Chapter 14

Alex sat on the couch beside Chan, trying her best to ignore the queasiness that had been her constant companion for the past week. She took a deep breath, adjusting her posture and giving Chan a small smile as he fiddled with his laptop, setting up their live stream. The familiar STAY lightsticks and fan gifts decorated the shelves behind them, carefully arranged to create a warm, personal atmosphere.

"You ready, love?" Chan asked, his voice gentle but laced with excitement. His eyes flicked over to her, full of concern, but Alex nodded, offering a reassuring squeeze of his hand. She could tell he was trying not to hover too much, but she'd caught the subtle glances he kept throwing her way every time she shifted uncomfortably.

"As ready as I'll ever be," she murmured, reaching for the water bottle on the coffee table just in case.

Chan hit the button, and within seconds, the chat exploded with comments. Hearts and excited greetings flooded the screen, making Alex laugh softly.

"Hey STAY!" Chan greeted, flashing his signature dimpled smile. "We missed you guys!"

Alex waved, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Hi, everyone! It's been a while."

The comments came in rapid fire:

"OMG CHAN AND ALEX TOGETHER!""Our parents are back!""Why do they look so cozy?""ALEX WE LOVE YOU!"

Chan chuckled at the last one. "You guys are the best. We really wanted to do this live because we have something huge to share with you all."

Alex leaned into him slightly, smiling at the fans' energy. "Huge is an understatement," she added, eyes flicking to Chan as he grinned at her. "You guys have been such an important part of our journey, and we wanted to find a way to include you in something really special."

Chan nodded, glancing at the chat before continuing. "So... we're getting married!" He threw his hands up dramatically, as if the world didn't already know. The chat exploded with excited messages, virtual screams, and endless rows of heart emojis.

Alex laughed, the sound soft and warm. "Yes, yes, you already knew that part," she said, shaking her head fondly. "But what you don't know is that we've decided to invite 100 of you to join us for the wedding."

The comments came in rapid succession:

"NO WAY! 😱""INVITE ME PLEASEEEE!""Is this real life??""STAY WEDDING CRASHERS LET'S GO!"

Chan grinned, rubbing his hands together. "Yup! It's real. We're holding a special drawing where 100 lucky STAY will get to come to our wedding, all expenses paid by Alex and me." He turned to Alex, eyes twinkling. "You sure about this? Once we let them in, we'll never hear the end of it."

Alex smirked, rolling her eyes playfully. "I know what I signed up for," she teased, then turned back to the camera. "We just felt like... you all have been with us through everything, and we want to share this day with you. Not just over a livestream, but in person."

Chan nodded. "We've been working with JYP and a few planners to make sure everything runs smoothly. Flights, hotels, meals—it's all covered. All you have to do is enter, and we'll take care of the rest."

The chat was pure chaos now.

"I'M CRYING OMG!""THIS IS A DREAM COME TRUE!""Chan and Alex are seriously the best!""Can we bring lightsticks to the wedding???"

Alex laughed, glancing at Chan. "See? They're already planning their outfits."

Chan chuckled. "Okay, okay, focus. Here's how you can enter." He pointed to the screen as he pulled up a link on the stream overlay. "Go to this link, fill out the form, and cross your fingers. We'll announce the winners in a few weeks."

Alex chimed in, "And don't worry, even if you can't come in person, we'll still be streaming parts of the wedding, so no one gets left out."

Chan smiled softly, wrapping an arm around Alex's shoulders. "We just wanted to make sure you all feel like you're part of this, because you are."

Alex leaned into him, feeling the warmth radiating from him and the love pouring in from their fans. "We can't wait to celebrate with you," she said, offering a genuine smile despite the underlying nausea creeping back in.

The chat flooded with heart emojis and excited messages as Chan glanced at Alex with a subtle, concerned look, noticing how she was gripping her water bottle a little tighter. He took over seamlessly. "Alright, I think that's all for now! Make sure you enter, and we'll see you soon!"

Alex waved, adding, "Thanks for all the love, STAY. We love you guys so much."

