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ding
dong
ding
dong
“Welcome, I’m so happy you guys are able to come!”
“Well of course we would come! It’s a very special day in history after all!”
“Hahaha she has grown up to be a wonderful lady”
“W-welcome!”
“Is that you Hong? Oh my! Look like you! All grown up haha!”
“T-thank Y-you very much!”
“Are you excited?”
“V-Very much!”
“Hang in there sweetie!”
Lady Amirel pats Hong on the shoulder before entering the palace. Hong was in a fancy black suit with a sunflower in the right pocket of the suit, his hair styled to the back. The now 22 year old Hong was order to welcome all invited citizens (mainly nobles) to the church. Sadly, this young Hong is not very used to talking to many people at once, so his mind is seem of be close on exploping.
“Hey Hong! Are you alright?”
“Y-Yup!”
Hong was stiff as a rock, he was sweating a lot to the point he could even make a lake out of it. The young lady handed him a cup of fresh water, seeing this, Hong smiled awkwardly and took it.
“Thank you”
“No problem. . .you nervous?”
glup
“. . .yeah. . .”
He looks at the third oldest child out of the Mae. She was dressed in a silky long dress, with a sunflower placed on her left ear. She giggles and hands him a handkerchief, as other nobles enter the palace, she helps Hong greet them.
“Damn, he left me all by myself!”
Hong clenches the handkerchief tightly to a fist, she tilts her head a bit before shaking her head.
“I think Raon went to talk to your father at the church’s entrance. He claimed it to be very important. . .”
“I can’t do this on my own”
Hong pouts a bit as Mae giggles a bit.
“Would you like my help?”
She sees how his expression brightens up and nods excitedly.
‘Just a little more. . .before it begins. . .’
“Greetings to the Great Emperor of the Roan Empire, no matter where you are, the stars in the sky would always follow you brightly.”
“Haha, it’s great seeing the Ex-commander of the Roan Empire, our greatest silver shield hero who protected our home.”
“Hahaha!”
Choi Han began to laugh as both Cale and Alberu smiled brightly (filled with annoyance) at each other. All three were gathered together in front of the church’s entrance; the church was enormous enough for over 500 guests to be invited, many rooms for almost every guest to be in, and as well as a beautiful garden both inside and outside the church. At the moment, Alberu decided to stay beside Cale and Choi Han as they greeted the guests entering. Alberu peeks at Cale, who was dressed very professionally for the first time in many years, and Choi Han, who does not have his sword for the first time in forever! Indeed this day is very special. Alberu, who was in his elf form greeted the guest with them, showing the guest just how close they were and not to mess anything up on this special day; he turned and looked at Cale who continued to show his stoic expression. Alberu smirks and places his hand to his chin.
“You nervous dongsaeng?”
“Of course not.”
‘I just want to finish this and continue on with my slacker life. . .’
Cale notices Alberu was just smirking and nodding at him.
“I see, I see”
He turns away and laughs a bit, causing Cale to frown a bit before smiling once more at the guest. Just then. . .
“Human! Huuuuumaaaannn!!”
A tall black haired boy runs through the hallway and stops in front of the three men. His bright blue eyes look at Cale anxiously.
“Rosalyn just called me!”
“What is it Raon?”
“She said it’s very important!! To go meet her in the dressing room!!”
“Let’s go then-”
“NO!! Only Human!!”
Choi Han and Alberu both looked at Cale who prevented himself from signing in front of them.
“Raon, take my spot then.”
“What!?”
“You were supposed to be with Hong out there, you can go back with him-”
“Errrrmmmm. . .fine.”
Cale walks away from them as Raon stands next to Choi Han with a frown. Alberu laughs as Raon acts just like Cale would. Choi Han on the other hand looks at Raon concerned.
“Why did Rosalyn need Cale-nim?”
“She didn’t tell me either.”
Alberu smirks and shakes his head.
“Must be On then.”
Knock knock
creek
“Ah! Cale-nim! Come in!”
Cage welcomed Cale to the dressing room, Cale saw most of her bridesmaids in the room all wearing a light yellow dress while the bride’s white dress was still hanging waiting to be put on.
“Where’s On?”
“Well you see. . .”
Cage scratches the back of her head as Rosalyn walks up to Cale.
“She locked herself in the bedroom.”
“What?”
“We thought she needed a small break so we left her alone, but now she doesn’t want to open the door, and it’s already been 20 minutes!”
Hannah and Mary watch as Cage speaks in a panicky voice. Cale walks up to the bedroom door and knocks on it.
“On?”
“. . .nya”
A shy voice was heard behind the door, Cale shakes his head and turns towards everyone in the room, pointing at the exit door.
“Everyone, leave us alone.”
“Ah, alright”
“Let’s go.”
