The One

Part 3: THE WEDDING

Steve was standing in front of the mirror looking at himself in his wedding suit. During the few months of their being engaged, he could count the time they meet and talk with each other. Most of the time they meet, it will always end up with a small fight. Each time, Steve will be the one who put up the white flag. Not because he couldn't fight her but what's the use of winning when things just get worse? He let out a deep sigh and then heard someone knocking on the door. He went to open it and saw her father was there. He wondered why her father was there at this moment. He smiled at the old man and let him walk inside the room. "You ready?" Her father asked. Steve nodded his head with a small smile form on his face. "I am ready, uncle Mark." He said and her father chuckled. "Call me dad. You are going to be my son-in-law just in a few minutes." He said and Steve again nodded his head. "Sure dad. It will be my pleasure to call you dad." He said and her father touched his shoulder.

Steve could see something was bothering him. "What's wrong, dad?" He asked and saw his soon-to-be father-in-law wiping away his tears. "Soon, all of the responsibilities of taking care of Crystal will fall on you. I just hope you can take care of her and please be patient with her. I know she hurt you a lot the past few months and I can see how sincere you are to my daughter. I just... Thank you, Steve." He said still with teary eyes. "Thank you for what, dad?" He asked in confusion. "Thank you for being willing to marry my daughter and fulfill our wishes to bond these two families together. I know you sacrifice your feelings a lot to make all this happen. I believe that one day, Crystal will accept you." Steve couldn't help but also have tears in his eyes. "It's nothing, dad. You don't have to thank me. My parents have sacrificed a lot for me so by doing this isn't enough to pay back on what they have sacrificed." Steve said and smiled in tears. Mark then hugged Steve tightly. "You are a very great son. I am lucky to have you as my son-in-law." He said and patted Steve back softly. "Anyway, I have to get ready to walk Crystal down the aisle. I see you there." They drew back from the hug. Steve nodded his head and wiped away his tears. "Okay. See you there." He said and watched his soon-to-be father-in-law walking away from the room.

Not long after, his best friend, Michael walked in. "Ready, buddy?" He asked while smiling. "Yeah. Let's go." He said and walked with Michael to get over to the altar. When he was there, he saw a lot of guests had already taken their seats. The wedding took place in his parent's back garden. Everything was set up by both of their mothers. The music started to play. Steve was looking down the aisle waiting for her and her father to appear. When he saw them, he just feel that his heart stopped beating to see how beautiful Crystal is in her wedding gown. She looked like an angel from heaven. Steve was a very sensitive guy. He couldn't help but have tears in his eyes to see how beautiful his bride is. Crystal felt like her feet were very heavy walking down the aisle. She grasped her father's arms tightly. "It's gonna be okay, princess." Her father whispered to her. She was trying very hard to put a smile on her face. She looked at Steve on the altar. She couldn't deny it that he was handsome but her heart wasn't for him. Her heart was for someone else.

As they reached the altar, her father handed her to Steve. Steve held her hand and they both turned to face the priest. "Shall we start?" The priest asked them both. Both of them nodded their head. "Face each other." The priest said and they both turned to look at each other. Steve was looking at her full of love but Crystal just gave him an empty look. "We are gathered here today to celebrate one of life's greatest moments, the joining of two hearts and to give recognition to the worth and beauty of love, and to add our best wishes to the words which shall unite this couple in marriage." The priest started to wedding ceremony speech. "Should there be anyone who has caused why this couple should not be united in marriage, be silenced!" He continued and Steve was hoping no one would suddenly stand up objecting to the wedding. He didn't know what to do if it happened. The priest then continued. "Today we have come together to witness the joining of these two lives. For them, out of the routine of ordinary life, the extraordinary has happened. They met each other, fell in love, and are finalizing it with their wedding. A good marriage must be created. It is never too old to hold hands. It is remembering to say I love you every day and it is not just marrying the right person, it is being the right partner."

Steve could see how uncomfortable Crystal was with the words coming out from the priest. Of course, she did, they weren't fell in love with each other. Only he felt love for her. But Steve remembered what her father had told him about Crystal and even the last time they met inside his room. "Do you Steve Kim Gyeom Lee take Crystal Park Ah Ryung to be your lawfully wedded wife?" Steve looked into Crystal's eyes. "I do." He said while smiling at her. "Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect her, forsaking all others and holding only unto her?" Steve was again answered with "I do." The priest then looked at Crystal. "Do you, Crystal Park Ah Ryung take Steve Kim Gyeom Lee to be your lawfully wedded husband?" Crystal looked at Steve. It took her some time to answer. "I do." She said and it gave relief to all of Steve and their parents. "Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect him, forsaking all others and holding only unto him?" Crystal nodded her head softly. "I do." She said and Steve couldn't help but smiled even though he knew she forced herself to say it.

It was the exchanging ring moment. Steve's best man handed over to the priest the wedding rings. "Wedding rings are an unbroken circle of love, signifying to all the union of this couple's marriage." The priest said and then handed to Steve the ring. Steve took it and slide it onto her finger while saying, "This ring is my sacred gift, with my promise that I will always love you, cherish you, and honor you all the days of my life. And with this ring, I thee wed." Crystal then took the ring from the priest and slid it onto his finger and repeated what Steve was saying before. "With the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride." Steve and Crystal discussed the kiss on their wedding day. She let him kiss her but just a quick kiss. As they were kissing, the priest said his last words. "I present to you our new married couple." All of the guests were clapping their hands and cheering for them. Steve and Crystal were then facing the guests and bowed down to say thank you for all the good wishes from the guests.

They were then walked down the aisle to meet with the guests. They held the wedding reception right away. Their wedding day went as they have planned how it should be. Steve was feeling grateful that it went well without them having any fight.