Chapter Text
It was always most serene in the transition hour between day and night. The sky was not yet completely dark but not exactly bright either, just a perfect mash of orange and purple as the sun languidly made its way down the horizon. The open field turned into a makeshift wedding venue was no longer sweltering hot, the humid afternoon air now safely replaced by the inconsistent blow of the cool evening breeze. It was not yet pitch black but the fairy lights adorning the venue were already turned on, making the guests momentarily forgot that this is the same field that they use for soccer match and school festival.
The bride and groom sit at the centre of a white long table, a permanent smile graced their faces as they look at each other adoringly. But this story is not about them, no. This is about five twenty-one years old who were stuffed behind the wedding stage, nervously waiting for their turn to perform for the first time ever. Unbeknownst to the guests, they were about to witness the birth of the greatest five-person band in all of South Korea… or so they said.
“I can’t believe that I agree to this.” Kim Junwan, the ever grumpy second guitarist of the band, grunted while crossing his arms together.
Lee Ikjun, the first guitarists slash vocalist slash self-proclaimed leader of the band, turn to face the other half of the Changwon boys; his frosty tips sway along with his head.
“What? We already practiced.” Said Ikjun nonchalantly, like the cool sociable guy he is.
“Yes, for the campus event! Not this!”
“This is nothing compared to the campus festival… just think of it as a dress rehearsal. Better to make mistake here rather than later in front of the whole campus to see… or your girlfriend, what’s her name again? Bora?”
“It’s Yura.” Junwan answered calmly. Ikjun knitted his brows together because he was sure that her name was Bora… except maybe if Junwan has got himself a new girlfriend. Again.
But his thought was immediately cut off by the girl standing in front of him. “Umm, excuse me? It’s my brother’s wedding, not the dress rehearsal.” Said the only girl of the band, a bass too big for her body is strapped in front of her knee-length powder blue dress. Chae Songhwa stood the closest to the stage and truthfully, she was about to faint out of nervousness. But then again, this is all her idea—she had to hold herself together for at least the length of the one song they’re about to perform. “If I see any of you guys break down on the stage, I will hunt you down.” She said with menacing eyes.
“I feel like fainting right now…” Her words were immediately betrayed by Yang Seokhyeong, the piano player who stood behind Junwan, and unlike Songhwa, he really looked like he was about to faint. His face was as white as their lab coats and if it’s not for Ahn Jeongwon, who stood behind him with one hand on his shoulder, he might as well already fell to the ground.
“I have aspirin, do you want some?” Jeongwon whispered to Seokhyeong, his hand already rummaging through his pockets. He usually carries a lot of stuffs in there but now, unfortunately, all he carries with him is his drums sticks, securely kept inside his back pockets. Thankfully, Seokhyeong just shook his head weakly.
“Oh God, I’m nervous.” Songhwa held one hand over her heart.
“You should, your voice is terrible.” Junwan made a comment with a deadpan expression. This was met by a smack to the shoulder from Songhwa. “Aw!”
“Shut up, it’s my brother’s wedding, this is my gift to him.”
“Hence why you shouldn’t sing…” Now it’s Ikjun who teased her. Similarly, it was met with a slap to his left arm, although he enjoyed this a bit more than Junwan did. “Aw!” He pretended to look hurt.
Songhwa was about to mock them back—maybe talk about their frosty tips, they’re ridiculous, after all—but her thought was interrupted by the applause from the guests. Turned out, the performance before them had just ended; a violin player who is also the bride’s sister came down from the stage, she exchanged a polite smile with Songhwa as she walked past them.
“What an amazing performance from the sister of the bride…” the MC led another round of applause, “Now, it’s only fair if we also witness the sister of the groom’s performance, right? Right?” No audience answered as excitedly as the MC had hoped, but he went on, “So now… please give it up for… Chae Songhwa and friends!”
“Chae Songhwa and friends???” Kim Junwan protested amidst the loud claps from the audience, prompting Songhwa to turned her back just before she was about to ascend to the stage.
“Shut up, we don’t have a name yet, I was panicking!” She hissed before she turned around and took three steps, and then she fully stood on the stage. She was welcomed with loud cheer—mostly from her side of family on the left side of the stage.
“Come on, let’s do this.” Ikjun said to the three guys behind him, before he followed Songhwa’s footsteps.
