The Prologue for my next story: "Shards of Us" is only a week away! It's a dark slow-burn AU featuring So, Soo, and Wook. I'll probably have some more info on the story posted onto my Instagram for my SHR stuff ( pixelbutterfly). I'm so excited to be bringing this story to you guys; I'm extremely proud of it.
Myung Hee sat on the rim of Soo's bathtub and watched as her cousin sweated over hand crafted bars of soap. Wearing a tank top and gym shorts, the younger Hae sat on a plastic sheet on the floor of her bathroom, her hair tied back and a headband keeping strays away from her perspiring face.
Soo's hands moved like lightning through her creations, molding, twisting, and lifting for Myung Hee to sniff. "You know, when I first met Wook's parents, I just took flowers and jewelry for his mother," Myung Hee sighed. Pressing her hands to her back, she lowered herself to the ground where Soo sat, working on placing dry flowers over the bars of soap she had made. "Why won't you just let Wook and me pay your dowry? Please, Soo. You know that we're more than capable of supporting you. I can even register you as my ward. Forget what my father might say. You know Wook and I will always cherish you in our household."
The cousins met eyes and Soo smiled. "I won't accept your money," she shrugged. "You've already helped me so much."
Reaching out, Myung Hee touched Soo's hand as she held a chunk of soap up for her to sniff. "Soo, I'll apologize again for what my father has done to you. It's-"
Soo stopped her actions to grasp Myung Hee's hands with hers. "Myung Hee, it's fine. I'm glad Uncle put my inheritance to good use building the family company up."
It was a Hae family secret, what had happened to Hae Soo's inheritance; only Myung Hee's father and middle uncle knew where that money was.
After the death of her parents, Soo's uncles had taken her inheritance as the benefactors of her parents' wills. They had provided her with the basic necessities to survive and get a college education, but the billions of won meant for Soo had disappeared beneath hidden bank accounts, and she had been cut from the main family. She had been fostered with an obscure third-cousin's family, growing up a relatively normal life.
Myung Hee, after finding out her little cousin was barely making ends meet, had sent Soo money throughout her college years, chipping away from her own inheritance in order to help the cousin her own father had swindled. When she had begged their other cousins to help, they had shunned her, unwilling to provoke the wrath of the chairman- Myung Hee's father.
It was after her marriage to Wook that Myung Hee had been truly able to help Soo in the way that she had wanted. Under Wook's name, Soo was able to rent a nice apartment in Busan and attend college without debt. She visited Seoul on holidays to spend time with Myung Hee and Wook, evading the eyes of the other Hae family members.
After Soo had graduated she moved to Seoul, and into the small apartment Myung Hee had owned while in college. Then, in clear defiance of her family, Myung Hee and Wook had invited Soo to their home, pulling her beneath their protection and returning her to the folds of the main Hae family.
The cousins sat together, making soaps. Soo crafted the soaps while Myung Hee packaged them in small plastic containers with blue and gold ribbons on them. "I'm sure they'll love them," Myung Hee said.
Smiling at her cousin, she reached to tuck a strand of Soo's hair behind her ear. "I can't believe you're getting married," she sighed. "I feel like it was only yesterday you were visiting me in the hospital and telling Wook his tie was ugly."
Soo ducked her head as she blushed. "I was eight and I've apologized so many times," she blushed.
Myung Hee only laughed. "No, I thought his choice of necktie was ugly too- I just couldn't outright tell him because I had a huge crush on him."
Once the soaps were packaged and the bathroom was left for the maids to clean, Myung Hee opened Soo's closet and pushed So's coats aside in order to collect a rectangular box from the back of the closet. "I always thought I'd be right beside your mother, helping you into your hanbok," she sighed.
Retrieving the intricately decorated box, Myung Hee set it onto Soo and So's bed before opening the top. Sighing, she touched the delicate silk that rested inside the confines of the box. "I know your mother would be so proud of you." Myung Hee smiled at Soo who nodded. "Go shower and I'll have the hanbok prepared. You have to look stunning when meeting his parents for the first time."
