"Reach out to me the moment you feel uncomfortable," Wonwoo muttered close to Evelyn as they came down the stairs, out of the hotel, "If Mr. Kim ever makes you feel unsafe, you must tell me. Please don't keep anything like that to yourself."

Evelyn smiled and nodded her head. She gave him a brief hug and went towards Sowon and did the same. She then stood in front of her parents, who were finally there, to bid farewell to her. She bowed politely but her father pulled her in for a hug and whispered in her ear.

"Do not make things hard for Seok Jin. Dare not try to pull anything that affects my business."

She patted his back and whispered back, "You better fulfil your promise if you want that, Father."

She then broke the hug and went towards her so-called mother who was no better than her husband. Evelyn bowed and her mother gave her a mean sarcastic smile which she returned with the same intensity.

"I fear we'll have to send our daughter to her new home, now."

Kim Hyun Bin, her now father-in-law mumbled and everybody let out a little laugh before Evelyn went and stood beside Seok Jin. He bowed to her parents and brother before opening the car door for her to enter. She looked at her brother, sister-in-law and friends standing at a distance for the last time and then Seok Jin closed the door. He then sat on the driver's seat and fastened his seatbelt. Evelyn waved to all the people she loved before leaving them behind, quite literally.

She rested her head on the seat and leaned back, closing her eyes. Seok Jin glanced at her briefly before focusing back on the road. She sighed out loud enough for him to hear, he glanced at her again but looked away immediately as soon as he saw her shifting on her seat.

"You don't have to be that alarmed. I don't bite."

Seok Jin furrowed his eyes and looked at her, she still had her eyes closed. He didn't speak anything and kept driving.

"So you're charged for speaking too?"

Evelyn spoke again, nonchalantly. This time she opened her eyes and looked at him, while he kept his eyes fixated on the road, but still could notice her looking at him through his peripheral vision.

"I think we should introduce ourselves to each other." She said, sitting up, straightening her posture, "I'm Jeon Evelyn. Before you ask, yes I changed my name legally, I don't use my Korean name anymore. I'm a full-time author, aside from that, I'm also a blogger, content writer and editor for my friend's company. You can ask me if you want to know anything more."

"No, it's okay. Nice to meet you." Seok Jin replied, eyes still focused on the road.

Evelyn waited for him to say something else too but he did not, which naturally irked her a little.

"So? Introduce yourself too."

Seok Jin pursed his lips together, hesitating before speaking but he did anyway, "I'm Kim Seok Jin. I manage PureGlow. It's a skincare company, but we're planning to expand it to cosmetics too."

"Is that why you needed funds? Investment from my father?" Evelyn asked bluntly, taking Seok Jin off guard. He looked at her questioningly.

"What? It's not like we married out of love. It's not even an arranged marriage, just a business alliance. Is it not?"

Seok Jin didn't utter a word. He didn't know what to say. Every word she said was correct, he did not understand why he was embarrassed now after he married her and not while agreeing to this arrangement.

"An employee sold the formulation of a product we were working on, to the rival company. It doomed our project and the money we spent on it. We needed good investment for us to start all over again," Seok Jin told his wife truthfully.

Evelyn nodded her head and crossed her hands over her chest, her eyes on the dark road, "At least this marriage would be productive in some way. What about our rooms?"

Seok Jin, who had no idea how to react to her reaction, said, "There are four rooms in the apartment. You can use one on your accord, I have mine. I use a second room as my home office, one room is spare, you can use it too if you want. The living area is connected to the kitchen. We can divide time and use it during different times."

"Sounds good."

—

Seok Jin unloaded the trunk of the car and Evelyn held one suitcase. She had brought three suitcases, the rest were supposed to come in the next three days. She held her floral maxi dress in one hand and the mauve suitcase in the other. Seok Jin passed her the housekeys and motioned her towards the elevator door.

"4th floor, third door on the left. You go, I'll bring the rest of the suitcases."