With a final goodbye, Chan ended the stream, closing the laptop and she immediately made a run for it.

Alex barely managed to get to her feet before the nausea that had been simmering all morning finally took over. She bolted down the hall, hand clamped over her mouth as she rushed into the bathroom, barely making it in time. Dropping to her knees, she clutched the cool porcelain of the toilet as her stomach heaved violently.

Chan was right behind her, his voice filled with concern as he knelt beside her. "Oh, baby girl..." he murmured, rubbing soothing circles on her back. "I knew you weren't feeling great, you should've told me we could reschedule."

Alex shook her head, eyes squeezed shut as another wave of nausea hit her. "No," she croaked between ragged breaths. "It was important... I wanted to do it."

Chan sighed, his hand never leaving her back as he brushed her hair away from her damp forehead. "I know," he said softly. "But I'd rather have you healthy than pushing through like this."

She groaned, resting her forehead on her arm against the toilet seat as the nausea began to subside, leaving her feeling utterly drained. "Morning sickness is a lie," she mumbled weakly. "It's an all-day sickness."

Chan chuckled softly, pressing a gentle kiss to her temple. "Yeah, it's not exactly sticking to a schedule, huh?" He reached over to grab a cool washcloth, dabbing it carefully against her flushed skin. "Come on, let's get you up."

Alex groaned in protest but let him help her to her feet, leaning heavily against him as he guided her toward the sink. She gripped the counter tightly, rinsing her mouth and splashing cool water on her face, trying to rid herself of the lingering discomfort. Chan stood behind her, hands on her hips to keep her steady.

Alex took a deep breath, gripping the edge of the sink as she stared at her reflection. Her skin was pale, and the exhaustion was written all over her face, but she managed a weak smile when she caught Chan's worried gaze in the mirror. "I'm fine," she said, though her voice betrayed her weariness.

Chan frowned, clearly unconvinced. "You sure you still want to go to the bridal boutique today? We can push it back."

Alex shook her head immediately. "No way. This is our first appointment, and I'm not missing it." She turned to him, resting a hand on his chest. "Besides, we've been putting this off for weeks because of schedules. I want to find my dress, and you need to figure out what you're wearing too."

He sighed but nodded, brushing a kiss to her forehead. "Alright. But if you feel even a little off, we're coming home. Deal?"

Alex smirked tiredly. "Deal. Now, let's go before I change my mind and crawl back into bed."

A few hours later, Alex stood in the center of an opulent bridal boutique, surrounded by racks of pristine white gowns and the hushed excitement of her closest friends. Beth and Kendra flanked her on either side, their eyes darting eagerly between the rows of dresses, while Hyunjin—already half-bored—was busy flipping through a fashion magazine in the corner, waiting for Chan's turn with the suits.

"You ready?" Beth grinned, holding up a champagne flute filled with sparkling cider in solidarity with Alex's current no-alcohol lifestyle. "Let's find the dress."

Alex smiled, adjusting the flowy blouse she had thrown on to hide any early pregnancy bloat. "I'm ready, but let's hope it doesn't take all day. I don't have the patience for twenty or thirty dresses."

Kendra laughed, handing a few dress options to the boutique assistant. "You say that now, but once you start, it's hard to stop. I mean, this is your wedding, Alex."

Alex groaned, taking a seat on the plush velvet couch while the assistant brought the first selection. "Alright, let's get this show on the road."

She tried on dress after dress—some too plain, some too extravagant, others that just didn't feel like her.

She had started with the dress style she had always imagined—the flowy, ethereal gown with billowing sleeves and a soft, effortless train. It was exactly what she thought she wanted, but as soon as she stepped in front of the mirror, Alex felt a sinking sense of disappointment.

The dress hung off her frame in all the wrong ways, the draping swallowing her figure instead of enhancing it. The plunging neckline that had seemed elegant in photos now felt uncomfortably revealing, and the loose silhouette made her feel more like she was drowning in fabric than floating down the aisle, and the idea of having a slight baby bump gave her images that made her want to puke. She shifted awkwardly, smoothing the material down as Beth and Kendra watched expectantly.

