♡ A Vow of Presence
The venue looked like someone decided to pour pure elegance into architecture and then told it to take a deep breath.
Tall glass chandeliers dripped from the ceiling like frozen starlight. White lilies and orchids curved along the staircase railing, catching the soft gold light. Floating candles in crystal holders lined the aisle, and the whole place smelled faintly, wonderfully, of vanilla and fresh blooms.
It was the kind of wedding only a billionaire CEO like Jihan would pull off without even thinking about the cost.
Taehyun's hand settled on the small of my back as we stepped inside. It wasn't a gentle gesture.it was a silent claim. His gaze did its usual sweep of the room: checking people, exits, the whole layout. I, meanwhile, was focused on not tripping in my ridiculous heels or staring too obviously at the insanely extravagant flowers.
Before we even reached the central hall, Jihan materialized.
"Look who finally decided to show up."
He was wearing a black tailored suit, no tie, top buttons undone,effortless and confident, like he literally owned the walls, the lights, and the oxygen we were breathing. He looked calm, but there was a sharp watchfulness in his eyes; you could tell he'd been running the show.
He glanced between us,first Taehyun, then me.
"Bride isn't ready yet," he said. "But you're right on time."
Taehyun gave him a lazy nod. "You look less stressed than I expected."
"That's because my wife banned me from pacing," Jihan said dryly. His eyes flickered back to me, lingering just a moment too long. "You clean up dangerously well."
I blinked. "Uh… thanks?"
Taehyun didn't speak.
He didn't need to,his arm slid from my back down to my waist, pulling me just a fraction closer. Not enough for anyone else to notice. Enough for Jihan to notice. It was a warning.
Jihan's mouth twitched like he found the whole possessive display highly entertaining.
"You two can come inside. Guests are being seated, but the bride's still getting her final touches. Ceremony starts soon."
He led the way deeper into the venue, his polished shoes making zero noise on the marble.
Crystal drapes shimmered overhead. The stage was covered in soft gold fabric and white roses. Everything was custom, the lighting warm and low, like the air itself knew it was expensive.
I leaned in and whispered to Taehyun, "Are we at a wedding or inside a luxury perfume commercial?"
He leaned down without loosening his grip. "Behave."
"Don't tell me you're suddenly shy at public events."
"I'm not shy," he said coolly. "I'm calculating how many men are going to stare at you, and how many teeth I'll have to break."
I nearly choked on air. "You need therapy."
"I have you."
"That explains everything."
Before I could get another word out, Jihan glanced back. "You two coming? Or planning to elope in the hallway?"
I snapped my mouth shut immediately. Taehyun just smirked.
The moment we reached the inner hall, I subtly slipped my arm from Taehyun's hold and looked up at Jihan.
"Can I be her bridesmaid?" I asked sweetly, batting my best doe eyes
my long lashes doing at least half the work.
He froze for maybe two seconds.
His jaw flexed once.
Then he sighed dramatically, like I'd just asked for his bank password. "Fine… go. But don't make her cry more than she already has."
"I won't!" I smiled, way too pleased with myself.
Behind me, the temperature dropped on Taehyun.
He didn't actually say anything, but his jealous glare was so loud it could've been printed on a neon sign. Still, he didn't physically stop me. He just shoved his hands into his pockets and muttered something like, "Don't trip on your heels," which I immediately translated to: Come back fast, or I'll drag you out myself.
Jihan walked me halfway and then pointed to a door. "Women's lounge. My mother's inside. The bride too."
I nodded and slipped through the door.
The second I stepped inside, my breath just left.
She was sitting in front of a mirror while Jihan's mother adjusted her veil. The bride looked like something carved out of a dream and silk ,soft white and blush, delicate jewelry, her skin glowing like the lights were custom-built just for her.
I stared.
Like a fool.
Like someone seeing spring for the very first time.
My heart did that annoying little flutter thing.
She turned slowly… and our eyes met.
