Chaeyoung PoV

Clearly, I remember the first time we met. He turned 15 the day before and I was already 15. 

Like the social statuses of our families, we ate in a very high-end and private restaurant. He and I don't know each other, but my mother always told me that his father is my father's best friend. 

'Behave yourself and be graceful' was mom's annoying lines in the car on our way to the restaurant. I knew we were having lunch with my dad's friend's family but that time, I never knew I was to be engaged to a boy. 

When our families ate lunch, both of us were introduced. His dad and my dad took the honor of introducing both of us to each other. When I heard 'Jeon Jungkook', I already knew who he was. 

My classmates always talked about having a crush on this handsome student who goes to a private school in Gangnam. They said he has a very athletic body, he's very smart, he's very handsome, he's very kind and he's very rich. 

"Dream Boy" was the nickname my friend, Park Soo Young, gave him.

When he placed out his hand for a handshake, he smiled, "Nice to meet you, Chaeyoung-ssi."

I smiled and took the handshake, "Nice to meet you too, Jungkook-ssi."

Our parents thought it was a beautiful pairing. Jungkook's mother even called it as 'destiny' but I called it a chess game. Why a chess game? Well, basically, my parents and his parents are the kings and queens of one side and we're the pawns of their games. 

Sounds a little like the movies, right? 

While our parents were talking, I just ate or looked at the view of the window. It was a bit awkward because neither of us knew each other nor crossed paths with each other but he's such a gentleman, to the point that he started the conversation. 

If I can remember right, he asked, "What's your favorite sport, Chaeyoung-ssi?"

"Unlike you, I have a stick-like body. Heck, I can't even put a serve in a volleyball game or even kick a foot ball," I replied. 

"You don't play sports? There are less physical sports."

I rolled my eyes, "Yes, I know. Archery, gun shooting, golf, etc etc. I know you play all kinds of sports, Jungkook-ssi."

He blushed, "Not all, just some." He then continued with, "So what are your interests?"

"I'd rather not talk about my interests with a person who I've never met and with a person I just knew a few moments ago."

"Hard to please, huh?"

I scoffed, "Please, unlike other girls, boys don't make me excited."

And that was our first conversation. I, according to Sooyoung and other people in school, am a hard to please girl. Sooyoung even said that I was the hardest to please in the whole school. 

There were boys who would place love letters in my locker or leave it on top of my desk, but I always threw them away without even looking at it. It's so cliche, so movie-like, so fairytale. Can't boys have any originality? Stop searching on WikiHow for instructions. 

In the entire school, there was only one guy that caught my eyes. His name was Jung Jae Hyun. He was a transferee in my second year of high school, I just completely fell in love with him when he and I always met in the shoe locker area every morning -- his shoe locker was right above mine. 

But like I said, I'm engaged at the age of 15. I decided I should start seeing a guy I like before I  turn 23 for the marriage. Just like me, Jaehyun was also a hard to please person so  I ended up just admiring him from a far. 

And like I said, I was just like a pawn in a chess game for my dad's business and my dad is some kind of medieval times person, he believes I can't own the business because I'm a girl. To my parents, marrying Jungkook is like 'unifying 2 countries'. 

After high school, I started to do vlogging, modelling, and acting. I did a few travel videos, make-up tutorials,  and cooking videos then people kept contacting me to model for them and I acted in some advertisements. 

My parents let me do it since I was not to inherit the business. The only thing I have to do was marry Jungkook. No ifs and not buts. 

Now that I'm back from Indonesia, it's finally time to meet Jungkook again. It's going to be the second time, in my entire life, that I'm meeting him. I'm still 21, still young, still single, but oh wait, I'm engaged. 

Thank you for listening to my Ted Talk. 

I hate Jung annoying Kook. I spend 10 days in Indonesia, doing a travel vlog, and when I come back to Seoul, he's literally everywhere. He's on tabloids, newspapers, billboard signs, picture on top of a building, an advertisement playing everywhere, interviewers rushing to his location and his name trending in Melon real-time search. 

He's just so annoying! Why does a 20 year old man get so much attention by just taking pictures, wearing nice clothes or even breathing? I don't get people! 

Listen up, chumps, he's just got the looks. 

Once I marry him, I will make sure he will look bad. I will make sure his reputation will burn. I will make sure that I, the Park Chae Young, will be victorious!

He shall be burned. 

His reputation shall fall!!!!!!

"Chaeyoung, stop thinking of ways to end his career," Sooyoung sighs and puts a glass of iced tea in front of me. "Jungkook is actually a kind man."

I scoffed, "That's because, you fall for every boy."

Sooyoung nods, "True, I do." She hums and then sighs, "I don't mean that I like Jungkook. I mean, he's a kind man. The type of guy that's very hard to find these days. You're actually pretty lucky you got engaged to him, he's probably the one who isn't."

I shot a glare at her. 

"Woah, woah, woah, don't look at me like that. I'm being honest, alright? Let me convince you to take Jungkook on as a husband."

