Author's POV
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Sitting on the empty bench, your eyes set on the cloudy sky and you could see few Comulous clouds from afar and you quietly admire them. You hug your denim coat slightly, it's a bit chilly here in Han River right now and with the clouds covering the beautiful sun, it was not able to provide you warm. But it's fine, you have your coat anyway. You huff out an air as you look around.
There are bikers near, some elders just occasionally sits at the other bench with newspapers or books in their hand.
"Excuse me."
You heard a soft tenor voice and your head snaps to the owner of it. There you see a good-looking man with silver hair, almond shaped eyes, cute nose, sharp jawlines and juicy lips. He's wearing a black turtle neck shirt with a denim jacket outside, black ripped jeans and white FILA shoes. His ears was pierced too. An idol type of look.
"Yes?" You politely respond as you stand up. His gaze was innocent and respectful.
"Are you Eun Yuna?" He asked and your mouth slightly drops open in realization. Now that he asked you're Yuna, you just came to notice that his face has a resemblance with Park Yeonsa.
Her brother.
"Yes, I am. You're Yeonsa's brother, right?"
"Yes. Park Haechan, nice to meet you." His eyes turns into crescent shape as he smile, extending his hand for handshake and you politely took it.
"Nice to meet you too. Let's have a seat." You motioned towards the bench and he nodded as you two sit there. One meter apart, respectively.
He's the reason why you're here at the Han River. But the question is, what's the reason for meeting up Yeonsa's brother?
"Here, I bought coffees and Macaroons. I hope you like them." He tells, putting the plastic bag in between and now you just came to noticed that he was carrying that with him.
"Oh, Kamsahamnida." You thanked him, internally screaming to eat those macaroons. It's one of your favorites, actually. It's surprising how thoughtful he is. Not to mention he seem far way nice comparing to his sister, Yeonsa.
There you two sitting comfortably with the beautiful scenery of the Han River in front of you.
"So...um..." he started after a moment of silence passed and you watch him as he tries to engage a conversation with you. "Sorry, I'm kinda bit nervous." He nervously laugh a bit as he rubs a hand on his nape. It's obvious he's trying to be careful at his words and you kinda found it heart-melting. It just prove that he's a respectful one.
"It's fine. It's normal. I'm nervous too, honestly." You couldn't help not chuckle at his behavior as you try to assure him. You want him to act free with you. It's not like you would bite him if he does. "Maybe because this is our...you know, first time meeting each other, personally." You added and you could see how his cheeks slightly reddens after that. You wonder if it's because of the weather or not.
"Yeah, it is." He smile as he tell you.
"You know what, I think it will be better if we get things straight." You carefully suggest, trying not to sound rude as you want him to understand your point and he did as he nodded in agreement with you.
"Yes, you're right. I agree with that." He understand what you mean by that. It's what he wants how the conversation would be. But he thought you may misunderstood his behavior, find him rude and he doesn't want his future wife to think of him as that kind of person.
"Well, regarding that one, the family I grew up made this Arranged-Marriage as part of our family's tradition." He tells you.
"And..." You trailed off, telling him to tell more and that made chuckle at you, amusingly. He could see the curiosity in your eyes. There's this something you want to hear from him, but you wouldn't voice it out.
"You know, you can be honest with me. Ask me anything and I'll do my best to answer it." He assures you and this made you looked down to your lap for a moment.
You have to know his opinion.
"Is this Arranged-Marriage favorable to you?" You asked and his eyes coffee brown eyes dance all over your face.
Flashback five days ago
You finally arrive to the land of your cousin and you could tell their farm had improved a lot. After giving a firm knock on the door, it soon clicks open and there you're welcome by the sight of your cousin's face. It's surprising to see he grew up so well. His face lit up the moment his eyes landed on you. His lips immediately curved up into a form of boxy smile, revealing the pearly white teeth behind.
"Yuna!" His baritone voice booms out, literally screaming out your name.
"Oppa!" You respond, throwing yourself at him and he catch you, welcoming you with open arms. You're being envelop in a tight hug. It's been years since you last saw him and that was during your junior years and you really did missed him. He's like a big brother to you.
"You came alone?" He asked after pulling away from the hug and you nodded up at him. He's way taller than you that you have to tilt your back. Your only reached his chin level.
"My son, is that Yuna?"
A woman who looked already in her mid 40s came out from a room.
"Yes, aunt Chohee. It's me." You giggle, running towards your aunt and her face, just like her son, lit up as soon as her eyes set on you.
"Yuna, my child!" She welcome with open arms and you both share a tight hug. A smell of lavender hits your nostril and you could tell she just finished arranging her flowers. They also owned a flower shop.
You pull away, "where's uncle Daeseong?" You asked. Of course you shouldn't miss the chance to see your  best uncle.
"Your uncle Daeseong's at the Incheon airport right now to fetch your uncle Jun." Your aunt tells you and your heart drops into cold upon hearing that news. Good thing you did a good job maintaining your calm face. Damn, why it has to be now? You thought, gulping down the sudden lump that forms in your throat.
Uncle Jun.
Of course that man. Uncle Daeseong's brother. How could you forgot the man who locked you inside the dark storage room when you're just kid. How could you forgot the man who gave you the phobia. It's still mysterious to you why did he did that to you without a reason. You admit, you hate that man to the core. The day he locked you in that room was the last day you saw his face.
"Oh." The only thing you mumbled out.
"They'll be home by noon, dear." She pinched your cheek. "Now, Taejin, why not touring your cousin around and be home at lunch? Isn't that a good idea?" Your aunt call out to your cousin.
"Of course it is. Even if you don't tell me I would do that anyway." Taejin giggles, earning a smack in the arm by your aunt for acting sassy. "Aw. Eomma!"
