Chapter Text
Applause roared aloud in the chapel as the couple beneath the floral arch kissed. His arms wrapped delicately around her lace-sheathed waist, pulling her close as she held him close by his arms. Red cheeks dimpled and watery eyes fluttered happily as they listened to the loud cheering erupting all around. It may be an overused expression, but there really was not a dry eye in the building.
You stood behind the couple, doing your best to clap your hands while holding Jamie’s bulky bouquet and wiping away your tears at the same time. It was hard not to start sobbing while you watched your best friends be joined together forever. Luckily, no one could hear your ugly sniffling over the tumultuous noise.
Hoseok and Yoongi were clapping behind Jimin, smiling fondly and trying themselves not to cry. The elder caught your eye from over the couple and chuckled when he saw your red face. You couldn’t help but give him a raspberry, even while at the altar. Jamie wouldn’t care that you did; She had already laughed at Jimin when he dropped the paper on which his vows were written and had to start over, and in turn, was teased when she tripped a bit on the way down the aisle. The two had cooed at each other when they teared up in turn and it was just further proof that they were perfect together.
When Jamie had turned to you to swap her bouquet for the ring, she gave you a teary smile that looked more like a grimace and you were sure the “smile” you gave in return was even worse. Who could really blame you? Was there a single person with a soul that didn’t cry when their best friend was getting married?
A happy song began playing over the continuous cheering of their guests, and the wedding party took the cue to leave the sanctuary. You followed after the newlyweds, Yoongi sliding up at your side and offering his arm. Just for kicks, you wiped your eyes and nose with the back of your hand before clasping it around his arm.
“Ugh, you’re disgusting,” he groaned with an endearing smile. You gave a teary, watery giggle in return. Together, you traipsed down the aisle, both smiling so wide your cheeks were sore. You could hear Hoseok and your brothers trying to stifle their own tears behind you, each holding the arms of their assigned bridesmaids. When you looked through the faces in the crowd, you could see Eomma’s smiling face from one of the front rows, a few seats behind Jimin’s own parents. She would wave and smile so wide her eyes would vanish in her cheery, wrinkled cheeks whenever you met her gaze from the stage.
But the one whose eyes you desperately search for, you couldn’t find in the sea of smiling faces. No matter how many times your eyes swept through the pews, you just could not find him. A part of him wondered if he had even come, even though he swore that he would. Of course, you were disappointed and no doubt Jimin was as well, but with such a busy career, no one could be too upset or shocked.
Sucking up the disappointment, you made your smile even larger, teeth on display and happiness glinting in your eyes.
The reception was to be held in a large courtyard outside of the church, beneath a large, white tent. The weather was blessedly clear and cool, the sun kind enough to stay out and light the party. After the guests had been sat and the wedding party announced, everyone was free to mingle. Dance music played and space was cleared for guests to show off their moves, a space that Hoseok and Jeongguk immediately ran to. Your younger brother had recently joined a dance crew in Seoul after being inspired by a video Hoseok and Jimin sent of themselves dancing a routine with their team. Of course, he was a natural at it – your brother never failed at anything, which was completely unfair – and was quickly placed as a center in his crew. He looked right at home, even beside a man who had been dancing since before he could walk.
Seokjin opted to sit with Eomma, who was also joined by his girlfriend, Yoonji. The moment you first met her, you had no doubt in your mind that Yoongi would look identical to her if you just placed a black wig on him. She acted similar to him too, or at least how you assumed he’d act when he had a crush – a tsundere cutie who didn’t want to admit how much she adored Seokjin, but you could see through her façade. She and your brother were perfect together.
Yoongi sat beside you at the wedding party’s table. His small eyes scanned the crowd as if he were bored, but you knew he was happy enough to cry at this moment, which was why he was pointedly avoiding looking at Jamie and Jimin sitting together only a few seats away. You could admit that it was hard for you to look at them too, because you were close to tears yourself, both from happiness and a bit of jealousy because if he were here, you’d be able to be just as lovey-dovey.
Sighing, you rested your chin on your fist.
Yoongi looked over curiously. “What’s wrong? Shouldn’t you be crying from happiness?”
“Yeah,” you said numbly. “I am happy.”
“You don’t look it.”
Again, you found a sigh leaving your frowning mouth. “He promised he’d come today. Said he’d do anything to be here in time.”
“Taehyung?” he asked. You nodded without giving him a glance. “I’m sure it was beyond his control, Y/N. He wouldn’t do something like this on purpose.”
