.
Then came time for couple photos. Cue internal screaming.
Honestly, this is the man I am going to be spending the rest of my life with whether I like it or not and it's not like divorce is an option. After giving myself a little pep talk, I went to Kael.
"Come on, Kael," I said, dragging him by the sleeve like a woman on a mission. "Don't make this harder than it has to be."
"What is it this time, young lady?" he muttered, as if I'd asked him to give up his kidneys and dignity in one go.
I blinked. He spoke. The ghost speaks. "Just a little pep talk."
"Doesn't sound little to me," he grumbled.
Rude.
I powered through. "Look, we're going to be stuck with each other till we die. Yay. But at least let's not look like two depressed robots in our photos. My parents are arriving soon, and they deserve fake smiles if nothing else. So cooperate. Please."
"It's not like I have a say" He mumbled.
Like Excuse Me! I don't either!
Then he nodded. Sort of. Like someone who had been coerced by invisible forces. Which, honestly, same.
By the time we returned to the shoot, my parents had arrived — along with Dante, my overly observant brother, and his perfect wife Irene. Everyone looked excited. Everyone except the bride and groom.
"Okay! Let's begin," the photographer chirped, and the madness commenced.
Lighting guy? Trying to blind me. Reflector team? Looked like they were catching Pokémon, not sunlight. Director? Probably used to dealing with celebrities and was not here for our dead-fish energy.
"Closer!" she yelled as Kael stood behind me for the classic 'serious family portrait' pose.
We obeyed.
"Closer!" she shouted again as we sat side by side. Kael smiled like he was holding in a fart. I smiled like I had a fork pointed at my back. Beautiful.
"Closer!"
Now I was sitting on Kael's lap. I blinked three times slowly, questioning all my life decisions.
"Closer!"
Kael lifted me bridal-style.
"Closer!"
At one point, Kael held my cheeks with one hand, and I smiled like I hadn't just been emotionally tortured for 24 hours straight. Surprisingly, that one became my favorite.
He flung over his shoulder. My legs flying in front of him and me holding a bouquet and smiling at the back like I was enjoying it. I felt like a sack of romantic potatoes. Except nothing about it was romantic.
"Closer"
He held my waist and pulled me close to him while we posed with a peace sign. I told him I didn't like the idea because it looked like we are posing for a theme park picture and not our wedding portrait.
And then… the moment.
"Closer!" yelled our director, now spiritually channeling Cupid.
Kael pulled my face so close, I could count his eyelashes. Our breaths mingled. My heart betrayed me by skipping a beat.
And then — I did it. I held his face and kissed him.
Even worse? He kissed me back.
For 2.8 seconds, I forgot that I hated him.
Cue full system malfunction.
Internal screaming. External poker face. No one must know.
Why did I enjoy that?! I am not okay! I'm officially gaslighting myself. It's not my fault. He kept leaning in! His face was right there and — ugh! The audacity of his lips.
Everyone clapped. Except Dante. He looked like he'd seen a ghost, turned pale, then quickly smiled like a malfunctioning android. I didn't understand why. And guess what?
I don't plan on understanding.
The photos? Gorgeous. Parents asked us to choose ones for work and home. I chose the cheek-holding one. Kael? The one where I looked like a flying bouquet potato. He requested a front and back view in one frame. Okay, Weird! It almost sounds like he has found a new way to torment me.
For home? We picked the kiss (don't ask) for the bedroom, and lap-sit for the living room. Our parents voted for bridal-carry and made it the official picture.
While all this was going on, digital copies were sent. Then came the wallpaper debacle.
"Married couples should have couple pictures as wallpapers," they said.
Everyone nodded like pre-programmed robots. They urged us to use the picture of where we could feel each other's breaths before I took the stupid initiative to kiss him. According to them, it made us look like a happy couple.
Kael used an old cam aesthetic. I went full dark academia. Still cute.
The day ended at 6 p.m. My wedding is in 15 hours.
And suddenly... I'm nervous. Help me!
Tomorrow, I officially become someone's life partner.
Pray for me.