Korokonavorekina
(: A spell that makes what you imagine come true)
"Jeon Jungkook! You really came."
"What... that's obvious."
Jungkook pushed away Lee Joo's hand that was tightly holding onto him and showed a bitter smile. A few weeks ago, when Lee Joo called Jungkook out in the morning breeze and handed him a wedding invitation saying that he was getting married, Jungkook had made a promise to himself that he would never go to the wedding. Jungkook returned home and angrily threw the invitation away. Even if he was depressed, he would still be upset when he heard that his friend, who he had spent a lot of time with since he was born until he was 27, was getting married... How could he not show his presence in a place like that just because of his personal feelings? Because he knew Lee Joo would be upset, Jeon Jungkook dressed up nicely in a suit that he rarely wore and ran to the wedding hall.
Jeong-guk felt even more strange seeing everyone from friends he'd met through his marriage to high school classmates gathered around the bride in the bridal waiting room, chatting away. The most jarring thing was that the bride, clad in a pristine white dress, sitting in the center of the room, was his old friend, Lee Yi-ju. Amidst the throng of people, Lee Yi-ju's figure, her hair neatly tied up and covered with a veil, loomed before his eyes.
"Is it okay to go first like this?"
"Hey, you'll meet a good woman too. Who else can't you meet?"
Whether it was an illusion or not, Jungkook felt a tingle for a moment. Lee Yi-joo was really getting married. She had a husband, not a boyfriend. She was starting a family. He was my family and my friend for 27 years. The day that Lee Yi-joo would leave me and start another family... Jungkook was still dazed. He wished this was all just a dream. Jungkook, who had been hesitant at Lee Joo's words, smiled faintly. It was funny.
"Lee Joo-ya."
"What! It's been a while since you called my name."
"Is that all?"
"I'm still confused whether my name is Coconut or Lee Joo~"
Jungkook always called Lee Joo, who loved coconut drinks, "Coconut." Even when they fought over trivial things, Jeon Jungkook insisted on using nicknames like, "Coconut, it was your fault," and he hadn't called Lee Joo "Lee Joo" in years. Hearing his name called by Jungkook's voice after such a long time made Lee Joo laugh so hard that the wedding hall erupted. Seeing Lee Joo laugh endlessly over nothing seemed truly happy, so Jungkook let out a faint smile in return. Today, at least, he had to keep his personal feelings in check so that Lee Joo could have a truly happy day. That was the promise Jeon Jungkook had made before setting foot in the bridal waiting room.
"Is Jaehyuk doing well?"
"Yeah. I really wonder what would have happened if I hadn't met this person... I have a partner too! That's what I was like."
"That's good then."
"He's a good person. Don't worry."
Now, the person next to you isn't your boyfriend, but Jaehyuk? ... Even if you try a hundred times, he's probably just your groom. Anyway, Jungkook was strangely grumpy because he was dissatisfied with having to refer to him like that. Still, Jungkook had heard to some extent that Lee Yiju's husband-to-be was a really good man who would be family-oriented, so he couldn't help but smack his lips. Lee Yiju, in any case, has a sharp eye for men. At Jungkook's one word, Lee Joo showered him with compliments for his prospective groom. Haha, hoho. It was pitiful to see Jeon Jungkook raise the corners of his lips to hide his darkening expression in contrast to Lee Joo who was laughing.
"When are you going to go?"
"I'm busy. I just came to see your face."
"Are you going to eat before you go?"
Ah... I don't know.What the hell do you know... After leaving the wedding hall, all Jeongguk could do was munching on a pitiful salad in an empty house. Jeongguk, who was still upset that Lee Yi-joo was still present in the name of bride at the extravagant wedding hall, came to a deal with Lee Yi-joo to go home early. He thought that it was too miserable for him to sit around leisurely munching on steak, let alone witness the wedding. Still, if you ask Lee Yi-joo to name his best friend, Jungkook would definitely come out. Jungkook is the same. But when Jeongguk said that he was leaving his wedding, which might be his one and only, without even eating, he felt a little empty, so Lee Yi-joo pursed his lips and said, "Okay, I'll buy you a meal next time," and naturally let the situation pass.
"...nose,"
"huh?"
"Lee Joo-ya."
"Haha yeah~"
"...Congratulations on your wedding."
Although her eyes looked like they were about to cry for a while, Joo-hee's tears welled up at an unexpected moment. Even though it was a cringe-worthy situation, they both looked really affectionate, as if they had grown up a bit more. Was it because I was holding back tears, or was it because the atmosphere was awkward... Jeon Jung-kook, whose ears were bright red, rubbed his nose and handed her a congratulatory gift, which was none other than a beautifully packaged plaster air freshener. It was filled with the sincerity of Jung-kook, who had personally ordered it from Joo-hee's favorite handmade mall.
"Oh, I feel like crying already. What if I cry during your congratulatory speech? I paid a lot of money for makeup..."
"Our friendship has lasted for years, isn't it time to cry?"
"Anyway, you're being mean... Don't cry, you crybaby."
Crybaby. That single nickname pierced Jungkook's heart. When Jungkook finally calmed down, Joo-hee, who had been waiting for him with such a gentle demeanor, made his lips curl up. Feeling his expression no longer in control, Jungkook said, "I never knew so many people could be in the bridal waiting room," and quickly moved away from Joo-hee, saying, "I think I should go now."
