176. April's Fools

"I'd say the best moment was when I walked down the isle. I had fantasized a million times seeing Yeon standing beside me post officiating our union. The thought that he chose to do life with me made me jittery. He is finally mine hence all of you have to seek permission from me before snatching him away to run your little errands. I'm talking specifically to my dads and uncle."

"So territorial of you when just a few hours ago, you'd forgotten your vow, all five of them." Stan's uncle teased, pulling his wife closer after sending everyone into laughter but Stan didn't seem to care. His attention was on his fated while he brushed his hair away from the forehead.

"I prefer your hair up like this. I get to see your face more." Stan had said but before Yeon could answer, dad Joss warned Yeon to place boundaries lest his fated begun to make decisions for every little thing in his life. Once more, Yeon's attention was shifted to the discussion about his fated's obsessiveness of him, Stan still remaining shamelessly trapped in a state of nostalgia.

'How is it that he hasn't realized it? Or I'm I the only one who feels like this alone? Look at him, narrating our story as if it were an easy rife; the things we've endured and learned about each other. I still regret to this day why I ignored you all those years, my campus loner.

Honestly, I'm yet to fully understand you my love. The way you think or work... How you operate but against all odds, you still continue to soar that even now, I'm mesmerized by the defect in your eyes. To others, it may seem peculiar, unique and captivating but to me, all your imperfections are a constant reminder of how we officially met, the day I shall cherish for the rest of my life." Stan's last thoughts were concluded while he played with the wedding ring Yeon had put on him a few hours ago.

"Stannie...?"

"I don't think he heard you. You might have to speak louder than that honey." Dad Robin teased.

"Look at him, still mesmerized by the jewelry he had on."

"I can't blame him though." Stan's uncle said. "This has been something that he has wanted for the longest time. To love and to be loved."

"I guess that's it for diaries. Where are we supposed to snoop around when we get bored?"

"Oh, do not worry." Yeon, who'd been sitting beside his fated assured. "He has a separate compartment inside our coat closet for the things he has sentimental value for."

"Still terrible at hiding stuff huh?"

"He compensates his forgetfulness by jotting things down."

"My son on the other hand has selective memory, only choosing to give attention to things he finds important." Yeon's dad snitched. "...But when he decides to remember, he recalls even the tiniest of details that would have otherwise skipped one's attention."

"The wedding was rather expensive." Dr. Jiwon spoke. "I'd say if not for the floral decorations, the two horses where the most extravagant decisions I've ever made."

"Way to come through last minute Jiwon. Stannie felt bad when Yeon had cancelled that idea out."

"He did what now?" Dr. Jiwon asked, a tinge of betrayal creeping on him as his eyes drifted to look at his nephew, whose eyes were still resting on the wedding ring dressing his finger.

"Why do you seem surprised? The photo session went great in fact, I'd like to think the two mares enjoyed being the center of attention."

"What are you talking about? Stannie said Yeon wanted the horses at the ceremony."

"Not really. It placed a burden on the budget so I told him to cancel." Yeon confirmed. "Then you offered last minute to cover the cost, both dad Robin and Stan confirming the purchase so I had no choice but to go along with the plan. That was very generous of you Dr. Jiwon."

Dad Robin nodded in agreement. "Stannie has spoken of this idea since he was a kid. Jiwon filled him with fantasies about love and relationships and he almost fooled me too with all that gibberish. Having survived divorce, I could separate real life from what it wasn't but Stannie was a child. He wanted so badly to hold onto a good loving family. Seeing that both his parents were split up, of course that was a wakeup call for him that love isn't always rainbows and unicorns. I guess to help him cope, he created a world in his mind that everything was perfect and he wanted it to be perfect so I am thankful to you jiwon for fulfilling his childhood dream."

"The guy in question seems unbothered that we are gossiping about him." Dr. Jiwon's wife teased, pointing at his nephew using her chin then stood up to join Yeon's Mom and Elic's mother who'd neem at the duty-free getting snacks for the toddlers.

'What the...? I hear you all, I'm just choosing to focus to what's important...and where the heck is Elric? He was supposed to help us escape this annoying crowd!'

"Stannie?" Yeon's dad called out.

"Yea?"

"I wonder, will it ever die down? This affection you have for my son?"

"Never."

"How could it when he's practically feasting him alive as we speak." Stan's uncle said and everyone burst out laughing again except for Stan, who'd buried his face onto his fated's shoulder to hide his embarrassment.