Junwan’s heart was thumping out of his chest but he obliged, half nervous half excited for their first ever performance. Seokhyeong felt an out of body experience as he stepped on the stairs, figuratively and literally pushed by Jeongwon from behind. Jeongwon, the last member of the group, made a cross sign before he followed the other to the stage, a winning smile plastered on his face as he walked across the stage before settling behind a drum set on the corner left.
“Good evening everybody… first of all, congrats to the happy bride and groom.” Ikjun let go of the standing mic to clap his hands, eyes fixated on Songhwa’s eldest brother and his new wife sitting in the furthest front of the stage. “My name is Lee Ikjun, the vocalist and guitarist. Here’s Chae Songhwa, as you all know, the sister of the groom, on bass…” His words were trailing as he was unsure whether or not to say ‘vocalist’, but when he turned to see Songhwa, she was already giving him the dead stare. He gulped.
“…and on vocal.” Ikjun resigned—this was her brother’s wedding after all, he will let her sing for this one time only.
After the claps for Songhwa died down, he turned his arm to point to the other members of the band, “Then on second guitar we have Kim Junwan,” clap clap clap, “Then Ahn Jeongwon on the drum,” clap clap clap, “And lastly, we have Yang Seokhyeong on the piano.” Clap clap clap.
The audience gave a resounding cheer, and for a moment, they truly felt like they were the greatest band in all of South Korea. The nervousness they felt just minutes ago had evaporated, now replaced by a shot of adrenaline coursing through their veins.
“Thank you,” Ikjun grinned widely as he grabbed the standing mic with oozing confidence, “We’re going to perform Aloha by Cool.”
It was a perfect night for a wedding, or for anything, really. The weather was nice, not too warm nor too cold; and there’s not a single shred of clouds covering the stars on the night sky. The five members of the band scrambled on the amphitheatre seat in the far corner of the wedding venue, a safe distance from the main event. From here they could observe the events clearly, but in return, they were almost invisible to the guests as the only lighting in their proximity is a pair of streetlamps perched behind the goal post.
They were sitting lazily except for Ikjun, who laid on the uppermost seat, his arms were crossed behind his head. Between them there’s a bottle of wine which they take turn to drink, the bottle being stolen from the open bar at the wedding. They thought that this is some expensive wine that they’re drinking but in fact it’s a moderately priced, three-year-old wine; and each time any of them drink it, they had to pretend that it doesn’t completely taste like medicine. Now it’s Jeongwon’s turn to drink, and to be honest, he would rather drink a sikhye.
“If I get a 10,000 won every time someone ask me when will I get married, I will be rich.” Songhwa said with a puff, eyes transfixed on the night sky. She rested her back on the barren concrete of the amphitheatre seat, her dress was all crumpled and most likely dirty but since she can’t see it, she decided to not give it a care. Her mother will care, but that’s a concern for another time, she thought.
As one of the siblings of the groom, she already knew that the topics of marriage will be part of the chitchat she had to endure with the wedding guests—older ones, especially—but she still thought it’s ridiculous since she still has two older, unmarried brothers. But as always, being the only girl in the family, marriage was expected the most from her; regardless of her still on the second year of college. This double standard started to wear her off.
“If you get 10,000 won at all, you’ll be rich.” Junwan said matter-of-factly, his nose was still scrunched at the sour aftertaste of the wine.
“Well, that’s true… aish why are med students so broke?” Her head fell limply to her knees.
“Not this guy,” Ikjun pointed to Seokhyeong, who didn’t even try to object, “And this guy.” He pointed to Jeongwon, who almost immediately protested.
“Trust me, I’m broke.” Jeongwon said, lifting both hands as if he were caught by the police.
“Oooh, I can vouch for that.” Junwan said with a sulk, not forgetting the lunches he paid for his supposed-to-be-a-chaebol-but-he’s-not friend, Ahn Jeongwon. The said friend just smiled sheepishly, as his broke-ness was his own doing. He regularly spends his generous monthly stipend to fund various charities; this month, it went to a stray dog shelter.
“But don’t worry, we will reap it in… 20 years, I think. Relax.” Ikjun said coolly. The other day he researched the salary of surgeons, and frankly, the results were satisfying. Ever since, he thought that he was set for life; except just for one, tiny, problem… he hasn’t even yet graduated from med school. Or studied for upcoming quizzes, for that matter.
