"This marriage is an arranged for the business of the Yoons and the Kims, right?"
One of the photographers asked his colleague who was covering the event for the night.
"Yes, why?"
The first photographer trained his camera again on the recently wed couple, who were currently stealing glances at each other.
The groom couldn't take his eyes off his beautiful bride, conscious of her every need. When food was served, he helped her with the table napkin to make sure it covered her gown sufficiently. She took a sip of her drink, the groom immediately handed over his napkin to dab her lips with. She stood to chat with someone, he assisted so that the train of her gown would not trip her.
The bride was more discreet, pretending to gaze at some guest or item on his side of the table. Then when he turns away to check what she was looking at, the bride's eyes would rest on her groom and have a small smile for him, which she would wipe off as soon as he looks back at her. Sometimes, she would even push his hand away, telling him she was fine on her own and they would bicker for a little. But, when his attention is diverted to another guest or to his food, her eyes were only ever on him. Even asking the waiter to change his drink when she noticed that he didn't touch it.
This wedding was supposed to be covered just like any media event so the company hired photographers who followed celebrities, instead of the top wedding photographers in the country. Funny how most of the photos were coming out as if they were to be published in a bridal website.
The photographer shrugged. Oh well, good for them. The world needed some good news.
*
"You're not eating much," Kim Joo Won noted the untouched food on Se-Ri's plate.
"I really don't eat a lot," Yoon Se-Ri confessed. "That's why people call me Picky Princess because I never eat more than 3 bites of anything."
"Hmm that's not good," he noted, frowning. "You need a lot of energy to come up with those snarky comments of yours."
"Well, then, you'd have to keep wearing plain suits so I don't expend the limited energy I have," she returned.
Kim Joo Won wrinkled his nose. "Or maybe that should be my motivation to wear more sequinned suits. It will annoy you so you'll eat more and have more energy to spread your sarcasm into this world!"
Se-Ri turned serious at his comment. "I don't intend to be mean. It's just..."
Kim Joo Won stayed silent as he waited for her to continue.
"It's just that your taste in clothes is really bad!" she finished, her eyes twinkling.
Laughing, Kim Joo Won clucked his tongue and said, "And here I thought you were going to say something nice." Smiling at her, he reminded, "Those sparkly discs bring me luck! After all, I got to marry you."
Yoon Se-Ri's heart fluttered. Speechless and blushing, she decided to deflect, "Flattery will get you nowhere. I still think those suits deserve to be burned."
As the evening progress, Se-Ri realized... she liked whatever it was she had with him. This, whatever this was, was nice.
However, this warm feeling for him quickly vanished when she saw him dance. His dancing skills were similar to his taste in clothes — bright, flashy, and not very good. The whole thing saved by his handsome face and amazing built.
The band started playing 90's songs, which apparently her groom put them up to. Kim Joo Won asked her to join him in the dance floor.
There he made these jerky movements like he was pushing something supposedly in time with the beat, jump at certain points of the song and then his head would flop from side to side. He felt every second of it, loving the song that was playing.
Turning to her, he asked, "Are you singing the rap part of this?"
Sharing a laugh at the inside joke they shared, Yoon Se-Ri swayed to the music, watching her now-husband have the time of his life. She covered her face and shook her head as Kim Joo Won jerked around her... and she thought it was adorable.
*
Yoon Se-Ri stood in front of the giant mirror in the bathroom of their suite. She and Kim Joo Won would be staying in the hotel for a few nights as final touches and general cleaning was done at the penthouse. It wasn't lost on her that they were in the honeymoon suite but no raunchy things were going to happen tonight.
She lamented that fact for a second. After all, she found out tonight that he kissed well. When will they kiss again? she wondered. Does he want to kiss me again?
Se-Ri let out a breath. Why was she even thinking about kisses? Maybe she should take it up with him.
But just before she went out of the bathroom, she stopped and thought...Married.
Married.
Married!
Se-Ri repeated the word numerous times already and still there was a part of her that hasn't quite adjusted to that thought yet. Staring at the two rings now sitting in her finger, she couldn't help but smile.
