Jaehyung begged their parents for a small wedding, on Hyerin’s behalf. She hadn’t really had to ask, instead he took note of her distaste for large crowds after their years together.

“Honestly,” he mused, sitting across the kitchen table from his parents and Hyerin’s mother, his bride to be at his side, “It’d make better sense to save the money from the wedding for a house, wouldn’t it? And then we can have the family visit us once it’s all together”

Hyerin nodded along to his words, more than content in letting him speak for her. He was going to be a lawyer after all. The voice of reason existed within him.

“But don’t you want everyone to see you get married?” his mother countered gently, a frown stretched across her lips.

His father too, had discontent written into his features as he crossed his arms over his chest, staring the couple down. “If money’s the object-“

“It’s not the money” Jaehyung cut him off as his hand flitted around beneath the table, finger grasping at the air until they found their thinner mates in Hyerin’s. He tangled his hand into hers and gave it a squeeze.

That tiny action was easily the most comforting thing Jaehyung could ever do for Hyerin.
“What’s the problem?” his mother sighed, obviously not understanding their choice for a smaller affair.

Jaehyung shrugged and took a sip of team and only Hyerin heard the hiss under his breath as it burnt his tongue “There isn’t a problem at all, it’s just out choice”

His father narrowed his eyes “You’re stubborn” he noted, though his tone wasn’t at all condescending. If anything, Hyerin noticed a hint of pride hidden in his words.

“That’s going to make me a good lawyer” Jaehyung countered without skipping a beat.
“Now, Hyerin mentioned having the wedding at the lake where Grandpa keeps his boat. Do you think he’d mind?”

Jaehyung’s mother smiled softly and let out a very ladylike chuckle, adding a shake of her hear “Your grandfather would be honoured to have your wedding, maybe even a ride on the boat would be alright”

Jaehyung grinned and looked at Hyerin, who stared back at him with an equally bright smile, albeit a bit unsure.

Only he noticed that, though.

“That sounds perfect,” he nodded to his parents, squeezing Hyerin’s hand tightly. He then bent to kiss her cheeks but paused to add something for only her to hear “I’ll teach you how to swim, I promised”

“It’s easy” Jaehyung begins, though Hyerin is thoroughly distracted.

Her fiancé removed his shirt as soon as they got to the lake, barely out of his father’s car. He grasped her hand and led her down the path to the water’s edge – azure in color and sparkling like aquamarine jewellery.

And so, the shirtless Jaehyung in a pair of red and white swimming shorts waded himself into the waters, waist deep and held his arms to his fiancé.

“Come on you can do it”

Hyerin frowned at the water. As pretty as it looked, she had no idea what hidden terrors could possibly be underneath. Could fish bite?

Squaring her shoulder in her thin bathing suit, hyper-aware that she showed Jaehyung more of her skin than she’d even dared before, she stepped closer to the water’s edge. Quickly, she looked up to her smiling Jaehyung, suddenly even more timid than she was before.

“I’m right here” he encouraged, softer this time. “Just walk to me; it’s okay”

Slowly, Hyerin stepped into the chilled lake water, letting out a small squeal as the cold enveloped her legs. She began to hop around and almost ran through the water, to eventually collapse in Jaehyung’s arms.

“You did it” he encouraged as he ran a hand through her hair, though she could feel his shoulder shaking with suppressed laughter as she clung to him.

He bent to kiss the top of her head, then smiled into her hair “Now, let’s have you actually do the learning to swim part”

“So, tell me about your dress” Jaehyung grinned as he eyed Hyerin, who paced around the living room after what was apparently a bridal appointment gone wrong. He tried everything he already knew to calm her down, but she seemed to be worked up about something for even him to fix and she wouldn’t tell him what.

“I can’t” she argued, her tone exasperated. “Jaehyung, I just—“

“Just what, princess?” he sighed, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. He licked his lips and tried to hold onto his patience, but he felt himself wearing thin. “I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what’s wrong”

Hyerin collapsed on the chair across from him and ran her hands through her hair, pulling at the fine black strands. She then looked up at him with wide eyes and a flush that spread from her nose outwards.

Then he knew.

Jaehyung stood and crossed the room to her. He stood slightly to her left and bent for her hands, pulling her to stand with him and winding one arm around her waist as his free hand grasped hers. His head dipped down, lips against her ear, and he hummed a soft tune that he knew she loved.

“Jaehyung…” she trailed off, though she didn’t really have a thought to complete it.
The couple swayed around the living room, Jaehyung holding her closed and humming into her ear and, as off-key as he was, the situation pacified Hyerin’s raging emotions and worries. With Jaehyung, all was well.

“I know you’re worried” he breathed, warm breath ghosting over his fiancé’s cheeks “But I’ll take care of everything”