ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎

After a drive filled with unresolved tension and feelings of hurt and resentment, the newly wedded couple arrived at their reception hall which was grand and jaw-dropping.

The decorations were unlimited and luxurious, adding a needed touch to the rather boring and massive hall.

As the two got out, they spotted the paparazzi from afar and put on their smiley faces even though they were still bubbling with anger from their last conversation/argument.

"Hand." Soonyoung requested, putting out his and Jihoon smiled even wider, merging his hand with Soonyoung's as he replied, "You could be a little more polite."

"And you could be a lot less rude." Soonyoung retorted through gritted teeth, the expression in their eyes alone enough to make them argue again.

Jihoon rolled his eyes before striding towards the hall, his hand still in Soonyoung's. "Let's just get this over with." He said to himself and Soonyoung who overheard, scoffed, his free hand comfortable in his pocket.

"You know if you're so uncomfortable, you could just fucking leave, imagine how awesome that would be for your reputation!" Soonyoung's voice dripped with sarcasm and Jihoon smile dropped, his hand unraveling from Soonyoung's.

"I wish I could leave, unfortunately I'm bound to you by contract, but... imagine how awesome it would be for your reputation if I revealed that!" Jihoon countered with the exact same intonation Soonyoung used just before, only pissing him off even more.

"You know what, you're right. Let's just get this over with. I'm sure if I can survive this reception with a huge pessimist by my side, I can do any fucking thing in the world."

He grabbed Jihoon's arm with a force that was dominating but not overbearing and Jihoon kept quiet as they sauntered into the hall, their fake smiles on again as they locked eyes with their guests.

They walked to the platform where their table had been placed, waving and bowing to all the guests while they cheered for them and for their love although it was nonexistent.

"They do make a good couple, visually." Mingyu whispered into Seokmin's ears and Seokmin nodded in agreement even though he still didn't like Soonyoung, he couldn't deny that they did look like a good couple... visually only.

Seokmin was pretty scared of Soonyoung. He'd heard all the rumours, news reports and stories of people dying amd having awful things happen to them when they "messed" with Soonyoung and he just didn't want his brother or any of his family members to be tied up with the man.

However, after thinking, he was somehow willing to give Soonyoung a chance to show the Lee family that he wasn't who the media portrayed him as.

Chan, who sat beside his brother and his friend with his own friend Seungkwan on the side, shook his head in disagreement.

They didn't make a good couple, at all. His brother was supposed to be with someone who would be able to love him and value him, not someone who only wanted him to benefit himself and his wackass business.

"Chan, don't you think you could give him a chance? Just a tiny chance to at least prove that he can do this and can treat Jihoon right, at least for as long as their contract is." Seungkwan tried to be rational but Chan didn't want to hear any advice from anyone. He wasn't interested in being coerced into actually seeing Soonyoung as a human because he wasn't.

He was a monster.

Mr Lee watched as his son walked towards his table with his hand in Soonyoung's. He too wasn't happy about this wedding, he wasn't happy about it at all but he had to pretend like he was, because he needed to.

As Soonyoung glanced at Jihoon in all his excellence, his annoyance faded away. Truly, he was under the control of this man, he worshipped him like a deity and bent at his will.

Even his insults were dangerously addictive and if arguments were the only way he was going to get Jihoon to talk to him, then he would pick fights with him as much as he could.

Jihoon's jaw tightened as they reached the table, taking their seats. He wasn't a pessimist, he wasn't a negative person at all... right? It was just Soonyoung turning him into a Debby downer.

But could anyone really blame him? He wasn't adjusting to this well, not as well as his father must've assumed he would.

His insides were a complete mess, his feelings were tumbling in a roller coaster and harsh words flowed out of his mouth like a river when he meant them and even when he didn't.

This marriage was already turning him inside out and he hated it. Maybe the only solution was to try and accept it. Accept his unwanted fate, maybe even embrace it.

Maybe then he would start to like himself just a little bit more again.

"Let's begin the reception with a few words from the couple!" The MC announced and both Soonyoung and Jihoon sighed, muttering,

"Oh God."

•••••••••••••

Once the main events of the reception had ended such as the cutting of the cake, games and picture time, the reception was declared over but guests stayed to dance, eat and interact with the couple.

"Jihoon-ah, come and dance with your parents!" Mrs Lee rushed to Jihoon, raising him up from the table. His eyes subconsciously travelled to Soonyoung who smiled at him, encouraging him to go dance.

"I have to use the restroom, I'll be back." Soonyoung told the two before getting up and going to the restroom. Jihoon watched as he walked off then began to search the crowd before he realized.

