The first step inside the Feira Exhibition Hall had Xie Eun freeze in shock. Everything seemed to fade into the background as a faint buzzing sound sounded in her ears. Her eyes stared without blinking and her hand unconsciously touched her mouth.
As her eyes slowly stared at the large prints that were displayed around the hall under the lights her eyes widened and she felt befuddled. Her emotions started to feel scattered and her eyes moistened. Her hand moved to her side as if in slow motion and she pinched herself slowly and then winced. She really was not dreaming even though she felt like it. Time seemed to have stopped for her as she walked like a sleep walker to the first print that was displayed. It was a pair of dolphins which had jumped out of the water with the sun casting a shadow over them...It was one of the first pictures that she had clicked with the camera that Yu Seok had given her. It was aptly named 'Beautiful life" and she just knew who would have named them. The next framed picture was even older, from their time in college when when she had been majoring in photography. It was the open landscapes from her home town from the time she had travelled there for the first time with Yu Seok. When she had only seen him as her friends. The open fields encased the pictures of the horses that grazed in the distance as well as a slow sun rise and spread it's rays over the fields. It was half shaded with the light while the other half was still in shade. Once again it was aptly named 'Transition: From Dark to Light.'
Her eyes started to water as she glimpsed every picture that she had clicked in the last few years. From flowers to the important people in her life. Just as she finally felt so overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude, a slim arm wound around her and she looked up into the eyes of her best friend. Shan Shan grinned at her friend and said," Anna sweetheart. You are not allowed to faint. Your hubby dear has worked his a** off foe this exhibition and made me work day and night with the legal formalities not so that you can faint! He is observing you from that room over there. So what do you want to do?"
Eun-a who had still been feeling lost finally regained her senses and ran towards the room where Shan Shan had pointed. Throwing open the door, Xie Eun had a glimpse of the other pictures which were more recent before she saw her man standing there with a smile on his face. Wiping away her tears she ran and jumped into his arms unable to utter a word. She tried to talk but her words were incomprehensible and she could only kiss him as she tried to put every feeling into the kiss. Her eyes started to water once again through the kiss and she pulled back a bit to hold his face in her hands as her heart was filled with gratitude. With a soft and slightly unsteady voice, Xie Eun said," How? How do you know me so much? How do you know me better than myself? My dreams that I was not even aware of, you have made them all come true. This surprise is just too much. I have no words to describe my joy, hubby. You already own me heart, body and soul and I don't even know what else I can give you to thank you for loving me. From today onwards I have no other unfulfilled dream left.."
Her tears flowing uncontrollably, Xie Eun hugged Yu Seok, burying her face into his chest, letting his steady heartbeat calm her. Yu Seok hugged his wife, slowly patting her back before he moved back a bit and placed a finger under her chin making her look up. His own eyes slightly wet, he said," Today, it is the day our lifelong dreams that have been fulfilled. Because fulfilling your dream is the only dream that I have held.
Xie Eun rose on her tip toes kissing him hard on the lips once again before she continued to hug him again. Yu Seok closed his eyes in contentment as he hugged his wife back.
A little while later:
Xie Eun stared at the many photographs that surrounded her in this room. These were, she was sure part of his private collection. And these pictures were also a summation of their own life. She caressed the picture that she held closest to her heart. It was their little Aika's hand when she was a day old. Cradling Aika's hand was hers and Yu Seok's hand as Xie Eun had clicked the photograph single handedly. The picture was once again titled aptly as 'Lovesong' .. Xie Eun hugged herself as she felt a chill through her. The Assistant Curator Miss Louis had congratulated her as she explained how her photographs had been praised for their artistic views and most of the members had tried to out bid each other. As she pondered this there was another thought in her head. She shook her head as she wondered of the greedy human nature. She had just told Yu Seok that all her dreams had been fulfilled but she already had another dream now. One that she was going to need a life long time to fulfill. The dream of a beautiful life with her Yu Seok...
Just then, Yu Seok walked back into the private room and hugged his wife from behind with one arm, placing a small peck on her shoulder as he held her around the waist, as he held his other treasure in the other arm. With a smile, Xie Eun placed her hands on his entwining her fingers through his as they both stared at the beautiful picture and little Aika stared at her parents with wide eyes.
With a contented smile on her face, Xie Eun thought to herself, that it was a good thing that the wolf caught the sheep. The catching and holding was nice but the loving and the never letting go-- was even better.
--The End--