“Ugh, that’s so long. That’s almost all of our lives…” Songhwa was not fully satisfied by this answer, but nonetheless, the idea of 20 years old later already piqued her curiosity. Her eyes glistened with wonder as some future scenario flashed through her mind. “I wonder how we’ll be in 20 years, though. Do you think any of us will be married by then?” She asked to no one in particular, her head turned to scan her friends.
“Not me, I will never get married. I will become a priest.” Jeongwon said with a satisfied smirk. This was a dream that he has long nurtured since he was a child, and only reinforced by his oldest brother’s recent departure to seminary. His second brother looked like he was about to leave, too, and Jeongwon was itching for his turn. Maybe after med school… but his mother is the biggest obstacle. Jeongwon made a mental reminder to talk to her when he gets home.
“Tsk, as if.” Junwan shook his head, not buying the priest-agenda one bit. He witnessed how girls threw themselves at Jeongwon at mixers and classes, and how Jeongwon, in response, seemed to enjoy every second of it. In truth, Jeongwon was just simply polite; it was how he was raised, after all. It was similar to how he was adamant of speaking formally; although they have been friend for a year, it was only recently that he finally spoke to them in banmal.
Ikjun let out a sly laugh, seemingly agree with Junwan. “Jeongwonah, I’m going laugh the day you fall in love with a girl.”
But Jeongwon just shook his head. “I won’t. I already fall in love with God.”
His friends hoped that he was being sarcastic, but his eyes looked every bit as determined. This sudden determination robbed his friends out of words—heavenly topic is not their forte, after all—but thankfully there’s Junwan, who managed to respond very, very, eloquently:
“Ew.”
This prompted the others to laugh, Seokhyeong even went as far as crouching while holding his belly. Ikjun almost spat out the wine out of his mouth—although, if he’s being honest, it’s more because of the taste, not because of his laughter.
“Tsk, don’t mind Junwan, he doesn’t believe in God.” Songhwa waved her hand dismissively.
“He doesn’t believe in love either.” Seokhyeong muttered with a deadpan expression.
“Wha—what are you saying? I have a girlfriend.”
“Girlfriends.” Seokhyeong emphasized on the ‘s’. Then he jutted his chin at Ikjun, “You change girlfriends faster than Ikjun changed his pants during winter.”
Ikjun sit upright in protest, “Ya!” But in truth, Seokhyeong, his roommate, was not wrong. He had no argument left so he just pretended to sulk before turning to rile Junwan instead.
“But Seokhyeong’s right. Why can’t you stick with one girl for a while?”
“What… why do you guys suddenly gang up on me?” Junwan shifted an inch further from where his friends sit. His face was incredulous, but he didn’t feel pressured—he only trusted his moral compass, after all—he believed that he did nothing wrong. “We’re young… just think of it as I’m taking Jeongwon’s share.”
Ikjun shook his head a little bit too excitedly. “I feel sorry for those girls… I hope my sister won’t meet someone like you.”
At the mention of Ikjun’s sister, Junwan’s ears perked up. Truthfully, he may know one or two things about this sister, but Ikjun doesn’t need to know… yet.
“Oh, you have a sister?” Jeongwon asked earnestly.
“Yes, and I will never introduce her to any of you weirdos.” Ikjun pointed his fingers around. “Even to Songhwa.” He said without thinking.
“Whaaat…” Songhwa instantly sulked. “Why???” She sounded like she’s really disappointed, even though she never met or heard this sister of Ikjun.
“You’re bad for her health.” Ikjun said randomly. In truth, Songhwa is bad for his health, not his sister; like how his heart is currently beating erratically when she’s staring him down like this.
“Right.” Songhwa rolled her eyes, not buying this. “How so?”
“Your singing will turn her deaf.” Ikjun said matter-of-factly. The others laughed while Songhwa pinched him hard in the arm, and as usual, he pretended to be hurt… until it actually felt painful. “Aw aw aw stop it aw aw fine aw I’m sorry…” He swatted Songhwa’s hand gently, and she let him go. He didn’t notice that Songhwa’s breath hitched the moment their hands touched.