None of Soonyoung's family... or friends were here. He realized because only his secretary/closest friend, Wonwoo had even come to meet him to say anything throughout the reception and it was the same Wonwoo that gave a toast and talked about Soonyoung.

Did he really have only one guest who couldn't even count as a guest because he was obligated to be here? Out of the thousands of people at the wedding and hundreds of people that were here?

Jihoon didn't know why but the realisation made his heart a little heavy, maybe it was just his human instincts, being sympathetic or maybe he was actually caring about Soonyoung. Either way, he didn't like it and he wanted to stop.

So... why couldn't he?

Soonyoung washed his face and looked at his reflection in the mirror, the water droplets falling from his face onto the sink.

He tried to pretend it didn't affect him, he desperately wanted it not to but he couldn't stop himself from being sad and also envious.

Envious of the support system Jihoon had and sad that he didn't have that. He would never have that. Not anymore.

In times like this, he missed his family even more but he knew he would never get them back, things had gone too far, had become too distorted to restore but even then, even with knowing that,

He just wanted his mum and dad.

"Are you... crying?" Soonyoung's head whipped to the voice he heard, drying his face with his hands right after. He recognised the person in front of him as Chan, Jihoon's youngest brother.

With his hand on the restroom door as he stood in the hallway, he gave off a mysterious and unpredictable vibe. Then again, he'd always been the firecracker amongst the Lee sons.

"No, I just-"

"Marrying my brother must be that bad, huh?" He crossed his arms, fully leaned against the door. Soonyoung shook his arms fervently as he replied, "No I'm just feeling a bit tired, that's why I came here to wash my face."

Chan scanned Soonyoung, his eye size decreasing as he did before he sighed, glancing down at his shoes. "I want my brother to be respected and loved, protected and valued." Chan stated his requests and Soonyoung nodded as he listened intently.

"That's what I want too Chan, I promise I'm not trying to hurt Jihoon in any way and I won't, ever, I mean it." Soonyoung assured Chan who remained skeptical, but seeing Soonyoung's genuine expression, started to open his heart just a little bit.

"I'll believe it when I see it... hyung." Chan stepped back, giving Soonyoung access out of the restroom. Soonyoung smirked, pleased with Chan's openness. At least he had given Soonyoung a chance so he wouldn't let him down, no matter what.

Soonyoung stretched out a hand for a shake but as Chan was about to grab his hand, Jihoon's voice emerged into the hallway.

"Get away from my brother." Jihoon put his hand in between them, pushing Chan back but in the process making him fall down. Chan hit the floor with his butt, letting out a groan.

"Wow... well, whatever I was about to do, it surely wouldn't have hurt as much as that." Soonyoung pointed to Chan who had his eyes closed as he tried to cope with the pain of the fall.

"Yeah, I think I'm just gonna sit here for a moment." He muttered, moving backwards and placing his back on the wall. Jihoon rolled his eyes, turning back to Soonyoung.

"You know, I like your brother, we think alike." Soonyoung informed Jihoon, a smile tugging at his lips as he did. Jihoon smiled, crossing his arms.

"Oh really? I'm not surprised." He said nonchalantly surprising Soonyoung who couldn't believe Jihoon had accepted defeat for once.

"Really?" He questioned, still a little suspicious, the smile now fully formed.

Jihoon's smile dropped, shrugging as he replied, "Yeah, he's dumb as hell."

The smile was cleaned off Soonyoung's face instantly as Jihoon turned to Chan, helping him up. "Go on Chan, Mom and dad want to see you." Jihoon told Chan who nodded, his hand still on his butt as he trudged back to the hall.

"What happened dear husband? Cat got your tongue?" Jihoon teased before grabbing Soonyoung's wrist. "Come on, we have a reception to finish, hey don't forget, if you get through it with the biggest pessimist in the world by your side, you can do anything!"

Soonyoung blushed at Jihoon calling him dear husband and his face turned red once Jihoon grabbed his wrist and despite the obvious sarcasm in his last remark, Soonyoung still found him incredibly cute.

He decided to do everything and anything in his power to make Jihoon happy, to make him feel loved, valued and protected.

Sure, it was a fake marriage but that didn't mean he couldn't try and make it real.

It would certainly be better than just ignoring each other every day like Jihoon had requisitioned.

Where's the fun in that?

ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎

Ⓒ︎𝙾𝙷𝚆𝙰𝚈𝙾𝙷𝚆𝙰𝚈𝙾𝙷
𝚂𝚃𝙰𝚁𝚃𝙴𝙳 - 11•01•2025
𝙴𝙽𝙳𝙴𝙳 - 𝙽•𝙰