ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎

"Wait! Your brother's getting married? To Kwon Soonyoung?!" Mingyu's head raised up from his phone screen before his eyes went upwards, landing on Seokmin who covered his mouth.

The guard standing behind the glass door leading to the garden gave Mingyu a look that seemed more like a warning. "We're supposed to be "studying" Gyu, I know our families are close but don't make my parents lose trust in you too." Seokmin begged and Mingyu nodded in understanding before quietly rotating his phone to show Seokmin the screen.

As Seokmin's eyes moved from the first article, then the second, then the third, fourth, fifth and sixth, he sighed, narrowing his eyes back to his book.

"Yeah, my father's forcing him to do it, to bring up our sales again." Seokmin pursed his lips, he wasn't even the one getting married but the desolation he felt on behalf of his brother was immense.

Mingyu dropped his phone, keeping it in his pocket. "Oh I heard about that, the drop seemed so random and unexpected, it makes no sense for the sales to plummet that fast... and for no real reason as well." He crossed his arms but Seokmin just shrugged.

"And it's a bit funny that they're lying about Jihoon hyung and Kwon Soonyoung being in a relationship for 3 years now." Mingyu chuckled and Seokmin shook his head, taken aback by the lengths his father and that man were going to just to make sure everyone believed their horrendous lie.

"So... when is the wedding? Can I come?" Mingyu asked sheepishly, nudging Seokmin's shoulder. Seokmin glanced at him and giggled before nodding. "Of course you're coming, how else will I get through the day?"

"It's on Saturday though, 10am, tell your parents too... if they haven't gotten an invite already."

•••••••••••••

Jihoon stepped into the suits shop, his body shivering as the air conditioner blasted cold air directly unto him. With his mother behind him, Jihoon walked to the counter where a man with glasses and brown hair stood.

"Good morning, are you here to place an order, get your measurements or get a suit tailored?" The man asked with a friendly smile while his assistant walked in.

Jihoon, not knowing what he was actually here for turned to his mother who came forward taking a stand. "Good morning, I placed an order for Lee Jihoon, about five days ago for a white, classic suit with a peak lapel and I was told it would come in today." She explained and the man's eyes increased a bit as he remembered the order.

"Get the suit Minyoung, the one for Lee Jihoon that came in yesterday!" He ordered before turning back to Mrs. Lee and her son. "Is it for a wedding? It's incredibly gorgeous ma'am." He complimented as his assistant ran up to him with a garment bag that revealed the suit with it's see-through exterior.

Jihoon scanned the entirely white suit, the nerves taking over again as he retrieved it with his shaky hands. "Thank you, and yes, it is fir a wedding." Mrs. Lee said with a subtle wink before grabbing Jihoon and leading them out of the shop.

"Isn't it stunning?" Mrs. Lee asked but Jihoon remained silent, knowing that if he were to speak up, he wouldn't have anything nice to say and he wasn't one to be rude.

His mother's phone buzzed and she took it out of her purse as they got back into their BMW, closing the doors after they sat.

"Jihoon-ah." She called and Jihoon faced her, his eyebrows lifting as he awaited her next remark. "Soonyoung wants to have lunch with you." Mrs. Lee passed the phone to her son who read the message from his father.

"Let's go to the restaurant, I'll drop you off then send Jun to pick you up, okay?" She collected the phone and kept it back in her purse.

Jihoon nodded even though he didn't want to go. He had no interest in eating with Kwon Soonyoung, he already had to marry him anyways.

Maybe Jun, Jihoon's personal bodyguard, being there would be assuring.

"I think it's really sweet that he's trying to get on your good side, maybe he's not as bad as people say." His mother concluded, reapplying her lip gloss.

Jihoon scoffed subconsciously before saying, "If he was such a nice person and wanted to get on my good side, he wouldn't be forcing me to marry him mom... neither would dad."

Everyone in the car went silent and Mrs. Lee froze while Jihoon looked away. A bit of tension clouding the vehicle.

•••••••••••••

Jihoon arrived at the restaurant, stepping out of the car and turning to close the door when his mother leaned forward.

"I know you don't want this but just try Jihoon-ah, try to have a bit of fun." She advised and Jihoon nodded, shutting the door before walking into the restaurant.