“Good luck”
“Yes yes, I’ll let you know what happens.”
click
As soon as everyone left the room and closed the door. Cale locked the door and created a small key with his rock ancient power, easily unlocking the bedroom door.
creak
“Hm!”
He sees a figure hiding on the other side of the bed flinch. It reminded him how he and his children used to play hide n seek. Cale would always be too lazy to hide and would always hide in the corner of the bed.
step
step
step
“Haaa”
“!?”
There she was. Hugging her legs while hiding her face with her knees. As soon as she heard Cale sigh, she flinched once more. She slowly raised her head to look up at her father, who was standing a few feets away from her. She notices Cale’s faint smiling looking right back at her.
Cale then began to walk towards her and stand right in front of her. On felt a bit nervous seeing how Cale did not say anything nor expressed any emotions in his face. Thinking he might be upset that On is acting like this in a time where everything is going smoothing, and she, the bride, is taking all their time by locking herself in the room. Of course she felt bad, she took her father’s slacking time for a whole 6 months. And now that the day has finally come, she’s making it a whole waste.
On moves her gaze on the floor and opened her mouth.
“Father, I’m so-”
“What’s the matter dear?”
“Eh?”
She looks up and sees Cale slowly sit beside her on the floor. Cale wasn’t looking at her, but instead, looking at the marble floor as well. Not feeling his gaze made her at ease. He repeated himself once more.
“What’s the matter? Feeling sick?”
“. . .n-no.”
There was a long pause, no rush nor any sort of comment to why On was acting like this. On liked this, whenever she’s with Cale, no matter if she’s upset or sad, Cale was always there to listen. Even when she felt like she was bothering him, Cale never really mind because in the end, she was his child.
On didn’t know how to start the conversation, why did she lock herself in the bedroom? She doesn’t know how to explain it.
Luckily, Cale knew about this and started the conversation instead:
“Are you rethinking your decision?”
“. . . .”
“Hmm, What do you see in that guy anyways-”
“Dad!”
“I’m just asking”
Cale shows his hands to On as if he was innocent of a robbery and was simply just asking a simple innocent question. On just gave him a quick glare before she changed her expression to a shy nervous expression. Playing with her hair as she stares at the flowers across the room.
“He’s smart, kind, very strong. . . .and he’s my childhood friend back when I used to live in the cat tribe village. . .”
Her face softens as she remembers her time with him. Making Cale feel a bit, protective.
“He even helped me and Hong escape the village. . .he’s someone I love very much, father. . .”
The tip of her ears began to turn red as she said that.
She met him 5 years after the war, when she was choosing the new leader of the cat tribe, and that was when she found him wandering around the world. He told her he went far and wide to go search for her. And when he heard about the heroes in the Roan Empire, he crossed half of the world to find her. It was truly a beautiful fairy tale.
“And are you sure about this. . .whole thing?”
“Yes. I’m very sure about this father.”
“Then why aren’t you getting ready for this moment?”
“. . .”
“The On I’ve seen for the past few months was very excited for this day to come, she worked very hard to make everything perfect. Why don’t I see her now?”
He moves his gaze to On, her expression. . . .it was. . .concerning. Her eyebrows knitted, her eyes were shaking as he noticed her lips trembling.
“Once I get married. . .”
“. . .Yes?”
“I’ll be moving. . .to the eastern continent. . .”
“I mean, you’ve been going there a lot since you’re now the patriarch of the Molan’s. . .”
“But this is different!”
She raises her voice and turns to face her father, who is now staring back at her. His expression has not changed a single bit. Her eyes began to sting a bit. . .it was burning. . .something wanted to come out of it.
On lowers her head, she tightens her grip as she looks at the floor once more.
“I’ll be staying there. . .and I won’t be coming back as often.”
“Is that why you’re acting like this?”
“Father, I’m not coming back anymore! I’m basically leaving everyone, leaving my home, leaving you guys behind. . . .won’t you guys. . .sniff. . .”
She was about to wipe her tears with her arm but then felt a handkerchief placed on her cheek. Cale had his usually stoic expression, but his eyes were filled with worry. He knows all that too.
“Who said anything about leaving us behind? You’re just moving on with your life. . .”
“But-”
“You’re not leaving for good. Like you said, you’re simply just moving.”
“I’m just. . .hic, scared of going out on my own. . .”
He softened his gaze, Cale felt his heart creak a bit upon hearing this from his eldest daughter. The child who acted mature, brave, and was pretty smart for someone for her age. This. . .this same child is now the child who is scared. . .worried. . .and nervous. And he hated seeing her like this. And although he too, doesn’t want to let her go. . .
“It’s part of life. . .the mother bird takes care of her eggs, she always makes sure to grow big and strong enough. . .”
He looks up to her eyes, wiping the tears before petting her head.
“But the baby birds can’t stay in their nest forever, they need to learn to fly on their own sooner or later. . .it’s simply just how it is.”
