This is a bad dream...Aliya told herself over and over, and yet, no matter how hard she tried, the ceremony just kept on unfolding right before her eyes. She watched how her best friend marched down the aisle looking so perfect in his black tux, his eyes shining with happiness and love especially when he sees his bride. The bride, on the other hand, glowed with the same joy and love, looking absolutely breathtaking in her white dress. 

She struggled to keep herself from breaking down during the ceremony. For the past few months, she's been wishing that she make him fall in love with her instead. It was such a shame she only realized what she felt for him when he told her the news that he was going to propose to his girlfriend. 

What was that saying? You don't know what you've got until it's taken away from you....in her case, it's  him, not it. Back then, he was already deeply and madly in love with his girlfriend even though their relationship was just a year and a half old. How can that happen? She asked herself, their relationship wasn't even that long yet. She and her best friend had known each other their whole life, so how can he say that she is the right one for him? These were the questions that were going on and on in her mind until now. 

The end of the wedding came and the couple was presented to the guests, Mr. and Mrs. Taehyung and Jia Kim. The groom was asked to kiss his bride, and that was when the tears she had been holding started to fall down her cheeks.  

"Weddings make me emotional too." Nari, Namjoon's fiancée  sniffled as she spoke next to Aliya. She and Namjoon had been engaged for more than a year now.  Nari believes in having a long engagement, so they are set to tie the knot springtime of the coming year.

Aliya could only nod in response because she was worried that if she opens her mouth, she'd start sobbing. She bit the insides of her cheeks and continued to dig her fingernails in her palm to control herself. Holding back her emotions isn't easy, but she tried her damned best to appear fine. She smiled and responded to everyone as they carried on a light conversation around their table. 

Only Namjoon and Hoseok brought a date, the rest were just by themselves. As far as she knew, Jin's girlfriend was outside the country while the rest of the guys were not that interested in getting into any serious relationship yet.

"There's something different about you tonight Aliya, any particular reason? A new guy?" Nari asked her casually as they ate.

"New guy?" Jimin, who was sitting next to Aliya, asked. "There's a new guy after pretty boy?" 'Pretty boy', was her ex, Jihyun. They labeled him that because he is so good looking he could be at par with all seven of them which she thinks is the reason they don't like him. They never liked any of the guys she dated for that matter.

"There is no new guy." She replied, not meeting anyone's eyes. "It's probably the make-up that did that trick." 

"Taehyungs' and Aliyas' moms are best friends since high school and they are like sisters from different parents. Those two have practically known each other since birth. Taehyung is two years older than Aliya so she's like a little sister to him." Hoseok explained to Yoo-Mi, the woman he is currently dating. Their relationship is still new so she doesn't know a lot about his friends.

Aliya's face turned pink at the mention that she is like Taehyung's little sister.  She got reminded of what she actually is to him, nothing more would've come out of their relationship no matter how hard she tried. That felt like rubbing salt to an open wound. She unconsciously reached out for the glass of wine next to her, drinking everything with one gulp.

"Take it easy dear, you haven't eaten anything yet. You don't want to get drunk, do you?" Nari gently reminded her. 

Aliya smiled at the beautiful woman in front of her thankful for showing her concern. The thing is, she wanted to get drunk. This definitely isn't her favorite day. If she could have a chance to disappear right now, she would. The more she sees Taehyung and Jia, the more she could feel the heaviness in her heart. She stole a look at the happy couple once more, before lightly dropping the fork she was holding back on her plate. She didn't feel like eating anymore. 

Having a strange feeling that someone was watching her, she looked up and caught the eyes of the person sitting across her, Yoongi, who gave a side smirk before looking away.

Among their friends, she doesn't speak with him that much. It was usually just a casual hi, hello and how are you when they see each other. She's known him for years and the longest conversation she ever had with him was when he had to talk to her and Jihyun during their trip to the lake house. They wanted to go swimming without the rest of the boys with them. Aliya can be a klutz sometimes that she gets into accidents at the oddest time. Yoongi told Jihyun that if he isn't a good swimmer then he better not take the risk. Aliya asked Yoongi to come with them, but he only answered that he didn't want to be blamed if something happens to her.

Taehyung had mentioned before that Yoongi isn't into dating.  Casual hookups is his thing just sex and nothing else. Women fall for him and get their hearts broken as they try to make him change his mind. Aliya doesn't know much about him aside from him being aloof most of the time and grumpy at certain times. That made her conclude that he doesn't like her.