“How about you, Songhwa? Will you be married in 20 years?” The topic suddenly rounded back to marriage, and two pairs of eyes bulged in surprise when they realized that it’s Seokhyeong who asked this. First, it’s Songhwa, who he confessed to months ago; and second, it’s Ikjun, the only one besides them who knew about this confession.
Songhwa fidgeted before she answered. “I don’t know… I want to be a doctor first.” She cocked her lips to the side. Then her eyes caught the glimpses of her brother’s wedding and an idea flashed through her mind. “I know my dream wedding, though.” She said with a smile.
“What?” Ikjun asked, pretended to be nonchalant. His eyes are fixated on the wine bottle as his thumb almost peeled off the sticker completely.
“I want to get married in the woods.” Songhwa said with dreamy eyes. An image is now slowly forming inside her mind: a picturesque wedding venue surrounded by rows of pine tree, she’s standing in a white dress at the altar and about to kiss a man with vague face, but with surprisingly similar hair and built and facial feature as Ikjun… No. She gulped. Shut up, brain. She hastily erased the image from her brain.
“That’s so much trouble… I feel sorry for your future husband.” Junwan shook his head disapprovingly.
“Tsk, it will never be you, relax.” Songhwa shot him down.
“Nado, I don’t see you as a girl anymore.” Junwan retorted.
Songhwa and Junwan exchanged a murderous stare; Songhwa with her gritted teeth and Junwan with his nose flare. This was hilarious only to Jeongwon, who tried to hold back a laughter, because his other two friends were caught up with the image of Songhwa in a wedding dress.
“Anyway, just remember that if any of you get married, let me be the officiant.” Jeongwon said chirpily. His friends instantly turned their heads and stare at him like he’s crazy.
“I’m seriously gonna laugh the day you fall in love with a girl.” Said Ikjun, who looked at Jeongwon in amusement. Jeongwon just shrugged, not a single trace of joke is apparent on his face.
“Just… promise that whatever happens we’ll stay friends, okay?” Songhwa suddenly turned sentimental with all the marriage talk. Or maybe it’s the bad-tasting wine that has entered her system. Either way, she felt lightheaded, and sappy… and probably a little bit sleepy.
“Arasseo, arasseo… you’re talking as if tomorrow we’re going to graduate or something.” Ikjun let out a scoff.
There is really no reason to be sentimental; at twenty-one, they were at the cusp of their lives. A myriad of possible life scenarios stretched infinitely in front of them. Jeongwon could possibly be a priest someday, although his friends seriously doubted it; Ikjun maybe well on his way to be a rich surgeon, although he’s still not yet studied for that anatomy quiz for next Wednesday; Junwan may actually have a relationship that lasts longer than one month; Seokhyeong may someday found a girl and moved on from his friend, Songhwa; and Songhwa… maybe someday her singing will improve. At least, that’s what her friends hoped, for the sake of their hearing.
“We still have classes. And band practice, don’t forget.” Ikjun continued with a serious face, staring down at his friends one by one.
“Aish… that band again. Mark my word, the campus festival is going to be our first and last performance.” Junwan shook his head.
“What? No way. We’re great back then.” Songhwa said excitedly, referring to tonight’s performance. Truthfully, all of them felt the same way but none wanted to say the word out loud: performing was nerve-wracking but the satisfaction it brought was far much greater. They really could be a band—a serious, great-sounding band. Ikjun suddenly regretted that he signed their band as a comedic performance… but his friends didn’t know this yet.
“No, we’re not. It’s just because you can’t hear your voice.” Junwan said nonchalantly as he got up, then walk sluggishly towards the wedding venue. It took Songhwa a second before she realized that he was mocking her. Again.
“Ya!” She shouted and ran after him, completely forgetting the fact that she’s in a dress, and heels; and probably shouldn’t be running in front of her families and relatives.
The other three boys just sat there in silence, having used to see Songhwa and Junwan’s bickering. Seokhyeong even felt sleepy as a yawn escaped his lips.
“Should we chase after them?” Jeongwon asked half-heartedly, not really that excited with the prospect of running with his dress shoes.
“Nah, her mother will chase her first, you’ll see…” Ikjun said calmly. He spotted Songhwa’s mother on his rear view; a figure in powder blue hanbok is slowly making her way towards the periphery of the wedding venue where Songhwa is running. A smirk escaped his lips as he muttered, “Three… two… one…”
“CHAE SONGHWA!!!”