“I know,” you whined. Your cold, manicured fingers ran through your done-up hair and scratched at your scalp. “I know, but I still wish he was here. Jimin’s one of his best friends, and he knows it means a lot to him, Jamie, and me for him to be here supporting them.”
He sniffed lazily. “You never know; he may be on his way right now.”
“Even though, he wasn’t here during the ceremony, and that makes me mad.”
“Don’t be mad,” he said with a warning lilt. “You know not to get mad unless you know all the details, remember.”
You pouted like a child. “I remember.”
“Good. Now, get your butt out of that seat and go show yourself off. You look too pretty to stay up here the whole night.”
Puffy cheeks turned bright red, hot to the touch, as you lifted yourself out of the comfortable seat behind the long table. You gave Yoongi a look that very clearly read “Why did you say it like that?!”, but he just smirked and flicked his fingers in the direction of the dance floor. Begrudgingly, you followed his instruction and sauntered over to where Hoseok and Jeongguk and now Seokjin – oh God no – were dancing together in a group. Jimin and Jamie had tried to make it over there as well when you weren’t paying attention but were now trapped by one of Jamie’s aunts who was no doubt asking when they planned to have children.
“Hey, nice of you to join the party!” Jeongguk yelled over the Toppdogg song that was blaring from the speakers.
“Eww, you sound like a frat boy!” you stuck out your tongue in disgust.
“Did you get tired of Yoongi staring into space?” asked Hoseok. “Thought you’d have some fun for once?”
“Can’t a girl go anywhere without being attacked?” you rolled your eyes, finally starting to sway your hips to the music.
Seokjin hugged you tight. “Oooh, poor little Y/N’s feeling attacked? We’re sorry, Yeobo.”
“Go dote on your girlfriend, Sicko.”
“Yeah, get your own.”
You blushed like a tomato when strong arms wrapped around your middle, large hands splayed against your belly and pulling you close to a warm, broad chest. Taehyung’s sweet pine-tree cologne flooded your senses and made you dizzy with giddiness. You spun ‘round on your toes and threw your arms around his neck, pressed a happy kiss to his lips.
“You made it!” you squealed breathlessly.
His chest rumbled with a deep chuckle as he squeezed your waist. “Of course, I did. Like I would miss a wedding; You know how hopeless a romantic I am.”
You grinned brightly and kissed him again, before resting your head against his chest. “I was so mad at you, but now I’m way too happy to be mad. I’m so, so happy you’re here!”
“Yeah, sorry I was late,” Taehyung addressed the other men as well. “I was looking over the blueprints for a new store when we ran into some trouble with the contractor. Turns out his company’s employees were going on strike, so we had to find a new construction company to take on the project. I didn’t mean for it to take so long, but I was trapped. I’m really sorry.”
“Tell them,” Seokjin pointed over to the couple, who were still held hostage by the aunt.
Taehyung nodded. “I will. They didn’t cut the cake yet, did they?” You all shook your heads, to which Taehyung pumped his fist. “Awesome. Will you join me, Princess?”
“Yeah, I don’t really want to dance anyway,” you took his offered arm with a smile. The two of you left the group of men behind and made your way over to Jimin and Jamie. The newlyweds each had painfully fake grins on their faces as if they were trying their hardest not to run away from the woman. You tried not to laugh at the way Jamie’s eyebrow twitched in annoyance.
“Excuse me,” Taehyung addressed the older woman with an amiable smile. She started and quickly turned, eyes seeming to sparkle blankly when they landed on Taehyung’s admittedly gorgeous face. “Would you excuse us so we can speak with the happy couple?” he asked sweetly. The woman, wide-eyed edged away from the four of you, gaze still trained to your lover. When she was out of earshot, he turned to Jamie and Jimin, who both took a deep breath.
“I can’t thank you enough for that,” Jamie said with a relieved smile. “I thought she would never stop asking questions about my womb.”
You wrinkled your nose. “She seriously asked about that?”
“She did,” Jimin pushed his hair away from his forehead. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so uncomfortable.”
Taehyung laughed. “Just you wait until you have to tell an important investor that you can’t marry his daughter. He just stared at me like I was insane, when he was the crazy one for not realizing his daughter had a potato for a face.”
“That’s not very nice,” Jamie scolded, even while laughing.
“No, he showed me the picture,” you clarified. “It’s true.”
“Not to mention, I was already in a relationship,” Taehyung said sweetly with a quick squeeze of your hand.
“Oh, yeah, how are the interviews going?” Jimin asked.