Evelyn nodded her head and did as directed. She entered the elevator and pushed the button for the fourth floor. She relaxed her hands and leaned back, sighing, taking it all in. She could feel her heart thumping in her throat. She had no idea what kind of person her husband was, nor how she was supposed to settle with a complete stranger. She tapped her foot continuously as she waited for the elevator door to open. There was a faint ding and the door opened revealing a lavish white tile-studded floor.

She dragged her suitcase and unlocked the door of the flat Seok Jin had instructed. She entered only to find herself in a majestic setting of house. Judging from the door, nobody could've guessed the luxurious interior. She ran her eyes all over the space and placed her luggage in a corner before making herself comfortable on the sofa in the middle of the living area. There was a huge television placed right opposite it. She could see two doors but had no idea which one she was supposed to use so she stayed in one place. She spotted gigantic glass doors that opened to a balcony that had a very scenic view of the Han River and the entirety of Seoul city. She made a mental note to go there every time she needed relaxation. The door hustled and Seok Jin entered with two large suitcases and some bags of gifts they had received. Evelyn immediately got up and helped him in keeping the stuff.

"You could've given me some bags, you know?" Evelyn spoke sorting the bags as Seok Jin took off his navy blue coat, "I had no idea there were so many bags."

"It's alright. The watchman helped me."

Seok Jin replied without looking at her, pushing one of the doors she had spotted earlier, and going inside it. Evelyn guessed it was his room. His behaviour from the beginning of the car ride to here only saddened her. She was trying to make a conversation but he was reluctant to utter anything beyond need. She huffed and took out a bouquet from one of the paper bags. A smile appeared on her face as she remembered it was given to her by her friends, and how they had fought over which flowers to keep and which to omit. She stroked the petals of the tulips and her smile turned upside down in no time. She was stuck now, obligated to fulfil a relationship she didn't choose. She did not expect his behaviour to affect her this much because she had already made herself believe that he wouldn't be any good. But alas, it was affecting her and it hadn't even been full twenty-four hours.

"Oh— by the way, here's your diary." Seok Jin said coming out of the room, with her diary in his hands, "You dropped it in the elevator."

Evelyn's eyes widened and she grabbed the diary hastily, sighing in relief, "Thank you for picking it up!"

"You can use the other room there," Seok Jin continued pointing towards the room beside his, "There's a bathroom attached to it and the other spare room is behind it. You can use it too if you want. That's the kitchen, all the snacks and other food-related items are in cupboards. And umm..." Seok Jin hesitated before speaking, "Let me know if you need anything else."

Evelyn tilted her head, registering all the data in her head, "That would be all for now. Thank you."

With that she took her three suitcases inside the room and closed the door from inside, plopping on the brand new bed placed in the room. She let out a long tiring sigh, she didn't know she had been holding all this time. She stared at the plain, monotonous, white ceiling lifelessly. She felt moisture accumulating in the corner of her eyes and before she could do something about them, they escaped. She turned over and buried her head into the bedsheets, shedding all the tears she wanted. The entire day had been a whirlwind of fake smiles, awkward meets and unwanted attention.

She curled up in a ball and sobbed silently. The loneliness and sense of entrapment were overwhelming and she could feel the weight of new responsibilities entailed by this relationship burdening her shoulders. She had no idea what the future held for her, for him...for them together. What she was sure of was that she had to make it work. Even if she didn't like being a part of it, she was still married to the guy next door and this marriage was theirs to maintain.

She mustered up some strength and went on to change into some comfortable clothes after taking a quick shower. She looked at her dishevelled state in the mirror as she combed her wet hair disinterestingly. She had to be strong, she didn't want Seok Jin to know her vulnerable side for she was afraid he might use it against her. That's what she learnt after years of being on her own...to never trust a stranger, especially if that stranger lives in the same house. Her chain of thoughts was disturbed by a soft knock on the door. Her heartbeat sped up in anxiety as she walked towards the door with heavy steps.