God.
Those eyes huge, gorgeous, the kind that could melt a monster's entire existence into a puddle of guilt. Not sharp. Not proud. Just… heartbreakingly gentle.
But teary.
Not actively crying, but close.
I panicked internally. Because what does a socially awkward, introverted person do when an actual angel looks sad?
They malfunction.
I walked toward her anyway. Knees weak, voice gone, brain completely offline.
I sat beside her and somehow managed, "You… look perfect."
Her lips curved a little, but the shimmer in her eyes didn't go away. The silence was thick but somehow not awkward. I don't know what possessed me, but I spoke again, softer this time.
"You're not upset, are you?"
She blinked, then slowly shook her head. But her throat bobbed like she was swallowing back a whole sentence.
Jihan's mother stepped out to check on something, leaving us alone for a moment.
I am not the person who comforts people. I don't do emotions in public. But something about her?so fragile in the prettiest way.
pulled the honesty right out of me.
"You don't have to smile if it hurts. I won't tell anyone."
Her eyes widened a little. Then one small, tiny laugh escaped her. Then,the tiniest sniffle.
She wiped quickly, trying to hold it together. I pretended not to notice but nudged a tissue toward her anyway.
After a moment, she finally stood up, ready.
When we stepped out together
me holding her hand lightly, guiding her to the hallway went completely silent for a breath, like the universe paused to watch.
And somewhere across the main hall, I could already feel Taehyun's stare burning through the walls.
The moment we stepped back into the crowd, holding hands, every head turned. especially two.
Taehyun's eyes locked on me instantly. Not the bride. Not the dress. On me.
Jaw tight. One eyebrow arched. It was a look that clearly said: So you went in for ten minutes and came out like you own the wedding?
But he didn't move. His gaze dropped briefly to where I held the bride's hand and something possessive flickered in his eyes, but he stayed still, looking silent and utterly lethal.
Jihan, on the other hand…
He froze.
Not dramatically ,silently and profoundly.
It was like his entire body forgot how to move at the sight of her.
His mother whispered something to him, but he didn't seem to hear it. His eyes traced every inch of his bride as if he was memorizing her in case the world decided to end in the next five seconds.
Slowly, he walked toward her.
People watched with soft smiles and held their breaths.
He stopped right in front of her. Didn't touch. Didn't speak immediately. He just stared like she was a miracle he wasn't sure he deserved.
"You…" he finally breathed, his voice low and roughened with sudden emotion, "are the most painfully beautiful thing I've ever seen."
Her eyes lowered shyly, but the tears rimming them glimmered again.
Jihan smiled then small, fond, and incredibly private. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a folded envelope.
"For you," he said softly.
She looked surprised. "Now?"
He nodded. "Before the vows. This is… mine."
He handed it to her, but instead of making her read it aloud, he pulled a duplicate copy from his inner pocket.
People shifted, sensing the importance of the moment. Even Taehyun looked up, paying quiet attention.
Jihan exhaled once, then began reading, his voice steady but utterly tender:
"To the woman who walked into my life without knocking..
I am not poetic. I am not soft. I do not believe in fate.
But somehow… every version of my future had your shadow in it.
I used to think love was a negotiation.
But then you looked at me like I was huma and everything I believed bent at the knees.
"I don't promise perfection.
I don't promise to always know the right words."
"But I promise presence.
I promise to stand between you and every storm even when the storm is me.
I will love you loudly when you feel small,
and softly when the world is too loud.
And if there comes a day when your hands shake too much to hold on,
I promise to hold enough for both of us."
He folded the paper slowly.
The bride's eyes overflowed then not loud, messy crying, just tears that sparkled like her jewelry.
Jihan reached up and wiped one away with his thumb, completely reverent. "If I could rewrite my past," he murmured, "I'd only change the part where I met you late."
Everyone was silent.
Even Taehyun's expression softened for a fleeting second then he looked at me again like, don't you dare get any ideas.