There was a clear sound of footsteps hitting the floor somewhere. There were a lot of people walking around the place. Even along the lobby where the funeral ceremony was held, there was a special place provided for placing bouquets of flowers as a sign of mourning. The beautiful bouquets were given by the company where the deceased worked and also their business partners.
In the past, in Korea, funeral ceremonies like this were very long and complicated. Today, funeral ceremonies have become more streamlined to accommodate the busy modern lifestyle of native Koreans. Before Jingmi and Yoora's funeral was held, first Sangju was formed, which means funeral master and head of mourners.
Sangju is the closest relative of Jingmi and Yoora. In this case, it was none other than Zhuyang — the first son of Jingmi and Yoora. This is done as a form of devotion and responsibility. Because in the South Korean tradition, the overall contemplation of death is a detailed and special way. And funeral ceremonies are one of the most important things in Korea.
Jingmi and Yoora's funeral ceremony which was held at the funeral home located in the Jinsang Hospital area is usually called Jangraeshikjang by native South Koreans. Jangraeshikjang is a special funeral home to bury the bodies of Jingmi and Yoora before the cremation procession is carried out.
In Korea, this place looks like a special funeral hotel. Zhuyang and his family rented this place for three days. Even in this place, they can rent clothes too. This funeral home not only provides a special place for one family, namely Zhuyang and his family, but for many other families as well. So this place can certainly be used to bury some people.
Preparations for Jingmi and Yoora's funeral ceremony began on the same day as their deaths. At that time, Zhuyang and his siblings would tell their parents' friends, relatives, and business associates the number of the room they rented in Jangraeshikjang. This funeral ceremony will be carried out on a large scale and last for three days. After that, Zhuyang and his family remained in mourning for three years.
During the funeral ceremony, the family of the late Jingmi and Yoora will stay and sleep at the funeral home for three days. They will greet every mourner who comes to pay respects to the late Jingmi and Yoora. The greeting was made by Zhuyang and his siblings with a bow which was then returned by the mourners. One of the mourners present at the funeral home that day was Juyeon.
~~~
After arriving at the funeral home, Juyeon greeted Zhuyang and his siblings. In addition to giving a warm greeting to Changyi, Juyeon also gave a hug to his fiancé, Dalmi. For him, hugging Dalmi is the most beautiful form of communication that allows Dalmi to know without a doubt that she is an important figure to Juyeon.
Of course, every woman needs a man in whose arms she can find peace, her world, and solace. The man who can ease all her pain and sorrow even with just one hug and one kiss on her forehead. This is what at least Dalmi thought. She needs to be pampered and loved to the core. Dalmi wants a man who can look her in the eye, read her mind, and understand her silence.
"There are times in life, a person just needs a warm hug. No words? It's okay. And No advice is something good too. Just a hug to make someone feel meaningful," Dalmi said from her heart. "I will not give up on the man in his arms, I can find my heaven, because I can do anything for the man I love and trust. But Juyeon is not the one," she whispered. "I have forgiven you, but I also learned a lesson from you. It's true that I can never hate you, Juyeon. But I will also never be able to get close to you and hurt me again. I can never let my forgiveness be stupid." Dalmi said from her heart again when Juyeon hugged her.
"Will Dalmi Noona return Juyeon Hyung's hug?" Yinjun asked Zhuyang in a whisper when he saw Juyeon hugging Dalmi.
Zhuyang shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe-"
"No!" Changyi interrupted Zhuyang's speech in a whisper. Zhuyang and Yinjun then turned to Changyii. "Dalmi Noona will never return the hug of a man who has hurt her!" said this handsome boy. "How can everyone stick to their choice and continue this matchmaking?!" Changyi asked with an annoyed tone, while Zhuyang and Yinjun remained in their place.
"Juyeon, I hope I can give you my pain even if it's only for one second. I'm not doing this to hurt you, but to make you understand how much you've hurt me," Dalmi's heart added again, without hugging Juyeon back.