Seok Jin stood there majestically, in a plain white tee, adorned beautifully on his body. She looked at herself and then at him, looking away awkwardly. He too noticed that they were twinning, accidentally. He did not utter a word regarding that but the tension thickened in the atmosphere and the two could feel it as they breathed.

"I'm cooking some ramen for dinner," he said in his regular cold tone, which Evelyn was still not used to. "You...You can join if you want."

She looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to say more which he never did. Evelyn sighed mentally and nodded her head, "Give me a few minutes."

Seok Jin nodded and went back. He took out a medium-sized pan and started boiling water, while his mind wandered away in land of thoughts. All of this was new to him. Yes, the guys did crash in his place a bazillion times and spent days and nights but this was different...this was worse. He was not used to sharing a place with a complete stranger, in fact, he hated being around new people at all. This was an obligation for him because she was his wife now and because he knew he asked for it for his own selfishness. He had ruined the life of an independent woman and this was the least he could do to make up for it, but that doesn't tone down the dislike he had towards her presence in the same house.

"Are we having boiled air for dinner?"

The feminine voice brought him back to the material world. He turned over only to notice the water boiling in full glory and had become half the amount. He scratched his head in embarrassment while Evelyn took a seat on the kitchen island. He put more water into the pan and carefully put two cakes of ramen into it. He then chopped some vegetables and put them into the broth of the noodles, a little conscious because he could see Evelyn's eyes following his every move.

"Do you like cooking?" Evelyn asked, breaking the silence. "You look like you know what you're doing."

Seok Jin nodded his head but did not utter a word. According to him, yes was an enough answer and he did that by nodding. Evelyn pursed her lips together in disappointment and sat there quietly, not knowing what else to say. Seok Jin could feel the dissatisfaction looming over Evelyn, he glanced at her once and then focused on his gourmet.

"How's your work going on?" Seok Jin asked, attempting to begin a conversation.

Evelyn smiled softly, "It's good. One of my books has been getting viral lately, so it's good I guess?"

"And your job?" He asked again as he poured the noodle soup into two bowls, passing one to her and taking a seat, one chair away from her.

Evelyn looked at him confused, "Writing is my job."

Seok Jin shook his head, "I was asking about your editing and content writing job."

Evelyn did not like his perception of a 'job'. This is one issue she always faced as an author, despite being a full-time writer, people always focused on a more 'real job' than her leisure writing. She was offended by his words and attitude but decided to not say anything about it.

She took a sip of the broth and took her first bite, "That's my part-time job, and yeah that's going well too. How about you?"

"We're working our best."

Evelyn nodded her head and took another bite. She wasn't sure if it was her starvation or if he was just a very good cook. She had barely had homemade meals and she loved this one. There was a brief moment of silence before she spoke again.

"How do you measure success, Seok Jin?"

Seok Jin's heart fluttered when he heard his name coming out of her mouth for the first time. He stuffed his mouth with noodles, trying to focus on the tasty broth he had prepared. He noticed her looking at him from the corner of his eyes. He chugged down a glass of water and cleared his throat.

"I analyze strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of my work, and proceed accordingly. If there are more opportunities and fewer threats, it strengthens the business making it successful. I think that's the only practical approach."

"SWOT analysis," Evelyn stared at her almost-finished meal in the bowl, and drew imaginary circles with her spoon, stirring the broth, "Do you think that applies everywhere?"

Seok Jin poured more water into her half-filled glass and passed it back to her, "Almost everywhere."

She got up and picked up her bowl, and then his, "I'm afraid creativity can't be analyzed by a set of rules and parameters." She walked towards the kitchen basin and turned on the tap, preparing to do the dishes. "Sometimes, one should try being a little lenient with their conventional methods to look at the bigger picture. Maybe it will appear more beautiful and clearer."

"You can leave it." Seok Jin uttered from behind, standing up in his place, "I will do it."