The man had horrible taste in clothes but definitely was better at picking jewellery. Married, she sighed. Somehow, that word didn't sound so vile when she added... Married to Kim Joo Won.
Said man was waiting for her in bed. To sleep, of course, but she had not shared a bed with someone for a really long time. They were no virgins, but somehow Se-Ri was nervous.
When she went out of the bathroom, Se-Ri giggled. Kim Joo Won had his back facing her, lightly snoring. "He sleeps," she whispered.
Like he told her previously, he slept in his boxers. What she discovered is that, underneath all those sequins he wore, he had a toned body. She only had a view of his back right now and she had to stop herself from drooling.
(Movie: Fatal Encounter)
When she joined him in bed, she got a whiff of his scent. Something she had been getting more and more familiar with. Tom Ford, she knew now, seeing the bottle on the bathroom counter.
Sexy, she thought. A word Se-Ri would not have used in connection to Kim Joo Won but was the only thing she could think of at the moment.
"I'm going to have to fight off all your fans, aren't I?" Se-Ri clucked her tongue. She tried to stay annoyed but found herself smiling. Sighing happily, she found herself whispering, " Congratulations to us, Kim Joo Won! We made it through today. Good night!"
Pulling the sheets over them, she faced her side and slept.
*
Kim Joo Won liked her.
He liked her and he promised to do everything in his power to make this union work. By the end of the wedding ceremony, he also found that he liked kissing her. She tasted of mint, from her toothpaste. And though he didn't particularly like mint chocolate ice cream, he thought he liked minty Se-Ri lips.
He liked being beside her. He watched her pick her food and eat a little then stop but he could tell from her expression that she wanted to eat some more. He was happy they agreed to have meals together because he was going to make sure that while they were together, she would always eat more than 3 bites.
He liked her even if she laughed at his dance moves and wished the Earth would swallow her whole.
He liked her a lot.
But the woman he now called his wife, slept like she was swimming in her dreams and acted it out. This was a challenge.
Kim Joo Won first felt the movement because of the sheets ruffling. Being a bachelor for years, this was new but he smiled when he was reminded that he was now married to Yoon Se-Ri.
But then, a hand landed on his neck. And it hurt!
Yoon Se-Ri, who was now in the middle of the massive bed, had her arms spread out. Not wishing to wake her up, he tried his best to stay still and get used to sleeping with her hand laying on his neck.
Just as he was getting comfortable, her legs followed with a foot landing on his shin.
"Ah!" he croaked out, again trying to keep his noises down.
Se-Ri was not occupying most of the bed space and he was trying desperately to not fall off the bed. Since she had not moved in a few minutes, he adjusted his pillow and tried to sleep again.
Of course, it was the moment she chose to shift her position and snuggle up to his back, which he found was... quite nice. When he arms snaked around him and hugged him tightly, Joo Won could swear that he swooned.
He wanted to hold her hand and entwine their fingers, but he did not dare take advantage. He was happy already with what he was given.
Kim Joo Won heard Se-Ri sigh, then she whispered, "You look so handsome, Yeobo."
Joo Won bit his lip and wrinkled his nose.
"That black suit looks so good on you," she continued talking in her sleep and even made moaning noises.
Kim Joo Won's eyes widened. Annoyed, he extricated himself from her arms and sat cross-legged beside the bed, frowning at her beautiful sleeping face.
"Who are you dreaming of, huh?!" he whispered, still not wishing to wake her up.
Sticking his tongue out at her and pouting, he continued to rant. "Is he making love to you now in that boring black tux?!"
Pulling at his hair, he groaned, "Aish! What have you done to me?! I feel jealous about a guy your find handsome in your dream! Hmph! Sleep alone. Hmph!"
Deciding to sleep on the couch, he stood to leave... but not before he made sure the comforter was tucked properly so she was warm and the pillows were fluffed around her. Seeing that her face was at peace, he allowed himself to play with her hair for a little bit... before he stuck his tongue out at her again and headed to the couch to sleep.
As the door shut, Kim Joo Won didn't hear when Yoon Se-Ri moaned, "Yes, Joo Won. Suck there!"