"I can tell how upset he is that we are here, interrupting their time together but Stannie, you'll have to forgive us. Because of you two, none of us has had the chance to go on a proper holiday so of course we'd take Elric's mother's offer and tag along. You two have the rest of your lives to go for a second honeymoon if you like but this opportunity was too good for any of us to pass. Even my wife is ecstatic about being here." Stan's uncle said, looking ahead from a distance as his wife, Yeon's mom and Elric's mother, each a toddler in their hands. They seemed engrossed in their own discussion while Hajin went through a couple of gift items that were on sale at the airport.

"Black looked great on you Stannie." Yeon's dad complemented.

"Remember how we fought last minute about the change of colors? Stannie wanted everything to go according to how he'd preplanned. There was no convincing him otherwise and if it wasn't for you Yeon, I don't know what we would have done."

"I had to bribe him though, you know how stubborn he is." Yeon said. "There is this playlist we listen to from time to time. It's the one that kept playing over and over at the reception and I didn't want it therefore it was either he dressed in black and have the playlist, or wear white like me without his playlist."

"Stan, you must share your playlist with your father-in-law." Yeon's dad insisted.

"Sure, I'll be glad too."

"Me too." Dad Joss jumped in. "I found it to my liking as well."

"Stop lying dad. You're just siding with Yeon's dad just so you get to bail a workout session."

Dad Joss gasped, throwing an accusing look at his son. "The lies you're willing to throw..."

"There is no escaping me." Yeon's father declared with confidence, his eyes on Stan's parents. "Once we get back, I have it in my plan to put you two in a proper plan. You've caught up on cardio fast so all that's left is building your muscle density." Looking back at a satisfied Stan, Yeon's dad added, "Your vow was beautiful. I enjoyed the sincerity and vulnerability behind it."

"May I have it?" Stan's uncle requested.

"Why would you need it uncle when you have all five of my drafted vows?"

"That wasn't one of them."

"That poem was meant for Yeon's ears and his ears alone."

"Good thing we have the video recorded then." Stan's uncle said and proceeded to recite one of Stan's former vows. "'I never believed that I could love someone as much as I love you. You bring purpose to my life.' More like a clingy purpose."

Everyone burst into laughter except for Stan but this did not stop his uncle from teasing some more. "he had this line scratched out, 'I'd love to freeze time and live in this moment with you forever. My love for you is and will always be unconditional.'"

"How come I never knew of this vows?" Dad Robin asked.

Feeling like he'd had enough, Stan stood up and was relieved to see Elric walking towards them. He pulled a laughing Yeon with him and began straddling fast towards his friend.

"Hey you can't leave just yet! We still haven't discussed your amazing wedding speech!"

"Yea, I need a draft for my wife Stannie! Share it with me please...!"

"No!"

"I also have a video recorded of him reciting it at the wedding so don't fret!"

"Oh Robin, you are a life saver...!"

"Share with him and you won't get to see Yeon ever again! Not in the lab for you two nor will he come home!"

"Yeon, don't allow him to control you like this!" Yeon's dad joined into the tease.

"Stan walk a little slower..." Yeon spoke while still holding back his laughter but Stan wouldn't listen.

"I love the atmosphere." Elric smirked, looking behind at both Stan and Yeon's parents laughing their hearts out then frowned at the sight of a grumpy Stan, who inquired about Niel's whereabouts.

'Ladies and gentlemen, the flight to Y destination will commence boarding shortly. Customers proceeding to destination Y are encouraged to proceed to boarding Gate B12 and have your boarding passes with you ready for verification.'

"Nelnel has already called out for your checked in luggages and will meet you two at mentioned gate. Ours is B14 to destination X so you two have to board first. I'll try to buy time so we can all board last therefore you two must hurry."

"What's going on?" Yeon asked seeming confused.

"You didn't think I was going to allow us spend our honeymoon with everyone else did you?"

Yeon was about to look back at their parents but Elric warned him against it. "They can read your face like a book as opposed to Stan's. Just play along Yeon. Consider this escape my wedding gift to you..."

"But what do we tell them?" Yeon appeared skeptical about the plan. "Our tickets are booked for the other flight and they are gonna look for us onboard..."

"I'll tell them you two swapped seats and boarded before us." Elric replied. "That should settle it since the flight is full anyways. Besides, everyone will be busy with themselves and my mom is also preoccupied with the infants to care to look for you two. She's waited for this break for a long time and she needs it."

"I'm referring to the destination, they'll notice we are missing."

"Yeon dear, a honeymoon is meant for newly weds. As obnoxious as Stan is, I agree with him on this one. You two should spend your first honeymoon alone and make the most of it. The rest of us will have our own fun and once you two come back, you'll deal with them amicably but I'll have you know I'm going to say Nelnel and I never partook in your escape plans."

"Don't worry. I already have an explanation in waiting." Stan assured confidently.

"And what might that be?"

"Two words. April's fools."