Ch.212212. Opening Ceremony

The time was 11:05. Finally, the long-awaited ceremony was about to begin. Standing behind the wedding stage, I took a deep breath.

“……Phew.”

What I saw before me was a firmly closed door leading to the flower path. Once Hwa Nabi and I passed through this thin door and walked down the flower path, we would officially become husband and wife.

I had been calm until I reached this place, this waiting room. But now, thinking that the ceremony would start in five minutes, my heart was pounding wildly. I shouldn’t be like this after entering the hall.

As I nervously clenched and unclenched my right hand, someone grabbed it firmly. She was the owner of white skin that would suit a dress well—Hwa Nabi, my girlfriend.

“Siwoo. Are you nervous?”

No, she’s not my girlfriend anymore, but my wife now? But why does she look so beautiful? I’ve always thought she was beautiful, but today she seems even more radiant. Is it because she’s wearing a wedding dress?

I don’t know the exact reason, but seeing my beautiful woman stirred something in me. If this wasn’t a waiting room, I would have embraced her and done this and that right away. It’s quite regrettable.

“You’re having strange thoughts again, aren’t you?”

When I didn’t answer, Hwa Nabi frowned slightly and tapped my forehead. Only then could I stop my fantasies, and I rubbed the spot where her finger had touched.

“Hmm, well. That’s right.”

“Wow, you’re not even denying it anymore?”

“You’ve already figured it out, so why pretend I don’t know?”

She smirked as if my honest admission was ridiculous.

Hmm, maybe I answered too honestly? Next time, I should filter my thoughts before speaking. As I was making this mental note, Hwa Nabi came closer and gently stroked my head.

“It’s okay. As long as you don’t imagine other women, you can fantasize about me all you want.”

“What can I do all I want?”

I obviously knew the subject “imagination” was omitted, but I still asked anyway. Hwa Nabi smiled at me as if she could see right through me, with an expression like she was looking at something cute.

“Is our groom already saying naughty things?”

“I didn’t say anything naughty. I was just curious.”

“Sure. That must be it.”

“I’m telling you it’s not like that. Why, should I tell you what real naughty talk is?”

“Huh, you say you’ll tell me naughty things, but why are you reaching out your hand?”

“I prefer action over words.”

Just as I was spouting nonsense and about to touch Hwa Nabi, the emcee’s voice came from beyond the door, announcing “Groom, enter!” While we were laughing and chatting in the back, my turn had come.

The mothers’ candle lighting ceremony must have already ended. As I swallowed my deep regret, Hwa Nabi adjusted my collar and neatly arranged it. Then she didn’t forget to offer words of encouragement.

“Don’t be nervous, go out first and greet everyone. You can do it, right?”

“Yes, I’ll go ahead and wait for you.”

As we finished our brief conversation, my father-in-law entered the waiting room. He had come for the next part—the simultaneous entrance of the bride and her father.

“I’ll take good care of her.”

My father-in-law silently nodded. He must have a lot on his mind. I gave him a slight bow and opened the door to step onto the flower path.

—The groom is now entering. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the groom with a big round of applause and cheers!

Applause erupted from all directions along with majestic music. I walked confidently down the flower path in the center of the guest seats arranged on both sides, strewn with colorful flowers.

-Siwoo, congratulations!

-Congratulations!

-Our Siwoo, you look handsome!

I smiled as I walked, trampling on the flowers. I had a feeling I knew who had shouted that last congratulatory remark.

I waved lightly in the direction where my brother was sitting and waited for the next part. The emcee, who caught my eye, silently asked for my confirmation.

‘Groom, are you ready?’

‘Yes.’

The emcee who nodded cleared his throat. And simultaneously, the attention of all the guests in the hall turned to him.

Even without words, everyone knew this was the most important moment.

—Ladies and gentlemen. Please look at the door at the back. Now comes today’s highlight, the most important part—the bride’s entrance. Today’s main character, the bride, will enter with her father. When the door opens, please welcome the bride with thunderous cheers and applause!

Right after the emcee’s announcement, background music even grander and more majestic than my entrance music filled the entire hall.

It was a splendid announcement letting the whole world know that Hwa Nabi, the real protagonist of this wedding, was entering.

—Bride Hwa Nabi, enter!

The door to the hall where I had entered opened again. Everyone’s attention focused there. Time seemed to slow down.

“……”

Clutching my pounding heart, I held my breath and waited for her. Soon the door opened completely, and Hwa Nabi appeared.

—Congratulations to our daughter!

—Sister! I love you!

—Nabi, you’re so beautiful!