"What you get, what you deserve." Your aunt quoted as a matter of fact and your cousin pouts as he grabbed your wrist after putting your bag aside.
"Fine. Come here little sis, follow my lead!" He cheered as he takes you out.
"Bye, aunty!" You waved at her.
"Tell Taejin to buy fruits on your way back!"
"I will!" You yelled, not able to look back at her because your cousin was pulling you in a run downhills.
"Taejin-ah! Don't make her run!" You heard her scold him and you two only laugh as you go down further.
The first spot he show you was the beautiful beach of Gangwon-Do, second was the restaurant where you two tried some foods there, especially fishcake and of course take few pictures. The last one was the famous spot where the cast of the movie Goblin shoot their film. You two sat on the edge of the rock with snacks in between you.
You stare at the horizon as you let out a sigh.
"You know, we may had didn't seen each other for a long time but I could still tell when something's off with you."
Your eyes slowly goes to him. He's staring at you as he chew his gummy candies. Of course you can't hide anything with this man. He's like a mind reader and just one look at you he could easily read you like an open book. Not even a minute of him asking you, you burst out your tears, crying out your pain without a warning and it startled the shit out of him. He choked on the gummy candy he's eating. He coughs multiple times trying to save his life by drinking water which he bought together with the other snacks. While you are there crying your eyes out like a lost kid.
"What the hell?! You scared me." He deadpan, rubbing his chest. He thought he's going to die. He scold you for startling him which even made you cry more. Lucky for the two you no one's there at the place to witness the sight of both of your stupidity. "Aish, come here!" He scold you, but pulls you in a hug anyway. "Pabo. What I mean is you could tell me whatever problem you have. Not startling me with your cry." He chuckles, realizing how stupid he just looked like choking in his gummy candies.
"I'm sorry." You sobbed, your words are barely clear because it was muffled by his chest as your face was buried there. He hugs you even more tight.
"Shhs. It's fine. Just cry it out." He gently rubbed your back. "I'm here, I got you. You'll be fine." He keep on whispering soothing words on your ear, in hope to calm you down.
After crying for five minutes, you finally pull away and he wiped your tears away. So you started telling him everything. You mean everything, including the news you received from your parents.
"So you're getting married?!"
He was shock at the news too and you did your best not to cry again because damn it would took you long to calm yourself again.
"Yes." You confirmed, trying to ease your pain by eating lots of crackers.
It was the reason why made yourself dunk that night. You're too shock at the news that you just wanted to get out of your mind. Why out of a sudden? It's so fast and how could they agree without hearing anything from you? You feel like shit.
"Do you know who's the guy? Have you already seen him?" He asked and you shake your head.
"I only know his name. His face? No."
Before you took the ride to Gangwon-Do, you did received a phonecall from your mother while you're packing up your clothes and the conversation between you honestly didn't went well, especially the moment your father interfered. You had asked your mother if who's the guy and she told you his name. Park Haechan she said and what's worst is, you found out that this 'Park Haechan' guy is Yeonsa's brother.
You just wanted the ground to open up and swallow you alive. You just wanted to disappear right now. Being the good daughter you are. You can't dare to turn your back on your parents. Especially if it's your father's final decision for you.
"What about this 'Sunghoon' guy? Aren't you going to tell him how you feel towards him?" He asked and you could feel the tears slowly forming in your eyes again but you try to hold it as long as you can.
"Why would I? It's no use. He's getting married too with Yeonsa, anyway. Even if he turns down his wedding, the reason would not be me. He already like someone."
And that someone would not be me. You thought.
You bitterly smile at yourself, remembering the night he had told you that he already like someone. You're just a friend to him anyway.
You didn't heard any words from your cousin after that. Instead of responding with words, he pulls you back into his warm embrace.
"Oppa..." You called and he only hums at that. "Will you be there for me at my wedding day?" Your voice shakes as you try to bit back a sob. He's the only family member you really trust in everything and you don't think you could make it on your wedding day without him.
"Of course. I will be your strength there, sis." He kissed your head.
(End)
"Well, honestly, it depends on the woman whom I'm going to marry with." Haechan tells and you only nodded understandingly. "How about you?"
"In my family, this kind of tradition is not that necessary much. There's always an option, but this is the first time they did it. With me." You tell him, before looking down at the coffee in your hand. Your words are not difficult to understand. By saying that 'There's always an option. But this is the first time they did it. With me.' you just indirectly tell him that you don't have a choice but to marry him.
"Is it favorable to you?" He asks and you shake your head.
"I don't know, honestly." You tell him. You don't know what to tell him anymore. "Maybe it depends too on the guy I'll marry?" You say sound unsure and he laughs a bit at how you look cute when you're confused. You just copy what he had said.
"This may be our first met but I could tell that you're a nice woman. You seem like the nicest type I've ever met and I want to get to know you more." You could feel the blood rushing up to your cheeks. Did he just complement you?
"You think so?" You almost stutter. "Thank you?" Your words stupidly came out in a question way and this made him amusedly quirk up an eyebrow before he burst in his laughter.
"Why do you sound unsure?" He covers his mouth with his hand and you just came to notice, he has small hands and it looks cute.
The way he laugh didn't made you felt embarrassed or any awkward. Instead, his contiguous laugh made you join him. "I'm sorry. I wasn't the type of a person who's used with getting complimented like that." You explained. You're slowly getting comfortable with this guy and you're glad he wasn't bad as his sister.
"I'm sorry I made you flustered." He apologized. "Here," He suddenly hand over a macaroon and you gave him a questioning gaze. "A peace offering." He says and that made you burst in your laughter.
"It's fine. It's a me problem anyway. But seriously, I'm fine." You tell him, accepting his called 'Peace Offering' anyway because why not.
This future husband of yours isn't that bad. You mentally comment.