Beth tilted her head, studying Alex's reflection with an encouraging smile. "It's flowy... dreamy... very ethereal," she said cautiously, clearly trying to gauge Alex's reaction.

Kendra, on the other hand, wasn't as subtle. "You hate it, don't you?" she asked bluntly, eyeing Alex's grimace in the mirror.

Alex let out a long breath, her fingers gripping the fabric of the dress in frustration. "I do hate it," she admitted, feeling a surprising wave of disappointment crash over her. "I thought this was exactly what I wanted, but... I feel like I'm wearing a bedsheet." She turned slightly, staring at the way the fabric pooled around her feet. "And with my bump eventually showing, I feel like I'll just look... frumpy."

Kendra snorted. "Yeah, we don't do frumpy here."

Beth bit her lip, trying to hold back a smile. "Okay, so, flowy and loose is a no. But that's why we're here—to figure out what actually works." She turned to the boutique assistant with a hopeful smile. "Let's try something completely different."

Alex sighed, stepping carefully off the pedestal, feeling more confused than ever. She had been so sure that the soft, effortless look was what she wanted, but standing there in it now, it felt all wrong. "I don't know what I want anymore," she muttered as the assistant gently led her back into the dressing room.

"That's the fun part," Beth called out. "Trial and error!"

What followed was a parade of gowns in every style imaginable. A mermaid silhouette that clung too tightly and made her feel constricted. A ball gown so enormous she felt like a princess lost in too much tulle. There were sleek satin styles that felt too modern and structured lace ones that felt too traditional.

Each time she stepped out, she was met with polite nods and forced smiles from Beth and Kendra, who were doing their best to stay supportive. But the growing pile of rejected dresses in the dressing room only made Alex more anxious.

Hyunjin, who had wandered over at one point, leaned in with a deadpan expression. "You could always just get married in a jumpsuit," he suggested.

Alex shot him a glare. "You're not supposed to be over here."

"Relax. Chan is just doing measurements. He doesn't need me for that. You on the other hand...look like you need another set of eyes."

"Jinnie, no one outside of the girls is supposed to see the dress!" Alex whined, stepping down off the pedestal to get closer to him.

"Well, baby girl...I'm the boyfriend. Not the future husband. I think it's fine." Hyunjin said, his voice low for her ears only.

Alex narrowed her eyes at Hyunjin, hands on her hips. "You're impossible," she muttered, though a hint of a smile tugged at her lips.

Hyunjin smirked, stepping closer and lowering his voice. "Come on, let me help. I know what looks good on you. Trust me."

Beth and Kendra exchanged amused glances but made no effort to intervene. They both knew Hyunjin had a natural eye for style, and, if anything, they were curious to see if he could break Alex out of her frustration.

Alex sighed, exasperated. "Fine. But if you pick something ridiculous, I'm never letting you dress me again."

Hyunjin grinned and grabbed her hand, tugging her toward the racks of dresses. His eyes scanned over the designs with a keen, almost predatory focus. After a few minutes of flipping through lace and tulle, his fingers landed on a gown that immediately stood out—sleek but with delicate draping, intricate beading that caught the light just right, and an overskirt that added an extra touch of grandeur without overwhelming the silhouette.

"This one," he said confidently, pulling the dress from the rack and holding it up for Alex to see.

Alex blinked, surprised. The dress was a far cry from the flowing, ethereal style she had envisioned, but something about it called to her. She reached out, fingers brushing against the delicate embellishments. "I don't know... it's really different from what I thought I wanted."

Hyunjin tilted his head, his gaze softening. "Sometimes what you think you want isn't what you actually need," he said gently. "Just try it. For me?"

Alex rolled her eyes but took the dress from him. "If this makes me look like a disco ball, you're in trouble."

Hyunjin grinned. "You'll thank me later."