Soo nodded and reached over to hug Myung Hee. Holding her cousin, she beamed and kissed Myung Hee's cheek. "Thank you so much for everything," she said.
"Nonsense," Myung Hee patted Soo's cheek. She had refused to allow Soo to bow to her or her father ceremonially. Soo had endured too much at the Hae family's hands. She would not be obligated to ask for permission to marry- not when Myung Hee had already given it. "I love you like my own, Soo. I don't care what my father says; I'm going to have your back forever."
The former chairman's house was the largest on its block. An old mansion near the central area of Pyeongchang-dong, it was gated with iron and guarded around the clock. The house was painted white and tiled with a giwa roof. The perfectly manicured lawn had a small playground and a sandbox for the children, and the garage held tennis rackets, golf clubs, swimming gear, and anything required for any sport any grandchild might want to play.
In the driveway were four cars and a motorcycle. In less than a minute, another car- a Ferrari- added itself to the list of vehicles in front of the former chairman's house.
Hae Soo gulped at the grandeur of the five bedroom home. Dressed in a pink and white hanbok, she felt sorely out of place. This would be the first time she would actually be meeting So's parents and his closest brothers as his fiance. This was the home her fiance grew up in.
Soo flinched when So took her hand, the blue sleeve of his hanbok brushing against hers. "Hey, don't worry," he grinned down at her. So adjusted the tie of Soo's hanbok and playfully poked the little ornament in her hair. "My mother loves you, remember? Plus," he pointed to the motorcycle and Bentley parked in the driveway, "my brothers and Mun Seong are here."
So held Soo's hand and squeezed it before pressing her knuckles to his lips. "And, you have me," he smirked, making Soo laugh out loud.
"I guess I shouldn't worry, then," she teased him.
Nodding, So punched in the code for the front door, his thumb pointing out a five-pin passcode. "Still the same password, eh?" he muttered to himself. "They had this code when I was in college."
Soo hoped that the gifts she and So had prepared were adequate. They had purchased boxes of the finest Korean beef as well as pears and oranges. Soo had made soaps and perfumes for So's mother, hoping she would enjoy them as much as she had in Goryeo.
With one arm carrying the gifts and the other wrapped around Soo's waist, So looked at Soo who grinned and opened the door. "Father! Mother!" So called as they entered.
Soo held a hand to her hammering heart as she took in the interior of the house. In classic taste, it was decorated with artwork, family photos, and old Korean paintings similar to the kind that hung in Wook and Myung Hee's home- a contrast from Yo and Mun Seong's preference for frescoes. A glass case sat in the foyer where multiple objects were on display. "Jung's medals, our diplomas, and Baek Ah and Eun's various awards," So whispered when he noticed Soo's eyes scanning the large display.
Removing their shoes, So moved his arm from around Soo's waist and took her hand, leading her through the quiet house. They passed by the family photo taken at Gyung's first birthday party. "Your hand is sweating like crazy," Soo murmured to So. Her socked feet were silent against the cold floor and Soo breathed deeply in an attempt to calm herself.
"So's yours," he muttered back before clearing his throat and sucking on his teeth.
They stepped into the living room where the family sat waiting. Soo's eyes scanned the room, taking in the people that sat before her.
Taejo and Shin Myung sat side by side on one of the two sofas. Their calm demeanors contrasted the on-edge younger generation. Soo saw Jung, Yo, and Mun Seong sitting across from So's parents. Gyung crawled between the adults, oblivious to the situation. They all turned toward her as she and So approached.
Taejo was the first to speak, his calm expression one Soo remembered seeing hundreds of times in a past life. "Come, children," he said.
"Father, Mother," So stepped forward, guiding Soo beside him. She smiled as he introduced her. "I'd like you to meet my girlfriend, Hae Soo."
"Hello," Soo bowed at the waist, removing her hand from So's and pressing it to her stomach. "It's nice to meet you."
When she stood straight, Soo felt herself grow less worried as So's parents smiled at her. "Welcome, Soo," Taejo said warmly.