“. . .”
“This place will always be your home On. No matter where you are, where you will be going, and how long you’ll be out. . .we’ll always welcome you back home. . .even if you bring him with you.”
“Dad-”
“You. . .you guys, will always have a home to return too. Plus, if you can't come over, then we will simply come visit you guys.”
“. . .”
“I don’t want you to have these kinds of thoughts, you should be happy on your very special day. . . But!”
He looks up at the ceiling and shrugs his shoulders.
“If you want to cancel the wedding, then we can simply cancel it. No one can argue with you-”
“No, I want to do it! I want to get married!”
“. . .then it is what it is.”
A long pause, On continues to stare at her father while smiling. Her father always knows what to do in times like these. . .always one step ahead from everyone else. . .
“Are you ready then?”
Her father looks back at her, pointing at the dress from the other room. She stares at it for a short moment before taking a deep breath.
“Yes. I’m ready. . .”
“Good, I’ll go tell the others.”
Just as Cale got up and stretched a bit from the stiffens of sitting there, he felt a small tug on the back of his coat.
“Dad. . .thank you.”
He said nothing in response. Instead, he turned around and gave her a hand, taking the hand and getting up, she felt a kiss on her forehead and looked up to see Cale smiling at her.
“I’ll always be here for you. . .”
And just with that, Cale turned around and opened the door. All the girls huddled towards him, with all types of nervousness expressions.
“W-well?”
“How did it go?”
“Is she sick?!”
They all waited for him to respond, but instead. He walked past them, not a single thought in mind. The girls enter the room and notices On rubbing the back of her head while smiling nervously.
“Sorry. . .I didn’t mean to make you all worry. . .”
Click
The door closes and nothing else was heard except for Cale’s footsteps.
“So? How did it go?”
“Is she okay?”
“Can I leave human?”
“She’s fine, just needed a small talk to cheer her up.”
Cale listened to their sigh of relief and shrugged it off. He notices Raon sneaking off from them and shakes his head.
“Raon.”
“Erm! Yes human!?”
“Go enter the church and wait there with your brother”
“Ugh, fine. . .”
Raon storms off and leaves the three men on their own once more. Greeting the last few guests to arrive.
step
step
“Cale, my son! It’s been a while, how have you been?”
Deruth, Violan and his two siblings cave over and give Cale a hug or a handshake.
“I’m well as always, glad to see you all could make it.”
“Why would we not make it? It’s my granddaughter’s wedding!”
Deruth laughs as the Basen (With his wife) and Lily gives a small nod and enters the church. Violan, on the other hand, goes up to Cale and smiles.
“Are you nervous dear?”
“Hm? Why would I be? She’s all grown up and moving on with her life.”
She notices how his gaze saddens a bit which no one noticed except for her.
“The little bird needs to leave the nest sooner or later. . .”
ding! Ding!
Ding!
“Ah, it should start soon! We’ll go find our seats.”
“See you soon my dear dongsaeng!”
step step
step
As soon as Choi Han and Alberu left the spot, Cale heard a small giggle. It was Violan that was giggling.
“Ah, I remembered the day of Basen’s wedding. . .”
“Hoho! He was so nervous that day! I remember that too. My, how my children grow up!”
“Indeed.”
Cale simply just nodded his head, expecting them to leave as well, but Violan kept on staring at Cale with a sad smile.
“Indeed they do, one second they’ll be children running around and clinging to their parents, then the next thing you know it. . .they’re all grown up and moving on with their lives. . .”
“Yes yes. . .”
“Cale my dear.”
“Yes mother?”
“The day I danced with Basen on the wedding, something clicked in my heart. . .”
“. . .what was it?”
She moved her gaze to the entrance of the church, where a young orange haired man was standing there nervously. She can see how Hong and Raon were trying their best to cheer him up all while being nervous themselves. She giggles again and goes back to looking at Cale who was anxiously waiting for her response.
“Indeed a little birdy has to leave the nest sooner or later. . .but it’s the mother that has to let them go first. For them to learn how to fly.”
“. . .”
“I watched as both you and Basen left our nest and lived out your life. And I’m very proud of you both. . .and someday.”
They all heard Lily giggling in the background while talking to a group of people around her age. Although she hasn’t found anyone yet, they all know one thing for sure.
“Lily would also leave our nest. . .”
ding!
ding!
DING!
“We should go now darling.”
“Yes yes, let us go.”
“. . .I’ll see you all soon then. . .”
“Cale,”
“Yes?”
“You were a great father to these children. Far better than I ever was.”
Deuth had a pity look on his face as he remembered how he left his child alone in the dark, how he never took care of him, he felt guilty of leaving the child alone. But, there was nothing he could do. . .
“Be proud of yourself, and enjoy it all because after On, the boys are next to leave.”