Evelyn continued to wash the dishes, a thin smile adorned on her lips, as she realized he had ignored her words entirely, "You don't live alone anymore, Seok Jin. I'm not a guest here. Now, this is my house too and it's only fair for us to divide housework."

Seok Jin fell silent, not knowing what more to say. He shifted weight on his feet simultaneously, standing there awkwardly. He had always been the one doing everything when the guys came over, this was a first. There was a woman in his kitchen, doing his dishes talking about dividing household chores with him. He could barely wrap his head around this whole setting.

"Uh...umm," He hesitated before speaking, "You can call me Jin, by the way."

"Okay, Jin," Evelyn replied without turning around, her back facing the guy, still very much focused on the dishes. "You can go rest. I'll manage the kitchen. Do you want me to prepare breakfast for you in the morning?"

"Huh?" He looked at her back questioningly, "No, I usually take breakfast in the office only, with Namjoon and Hobi."

"Good," Evelyn spoke turning around, wiping her wet hands in her apron, "Because I doubt I can cook anything consumable by a human."

Seok Jin unexpectedly chuckled at her remark. Unexpected to her and to himself too. Although he regained his cold demeanour in no time, she saw his smile, for the first time. It was beautiful. She felt a sense of warmth overtaking her body and picked up a random cloth lying in a corner. She remembered Seok Jin using it to wipe the stove, so she proceeded to wipe the stove and the counter they had their dinner on.

"At what time do you leave?"

"These days, at eight." Seok Jin, who was busy regretting letting that little laugh escape from his mouth, replied.

"Cool," Evelyn remarked, "Let me know when you leave."

Seok Jin nodded and Evelyn finished with her cleaning. She washed her hands again and stood in front of him.

"The food was really good, Jin. Good night."

Seok Jin stood there motionless and reactionless, "Oh, thank you. Good night to you too."

"Thanks."

With that Evelyn gave him a smile and proceeded towards her room, while Seok Jin stood there, his eyes fixated on her disappearing back as she entered her room and finally closed the door. He did not know what to think of her. He had had various interactions with a lot of women in the course of his career but he had never met one like her. Or maybe he did and just never noticed. He was speechless, thoughtless and motionless at the moment. He too, then went inside his room and dozed off to sleep while wondering what to make of his wife.

—

The soft ticking of the wall clock and the quiet hum of the refrigerator were moving rhythmically as Seok Jin, freshly showered and dressed in a crisp, neatly pressed suit, stood at the kitchen island, and methodically prepared his breakfast. Every movement was precise—spreading butter on toast, pouring exactly the right amount of coffee, folding the newspaper to the article he intended to read. It was like a ritual he performed daily, one that set the tone for his orderly life. But today was different. It was nowhere the same as all the other days.

Seok Jin sighed in frustration as he noticed another piece of paper lying near the sofa. He was all decked up, ready for office but this was the first time he was getting late. The reason was a litter of papers in the living area and coffee stains on the kitchen counter. He figured Evelyn was up last night, he had heard her mumble things to herself from his room. But he did not expect such chaos in the morning for him to clean while she was long asleep in her room. He took a deep breath, trying to quell the irritation bubbling up inside him. Maybe she was just tired, he reasoned, as he piled the small bits of paper on the table, maybe she didn't realise the mess she was leaving behind. But as he cleared her things to the side, setting them down with a little more force than necessary, the irritation only grew. His jaw tightened and he picked up the last piece of paper, it was a crumpled sticky note and he straightened it for a reason he wasn't sure of. It had only one line written on it which was barely readable due to the scribbling over it. He furrowed his eyes together as he tried to read it.

"My sighs reach the moon but not the ..."

He really tried reading further but couldn't quite make out the next few words. Unconsciously, he slipped it into his pants pocket and stacked the littered papers under a paperweight on the table. He then went towards Evelyn's room and knocked on it a few times. There was no response so he took out a sticky note and stuck it on her door, and then left for the office.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Author's Note: Let me know your thoughts so far! 

Also, have a great day/night, everyone! <3