As the emcee had said, the guests’ cheers and applause warmly welcomed her entrance. Walking down the flower path escorted by her father, she smiled brightly when our eyes met.

—Now, would the groom please go to the middle of the flower path to welcome the bride.

Following the emcee’s guidance, I walked to the middle of the flower path and stood firm. I could see Hwa Nabi in her wedding dress up close.

With her veil on, she looked very shy as she met my eyes and then looked at her father.

“Dad. I’ll live happily.”

“…Yes. Of course you should.”

My father-in-law’s choked voice met my gaze in the air. Without saying anything else, I simply bowed deeply to him.

“Father. I will live happily with your daughter.”

In response to my words, my father-in-law just calmly nodded without saying anything else.

I received Hwa Nabi from her father’s hand, and holding her hand lightly, led her to the officiant. During this time, Hwa Nabi didn’t say a word, and I also walked without saying anything.

Because what needed to be said was already determined.

—The groom and bride, today’s two protagonists, are now standing before the officiant. The two will soon officially become husband and wife. So we will take time for them to exchange their first greetings as a couple. Would the bride and groom please face each other.

I let go of our tightly held hands and stood facing Hwa Nabi. She also faced me.

Her cheeks, visible under the veil, were flushed red, looking more lovable than anything else in the world.

—Groom, bride. Bow to each other with respect!

With my hands clasped together, I bowed at the waist. Hwa Nabi also bowed slightly toward me.

—Now would the bride and groom please face the guests and bow once more. A bow of gratitude to the distinguished guests, relatives from both families, and all attendees who have graced this occasion!

Hwa Nabi and I bowed toward the guest seats. Once again, loud applause and cheers erupted. The emcee waited until the commotion subsided, then nodded to the officiant and said:

—Now that the bows are complete, we will proceed with the marriage vows. The vows will be conducted not by me, but by today’s officiant, a thirty-year friend of the bride’s father and the vice chairman of Daejin Group.

The emcee stepped back after finishing. The officiant standing on the platform in front of us carefully looked over Hwa Nabi and me.

Before the marriage vows began, I moved closer to Hwa Nabi’s side and firmly held her hand.

“I will now begin the marriage vows for the bride and groom. First, I ask the groom. Do you, Han Siwoo, take Hwa Nabi as your wife, and do you swear to love, cherish, and respect each other no matter what happens, and to build a happy home as a faithful husband?”

“Yes. I swear.”

“The groom, Han Siwoo, has sworn. Now, I ask the bride, Hwa Nabi. Do you take Han Siwoo as your partner, and do you swear to love, cherish, and respect each other no matter what happens, and to build a happy home as a faithful wife?”

“Yes. I swear.”

Without either of us initiating it, we both tightened our grip on each other’s hands.

“The bride, Hwa Nabi, has also completed her vow. With this, the groom Han Siwoo and the bride Hwa Nabi have chosen each other as lifelong companions. And now both of you have the duty to cherish, love, and respect each other and build a happy home. Is that correct?”

“Yes. It is.”

“Yes. It is.”

“Please face each other, you who have firmly sworn before your relatives, parents, and guests.”

I raised my bowed head to look at Hwa Nabi. She also raised her head to look at me.

“July 2022. On this day when even the weather blesses your path forward, I, Park Jiwoong, the officiant, declare with all guests present as witnesses.”

The gray-haired officiant’s gaze turned to Hwa Nabi and me. He looked at both of us in turn, then carefully nodded.

“From this moment on, the groom Han Siwoo and the bride Hwa Nabi are officially husband and wife. The couple should hold each other’s hands…”

‘Hmm, no need for that,’ the officiant muttered quietly as our eyes met. He looked at both of us carefully, as if watching children, then smiled faintly and said:

“Then, the two of you should share a kiss of commitment.”

At the words “kiss of commitment,” Hwa Nabi and I simultaneously looked into each other’s eyes. Her pupils were trembling gently, like the full moon reflected on water.

“Siwoo.”

“Yes, Nabi.”

Our voices overlapped at the same moment.

And simultaneously, our lips also gently overlapped.

—Siwoo, Nabi! Congratulations!

—Live beautifully together!

—Both of you, be happy!

As we embraced each other, thunderous cheers, applause, and someone’s shouts reached our ears. I pulled Hwa Nabi’s soft body even closer and gently patted her back.

“Nabi.”

“Yes, Siwoo.”

Immersed in happiness, I pulled my lips away. I could see Hwa Nabi’s cheeks, which had turned a lovely shade of red.

“I like you.”

“Yes. I like you too.”

We smiled at each other after whispering sweetly. And once again, our lips met. A fragrant flower scent approached.

“I love you.”

“…I love you too.”