"What about this?" I asked, showing myself to Jiyong through the video call. I am at the photo studio right now, which was a guest room we converted into one. His Dad requested for a picture of me in a wedding gown because apparently, he wanted to see me in on before he dies. He had continuously apologized in me for not going to be present in Jiyong and I's wedding and I had to tell him it's okay with an embarrassed face-all the time.
I was wearing one of the white dressed in the palace, which are reserve dresses for special occasions. One of the housemaids tied my hair into an elegant bun while another one put make-up on my face. The gardener made a bouquet for me to hold and Pollux set up the camera for me. Wherever I look, I can see Jiyong in his white tux.
He grins. "You look beautiful."
"Consider yourself lucky." I said, pointing at him using the bouquet.
He held both of his cheeks. "I am a very lucky man."
"Jiyong! Father's ready." I heard his sister shout.
I readied myself and the wedding procession started immediately. I walked-or maybe the camera walked along the aisle. Jiyong was waiting with a smile-his full mega-watt smile that could light up the whole world-beside the altar. His family was there too and I almost broke into tears when I saw his father. He was riding a wheelchair, limp and not moving. His head was set to one side and his whole body was very pale. His heart must've having difficulty on pumping blood.
It was not even a real ceremony but I heard Jiyong's mother crying along with my great grandmother. Pollux stifled a laugh with what was happening. Jiyong's mother was crying his name while my great grandmother was crying out mine.
As soon as the camera reached the end, Jiyong kissed me through the camera. But before he could walk me to the priest, there was chaos and I watched as his father collapse in front of me.
~
Even in the wake and funeral, I was there because Jiyong insists the call. I would cry along and even did a eulogy for his father because for the past four years of my relationship with Jiyong, I was grateful. I was grateful because he wasn't like the other rich fathers and that he accepted me as I am.
Jiyong sets his phone on the speaker and I started my eulogy. "He asked me to call him father before but I never did and now I regret I didn't because that was the only favour he asked of me." I paused. "When Jiyong and I first dated, he immediately introduced me to his family and there, I immediately told myself I wasn't the right girl for him and that I would never be at par with him. I was talking loudly that time and his father heard what I was saying. And I could never forget when he said that, "Sandara, you may never have enough money to show the world you're worthy, but you have all the riches to show your world that you are worthy. A man would be lucky to find you and I am very glad my son was that man. The world may tell you things that can downgrade you but remember that it was Jiyong who begged for your hand not you." He smiled at me and then continued. "And that's the greatest secret you could keep and be proud with it because the Kwon men are men with pride."
Everyone laughed and began to look at Jiyong, who had a grin plastered on his face.
"Before I haven't met my father and he stood up as one for me. He pays for the school fees that I forgot to pay and cooks food for me." I paused because Jiyong had shouted, "He never did that to me!"
I smiled and continued, "But most of all, he loved me as if I as his own. His love would never be replaced by the amount of riches in the world and if I would be reborn a thousand times, I still want him to be my father-in-law-if only if Jiyong would still love me if we were reborn a thousand times."
Jiyong intruded again and shouted, "Of course I will!" Everyone laughed.
"He asked me a favour before he died. He asked me to have quadruplets and name them after his favourite football players." I continued and everyone again laughed. "He told me to never ever give up until I bear four sons and when I asked him if Jiyong approved of this, he answered, 'Well that lad would be happy to have four sexual intercourses with you, right? Well, only if you don't bear quadruplets.' And I might do him this favour."
Jiyong shouted, "Of course you will!"
I wiped the tears on my eyes and concluded, "This is your daughter, Sandara, signing off...father."
"You're really bad at lying." Jiyong said in a very low voice.
I shrugged. "Did I wake you up?"
"I don't sleep, babe." He answered and then yawned. "Even though the company is back on track, I still have problems on my own. Bom Noona, for example. She's very angry at me for not renewing the contract with their company. As if I would do that. I just forgot to sign it up before the deadline she told me."
I laugh. "Same old is she."
Jiyong scoffs. "Of course she is even after marrying Top. At least, though, they're now past their parents' disagreement with the sudden wedding."
Bom and Top are very good examples of a very reckless and stubborn love. Top was arranged with someone but even with that, he married Bom in a very secret and private wedding in Maldives. Jiyong and a few very close friends and relatives were there to commemorate. I was also there via Jiyong's phone as the bridesmaid. After the wedding, they went back to Korea and showed their parents their rings. Of course, their parents were very furious but they couldn't do anything about it anymore. Top's parent broke off the arrangement and had put him under probation. He isn't going to inherit anything from them. Bom, whose parents were much supportive, gave them a house to stay. Two years ago, Top was introduced as the successor of his parents' business. Maybe they had gone into conclusion that heirless is much more problematic than sonless.
"Sleep." I ordered Jiyong. "Call me when you wake up."
"But aren't I going to wake you up then?" Jiyong asked.
I looked behind me and smiled. "Nah, my parents are in a festive mood. They would probably continue the drinking when we get home."
Jiyong laughed and quickly stopped to say, "I love you."
"I love you too." I whispered.
I brought my phone back to my clutch bag and stood up to go back to our table. I was only halfway to my destination when there was a blackout and everyone started screaming for their lives. I rolled my eyes. It was only a blackout. As if that's a very big problem.
But when someone shouted, "The Queen is gone!" I sprinted.
