Arranged Love

7

RICHA'S POV

There was a moment of silence before we heard my mother shouting from downstairs.

"Breakfast is ready." Jungkook took a step back giving me space to finally breathe. He stared at me for two good seconds before he headed out first.

I felt my legs giving up and slowly I slid down against the wall plopping in a mushy pile which was also the current state of my brain.

I recalled his words again "Richa, this is arranged. I don't know you and you don't know me. That's why we are taking our time in learning about each other so that we can make this work."

Yeah, we didn't know each other. Yeah, it was our first time meeting yesterday but did he not feel the connection that I felt? Did he not experience the things that i did? But was he even to blame? Should he be blamed for being realistic? Should he be blamed for me thinking that he might have fallen for me at first glance like i did? But did I actually love him? Did I really think of him as a love partner? Did I actually care about him or was i just trying to find the missing affection from my childhood in him? That's it. I was looking for not love but affection. Some warmth that could make me feel less cold in this barren world. Sweetness to make my bitter world better. Kindness that even my parents failed to show. A homely feeling that my home didn't give.

For some unknown reason, Jungkook had all those. Perhaps he was a bit harsh just now but I guess that's exactly what I needed in this moment, a reality check.

Jungkook was well off without me. He was the heir to Jeon enterprise himself so I knew he wasn't in here for money. So why did he go along with his parent's plans? Why was he willing to marry me?

Kindness? I don't think someone would be kind enough to marry just anyone.

Love? He made it clear that he wasn't in for that.

Did he feel that my situation was relatable? Like two peas of a same pod?

I felt there was something more. Something that he was hiding from me. Not only him, I can feel that everyone is hiding something from me.

May be I'm just being delusional but I am at least 70% sure that everyone is up to something.

Collecting my thoughts, I fixed myself and my expression before walking downstairs.

Jungkook was awkwardly taking sips from a glass of freshly made banana juice while my mother was blabbering something about a fashion chain in Paris. My father was there too but he wasn't giving any in put which was nothing new.

I walked towards the table and picked up a handful of nuts.

"I'm off. Let's go, Jungkook." I said crunching over a walnut.

Jungkook didn't waste a single second and sprung up, bowing and saying goodbyes before my mother even had the chance to speak.

I was in the hallway when I saw Joseph peeking out.

I went to him and crouched down.

"Do you want to go to park in the evening?" He nodded his head.
"I'll come pick you up after work, ok?" He nodded again. He hugged my neck and I kissed his forehead before I placed the remaining nuts from my fist into his hands.

"Wait for Noona, ok?" I ruffled his hair.

"Umm..." Jungkook started when I was in front of my car door about to sit in. "Let me drop you off." I could feel the hesitation in his tone and I understood why he was being awkwardly cautious.

"Sure." I smiled at him and he was taken aback which he quickly covered up.

He opened the door for me and closed it after i got in.