Chapter 5: Her Handsome Hero – December 30, 2021
“Yun, you’re gorgeous.”
“And as big as a beached whale?” she responded to her twin with a wry twist of her lips.
Yunyeong grimaced. “No. You’re nicely rounded for a woman about to have a baby any day now. But you are still a stunning bride. More importantly, how do you feel?”
“Surprisingly well.”
“Are you nervous?”
“About my wedding night?” Yunseong asked with a twinkle in her eye. “Why, my married sister? Do you have any pointers?”
Yunyeong guffawed suddenly. “Look. Obviously, you’ve done this before.” She eyeballed her sister’s round tummy. “But you’ve never been with Tae, right? So, understandably, you might still be nervous.”
“How are you and Jungkook doing in that department?”
Her sister blushed. “Just fine. But I don’t kiss and tell.”
“Hmm. Just as I thought. Well, the only thing I’m worried about is how we’re going to maneuver around this belly of mine.” Then she blushed to the roots of her hair. “Did I say that aloud?”
“Yup,” answered her sister definitively.
“Can we please change the subject?” Yunseong asked. “How about we go back to how ravishing I look today?”
“You do, Yun. You do. You’re going to have that boy eating out of your hand. Even more than you already do.”
—
When she stepped into the room, he stopped breathing. Yun was…completely captivating. Even nearly nine months pregnant. Honestly, that just made her all the more radiant. She was positively glowing today. She was ecstatic to be marrying him. He could feel it. He could see it in her eyes too. And it warmed his heart. He loved her so.
Today he was taking a wife. Within the next couple weeks, he would also be welcoming a daughter. His life felt pretty complete. It was truly amazing.
He reflected on where he’d been several years ago. The heartbreak he’d experienced when he had lied to Eunji. When he had surrendered that hallowed ground to his brother. Tae had felt like he’d given up his last breath that day. And for a long time thereafter. Even kissing Yun on that pier hadn’t healed his heart. Not one iota. He’d simply felt like he’d betrayed Eunji. But how could he be unfaithful to a girl who had left him for another?
Then, after weeks of denying he enjoyed Yun’s company – no, of hiding from the fact that he had slowly fallen in love with his gaming buddy – he had finally given in to his feelings for her and rushed to her house. He’d kissed her passionately that day. But he’d never really fully given in to his love for her.
They’d spent a good year together – nothing one would write down in the history books – but he’d been mostly happy and believed her to be so also. But then Namjoon had gotten his fiancé pregnant, and Tae had felt himself being pulled into that vortex again. The what-if tornado that swirled all his emotions into something indecipherable. And that tugged his heart towards Eunji again.
Yun had felt it, yet still she had stuck in there with him. Willing to fight for his love. Until the day he’d dropped her into the lap of a predator. Who had torn that precious heart apart and left her pregnant and alone. Tae still growled when he thought of it.
The instant he’d learned of her pain, a great light had exploded in his soul, and he’d realized how very much he loved her. And everything he was willing to sacrifice for her. All his efforts over the next few months had led them to this day. The day she was going to hand her entire life over to him. Forever. What a huge step of faith she was taking. He hoped he was worth it.
—
Tae looked nervous. And absolutely gorgeous. He was wearing a tux, and that black suit was the perfect complement to his raven locks. Yet again, they were dashingly displayed across his forehead. But it was his eyes that got her as she walked down the aisle towards him.
It was always Tae’s intense eyes that penetrated her soul and made her yearn for him. She didn’t have to wait much longer. In a few minutes she’d be his. And he would finally and unequivocally belong to her.
She gave him a dazzling smile as she approached him on her appa’s arm. And Tae was forcefully reminded of the moments following their first meeting on the pier.
“I’ve never kissed anyone before…”
Neither had he. Yun had been his first kiss. And his second. And his hundredth. She had been his only kiss. And now she was about to become his wife.
He smiled at her. And the light of his love for her illuminated his entire countenance. And her whole heart. Tae was her lighthouse. Her anchor. Her safe harbor.
Grinning now, she approached him with confidence. And gratitude. That he had received her – and her baby – with open arms. She was about to step into a glorious future with him. With the love of her life. A man she had once believed was – like so many of her old dreams – lost to her.
But he had found his way back to her and convinced her that she was wonderful and worthy of his love. And that he adored her. In consequence, so many of her old dreams – the ones that had died and been buried long ago – were being resurrected today. In this place. With this beautiful man. She didn’t know how they’d gotten here.
But she was infinitely grateful that they had. That somehow she had found Tae, and he had returned to her. She knew a love like theirs was a rare gift. She swore to herself that she would not squander it. She would lavish her love on him. Every single day of their lives. For the remainder of her life.
Gazing into his eyes now, she knew for certain that Tae would always treasure her. She had found a boy on that pier two and a half years ago. But she had returned to a man this past spring. A brave soul willing to run into the breach that had become her dwelling place. He had picked up another man’s responsibility and made it his own. Simply because he loved her. No one would ever compare to him. Tae would be her hero forever.