"Sanghyun! Durami! Mom! Dad!" I shouted, shoving past screaming guests and reached the dance floor.
I saw Durami with her boyfriend, who was hugging her protectively. They were near the dance floor.
"Durami!" I shouted amidst the screams and she immediately turned her head at me. "What's happening?"
Durami shouted back, "Someone said that Mom was kidnapped!"
I shouted at her boyfriend. "Keep her safe and don't go anywhere. Understand?"
He nodded, tightening his grasp on her and before Durami could stop me, I sprinted to the dance floor.
I saw Sanghyun and the Princess of Hungary immediately and they were heavily protected with a group of palace guards so I continued running in this very wide place. I don't understand it at all. They are worried that someone might get kidnapped in a party like this but decided to hold it in a very spacious place. The dance floor could be like a football field in its diameter.
After eighteen minutes, I found my parents, hugging each other closely and I quickly stopped.
"What?" I gushed and suddenly I was blinded by a spotlight. It hit my eyes directly.
When my eyes had adjusted to the light, I brought my arms down and looked around.
Everyone is...smiling?
"And there she is, the lost queen."
I turned around and my jaw dropped on to the floor. There he is, a microphone on one hand with the other turned into fist beside him. He's still handsome as ever in his black tuxedo with his hair styled weirdly. Jiyong materializes from behind my father and started down towards me.
"I have now found my queen which I left five years ago waiting for me." He said. "I have now found my queen that would be the ruler of our own universe. I have now found my queen that would bear me four heirs. I have now found her..." Jiyong reached me and brushed some of the hair covering my face behind ear. "...my queen."
My eyes produced tears and I can't move, even though I badly wanted to hug and kiss him. Jiyong knelt down in front of me and everyone gushed. He brought the microphone he was holding down and reached for something behind him.
He opened the box and a very large ring greeted my eyes. I laughed, hysterically as Jiyong grabbed the diamond ring from the box and lifted it up. It was ridiculously big because when I tried it, both of my arms fit it just right.
Everyone laughed with the ring along with me but we were piped down when Jiyong said, "Okay, let's get serious."
He grabbed the large ring from me and set it aside before lifting up his left fist. He opened it and a very small box materializes from his hand. Jiyong opened the box and a very beautiful diamond ring greeted my eyes.
He said, "I know you're going to tell me that diamond is just a metal with carbon and that you could make diamond out of carbon but still, setting the nerd in you aside, I choose this to be the symbol of my undying love for you. It symbolizes my heart, hard and stubborn and will never waver. It symbolizes you, greater than anyone else. So, Sandara Park, please let me by your side for the rest of your life. Will you marry me?"
He stood up and I hugged him quickly. "Yes." I whispered and closed my eyes. "Of course."
Everyone applauded and I felt that this was the heaven I was waiting for. The perfect ending I was dreaming of.
~
Two years later
"Don't you dare put your finger inside my wife!"
"But sir, we need to check the dilation." The doctor said, defending himself.
I gritted my teeth. "Can you just be cooperative for a moment, Kwon Jiyong and put your overprotectiveness in the right place?"
The doctor, who seemed to think that his job is greater than Jiyong's jealousy, puts his finger inside and checked.
"She's fully dilated. Go get everything ready." The doctor ordered and the nurses frantically started getting everything ready. Jiyong, who was trying to keep himself calm, went over to me and held my hand.
"Where's the camera?" I asked through gritted teeth.
Jiyong massaged my head and answered, "I made Sanghyun record it."
I peered and my brother near the foot of the bed, holding a camera.
I laughed. "You're something, telling the King of France do that for you."
He kissed my forehead. "My queen needs me so I have to."
The doctor gets ready at the foot of the bed and then ordered, "Push!"
~
Three years had passed since my first delivery and I'm again pregnant for three months with a baby girl. My father-in-law, who wished for me to bore quadruplets, really had his wish come true because amidst Jiyong's prayers three years ago to not have quadruplets, we still had them.
And of course we named them after his father's favourite football players starting from the top one up to the top four. And our children, from eldest to youngest respectively, are Ji Sung, Sung Yueng, Chu Young and Heung Min.
And as if it was his plans, they are also addicted to balls.
I walked slowly while looking at my husband, who was very exhausted after playing with them for three hours.
"Ji Sung, Sung Yueng, Chu Young and Heung Min!" I called and the four of them turned their heads at me in unison. I gestured for them to come closer. "I've brought juice and cookies."
They ran to me with Jiyong, who hesitantly follows. They gathered at my feet and sat down, obediently. One by one, I gave them their pack of cookies and bottle of juice.
Jiyong screamed, letting out all his frustration. "They don't run out of energy."
I smiled and turned my attention again to our quadruplets, who have turned quiet once they have started eating. They have gotten their appetite from me, especially the craving of seafood.
I said, "Don't be like that. Tablo said that playing with your kids are memories that you will treasure for the rest of your life and they will treasure for the rest of their lives as well."
Jiyong grinned. "Of course. I'm not saying that I don't like it."
"Then," I said, smiling at him. "You must be overjoyed if I tell you that I accepted KBS' offer to have you in their show, The Return of Superman."
"What?!" Jiyong shouted and the kids suddenly turned their attention to him.
"The shoot begins at Thursday." I smiled at him.
Jiyong pulled the side of his head and screamed, "No!!"
Meanwhile, our children merely laughed at his reaction.
~
Author: Happy Holidays, guys!