A few minutes later, Alex stepped out of the fitting room, the dress hugging her figure perfectly with the overskirt flowing elegantly around her. The intricate beading shimmered under the boutique lights, and for the first time all day, she felt... right.

Beth's jaw dropped. "Alex..."

Kendra clapped a hand over her mouth. "Holy crap."

Hyunjin, looking smug, leaned back with his arms crossed. "Told you."

Alex turned to the mirror, eyes widening as she took in the sight of herself. The fit-and-flare silhouette accentuated her curves without feeling too tight, and the soft draping added a regal touch she hadn't even realized she wanted. She twisted slightly, watching the overskirt move with her, light and airy but still dramatic.

Her hand drifted to her stomach instinctively, thinking about how it would still accommodate her growing bump without making her feel self-conscious. Slowly, a smile spread across her face. "It's... perfect."

Beth sniffled. "That's the one, Al."

Kendra grinned. "Hyunjin, I hate to say it, but you nailed it."

Hyunjin flicked his hair dramatically. "I always nail it." Then, stepping closer to Alex, he whispered, "Chan's gonna lose his mind when he sees you in this."

Alex laughed, blinking back the tears that threatened to well up. "Before I turn into a blubbering mess can we have the seamstress tell me we can accommodate a four month baby bump in this?"

The boutique assistant, having overheard Alex's concern, stepped forward with a reassuring smile. "Actually, the ruching in the front of this dress can be adjusted to accommodate a growing bump," she explained, gently tugging at the delicate folds of fabric. "We can add a little extra room in the seams, and the overskirt will still give you the elegant silhouette you're looking for."

Alex's eyes widened, her fingers brushing over the intricate beadwork as relief flooded through her. "You mean... I don't have to hide it?" Her voice cracked slightly, the weight of everything she'd been feeling suddenly bubbling to the surface.

The assistant nodded warmly. "Not at all. We can tailor it perfectly to fit your changing body without compromising the design. In fact if you're wanting to keep your pregnancy private this dress will effortlessly disguise any signs until you're ready to share the news."

That was all it took. A shuddering breath escaped Alex before she could stop it, and in an instant, the floodgates opened. Tears welled up in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks as she covered her mouth with one hand, overcome with relief, joy, and the sheer weight of the moment.

"Oh no," Beth gasped, reaching out to squeeze Alex's arm. "Don't cry, or I'll start crying!"

Kendra was already sniffling, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue she had miraculously pulled from her purse. "You're not supposed to cry yet, Alex! Save it for the wedding day!"

Hyunjin, however, was unfazed. He stepped behind Alex and rested his chin gently on her shoulder, looking at their reflection in the mirror. "Told you I'd find the perfect one," he murmured, his voice laced with that playful but affectionate tone she knew so well. "And now we know it's bump-friendly. It's fate, baby girl."

Alex let out a watery laugh, clutching Hyunjin's hand that had slipped around her waist for support. "I can't believe you found it," she whispered, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. "I was starting to think I'd never feel right in anything."

Kendra sniffled. "Hyunjin, I hate to say it, but you might be the bridal MVP today."

Beth nodded solemnly. "I second that."

Hyunjin grinned. "I accept all forms of praise and gratitude."

Alex rolled her eyes, though her smile didn't falter. She turned back to the boutique assistant, her voice still thick with emotion. "Let's do it. Let's make it work."

The assistant beamed. "Absolutely. We'll take your measurements today and make the necessary adjustments. You're going to look absolutely stunning."

As the team bustled around Alex, pinning and measuring, Beth and Kendra sat on the couch, still misty-eyed but brimming with excitement.

Hyunjin kissed Alex's temple and whispered, "Chan's gonna cry when he sees you in this."

Alex smiled softly, gripping Hyunjin's hand for a brief moment. "I hope so," she murmured. "Because I think this might be the most beautiful I've ever felt."

And for the first time that day, Alex wasn't worried about morning sickness, about hiding her pregnancy, or about the overwhelming stress of planning a wedding with the world watching. In that moment, standing in the dress, she felt nothing but excitement for the future she was about to walk into—one step at a time.