The gentle breeze whispered through the trees as Ji-Hoo turned slowly to face Ryoko.
His jet-black hair was tousled softly by the wind, giving him a slightly wild, yet gentle look.
His striking green eyes caught the sunlight, shimmering with a mixture of sadness and sincerity.
For a moment, he stood there in silence, feeling the weight of what he was about to say pressing down on him.
He let out a soft sigh, then looked at her with tenderness. "I know, Ryoko," he said softly, his voice calm but filled with emotion. "You're very excited."
Ryoko's face lit up with happiness. She nodded eagerly, a warm smile spreading across her face. Her eyes sparkled with admiration as she looked at him.
"Yes," she said happily. "I am very happy. You are a very good person, and I think we will get along."
Her words made Ji-Hoo's heart ache a little. He saw her innocence, her hope, and her trust—and it made him feel guilty.
He hesitated for a moment, unsure if he was ready to reveal the truth. His hands clenched slightly, then he took a deep breath, trying to steady himself.
"Ryoko," he began gently, "I need to ask you something. Can I?"
She looked at him with curiosity and a bit of confusion. "Yes," she responded softly, "anything."
Ji-Hoo's voice quivered slightly as he spoke, the words heavy on his tongue. "I don't really like you."
Ryoko's eyes widened in shock. Her mouth opened as if to say something, but no words came out.
Her face showed surprise and hurt, her expression softening as she tried to process what he had just said.
Before she could respond, Ji-Hoo hurried to explain, his voice trembling. "I mean, you are a great person—sweet, pretty, kind, and you have a very cute smile. But… I already have someone in my heart that I love."
Silence fell between them. Ryoko looked stunned, her face falling into an expression of sadness.
Her mouth parted slightly, as if she was trying to speak but couldn't find the words. Her eyes shimmered with tears, but she quickly composed herself, determined not to cry.
"I understand," she whispered softly, her voice barely audible.
Ji-Hoo's concern grew.
He looked at her, worried she might be upset or hurt. "You do?" he asked quietly.
Ryoko nodded, swallowing her sadness. "Yeah. I understand. And I really appreciate you telling me now. I can tell my parents to stop the wedding plans."
Tears welled up in her eyes, but she kept her voice steady and calm. "So am not angry" she said her voice trembling just a little.
Ji-Hoo reached out, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. His eyes searched hers. "Are you okay?"
For a moment, Ryoko hesitated, then managed a small, brave smile through her tears.
"I'm okay," she whispered, voice barely above a whisper.
Guilt overwhelmed Ji-Hoo. Without thinking, he pulled her into a tight hug, his arms wrapping around her protectively. "I'm sorry," he said softly.
Ryoko pushed him away gently but kept her voice soft and gentle. "It's okay," she whispered. Her tears spilled over, but she quickly wiped them away and looked at him with a faint smile. "Okay, I'll tell my parents."
She ran her fingers through her hair and chuckled softly, trying to bring some lightness to the heavy moment.
"I think I'll consider you as my brother now," she said playfully, ruffling his hair.
Ji-Hoo chuckled despite himself, a faint smile on his face. Even though the moment was difficult, her playful teasing made him feel a little better.
They stood there in silence for a moment, sharing a quiet understanding.
As she turned to leave, Ryoko looked back at him and smiled gently. "Thanks for being honest," she said softly. "Even if it hurts''.
Ji-Hoo and Ryoko slowly made their way back to the living room.
As they entered, they saw their parents sitting comfortably, chatting and laughing happily. The scene was warm and peaceful, but both Ji-Hoo and Ryoko hesitated. Seeing their parents so cheerful made them feel unsure about what to do next.
Ryoko knew she had to say something, even if it was hard. If she truly wanted everyone to be happy and to keep peace, she needed to speak up.
"Mom... Dad..." Ryoko's voice was soft but steady.
Mrs. Tanaka looked up and smiled warmly. "Ah... Ryoko, you're back? How was it?"
Ryoko didn't answer right away. Instead, she took a deep breath and blurted out what was on her heart.
"I don't want this wedding to happen," she said clearly, her voice trembling a little but full of determination.
Everyone in the room froze.
Except for Ji-Hoo, who looked stunned by her words.
"What?" Mrs. Jung asked, her eyes wide with disbelief. "What happened suddenly? You don't want to marry Ji-Hoo again?"
Ryoko nodded softly. "I don't think he is ready... He needs to focus on his studies. And he needs to be more mature before he gets married," she explained.
"Even if we get married, I don't think it will work out because he doesn't like me. It won't work."
Her words hung in the air for a moment. The room was silent, and then her parents' expressions softened.
Mrs. Tanaka and Mr. Tanaka looked at her with understanding and kindness.
"Oh, dear," Mrs. Tanaka said gently, "we're sorry, Ryoko."
Ryoko nodded, feeling a little relief but also sadness. She turned to Ji-Hoo, walking over to him and softly tapping his shoulder.
"We will be going now," she said with a gentle smile. "I hope the girl likes you back."
Then she and her parents stood up and prepared to leave. Mrs. Tanaka smiled warmly at Ji-Hoo.
"I hope everything works out," she said kindly. "Take care, and we wish you happiness."
And with that, they exited the room, leaving Ji-Hoo standing silently.
Mrs. Jung turned to Ji-Hoo with a gentle smile. "I'm sorry, son," she said softly. "For disturbing your life."
Mr. Jung nodded and wrapped his arm around his wife's shoulders. "Yes. We're sorry, son. You can go back and continue your studies in Korea. We are happy for you."
Hearing this, Ji-Hoo's face lit up with a wide smile. His deep dimples showed as his eyes grew brighter, tears forming in them. Without hesitating, he hugged his parents tightly.
"Thank you," he whispered happily.