A soft knock breaks Woori’s thoughts, her older cousin comes in with a fluttering feeling. Minseo’s heart bursts once more but she was great in hiding her emotion when she sees her in her attire. The younger one was just finishing up the final details for her wedding, reaching out to the other with nervous eyes.
“I might faint—“
“You will not,” She chuckles, sitting by her side and held her hand. Minseo’s head contently rests on the Woori’s shoulders as they take in the silence while looking at their reflections.
“You’re so beautiful…”
~
years ago
“You’re so beautiful!!” Woori exclaimed, looking at her cousin trying on her dress. “I like this one too—“
“Are you sure?” Minseo seemed undecided, the white pleats flow naturally around her. It was a sort of princess-style ball gown. Fluffy and big. Like the ones you see in fairytale books. “I feel like it’s too much—“
“Well, go big or go home, no?” She teases, easing her mind about the wedding. “We can look at other ones.”
“Ah… this is my 8th one…,” annoyed, she huffs out to the other “I wanna go home.”
“One more?“
So they pick a few more dresses. By the end of it all, Minseo and Woori’s hunt was not successful but agreed to try again with a different wedding store. The two settled at a park for the time being, where the soft wind calm them. It was a bit cold, but she had liked it that way. Her wedding is soon, though there seemed to be something off with the situation. Minseo couldn’t quite figure it out.
“Stop thinking about it,” she shot through her trance. “It’ll be okay, unnie.”
Minseo smiles, her reassurance made her feel better. She tried to shake things off but it’s still there. That worried feeling. She had always trusted her gut, but perhaps with all the stress she’s been receiving, she couldn’t help but overthink.
“I’m sorry,” she laughs it off before leaning to the other with a sigh. “You’ll be in my shoes one of these days, you know.”
“I know.” Woori puts an arm over her. “But guess what! I’ll be okay because you’re going to be with me, and you’ll do exactly what I’m doing now.” she suddenly pipes once more, taking an unpeeled boiled egg out of their basket. “Feelings are weird. You’re like this egg— after boiling from the water, which is all the preparing; that’s the hard shell you need to break out of—“ she cracks the egg on Minseo’s head, getting a yelp from her. “—soft on the inside. You’ll feel the softness once the wedding comes and you’ll be so happy— that happiness will be the deliciousness of the egg when you eat, don’t you agree?”
“That is the weirdest analogy for all of this—“
They laugh loudly amongst the picnic goers, and the younger one hands a boiled egg. Her words were now part of a core memory. Minseo and Woori waited for that day, with all the love and support for each other.
But the day never came. She was never able to break the shell and feel what she was expecting. Just emptiness. The wedding dress sits somewhere in the closet, never to be seen again.
~
“You know,” Minseo fishes something out of her purse. Two hard boiled eggs. “Someone once told me this feeling is like the boiled eggs.” Woori already began to smile, giggling softly as she takes an egg. “All this pressure is from the water… but once you crack the shell—“ in unison, they both crack an egg on their heads. “it’ll be soft and delicious inside when you eat it, just like the happiness you’ll feel after.”
The younger one’s eyes began to tear up. And then, Minseo’s.
“I’m so happy for you,” she speaks softly. Watching woori get married was one thing, but watching her grow up was also another. “I’m so happy that Xian is going to be part of our family… I promise to be nice.” She jokes, earning a nudge from Woori. There was love, overfilling from her heart. Long before they could finish their thoughts, the tears came. Happy tears.
The day was here and she watches on lovingly. The ceremony went smoothly, in between the joyful tears and the drunken laughters was a slow, but acknowledged, acceptance of healing. Minseo made sure that Woori got everything she had hoped for, and more. Being surrounded by love was more than enough for her to be happy, too. For a longer while, at least.
Minseo’s presence away from the crowd was soon joined by Wenhan, who offers his drink first thing after standing by her side. She accepts as they mirror each other in watching the party’s lively chatter. She watches her reflection on the dark liquid, before looking up to gently smile at him.