As he strode inside, he found the whole restaurant empty but the chefs were still cooking and the other staff were still working. Had the restaurant just opened? Or did his mother get the address wrong?

"Are you Mr. Lee Jihoon, Sir?" The hostess inquired as she reached him. He nodded slowly and she smiled before walking closer and leading him to one of the tables on the other side of the restaurant.

Once he got to the other side, he saw Soonyoung's head raise up and his gut wrenching eyes look right at him. His breath hitched, taking in the sight of the man for the second time.

He looked neat and casual, almost... decent, three words Jihoon never thought he would associate with the man before him.

Soonyoung watched as Jihoon walked over, dressed in a sleek, dark red cardigan and black pants. He was stunning, as usual and Soonyoung felt himself getting exhilarated as Jihoon came closer with every step.

The two no longer separated by the long meeting room table. Now just a little, round one.

"We'll have our meal in about 10 minutes." Soonyoung informed the hostess who nodded with the exact same smile plastered to her face before she left for the kitchen.

"What do you think? I rented this place out." Soonyoung subtly flexed, his arms opening as he gestured to the restaurant. Jihoon shrugged, not even a drop of emotion in his face as he reacted to Soonyoung.

"You don't plan on talking to me? You do know we're getting married, right Jihoon-ah?" Soonyoung's hand moved closer to Jihoon's cheek but before he could touch him, Jihoon grabbed his hand with a sudden force, catching Soonyoung off guard.

He took a deep breath before gently placing Soonyoung's hand on the table. "Don't touch me." He forewarned Soonyoung, crossing his legs as he looked away.

Soonyoung retracted his hand as he stared at Jihoon, a sinister smile appearing on his face as a result of Jihoon's warning. He didn't know Jihoon could be so hostile, he thought it would be easy to win him over but now, it seemed the opposite.

However he wasn't phased, he knew in the end he would be able to get Jihoon on his side and besides, he liked a challenge.

"Well, I don't know about you but I care about my company, and I know that..." Soonyoung's hand went under the table, dragging Jihoon closer as he let out an audible gasp, "We need to give the people a good, believable impression."

Soonyoung's eyes narrowed to the staff, passing a friendly smile which was undoubtedly fake. Jihoon scoffed, still looking to the side but not pushing himself back anymore.

Soonyoung leaned back, attempting to read Jihoon's mind as he crossed his legs and folded his arms in a manner that caught Jihoon's attention but lost it soon after.

"Do you not like me or something?" He queried, his piercing raising along with his eyebrow and his tone alluding to the fact that he found Jihoon's behaviour amusing.

Jihoon rolled his eyes, sighing as he got up. He couldn't do this. He couldn't sit here and eat with this man like they'd been dating for 3 years because they hadn't.

Jihoon sucked at lying, he was someone who appreciated honesty and strove to be a truthful person. How could he even look into this man's eyes with love when he had never even been in a relationship before?

When he didn't know what romantic love was?

When the person he had to fake a relationship with was no better than a criminal?

He refused to do this. Sure, he agreed to get married against his will but he would never keep up with this. Appearing happy in public with Kwon Soonyoung, it was something impossible and unattainable.

"Where are you-"

"I don't like you, you're correct, I hate you with all my being, you are an insolent and evil man and I don't want to have lunch with you." Jihoon turned on his heel, about to leave when he looked back at Soonyoung who was totally nonplussed.

"However, thank you for the offer." He added with a slight bow before walking off, spotting Jun as he got to the exit and leaving Soonyoung alone to eat his lunch.

Jun checked the time, taken aback by Jihoon's fast return. "Are you done eating, Jihoon?" He questioned, confused and Jihoon nodded.

"Yes Jun, I don't want to eat with him." Jihoon admitted with a sigh, "I'm scared Jun, I don't want to marry him." Jihoon broke down in tears, it was his first time showing such strong emotions since he was a little child.

He always maintained a cold and hard exterior but this abrupt change that was coming into his life was brutal and it sent Jihoon's brain, thoughts, values, dreams and morals for a spin.

It could've been anyone else. Anyone else at all and he wouldn't have felt this miserable.

So why did it have to be Kwon Soonyoung?

ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎

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