Shin Myung snapped her fingers at Yo and Jung, the gold bangles on her wrist jingling with her movements. "Move the table so they can properly bow to us," she ordered her oldest and youngest.
The two were quick to move, grasping the coffee table between the two sofas and setting it aside, clearing a large space. They moved to stand behind their parents while Mun Seong picked Gyung off of the floor and joined her husband behind Taejo and Shin Myung.
So walked over to the newly placed table and set the silk wrapped packages onto it. He returned to Soo's side and nodded to her.
The two stepped forward, their hanboks swishing. In silence, they stood before Shin Myung and Taejo. Then, So lifted his hands to his forehead and performed a ceremonial bow, pressing his forehead to the ground. "Father, Mother," So stated, "I ask that you accept Soo into our family as my match."
As she watched So bow, Soo followed suit, lifting her hands to her forehead. She knelt before So's parents and lowered her eyes, glancing down at So whose face was hidden by his sleeves.
After five seconds, they stood together and bowed one more. "Sit," Taejo motioned toward the sofa across from the one he shared with his wife.
So and Soo took their seats across from So's parents, the vibrant colors of their hanboks mixing together.
"Wang So," Taejo addressed his son. "When you were born, I was happy, but as you grew, you worried me due to how quiet and reserved you were. You were more quiet than Yo and you hardly cried as a child. I always worried you would not find someone who understood you, but now, you have eased your father's heart.
"Hae Soo," Taejo turned to the young woman that sat beside his son. "I am truly happy that So has chosen a smart, beautiful woman as yourself. I welcome you to our family, child."
Soo smiled at Taejo and bowed, thanking him.
"So," Madam Yoo stated. Soo pressed herself as close to So as she could without seeming too obvious. The entire family tensed. "My second child, there were few times you made me proud, but I can see that this is one of those times. Hae Soo is a wonderful choice for a bride and I'm proud of you." Soo bit the inside of her cheek as So stiffened beside her.
"Thank you, Mother," he bowed.
"Soo," Madam Yoo's eyes lost their harsh edge when she looked at Soo. "You are truly beautiful, child. I know that you will be good to So and that he will... care for you. Please bring our family many blessings."
Line Break
Driving up the mountain, So turned around the steep curves in the road, his Ferrari making good progress around the neighborhood. They were three hours outside of Seoul, driving out to meet Soo's parents.
He parked in front of a temple and helped Soo out of the car, making sure her hanbok was fully out of the car before shutting her door.
"The Hae Family Shrine," So read the sign in front of the red archway. "You were born into old money, weren't you," he muttered. Carrying plastic bags of food, he looked at Soo as she exhaled loudly.
"Born into," she shrugged, "but not raised in."
They stepped past the archways and through a pavilion with a stone tower for prayers.
Through the small temple they walked until they reached a grassy area at the end. So raised his eyebrows at the gray headstones that revealed the names of Soo's ancestors. Flowers grew around the graves and bees flew around the area.
It appeared that the last Haes to pass had been Soo's parents. So bit his bottom lip as Soo led him toward two headstones with the Hanja characters of her parents' names on them.
Sitting onto the grass, So set the bags down and watched Soo kneel beside him. Quietly, they laid the food out together, opening the plastic bag and retrieving the foods Soo said her parents had enjoyed.
"Mom liked raspberries and Dad always drank coffee after every meal," Soo smiled as she lovingly set the foods before their respective graves. So placed the bowls of rice before the graves and added the side dishes Soo had prepared herself. They placed the chopsticks onto the side dishes and used the spoons to scoop out a bit of rice from each bowl.
Retrieving a green bottle from the bag, So unscrewed the cap off of the soju and presented a cup to Soo who held it with two hands. So tipped the bottle and felt it glug as he poured a glass.
Soo presented the cup to her father, rotating it three times in a clockwise motion above the stone before setting it before his grave. Then, she accepted a second cup So offered, repeating the process with her mother.
