"I like this one." Bong-Cha declared while turning a page of a magazine.
"I like this one. What do you guys think?" Chin-Sun showed her choice to all from a different magazines.
Both girls were sitting next to each other and continuously bothering other people sitting near them by showing pictures and designs.
It's been days since both girls kept torturing everyone by pestering them to look through tons of bridal magazines. They kept talking about floral arrangements, the colour palette for the ceremony, dresses, make-up, and everything related to marriage. It was like everyone was surrounded by not one but two bridezillas. If one thing was approved by Chin-Sun, Bong-Cha would veto it and vice-versa. The wedding was on 30th September but none of the choices was approved till now.
Every weekend the girls had the same conversation, and their families would sit quietly staring at them, furious and annoyed.
Park family, Man family and Seo family were best friends and would gather and spend every weekend together in the Park mansion. It was like a tradition. It had been the same for years. But this week was more special as they won't be together for just two days, all will be together for four days. Because the next day was Seollal which was Lunar New Year's Day.
Everyone was busy preparing for tomorrow. The girls were over-excited because of both marriage and Seollal but everyone else was drudging the week as the girls would blow their ears off by constantly talking about marriage preparations. Neither they were ready to listen to others' choices nor were ready to accept their own choices.
From the day Baek-Hyeon proposed Chin-Sun, Bong-Cha started dreaming about their wedding day. She completely overtook her brother's day in an instant.
Park Young-Soo, Eun-Kyung, Baek-Hyeon, Bong-Cha, Man Jong-woo, Hae-Won, Chin-Sun, Seo Hei-Ran, Yong-Sun were sitting in the Park family's living room sipping evening tea and discussing the upcoming wedding. It would be correct to say that only two people were discussing, the rest were just listening.
"I want Roses," said Bong-Cha while pouting.
"I want Lilies," said Chin-Sun firmly.
"I am the groom's sister." Bong-Cha was slowly getting angry.
"I am the bride," Chin-Sun said in an angrier tone.
"It will be my choice."
"No, it will be my choice." Both girls were on the verge of fighting.
Bong-Cha stood up with fury and demanded, "Oppa (Brother)! Say something."
"Don't drag me into this. I am an illusion dear, I am not even here," said Baek-Hyeon and hid himself behind his cup of tea.
"Oh, how I wish I had a sister right now. She would definitely have taken my side," she crossed her arms over her chest, pouted and sat violently back on the pristine white couch.
The large pillarless living room had two L-shaped white couches placed in front of each other. A large glass coffee table was placed in the middle. At every end of the couches, matching lamps were providing a warm glow to the room. Double-sided curved stairs that connected the ground and first floor were enhancing the look of the room. The baluster and handrails were made of hand-carved wood.
The white marble floor and marble stairs were covered with grey carpet. Bonsai peach trees in flower pots were placed starting from the main entrance door, passing through the stairs to the first floor. The beautiful room was a perfect combination of grace and minimalism.
Everyone was sipping the tea sitting on the couches, looking at both girls busy fighting. But after her comment about having a sister, every single senior was visibly uncomfortable. They all started fidgeting and avoiding eye contact with each other. None of the youngsters noticed their uneasiness.
"Girls, girls, girls... don't fight. Let me tell you what the floral arrangement should be, Ranunculus for decoration and Tulips for the centrepiece." Yong-Sun gave his artistic opinion with pride.
Both girls gave him a look, then looked at each other and started laughing.
"What?" exclaimed Yong-Sun.
The girls rolled their eyes at him and then started bickering again about roses and lilies.
"You guys can come back to flowers, first you guys need to select your dresses," Hae-Won said to make the girls stop.
"We don't want to." Both girls looked at each other with sadness in their eyes.
"What? Why?" everyone asked with concern.
"The designer I want doesn't design wedding dresses," Chin-Sun said in a sad voice.
"And the gowns she designs are sold out like hot potatoes and shopping outlets don't take the order in advance. I wish I could wear her creation once." Bong-Cha said in a frustrated tone.
"Tell me the name of the designer. With my influence you will get the dresses for free," said Hae-won.
"Even with your influencer fame, you won't be able to help us, uhmma (mom)," said Chin-Sun.
"Just tell her the name and she will get you the dresses of your choice. I have seen famous designers sending her branded and expensive dresses for her vlog," said Hei-Ran.