                                        ****************************************************************

There was a harp and violin duo that serenaded the guests as they had their dinner. It created a romantic ambiance that is perfect for the occasion. Not for Aliya, as her heart continued to break into pieces as the night went on. She wanted happiness for the newlyweds of course. She loved her best friend so much that she didn't want to see him hurt or unhappy. She's willing to give up her happiness for him.

Aliya's phone rang, snapping her out of her internal lament. It was her mom, who was sitting on the other side of the room with her friends,  she wanted her to come to their table. She stood up and excused herself from everyone after explaining where she was going. 

"I'll take you there." Jimin said standing quickly beside her.

"I'm sure I can find my way, thank you, though." Aliya replied. Jimin couldn't be fazed though since he already pulled her chair out for her.

"But you're too pretty tonight to be walking alone." He said as he lightly placed a hand behind her back when they started walking.

Aliya turned to him with a puzzled look. "What's gotten into you?  Why are you acting weird?" She met Jimin and Jungkook when Taehyung was in middle school. Her dad was from Busan and knew the two boys' fathers. Their parents became business partners and that is how they all had gotten close. She was grateful for their friendship because they gave them all the support and help she needed when she went through hard times, especially when her dad passed away. 

Jimin shook his head. "Weddings do this to me. Brings out my romantic side."

Aliya laughed. "Romantic side my butt, does that side even exist?"

"You're being mean, I can be romantic if I want to." He said his eyes turning into crescents as he laughed over what he said.

He might have said it as a joke but it's true, he can be romantic. Jimin, used to be in a relationship and had done everything for this one girl, including changing his ways with women. However, he found out later on that she was cheating on him and that hurt him a lot. He swore he'll not get deceived by any woman again.  

They passed the newlyweds table which was a few meters from where they were. Jimin waved at them and they waved back. Aliya copied Jimin's action adding a small smile, she couldn't meet Taehyung's eyes though. She was relieved when they arrived at her mom's table.  Jimin bowed at his parents, her mom, and Jungkook's parents who were at the table as well. There were other people at their table which Aliya haven't met yet.

Aliya's mother introduced them as some of their former college friends. They complimented Aliya who smiled politely as she thanked them.

"Your daughter is so pretty, I am positive my son will like her. How about setting up a date for them to have lunch or dinner?" The other lady whispered to her mother but it was loud enough for everyone to hear.

Jimin faked a cough to cover his laugh. Aliya's mom's friends were notoriously known for setting up their sons with her. Although most of it she managed to get away with, the ones she didn't, always turn out to be a disaster which is why the boys tease her about it. Jimin's mother gave her son  a sharp look to shut him up. He cleared his throat and excused himself despite Aliya's effort in holding on to his sleeve to stop him from leaving. 

"Aliya, sweetie, you look lovely." Taehyung's mom remarked, moments later, as she came next to her, hugging her tightly. She sighed and whispered. "Let me have a closer look at you dear." She reached out and touched the side of her face. "I've always wished it was you..." Her sentence was cut off when her husband came up and said they needed to have their photos taken.

Aliya's smile froze on her face. What did she say?

So-young, Aliya's mother stood up after seeing her daughter's expression. "Sweetie, why don't you go back to your friends, we'll talk to you later." She's the only one Aliya had  confessed  about her real feeling for Taehyung and she is glad that she did because her mom had done nothing but comfort and give her sound advice.

Without looking back, she headed towards the ladies' room and locked herself into the stall. She just wants to spend the entire night in here until the party is over. Everyone seems to be so happy and she feels so guilty for being miserable. Sitting there and watch Taehyung and Jia looking so in love is too much. For months she dwelled and lived in heartache dreading for this day to come. Now that it's here, she feels like life is slowly getting drained out of her. Tears started falling down her face, she tried not to sob just in case someone comes in. Her best friend couldn't love her the way she wanted him to, and though he is just here, she feels like she had lost him. 

 When she left the stall a long while later, she checked her reflection in the mirror. There was barely any smudge on her makeup and the only indication she had been crying was her red eyes. Her mom paying so much for their makeup to get done sure did pay off. She took a deep breath, she can do this, she made it for the past hours, what's  a couple of more hours? She gave a big smile at her reflection in the mirror. Aside from her red eyes, no one would have guessed that she's been bawling her eyes out earlier.