𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓 | (𝐆)𝐈-𝐃𝐋𝐄

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐞

◍✧⁠*๑

"Hey, welcome home!" she greeted with her usual bright smile—like always.

And, like always, I ignored her.

You’d think she’d get tired of chasing after me every day. But nope. This girl’s persistence is on another level.

“How’s my gorgeous wife today?” she grinned, and I almost choked on air. Is she seriously calling me that? What is she playing at?

In case you're wondering, yes—she called me “wife” because we are married. Arranged marriage, of course. Our families set it up for business reasons. Romantic, right?

We’ve been married for about a month and a half now, and honestly? I still barely know her. But she acts like we’re soulmates who’ve been together forever. It’s kind of overwhelming.

It’s not that I hate her. Not even that she makes me uncomfortable. She’s just… everywhere. All the time. I never get a moment to breathe.

But I didn’t protest the marriage. I respect my parents too much for that. Even if this wasn’t what I wanted—especially not with someone I’d never even liked that way—I went along with it.

“Please leave. I have assignments to finish and I don’t need distractions,” I muttered flatly.

She pouted. “I just wanted to hang out with you…”

She sat next to me anyway, quietly watching me work. I could feel her eyes on me the whole time, but I didn’t say anything.

As soon as I finished, I closed my notebook, stood up, and left the room without a word.

“Soyeon, wait! Don’t leave me here,” she called after me, but I didn’t stop.

Seriously, who does she think she is? I’m not just going to stick around because she calls me her wife.

“Really? You’re just going to walk away from your dear wife like that?” she called again.

I froze, gritting my teeth. Turning back, I snapped, “Dear wife? Seriously? More like annoying wife.”

And with that, I stormed off to class.

---

Everyone else was in the auditorium for some school event, but I stayed back. I needed the quiet, the space. Just me, my book, and some music.

I had barely started reading when I heard footsteps—and then her voice again.

“There you are! I’ve been looking everywhere for you,” she said, a little breathless.

I didn’t respond. I could still hear her through my headphones, but I pretended not to. I really wanted just one peaceful moment.

Eventually, I gave in. I took off the headphones and set my book aside.

“What do you want now?”

“I just wanted to talk to you,” she said softly. “Why do you always push me away?”

I let out a long sigh. “Because you never give me space. I get overwhelmed easily, and you’re… always there. I don’t hate you, Yuqi. But you frustrate me. A lot.”

“Do you really find me that irritating?” Her voice was small. Hurt.

“I didn’t say that.”