"Ha-ha." The girls started laughing.
"You have no idea who we are talking about?" said Bong-Cha.
"Who are you guys talking about?" a commanding voice asked from the doorstep.
An old man was walking inside the house. His whole demeanour was authoritative and strict. The poise with which he carried himself invoked instant respect. He was clad in a black three-piece suit and had a hand-carved mahogany cane in his hand. The ends of the cane were infused with gold embroidered silver. He was the head of the Park family, Park Young-Jae. He was accompanied by his two assistants, Pan Jung, and Bang Young-Mi.
Pan Jung was a short man in his forties and was known as an 'experienced assistant'. He has been working for Park Young-Jae since he was twenty years old. He knew everything about his boss. He was an encyclopedia of Park Young-Jae.
Bang Young-Mi was a gorgeous, average height, curvy girl who was known as 'super assistant'. Being a millennial, she had extensive knowledge of social media and how to use it for her benefit. Whatever Park Young-Jae demanded; she could get it from any part of the world.
As Young-Jae approached, everyone stood in respect and bowed to him. Bong-Cha ran to him and gave him a hug. She then pulled him and made him sit next to her.
His assistants sat in front of him. Young-Mi chose to sit next to Yong-Sun and batted her eyes at him. Due to all the people sitting near him he didn't change his position, otherwise, he would have run in the opposite direction.
"Pyo-ssi!" commanded Young-Jae.
The head of the staff, Pyo In Ho came running from the kitchen. He was a bald, old man whose family had been serving the Park family for centuries and he followed the tradition.
"Yes, sir." He politely bowed down to everyone.
"Please send more tea for Pan-ssi and Bang-ssi," requested Young-Jae. Even his request had an authoritative tone.
"Of course, sir," he replied and went away to the kitchen.
"Now, tell me who you were talking about?" asked Grandfather Park while opening the button of his suit. He comfortable leaned over the couch.
"Designer Ashma," Bong-Cha, Baek-Hyeon, Chin-Sun and Yong-Sun replied in unison and started laughing.
"If my girls want her dress, they will get her dress. Bang-ssi, find her contact number. I'll have a meeting with her tomorrow." Grandfather Park said with confidence.
Bong-Cha placed her hand around his shoulder with love, slid closer to him, put her head on his shoulder and very sweetly said, "My dear harabuhji (grandfather), she lives in India, she is an Indian Designer. How will you meet with her tomorrow? Even your all-knowing secretary can't help you in this matter."
The name of India made him stiff. Again, all the elders were uncomfortable. Everyone glanced at Young-Jae and then lowered their eyes. No one wanted the secret coming out that they hid so many years ago.
Everyone was uncomfortable but Yong-Sun was visibly shy and awkward.
"What happened to you?" asked Young-Mi and placed her hand on Yong-Sun's thighs.
"He has a crush on her." Baek-Hyeon teased him.
Immediately the atmosphere turned chaotic. Yong-Sun spilt tea on Young-Mi's dress. Young-Mi choked on her tea after looking at the condition of her dress. A glass of water slipped from Young-Soo's hand after hearing the designer's name.
"Pyo-ssi! Please send Iseul with lots of cleaning rags. Ddal (daughter)! Take Bang-ssi in your room and present her with a dry cloth. Bang-ssi! Please clean yourself," said Eun-Kyung, the home minister of the Park family. Without her permission not even a single leaf moved from its place in the house.
Both girls went upstairs.
Suddenly, Baek-Hyeon said, "you went to India and live there for quite some time dad. Don't you have any contacts there? You can help the girls."
"Adeul (son)!" shouted Eun-Kyung and instantly looked at both grandfather Park and her husband, Park Young-Soo.
Young-Soo who had been quiet all through the evening abruptly said, "excuse me" and left the room. He looked sad. Only Eun-Kyung noticed his sadness but knew that she could not help him get rid of his heavy heart.
"Who told you about your father's India visit?" demanded Grandfather Park.
Now, Baek-Hyeon was frightened, and he knew that he made a mistake, "I am sorry, harabuhji. I heard uhmma and aunties talking about that one day."
"Never mention that place in front of me. I don't care my girls wear rags, but they will not wear a dress designed by a girl from that country." Park Young-Jae announced and left the room.
Everyone sat there shivering with fear.