Just as Changyi had expected, Dalmi would never be able to return a hug from the person who had hurt her. The lack of response from Dalmi to the warm hug given by Juyeon is a very strong response to describe how much pain Juyeon has created in Dalmi's heart, after the match was declared in front of their family.
"Dalmi, the affection, care, support, and love of parents are always with their children. I can understand your feelings right now. Losing a parent is one of the deepest sorrows that the heart can know. But the kindness, care and wisdom of your parents will continue to shine in people's lives. It is like a legacy of love that will always be with you and your siblings. That love will surround you and your siblings then give peace to all of you. Always!" Again and again, Juyeon said something warm. Although his words could not change Dalmi's feelings for him, Dalmi appreciated his words as a noble support from humans to humans.
Dalmi nodded her head. "Thank you for supporting, caring, and praying for us. It all means a lot to our family," Dalmi replied. And then she released herself from Juyeon's arms. "And thank you for taking the time to visit us here." Dalmi looked at Juyeon.
Juyeon then smiled at Dalmi without replying with words.
"The temporary separation has created courage. And courage doesn't mean that me and my brothers are not afraid. But courage means that all of us will never let fear stop us," said Dalmi's heart as she held back her tears. This woman tried to be strong when she saw Juyeon bowed and lowered his body to pay his last respects to her parents in front of the funeral altar.
The moment when Jingmi and Yoora breathed their last was the day Dalmi and her brother's world went dark. For them, the most painful and most painful parting in this world is a parting when the story is not finished.
~~~
"Oppa, did you call him here?" Dalmi whispered to Zhuyang when Juyeon paid his respects to her parents in front of the funeral altar.
After hearing Dalmi's question, Zhuyang turned to Dalmi. "Do you think Yinjun or Changyi called him to come here?" Zhuyang replied in a whisper as well.
Dalmi shook her head. "But why?" She asked again.
Zhuyang sighed. "I know you probably would never want him to be here today. But it would be a big problem if I didn't call him to here. Juyeon is your fiancé, Dalmi. So, how could we not tell him about the death of his future mom and dad-in-law?" Zhuyang's words made Dalmi stunned for a moment.
Although the tightness in her chest increased when she saw Juyeon at the funeral home, Zhuyang's words were also true. In the current situation, Dalmi shouldn't just think about her feelings and ego. She thought wouldn't it be better if more people came to her parents' funeral and prayed for them? After all, Juyeon was her fiancée, and it would be strange if he wasn't present at the funeral home that day.
"That's right! Juyeon is my fiancé. But, it can only happen if Mom or Dad is still alive and with us here. But now things are not the same anymore. After Mom and Dad are done cremating, I will end my relationship with him too!" Dalmi said from her heart firmly when Juyeon was back standing beside Zhuyang.
"Did you come alone?" Zhuyang asked Juyeon.
Juyeon shook his head while keeping a sincere smile on his lips. "How can I come alone?" Juyeon's answer made Zhuyang frown. "I couldn't have come here alone and just left them somewhere else," said Juyeon, making Zhuyang even more confused.
"What do you mean? Who did you bring here with you?" Zhuyang asked again. "Is it really them?" Zhuyang's eyes widened when he guessed who the person who came with Juyeon to the funeral home.. Meanwhile, Juyeon shrugged his shoulders while laughing.
"Hey!! Did you think we would never come to your parents' funeral?! How could we let that happen?!" said a man who came from the entrance with someone following him from behind.
After hearing a familiar voice in his ears, immediately, Zhuyang turned his head towards the source of the sound. And how surprised he was when he saw two of his best friends who had careers and lived abroad came to Seoul just to attend the funeral of his mother and father.
"I will not let my bestfriend feel sorrow alone today. You must feel joy too. Because joy and sorrow are two things that will never be separated, together they come and when one of them sits with you." Another of Zhuyang's friends chimed in. His soft voice and firm speech managed to grab Dalmi, Yinjun, and Changyi's attention.
~~~