“. . .I will, thank you father. . .”
step step step
It was now just Cale.
The girls had already left for church a while back. Complementing On's looks and how much she has grown up, some were even crying about it. They wished Cale good luck and left him alone again.
Cale stared at the vase filled with sunflowers. The flowers that guy always gave her from the day they met. At that time, On was still just a teenager, so Cale and the others didn’t give much thought about anything. But as soon as they started dating, they were even in protective mode. Researching everything about him and even threatening him one day. That day, he realized how much On loved that kid. Both Cale and On got into a heated argument about On being too young to fall deeply in love with someone she just met. He also realized that day how the guy also loved her dearly. Promising his whole life to make her the happiest girl in the world. Just those words made Cale have no choice but to accept him as On’s boyfriend.
Now. . .after a few more years. . .they’re getting married.
Cale felt a small sting in his chest. He didn’t understand why, he doesn't want to understand why. He thought about Violan’s words. . .he has already let go of his children. He already accepted their choices and allowed them to do as they please. . .they have already left the nest a long time ago. . .or. . .at least he thinks so.
-step-
-bam dum-
-step step-
-bam dum-
-step-
“How do I look. . .dad?”
“Ah,”
Cale was shocked to not hear On’s voice, but instead a little girl’s voice calling out to him. He slowly turns around. . .
‘Ah. . . .’
His eyes widened upon seeing a little 5 year old standing in front of him. With her white soft empire dress, and a sunflower bouquet in her hands. Her gray-ish hair was in a braided bun with long pearl earrings. She was blushing while staring at the floor and her father every second, waiting for his response. But in his mind. . .all he could think about was. . .
‘Is this really her. . .’
His eyes continued to shake while he gave his hand out to the little girl looking at him nervously.
“My sweet On. . .you are the most beautiful girl in this entire world. . .”
“Haa. . .”
On began tearing up as she took his hand and stood beside him. She remembers the day she met Cale, the trash young master taking the children in. Spoiled them as much as he could and gave them the best life they can ever ask for. . .
Ding!
ding!
Ding!
“Come on now. . .it’s time.”
“Y-yes father. . .”
As the music starts to play and everyone begins to rise from their seats, Cale peeks at the little girl beside him. Isn’t she way too little to get married?
The curtains opened and revealed the entrance of the church and the many people watching the two of them as they walked slowly on the red carpet. Many of the guests watched with tears in their eyes as Cale and On held each other tight. Not one of them wanted to let go of the other’s grips.
Cale and On stared at the people waiting up front. The grovemens, and the bridesmaid. She giggles and tears up as she sees both Raon and Hong with their ugly crying faces trying their best to look serious. On was looking at everyone with a bright yet nervous smile on her face. . .all while. . .
Cale had his usual stoic expression as he walked her to the stage. But in reality. . .recordings were playing in his mind. Every step they took was a memory of his daughter. Whether it was her playing with her siblings, or the time she was training, whether it was her smiling or crying. . .all of the times he spent his time with her were playing in his mind. All of it. . .until. . .
“Dad?”
“A-ah”
They finally made it to the front. . .
He turned around to face her but instead of seeing the little girl. . .
‘When did she. . .’
He instead saw the young lady staring right back at him. Where was the little girl now? She was just here a minute ago. . .
Cale sees in the corner of his eyes the guy walking towards the both of them, ready to take her hand from Cale’s. It was too soon. . .He didn’t want to let go. But he didn’t have a choice. . .
“My. . .how much did you grown. . .”
“F-father. . .”
“I love you sweetie.”
He smiles as he bows and kisses her hand before he looks at the guy in front of them. The guy quickly gives a bow to Cale before looking at him straight in the eye.
“Take care of her for me.”
“I will.”
Cale felt her hand leaving his grasp and watched and she reached towards the guy’s hand. . .using the same hand she was holding his with. . .
‘It is done.’
He turns around and goes to his seat, where Alberu was sitting beside him. He could see how Alberu had a smug look on him as he took his seat and watched as On and her soon-to-be-husband walked up to the stage. Where Eruhaben would now begin the ceremony.
“She’s all grown up isn’t she? Well, at least you still have your other children. One down, two to gooo. . .hey. . .are you okay?”
Alberu changes his expression as he notices Cale watching the ceremony with a very sad expression. One he had never seen before.
“Yeah. . .”
Cale turns his head a little to look at Alberu, to Alberu’s shocking, he saw a single teardrop in Cale’s eyes. He kept opening and closing his mouth, not knowing what to say to him. But that was not needed for Cale. He turns back to the front and watches as Eruhaben makes his speech and the two couples holding on to each others’ hand.
‘Ah. . .’
Cale has finally realized what Violan meant. . .He finally realized it and now felt a huge part of him leaving his heart as he watches On smiling at the guy.
‘My little birdy has left the nest. . .’
End.