Chapter 20

One Year Later

Yi Jung straightened his tie for the umpteenth time causing Woo Bin to roll his eyes in exasperation.

"Seriously bro," Prince Song muttered, "You look just fine."

"Then why don't I feel fine?" Yi Jeong shot back.

Jun Pyo snickered, "Pre-wedding jitters. Happened to me too, remember?"

"Entirely too well," Yi Jung grimaced. He would never forget seeing the then twenty-four year old Jun Pyo sitting by the toilet bowl, his legs splayed in front of him, dressed in nothing but boxer shorts, crying into toilet paper. It was one of the very few scenes Yi Jung wished he could un-see, but not even the strongest of bleach could erase.

"I must say, Yi Jung is handling it better than you," Woo Bin added with a chuckle.

"Infinitely," Ji Hoo agreed, "Here, have this. You'll feel better."

"Alcohol?" Yi Jung looked sceptical, "Would that be wise?"

Ji Hoo nodded, "Trust me. It helped me."

"You had pre-wedding jitters?" Jun Pyo gaped, "You were so damn zen."

The doctor grinned, "No I wasn't. I was almost peeing in my pants."

"Could've fooled me," Woo Bin marvelled with a whistle.

Yi Jung looked at the stainless steel flask sceptically and then drank it nevertheless. Just as he was finishing the dregs of it, Kyung Mi called him to give him some last minute instructions and Ji Hoo sat down next to Woo Bin and Jun Pyo.

Woo Bin leaned in, questioning Ji Hoo's wisdom, "He has butterflies in his stomach already and you gave him alcohol? Won't he throw up?"

Ji Hoo merely chuckled, shaking his head in refusal.

"I would if I were him," Jun Pyo added.

"No you wouldn't," Ji Hoo said, his eyes gleaming, "I didn't give him alcohol. That's just placebo."

"Placebo?" the two echoed.

Ji Hoo nodded, still chuckling, "I added a few drops of vodka for smell, but it's mostly water. He's too nervous to notice."

Before the two could respond in anyway, Yi Jung walked back, "Thanks Ji Hoo. I already feel better."

The F3 struggled to keep a straight face as Ji Hoo winked and showed him a thumbs-up sign.

"Ga Eul!" Jae Kyung cried, "You look sooooo pretty! Yi Jung wouldn't be able to keep his eyes and hands off you!"

Ga Eul smiled nervously, adjusting her veil. "I'm so scared," her voice sounded shrill.

Seo Hyun held her by the shoulders, "Don't be. You're marrying him after so many years. You've finally been accepted by the entire family, what more do you want?"

Ga Eul bit her lip, causing Jan Di to scream, "Yah! I spent so long making sure you have a good lipstick and now you're ruining it all. Stay still!"

"Sorry," she giggled sheepishly. Truly her journey up to here hadn't been easy. Even after returning to Seoul after six years, she had faced hostility from Hyun Shik. She could still remember the sheer horror she had felt when Hyun Shik had collapsed in her house. Abject terror had frozen her for a few precious seconds but then she had jolted into action.

She had identified the signs of a heart-attack having once seen her father going through the same. She had then acted quickly, calling the ambulance. She had performed a timely CPR on him to ensure that he didn't lose oxygen. The paramedics had come fairly quickly and he was whisked away to the hospital in less than ten minutes. Ga Eul had been with him throughout and ensured that he got the required attention. Once she was certain that Hyun Shik was in good hands, she dialled Yi Jung's number.

Hyun Shik had been in a coma for seven long weeks and over this period Ga Eul had been next to Yi Jung as he oscillated between being worried for his grandfather and guilt that he was somehow responsible for the old man's health. At the end of the seventh week, Hyun Shik had woken up but the attack had completely paralyzed his left side.

Ga Eul had expected him to be angry, blaming her for his disease, but the brush with death had changed him. She could recollect that life changing conversation vividly, as if it had taken place but yesterday.

Ga Eul and Yi Jung sat by Hyun Shik's bed. The old man looked, frail, tired and very weak.

"Yi Jung," he called out in a low voice, "Come here son."

Slowly Yi Jung walked up to his grandfather and held his outstretched hand. He couldn't get over how thin his hand seemed. "Yes Grandfather."

"I… I…," Hyun Shik coughed painfully, "I'm sorry son."

Completely taken aback, Yi Jung looked at Ga Eul, unsure of what to say.

"I have done wrong by you," Hyun Shik said weakly, his words coming out jumbled because of his paralyzed left side, "And I've wronged Ga Eul. And my entire family as well. This is the outcome of my deeds. The Gods have punished me justly." He fell silent, wheezing heavily.

"Don't talk Grandfather, please don't. Forget about it all," Yi Jung said hurriedly. Ga Eul knew that he was on the verge of tears. Much as Yi Jung had hated his grandfather, he had not wanted the man to die. She walked up to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. It calmed him down and Yi Jung had then started to leave but Hyun Shik had more to say.

"Stay," he pleaded, "I don't have much time Yi Jung ah. Before I leave the world, I want to see you married."

"Grandfather, don't talk like that!" Yi Jung cried, "You'll get well soon and then we'll see about things like marriage."

Hyun Shik looked at Ga Eul, "Ga Eul, tell him he's being unreasonable, child."

"No he's not," she responded, "You have to get well and that's all there is to it."

That was the only time in his adult life that someone had seen Hyun Shik cry.

Today Hyun Shik had become able to sit on the wheelchair. While he had not recovered completely, he had recuperated enough so that the wedding could be held. Once Hyun Shik had accepted Ga Eul, he had actually come to like her as a person. Meanwhile, Ga Eul and Yi Jung had also taken the time to get reacquainted with each other, both as friends and as lovers. Over the year, the two had grown even closer, not only to each other but the respective families as well.

The wedding had become the talk of town and everyone had come to see it. The wedding hall was bedecked with flowers and baubles. The So clan was dressed impeccably and they looked happy as they went about ensuring that the guests were comfortable. Pretty soon, it was time for the wedding to start.

The groom walked in looking elegant in a black tuxedo, followed by his three best men, the F3. So Yi Jung walked up to the altar and the three stepped back and took their positions behind him. The choir struck up a new rhythm and the attending crowd turned their heads around to look at the entrance. Soon Seo Hyun stepped in as the flower girl, wearing a mauve dress.

She was followed by the bride dressed in pale gold, her arm intertwined around her father's. They were followed by Jan Di and Jae Kyung also dressed in mauve. The small group walked up to the podium where the groom was waiting with a small smile on his face. Sung Ho handed his blushing daughter's hand to Yi Jung. The minister conducted the marriage rituals as Tye Hun and Jae Kyung cried softly.

"Do you, So Yi Jung, take Chu Ga Eul as your legally wedded wife?" The minister asked the groom.

"I do," he replied with a gentle smile.

"Do you, Chu Ga Eul , take So Yi Jung as your legally wedded husband?" the question was directed at the bride.

"I do," she replied coyly.

"You may kiss the bride now," the minister said.

"Keep it PG please!" Woo Bin hooted just as Yi Jung leaned in, causing the entire gathering to burst out laughing, including the bride and groom. Finally when the laughter died down, Yi Jung leaned in and gently moulded his lips against Ga Eul's. The two had finally gotten their 'happily ever after'. They had finally showed the world what happens When a Casanova Loves.