"Hey Jeon Jungkook! Don't be shy about giving your congratulatory speech, you idiot."
"...Congratulations. And you look beautiful today."
Lee Joo's expression brightened significantly. "Thank you, Jungkook." After Jungkook and Lee Joo exchanged greetings and Jungkook turned around, Lee Joo's friends quickly surrounded him. "Why are you so pretty today! Congratulations!" Jungkook gave up after seeing that sight. "After all the time you and I have spent together, I'm just like those friends. All I can do for you is come to the wedding hall and give you the same gifts that everyone else gives." Jungkook, who had just emerged from the bridal waiting room, bit his lip. He stood there awkwardly, his formal attire pale in comparison.
"Oh my, Jeongguk is here! How long has it been?"
"Ah... Aunt. How have you been?"
"Yeah. I heard Jungkook's business is going well~"
Lee Joo's mother, who saw Jeongguk standing there shabbily, ran over and patted him on the shoulder while wearing a fancy hanbok. Lee Joo's parents and Jeongguk, who hadn't seen him in a long time because of the business Jeongguk started, hugged Jeongguk tightly, saying it was great to see him. She asked how he had been and if he was eating well. Jeongguk, who had been worried that he might have developed resentment toward her after not seeing him for so long, relaxed and smiled. After hugging Lee Joo's mother a few times, Jeongguk asked after Lee Joo's father, who was next to him, and left the room saying he had to go to the bathroom. There wasn't anything urgent.
"....."
He wiped away the cold sweat with a washcloth. Jungkook, head down, turned off the tap and sighed deeply. Strangely, he felt guilty about seeing his parents, so he ran to the bathroom. Jungkook's worries deepened. He felt resentful of his own footsteps, which had led him to the wedding hall. He kept tapping the heel of his shoe against the floor, then looked at the watch he had neatly hung on his left wrist. He confirmed that less than 20 minutes had passed since he arrived at the wedding hall and ran a rather aggressive hand through his hair. "I'm crazy, so I can't just go home now."
"Fuck.."
Jungkook finally couldn't hold back the curses that were about to burst out and muttered them. The noisy noise from outside the bathroom pierced Jungkook's ears. He just wanted to pretend to be crazy and get out of there right away. But there was only one reason Jungkook wanted to stay a little longer. Lee Yi-ju. He knew better than anyone that Lee Yi-ju would feel uncomfortable if Jungkook wasn't in the guest seats during the wedding at this venue today. Jungkook, who was lost and unsure of what to do, bit his lip until it tasted like metal.
Jungkook, who had struggled to make it out of the bathroom, noticed his hair was a mess. He made excuses to his friends, saying it was just sweat. His classmates, who had known his situation for a long time, assured him it was okay, that it would all be a memory when he got older. They offered him comfort, but not consolation. Unable to find words to respond to such words, Jungkook simply nodded silently.
"Jeon Jungkook. Where are you going?"
"Day."
"Huh, already? Stay a little longer~"
"Hey, I'm going... Okay. Let's have a drink later."
"..... okay."
Several people who had noticed that Jeon Jungkook was having a hard time being there spoke to one person who was holding onto him. He regretted stepping into the buffet with a few of his classmates, worried that Lee Joo would be upset. Some people gave Jeon Jungkook pitiful looks, and others clung to him, asking if he could help their family get a job... Jungkook, who was clearly on edge, quickly smoothed out the suit jacket he had taken off and headed out of the venue. Even as he was out of breath from the wind that had blown his face, he felt the most sorry for Lee Joo.
"Ah... I'm really sorry. Sorry.."
Jungkook, barely able to rest his hands on his knees, exhaled sharply, and finally lowered his head. His eyes seemed to redden, but he quickly swallowed and shook out his soiled suit pants. The crumpled congratulatory letter he had left behind from his sudden escape from the wedding hall made his heart ache even more. Jungkook clutched his head, regretting the handwriting he had been staying up all night to write for days. "Fuck." He tossed the torn congratulatory letter to the floor. "I shouldn't have come."
With trembling hands, he picked up the congratulatory letter with difficulty. Jungkook clenched his fists and picked up his phone, sending a random text message to a friend he knew.I don't think I can give a congratulatory speech. Tell Lee Joo-han that I'm truly sorry. I'm sorry.Jungkook sent several messages. He knew his friends who received them would be shocked, and he vaguely knew he'd disappoint Lee Joo deeply. But he couldn't bring himself to re-enter the wedding hall. He couldn't bear to see Lee Joo walking beside his new family. He hated the idea of starting a family with someone else. Jeon Jungkook felt an overwhelming sense of self-loathing.
You have to be happy. Lee Yi-joo has to be happy.
Even though I looked like an abandoned puppy, Jungkook couldn't help but laugh when he realized that he was only worried about Lee Joo. "Are you crazy?" Jungkook covered his face and laughed, but then the tears he'd been holding back burst out. He wanted Lee Joo to be happy, but inside, it was hell. It was the first time Jungkook had ever hated Lee Joo, even though he was smiling. Today.
Jeon Jungkook cried endlessly, unable to even shake off the dirt and dust that had accumulated on his suit that didn't fit.
That what I had prayed for so desperately was not you and me.
Holding onto a tattered order form that was on the verge of breaking down...
Until now, I have only quietly prayed for your happiness.