Yongrae went back to the hotel after the strange encounter with that fortune teller. Her words kept echoing in his head. He felt very conflicted, and now he didn’t know what to do about the situation with Sunjung since his five minutes of motivation run out.
He went to his hotel room, where Chuncha and Oliver were eating brunch.
“Did you buy her a gift?”- said Chuncha when she saw Yongrae entering the room.
“Yes!”- replied Yongrae without paying too much attention to her since he was still thinking about the fortuneteller.
“What did you get for her?”- asked Chuncha.
“That’s a secret!”- replied Yongrae.
The day went by fast. Dinner time was around the corner and Yongrae started getting ready. Both families went down to the hotel’s restaurant. They sat down and the party started. Sunjung and Yongrae seated next to each other. The hours went by and soon Sunjung’s real birthday would come. The restaurant staff prepared the cake and came out singing her the birthday song.
Yongrae started singing as well. Sunjung felt a little shy by all the attention that she was getting at that moment. The waiter got the cake in front of Sunjung and everybody was looking at her. She closed her eyes and thought of her wish before blowing the candles. She wished for her family to be healthy and her marriage with Yongrae to go well and to live a happy life with him. Sunjung opened her eyes and bowled on the candles. Everyone clapped for her and wished her a happy birthday.
It was the gift's time and everyone gave her their presents. Last one was Yongrae, he got close to her and gave her a small wrapped box with a little ribbon on top of it. She happily took the gift and thanked him. She saw the necklace and gratefully looked at Yongrae.
“I bought it with a heart shape because it symbolizes love.”- said Yongrae embarrassed. She looked at him and tears almost came out from her eyes. She asked him to help her put on the necklace so he took it and Sunjung got closer to him, their faces were almost touching. He placed it at her neck and tried to lock it from the back. During that moment the scent from Sunjung’s shampoo entered his nose and gave him a relaxing feeling. It was almost as if he was laid down in a flower field and the warm sun rays were covering him like a blanket. They locked eyes for a moment and blushed. Yongrae finished his job and took a step back from her while she kept looking at him. They sat down and the night continued. Oliver and Yujun got up at the same time and Yongrae noticed that. He felt that the engagement time was close while Yujun took his glass in his hand and looked at everyone.
“Attention please!”- he said while hitting the glass with a knife. “Now it’s the moment that I and Oliver give you guys the engagement rings…”
Yongrae felt anxious at that moment but he didn’t do anything to oppose it. Oliver and Yujun gave them the rings and they exchanged them. The first was Yongrae that put his ring on Sunjung’s finger, then she did the same to him.
“I see a golden ring, this ring is part of a chain…”- remembered Yongrae, “She thinks she is following love but she will be sacrificed, and I don’t think this is fair…”
The newly engaged looked at everyone embarrassed by all the clapping they were doing.
They thanked them, but it wasn’t over yet. Seojun called Sunjung and she congratulated them, then her grandparents called and congratulated them. The calls ended and the situation calmed down a bit. Oliver and Yujun kept drinking as they used to in the old times.
“Dear you had enough alcohol for tonight, it’s not good for your health!”- said Gyeong to Yujun worried.
“Last one I promise!”- he responded while taking another shot of soju.
Yongrae’s phone started ringing. His grandparents from Canada were video calling him.
“Yongrae congratulations on your engagement!”- they said at the same time with happiness.
“Thanks, grandma and grandpa!”- replied Yongrae nervously.
“Where is Sunjung?”- asked grandma, “Get her on camera!”
“Hello, grandparents!”- said Sunjung to them, “I am really honored to be part of your family!”
“Sweetheart we are so happy for you too!”- replied grandma, touched by her words, “Congratulations you look so good together!”
They wished happy birthday to Sunjung and ended the call.
“They were nice!”- said Sunjung to Yongrae.
“Can I have your attention please?”- said Yujun while getting up, “I just wanted to let our two lovebirds know that the wedding will be happening on March 15th in a big church in Seoul.”
Yongrae started to feel more anxious after hearing that. Everyone started clapping and Yongrae fake smiled at them while Sunjung was beaming with happiness. The dinner was over and the parents felt like continuing the partying in another place. Gyeong left her twin daughters in the room sleeping and asked Sunjung to watch over them. Yongrae got up and went to the bathroom, he washed his face with cold water and looked at himself in the mirror. All he saw was a coward that didn’t dare to say no. He left the bathroom and decided to go into his room and sleep. At that time Sunjung got out of the woman’s bathroom and they got out together.
“Oppa where are you going?”- she asked him after seeing him walk in another direction from her.
“I was going to my room.”- said Yongrae, “I feel tired and I am very sleepy.”
“Me too!”- replied Sujnjung and went over to him, “Let’s go together!”
They kept walking in the hallway without saying a word to each other until they were in front of their rooms. They faced each other to say goodnight before leaving.
“I am leaving now”- said Yongrae, “Good night!”
Sunjung kept looking him in the eyes and got closer to him.
“This year I got the best birthday gift I could ever ask for!”- said she while wrapping her arms around Yongrae and then kissing him. Yongrae felt surprised by it and froze in place with his eyes open. She looked into his eyes one more time and left towards her room.
“Goodnight Yongrae!”- said Sunjung while opening her door.
“Go… go… goodnight Sunjung!”- replied Yongrae , stuttering his response.
They entered inside their rooms and closed the door. Sunjung started dancing from happiness while Yongrae leaned his back to the door and tears came down from his eyes. He was feeling regretful that he was allowing things with Sunjung to advance, even though he didn’t feel the same way for her as she felt for him.