Then, they stood together and performed ceremonial bows together. Unlike when they had bowed to So's parents, So and Soo bowed twice to Soo's. This time, Soo completed the full bow required for the dead.
Once the greetings were complete, So held Soo's hand as she knelt before her parents. Taking to his knees, So sat beside Soo and looked at her as she fought to keep her tears in check.
"Mom, Dad," Soo said as she sat. Touching the grass before the headstones, she sniffled and felt her voice crack. "It's your daughter, Hae Soo. I- Sorry for crying," she giggled softly. "I just have really good news. I know it's not Chuseok or the New Year or any other holiday… I… I'm getting married."
Soo could feel So's hand on her shoulder as she spoke to her parents. "His name is Wang So and... I love him so much. We met a thousand years ago, but we couldn't marry then because… well, we lived in a different world where some people just couldn't be together."
Soo smiled at the names etched on the headstones through her tears. She wiped her eyes and pressed her hands to her heart. "But I found him in this life and I'm not running away anymore. I'm going to marry him. Mom, he's so kind. He loved me so much in our past lives and I loved him just as much. Now, I think I love him even more because there's nothing holding us back.
"Dad, I think you'd like him. He can drink anyone under the table and hates it when other men look at me. He gets jealous easily," Soo smiled as So looked away, his cheeks reddening. "So and I are going to be a family. I hope you'll bless us."
Soo looked at So who smiled at her before turning toward the headstones. "Father, Mother," he bowed once, his hands pressed to his thighs, before sitting straight. "I am Wang So. I… I know that Soo has been alone for a very long time while you were away. Please rest well knowing that I will do everything in my power to make sure she is always happy and never wanting. I love her more than I will ever be able to tell. Please bless our marriage and guide us in the years to come. Give us many children and bring prosperity to our new home."
Soo held So's hand as he spoke to her parents, telling them about how beautiful she was. She wept when he thanked them for creating her as perfectly as they had.
They ate dinner with her parents. While So ate from the bowl of rice for Soo's father, Soo ate from her mother's. Soo fed So the anchovies she had stir-fried and laughed when he commented that for a pretty girl, she could cook well. "I have Mom's old recipes." Soo laughed when So bowed to her mother, thanking her for cooking well.
"My sister is a terrible cook. I thank you for your infinite wisdom, Mother," he murmured to the headstone.
With dinner, they watched the sun set. The hot summer day melted into a cool night as the sun gave way to the moon and dozens of stars.
When it was time to go, So and Soo cleared the food away and dusted off the tombstones they had visited. Then, hand in hand, they stepped away from the graves. "Are you alright?" So asked as they walked toward his Ferrari.
"I wish they were here," Soo sighed. "When I was little my mom would tell me about her wedding and how she was so happy her parents were there with her. She told me she was so excited to do the same with me." At her melancholy expression, So set his bags down and wrapped his arms around her. Hugging her, close, So felt Soo's arms go around him.
"Your parents are always with you. They've never left your side." he murmured gently. "They'll be at our wedding and they'll continue to protect you and guide you." Nudging his cheek against the crown of her head, So hummed softly, holding Soo close.
They drove back in silence and So stopped the car when Soo fell asleep beside him.
Stepping out of his side, he walked over to Soo's and opened her door. Sliding his overcoat off, he draped it over her sleeping form and tucking it into her seat belt. He kissed her forehead as she slept, gazing down at her serene expression and the even breaths that rose and fell with her chest. "You've had a long day, Hae Soo," he smiled softly. "It's no easy feat meeting my mother."
So took the smoothest route back to Seoul, watching as the bright lights of the metropolis came into view after two hours of driving.
When they arrived, he gently woke Soo and guided her out of the car before pulling her onto his back as she protested. So held Soo by the bottom as she rested her chin against his shoulder, her whines making him smile. "Wang So, I can walk. I'm tired not an invalid. Put me…" She yawned and So shook his head.
"Let me do this, Hae Soo. I want to carry you."
"You're crazy."
"Not crazy," So chuckled as he carried Soo through the lobby. "Just madly in love."
Wang So you dork. Ugh.