The brides room was softly lit, hushed from the bustle of the wedding hall outside. Fresh flowers in glass vases gave the air a sweet, delicate scent. Eun-sol stood near the full-length mirror in her gown, radiant and calm, her veil clipped but not yet lowered.

She turned at the sound of the door easing open and smiled widely when she saw him.

“You found your way here,” she said warmly, stepping forward towards him.

Hyun-woo stood by the door, only just through the frame, as if frozen; he held back a little as she approached him. Her appearance almost taking his breath away. As she drew close to him, he spoke.

“You look... unrecognizably beautiful,” Hyun-woo replied, his voice quiet, a gentle shake of his head as he spoke. She was perhaps a step in front of him. She looked him directly in the eye. They shared a quiet moment, recognition and a smile, affectionate and unguarded. There was a pause before she broke the stare and leaned to look over his shoulder.

“Are you by yourself? The invitation was plus one.”

He fought the urge to look over his shoulder.

“Ha. No. I’m here by myself,” he said, a faint laugh in his voice. He looked down to ground himself, or perhaps recompose himself. He paused, then looked up at her. 

“I wasn’t going to come in. But Min-su was... quite insistent.”

As he finished his sentence, her eyes widened and her smile grew a little wider.

“He’s very good at that,” Eun-sol replied. “Especially when I ordered him to make sure you visited me!”

Another comfortable silence settled between them.

“I wanted to say...” Hyun-woo began, his gaze softening as he looked at her. “I hope it’s everything you hoped for. The laughter. The quiet. The person who waits for your storms to pass without standing back.”

Her eyes grew soft with understanding. “You sound like someone who’s learned what that means.”

She gazed at him. As if the answer didn’t tell anything but his eyes would. He held her gaze as he spoke. 

“I’m still... mid-sentence, let’s say.”

She nodded, then pulled him forward for a hug. As she held him, she spoke quietly into his shoulder. 

“You’re not as closed off anymore. That’s a relief." She pulled back, her eyes falling to a small white hair on his shoulder. “Are you ready to not watch from a window this time?”

He smiled at her line as she broke the hug to pluck the hair from his suit jacket. “Dog hair?!” she said with a surprised little laugh.

“Ha. Yes...” Hyun-woo said, looking at the hair she held between her fingers, his tone giving away his slight embarrassment. 

“I have a dog now.”

Eun-sol pulled a face, feigning surprise and delight. “You have a dog now?! I hope it’s not some big, scary thing.”

Another lock of eyes.

“No. He's a mutt. Annoyingly present everywhere I go and also a lot of white fur, hence the noticeable hairs on stuff.”

He gestured to the hair that she appeared to study intently.

“I’m impressed. You really are turning it about,” she said, her smile genuine. “What’s he called?”

“Soo-hyun. Much to his disgust.”

She smiled at the name, but never broke the stare from the hair in her hand.

“Soo-hyun, or the dog?” she quipped as she lowered the hair. They both broke into a broad smile, the sound of their shared laughter filling the hushed room.

“Who's looking after him now?” Eun-sol asked as the laughtered slowed. There was a brief pause as she looked him directly in the eye.

“Seo-jin?” she asked.

Hyun-woo’s smile faded slightly, and he looked down for a moment, her name still carrying a faint echo of pain.

“No,” he said. “My next-door neighbour.”

A pause followed, and Eun-sol’s smile dipped a little and her tone became disappointed. “Pity.”

He didn't answer, just looked at her, his expression full of gratitude. He gently moved forward and adjusted the clasp on the back of her necklace.

“You’ve always deserved the front row,” he said. He stared at her necklace, then reached out gently repositioned it, ensuring it hung straight and in the middle. As he let it go she lifted her hand and placed it against the pendant. Perhaps steadying it — or the moment.

“You should find someone who gives it back,” she replied, her tone soft and genuine, her eyes filled with gentle advice.

He nodded, a small, real smile returning to his face as he took a small step backed toward the door. He felt a sudden need to retreat. To leave her be. 

“I’m glad you came,” she said.

“Me too,” he replied. “Congratulations again.”

He dipped and bowed to her gently before turning and walking the few steps to the door. She switched her voice to a playful tone. 

“Who knows. If this doesn’t work out and you’re still moping about, I’ll come chase you down.”

Hyun-woo found it difficult to look back at her as he exited. He opened the door and stepped through, quickly clicking it shut behind him. 

Eun-sol watched the door long after it clicked shut, her smile fading into something unreadable.