Arranged Marriage | Hwang Hyunjin ✔️

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C H A P T E R 5

I ran my fingers through my hair stressed at the dinner table while doing homework. "Mica?!" My mom called out. "In the dining room!" I called out. My mother walked in and my face dropped when I seen Hyunjin.

"Mom... what the heck?" I asked, annoyed, and Hyunjin only blew a sarcastic kiss my way.

"Mica!" My mom said exasperated. I threw my head back and groaned, "I can't have him here right now. I'm trying to do homework, you know? School?" I asked raising my eye brows and he crossed his arms, leaning against the door frame.

"Okay, Mica, what are you working on?" My mother asked. "Math?" I said more like a question, hoping she wasn't taking this were I thought she would take this.

"Hyunjin, are you good at Math?" My mother asked and he thought for a moment, nodding, "Yes."

"Will you help her?" My mom asked and he nodded quietly walking over to where we sat when we ate dinner.

"What is he doing here anyway?" I asked, picking up my pencil again. She pinched the bridge of her nose, "Mica, be rude one more time," she warned, dropping her hands and putting her hand on her hip.

I took a deep breathe and decided to bite my tung, and not respond as the boy sat beside me. "He's here because you're getting married. You two must get to know each other," my mom said, turning around and walking toward the door.

"But we get to know each other at school!" I reminded her quickly before she walked out. "I don't trust that, you'll be okay for a couple of hours," she said casually, walking out of the room.

I sat there staring at the paper and I felt his eyes on me. I glanced up, "What?" I asked in a sour mood.

"I'm going to help you," he said, moving the book over to his side of the table so he could read the problems better. "Just like that? You're going to help me?" I asked and he nodded.

I scrunched my nose, "Why are you helping?"

He looked up at me, "Just trust me," he smiled, and it almost looked forced. I stared at him for a moment, "Fine. You better not mess this up."

"I wouldn't dream of it," he said sarcastically, suddenly his old tone was back and that actually comforted me more than the nice one. At least when he was mean or rude, I knew what he said is real.

We began doing the math problems and it actually confused me more for some reason. I felt like he was showing me a whole new formula than what we learned in class. But I went with it because he seemed pretty confident.

"Are you sure this is the right-" he cut me off. "Are you going to trust me or not?" He asked, his tone hard as his eyes. I nodded hesitantly and he continued on with the question and we were done with homework. As I was closed the book, my mom walked in.

"I'm going to make some dinner. Hyunjin, you like Indian food?" My mom asked, opening the white fridge. He looked at me, like he was asking me to answer for him. His gaze quickly returned to my mother, "Uh, I've never had it..." he trailed.

"It's spicy," she informed him as I put my folder into my book bag. "You do spicy?" She asked, closing the fridge after retrieving some veggies. He thought for a moment, "I've had spicy noodles."

"I'll make it less spicy than the usual," she chuckled at his response.

"Do you need help cooking mom?" I asked, and she glanced at me, shaking her head, "No sweets, you two relax until dinners done."

"I'll stay in here and keep you company," I said, not wanting to be alone any longer with Hyunjin. She didn't say no and I was glad.

"So why did you guys move?" Hyunjin asked after a long moment of silences. I froze at his question after it had truly processed in my head what he had asked. I felt more uncomfortable than before just because of his question. My mom glanced at me and she knew I wasn't going to say it.

"My husband, Micas fathered died less than a year ago..." she trailed, still looking at me and I suddenly wanted to get up and leave the room. Just those words alone tore a hole in my chest, and just the thought of him could bring tears to my eyes but I refused to cry because the boy I hated most in the world is in this room, right now, sitting beside me.

"And a arranged marriage is tradition.." my mother added, trailing her sentence, and I looked at the table. She half lied. I didn't think she wanted to bring up the part where we were struggling financially back home in Chicago, and living here was cheaper. How she met Hyunjins mother? I'll have to ask some time.

"Oh, I'm sorry for your loss," Hyunjin said softly. "Thank you sweetie," My mom replied, cutting vegetables. I didn't even throw a glimps toward Hyunjins way, I was too afraid he would look at me with pity in his eyes. I clenched my fist harder, watching my knuckles go white for a moment and got up, "I'm going to the bathroom," I said abruptly, ignoring the tight feeling in my throat. It felt like a snake was wrapping itself around my neck cutting off my air way.

I ran upstairs to the bathroom and closed the door, locking it. I took a deep breath and I felt my eyes water, and I fanned my eyes so you couldn't tell I had been crying. I was glad, not even a full tear had fallen out of my eyes.

I heard a knock at the door, "Mica?" My moms soft voice rang and I made myself still and took one deep breath so my voice would sound strong and normal, "Yes?" I asked.

"Are you okay?" She asked and I nodded, pinching the bridge of my nose, "Yeah, I was just peeing, I'll be out in a sec," I said and I let out a breath of relief when she walked away.