Hyunjae was halfway through his morning coffee when his phone buzzed. A message from Yejin's father.
"Come to the office. We need to talk. Urgent."
Hyunjae (thinking):Urgent? Great. Nothing good ever comes from the word "urgent." Probably someone finally had enough of me… or worse—Yejin's dad wants to scold me for breathing wrong.
He arrived at the family house, shoes squeaking lightly on the marble floor. Yejin greeted him with a small, calm nod—exactly how she always managed to make him feel like he was facing a minor natural disaster.
Hyunjae (thinking):Okay. Stay calm. Don't panic. Don't trip over… anything. Pretend this is casual. Well, maybe not casual. Fine. Nothing can go wrong. No—wait, a lot can go wrong. Definitely a lot.
Her father motioned for him to sit. Serious expression. Arms crossed. The kind of gaze that could stop traffic—or make grown men cry silently.
"Hyunjae," he began, voice steady, "I've known you since you were kids. You've grown into a responsible young man. That's why…"
Hyunjae (thinking):Responsible? Oh, fantastic. Definitely going well. Totally going well.
Her father didn't hesitate. He cut straight to the point.
"…I want you to marry Yejin."
Hyunjae blinked. Blinked again. Thought he might be hallucinating.
"Excuse me?" His voice betrayed both disbelief and panic.
"You heard me. Marry her."
Hyunjae (thinking):This is a prank. Definitely a prank. Hidden camera, right? Or maybe her dad is testing my fainting skills. Elegantly, of course.
He opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again. Words moved slower than molasses.
"But… why? I mean… we… I—"
Her father raised a hand, calm and unamused.
"Hyunjae. You two know each other. You respect each other. I trust you to do what's right. Take care of her. Son."
Hyunjae (thinking):Take care of her… Right. He doesn't mean immediately, right? Surely "son" doesn't mean… now?
Yejin, across the table, didn't flinch. Didn't blink unusually. Calm. That tiny, faint smile… enough to make him question every life choice he'd ever made.
Hyunjae (thinking):Of course. She's smiling. At me. Definitely pity. Not happiness. Surely not happiness.
He nodded slowly, doing his best to look like a composed adult.
"Right. Of course. I… understand."
Her father's gaze softened, satisfied. "Good. I knew you'd do the right thing."
Hyunjae (thinking):Do the right thing? He's basically asking me to live in constant panic and guilt… for everything. Perfect.
Later, he walked through the streets like someone carrying the weight of the world. Rain misted his coat. Hands in pockets. Heart somewhere between terrified and confused.
Hyunjae (thinking):Okay. Breathe. She doesn't know. Probably. Maybe. I think. I have to work harder. Be better. Earn her… trust? Approval? Happiness? Something. Anything.
Meanwhile, Yejin watched from the window, calm as ever.
He doesn't know… but I'm happy. This… this could be the best moment of my life. I just… don't know how to show it.