You felt your palms grow a bit sweaty at the question. Ever since your interview article was released, Taehyung had been bombarded with questions about his childhood friend and if he was in a relationship with her. Many assumed he was lying to just get out of marriage proposals, while others thought the girl he was talking about was Sangmi since the two of them had been seen together constantly over the past few years. During the beginning, no one believed him when he told them the “rumored” girlfriend wasn’t a model – the didn’t think he would go well with anyone who wasn’t as stunning as a professional model.
Neither wanted to put you in the spotlight yet, at least not until you were ready to face the criticism and abuse sure to come your way from teenage girls too invested in social media to separate fantasy from reality. Many had already expressed their outrage that some “hussy” dared to “steal” Taehyung away from them. The two of you would sit in his apartment with Yeontan some nights and laugh as you read the rants some of these girls were convinced would turn him from you and win his love.
“It’s honestly exhausting,” he admitted. “I’m so sick of all that fanart of Sangmi and I.”
“I think it’s hilarious,” you giggled, to which he hit you with his elbow.
“You’ve seen it?” Jamie’s eyes grew wide and she tried to hold in a laugh.
You nodded. “It’s all MS Paint art. Looks like Ringo Starr’s a Taegmi shipper.”
“Oh, that’s just mean.”
“Shut up, you love me,” you booped Taehyung’s nose.
Jimin decided to move the conversation away from the roasting session. “Were you here for the ceremony, or did you just show up?”
Taehyung grimaced. “I got held up at work,” he sighed. “I’m so sorry, guys. I really wanted to be here on time. Congratulations, though. I’m really happy for you guys.”
The two grinned. “We understand,” said Jamie.
“Yeah, I can’t imagine it’s easy being the owner of such a big company. I totally get that it’s not your fault,” Jimin joined in.
“You’re the best,” sighed Taehyung, his shoulders relaxing as a weight was lifted. “I’m just glad you didn’t eat the cake without me.”
“Of course, we wouldn’t,” Jamie scoffed. “We’re not monsters.”
When the couple was called over by some family, you bid them goodbye and the two of you decided to do some slow-dancing to wait until the bride and groom overtook the dancefloor.
Taehyung directed you to wrap your arms around his shoulders while he did the same around your waist. A lovely song was playing from the loudspeakers and many couples had already taken to slow-dancing – you could see Seokjin dancing with Yoonji, and Jeongguk was leading Eomma gently around the dancefloor. The both of you swayed back and forth, bodies held close to one another and let the music move you both in time.
You hadn’t ever danced like this with anyone and just being this close and intimate with him made your heart race. It was a beautiful moment that you didn’t want to end.
He smiled gently at you as he led you by tugging at your waist. “You look beautiful in that dress,” he said, voice low so only you could hear it.
“Thank you,” you whispered back with a red face.
“Even more beautiful than the bride.”
“Stop ~” you hissed, embarrassed. “Jamie’s stunning.”
“Yeah, but you’re even more stunning.”
You gave him a tired smile, no longer having to focus on your movements, and instead able to mindlessly follow his lead. “I missed you these past few days.”
“I know,” he nodded. “I hated being so far away. I promise no more overseas trips for at least another six months.”
“Good,” you smiled and pecked him on the lips.
“Did you hear anything from the editor while I was gone?”
Your lips stretched in a wide, happy grin. “I did.”
His eyes grew big and he almost missed a step in the dance. “Are you serious? And you didn’t call me?”
You just laughed and nodded cockily.
“W-Well what did he say?!”
“He read my draft, and he said with a few little tweaks, it’ll be ready to be published as a novel within the year.”
Never had you ever seen such pride in his fond gaze, eyes searching your eyes and a smile slowly overtaking his beautiful face. After a moment of what could only be shock, he leaned down and planted a long kiss on your smiling mouth. You returned it happily, breathing a euphoric sigh against him and pulling him closer to you. Seven months ago, before all of your feelings and trauma had been sorted out with the help of your brother and best friend, you would have been mortified if he kissed you in the middle of a crowd, but now you couldn’t feel anything but pure joy.
You had Taehyung and your family all beside you, your best friends were finally starting their life together, and your dream was slowly coming within your reach – you had no more need to dwell on sadness and the past you had let rule you. There was no more use for thinking about what could go wrong, because everything was finally going right.
It only helped that you caught Jamie’s bouquet. With a bright smile from Taehyung, you clutched the flowers to your chest and felt glad that you hadn’t been able to escape Taehyung, happy that you had always been drawn back in by his gravity.