rehearsal. | jackily.
Her legs had carried her out as fast as she could possibly make them, not once stopping until she’d stumbled her way to a bus station a few blocks away from the restaurant. Her fists curled into the hem of her pretty pink dress as she wobbled shakily on her heels over to the bench seat underneath the alcove, dropping onto it heavily. Although her pace had been brisk, the thudding in her chest wasn’t from the exercise, but what she’d seen.
“I’ll only be a moment!” Emily called over to her mother, picking up the empty tray from the buffet table as she walked past. So far, the rehearsal dinner was going well—everyone seemed to be having a good time, and the rehearsal itself had been picture perfect, too. Although most of the groom’s family was a bit confused about the very American tradition, they’d still obliged to a good meal and carousing to celebrate the happy occasion. Even she had been able to put aside her feelings of doubt over what the future would hold for her. Tonight and tomorrow were about celebrating, and so celebrate, she would. Clutching the tray close to herself, she excused herself from the party, heading back into the kitchens to exchange it. It was supposed to be one of the waitresses’ jobs to make sure the buffet was well-stocked throughout the evening, but Emily didn’t mind helping out—maybe she’d gone to the restroom.
As she headed further down the hall, the sounds of the party disappeared behind her, leaving nothing but silence ahead. “I wonder where Jaeho went to..?” She questioned aloud as she slipped into the first of the buildings’ several kitchens, sliding the tray into an empty spot and picking up another covered in her parents’ homemade hors d’oeuvres. She hadn’t seen him in the dining room for quite some time, but she had admittedly not been paying much attention. With the fresh tray in hand, she turned toward the door to return the food to their guests, only to freeze when she heard a voice from the adjoining kitchen, followed by a giggle.
That sounded like Jaeho… what is he doing back here? Emily frowned—they were supposed to be talking with their guests! Using her shoulder to shove the door open, she stepped through the threshold, eyes growing wide as the tray slid from her hands, dropping to the floor with a loud clang.
He’d been with another woman… the missing waitress, to be precise. Despite not being able to tell exactly what they were doing, the fact that his pants were around his ankles and the way he was positioned between her legs was more than telling enough. She’d run out in shock, stomach curling with a sick feeling, unsure of where she was going or what she was going to do, reaching into the pocket of her sweater to retrieve her phone and opening Kakaotalk to send a message the first and only person she could think of.
All she knew was that that everything she’d thought she’d known was wrong.
[ M.L.E. ] Jackson… [ M.L.E. ] Are you there?