I rolled my eyes and drink my iced tea. 

"While you were in Bali, I got the chance to know Jungkook a bit. Unlike you, I'm not rich and I don't have a lot of connections. He's actually the one who came to see me and he asked me about you," she said then snapped her fingers in front of me. "Chaeyoung, just hear me out, will you?"

I looked at her, stared into her eyes, into her soul but Sooyoung looked at me with her convincing eyes. She always wins in our staring competitions. So much joy with this Park Sooyoung. 

"Alright," I sighed in defeat. 

Sooyoung leaned her hand on top of her kitchen counter top, "He's actually very fond of you, Chae. Jungkook kept asking what are your interests, your favorites and everything he needs to know about you. I think this engagement has one-sided love to it."

"And I won't fall for it, thank you for your information, my dearest and most special friend," I said and patted her head. 

She chuckled, "Who knows you might actually fall for him. I find his aura very charming, very positive, very warm--"

"And very fake. Thanks for giving me advice, Dr. Phil."

Sooyoung sighed, I know she's annoyed at my sarcasm. Whenever the topic is about Jungkook, I always have sarcasm on my words. It isn't my fault that I hate him. That attention-seeking, good-looking idiot!!!!

I loathe him!!

Even though I threw my sarcastic comments towards Jungkook, Sooyoung never gave up. She tried to convince me until our iced teas were finished. She stood up from the stool and washed the glasses in the sink. 

Sooyoung's apartment is full of aesthetic, I kind of noticed that just now. She was telling me something about trying to learn how to love someone and care for someone. 

But I couldn't hear her, my eyes were focused on the light fixtures on top of the kitchen counter. They were arranged in such a way that they were equal in height to one another. The light inside the case was as small as pearl and it was hanging on copper wire. 

The case of the fixture was like protecting the small little light from harmful outside world. It's fragile, that's why it needs some protection. 

"Are you even listening to me?!" Sooyoung shouts at me while I was busy admiring her lighting fixtures. 

"I was, I was," I told her.

She puts a hand on her hip, "Okay, then what was I saying?"

I put my 2 palms together and made a clap sound, "You were saying, that we should go out and get some Starbucks! I would love some frappucino right now!"

She slaps her forehead, "You are such an idiot." 

"And you, are very correct."

Sooyoung then walks in front of me, takes my wrists and pulls me off the stool. She walks towards her apartment door and opens it, throws me outside and leans on the door's side. I am obviously wondering why she did this. 

She didn't look angry, her hands were just folded. Sooyoung never looks scary when she's mad, although she never gets mad all the time. Is she mad? I just admired her lighting fixture, isn't that way better than Jungkook? 

For me, admiring and complimenting my house is a very important thing. 

Alright, maybe I don't care what you think of my house. If you're in my house, you're a guest and you cannot be picky. 

"Uhm, are you throwing me out?" I asked her. 

"First of all, you never lived here," she answered. 

I moved my head forward with eyebrows going up, "And second?"

"Second? Oh there are no seconds," she answered. 

"So, can I go in?"

"No."

"But my bag is in there."

She sighed, "You didn't bring a bag, Chae."

"My coat is in there!!"

"Chaeyoung, it's July! Who wears a coat in July?!" 

I leaned on my left foot, "Alright, you win. What's this all about, then?"

"Nothing, I want you to go outside and think about your engagement with Jeon Jungkook. At least search up about him or talk to him so you can get to know him. It's not bad to let someone in your heart," she said and I rolled my eyes. "Jaehyun never even liked you."

I looked at her, with my mouth wide open and my eyes in shock but she just closed the door and left me outside. It's going to be useless if I keep on knocking on the door, she'll just put on some loud music and pretend I'm never outside. 

I sighed. 

Whatever, my crush on Jaehyun is ancient history! I'm so over him. 

Never fear, for Ice Queen Chaeyoung is here. 

I decide to head for my house. I'll probably need to call my cousin to pick me up in the nearest Starbucks around Sooyoung's neighbourhood. Before leaving the front door of Sooyoung, I message her that I'm going to the Starbucks. 

Thank you, Google Map. I have never tried walking so freely around cities or neighbourhoods, the closest I could get by walking around freely was around the subdivision where my parents live. In short, I don't know anything about walking in the streets in South Korea. 

As I walk out of Sooyoung's apartment's building, my phone vibrates in my hand. I checked if it was message from my modelling agency or if I had any more advertisement offers. I looked at my notifications. 

"Dinner at mom and dad's, 7:30 PM. Piece of advice: don't go." I read. 

I was planning to go because I didn't feel like cooking my dinner or ordering a take out but at the same, I didn't really have choice but to go. Unless, I want my parents to send someone to my apartment and bring me to the house. 

I sighed. 

Sooyoung stole my car keys. Great, now I have to use an Uber tonight. 

Why does the world love hating me?

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- first chapter of the book -