𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐮𝐳𝐳𝐥𝐞𝐬 | 𝐡𝐡𝐣

eighteen.

Days pass, eventually some lawyers sent by the Hwangs arrive at your doorstep, forcing you to sign some sort of silencing form you don't pay much attention to. These days, there isn't much you do pay attention to. For the most part, things go back to how they were two years ago, before you'd ever stood in Hyunjin's presence.

You spend time in his room, keeping it tidy and free of dust. Occasionally you flip through his sketches and admire his paintings, but you try not to be too nosy. Hyunjin was private, and you'd like to respect his ways even if he's not with you anymore.

Minho comes over more often, the two of you keeping each other company.

For Minho, things aren't as difficult. Because of his status and the alliance his parents hold with the Hwangs, he still sees Hyunjin semi-often. Mostly for banquets or dinners though, where the blond puts on fake friendly smiles to hide the loneliness he tries so hard to ignore.

He tries to tell you about Hyunjin and how he's doing, but he knows it hurts you. Even with the way he loves you, he's accepted that you'll never feel the same. Not with the way you gaze at him with hopefulness when he brings the blond up.

Hyunjin isn't allowed to privately interact with Minho, so it's a bit difficult to inform him of your current status. But he tries, the look of relief in the younger's eyes enough for him to continue doing so.

And as for Hyunjin, he's sure he never has and never will feel an ache as great as this one, eating at him at all times.

There are days he dwells on his options, wondering what he could've and can do differently so he doesn't have to live this life. On others he forces himself to forget about it by focusing on dance or his studies, which he finds ironic considering how long he spent trying to remember.

Occasionally he'll internet stalk you and the boys, seeing your faces putting an instant smile on his face. He's reminded of why he's chosen this fate every time he remembers you're safer this way. He just can't help but think of what could've been, though.

——

It's not more than a few weeks when his mother calls Hyunjin downstairs for dinner, three guests he doesn't recognize other than a slightly familiar feeling he gets from the younger woman's face. She smiles at him sweetly, which he returns with a polite grin and nod, before giving his parents a confused look. "What is this?"

His mother apologizes for his rudeness, swatting him lightly on the arm. "Hyunjin, don't be rude. Offer to take their coats and guide them to the dining room."

"I'm sorry for my manners, but what's going on? I don't recall having any meetings today." He continues, taking the couple's and then the young lady's coats and bowing gently.

Mrs. Hwang chuckles falsely, "Silly goose, this isn't a meeting, it's a... betrothal dinner, if you will. This is Mr. and Mrs. Park and their daughter Yuna, or rather, our future family."

"Future family?" He gapes, flabbergasted. The girl is beautiful, no doubt, but he doesn't know the first thing about her. He assumes they knew each other before the accident, with the way they look at him as if they've always known him, they're all strangers. "You don't mean—"

"Yes, you're engaged."

As if his world wasn't shattered enough, the last pillars of his sanity come crashing down on him. If he wasn't trapped before, he surely is now.

Throughout the dinner he's fryer than the Sahara in conversation. He doesn't even bother with small talk, only answering questions with simple nods or shrugs and never asking any of his own. Now he knows for sure why he risked everything to escape this life.

He only has a true conversation with Yuna when she joins him in the garden, no longer keeping perfect posture and a forced smile. She almost looks relaxed, save for the way her legs and feet definitely hurt from her tall heels. Not at all like the girl he sat with inside, who he might've assumed was power-hungry and evil like his family. "For the record, I don't want to marry you either."

He jumps at her voice. How had he not heard hee walking up to him with the way hee shoes click with every step? Had he been that lost in thought? "What?"

She gestures for him to scoot over on the stone bench, which he does, and takes a seat beside him. With a deep sigh, he twiddles her fingers. "I'm in love with somebody. He's not wealthy like us, so my parents won't allow me to marry him. They don't want to lose a potential deal with your parents, so I'm being forced into this relationship just as much as you are."

Hyunjin quirks a brow slightly at her last few words, doubting her parents would threaten death and suffering on her and the man she loves, but doesn't bother to say anything about it. Instead, he nods, finding a bit of comfort in the fact that he isn't alone in his situation.

"I take it you're in the same boat?"

He nods, squeezing his dark eyes shut and trying to envision your face as best he can. "Yeah. It's too late though, my parents already tore her and I away from each other."

Yuna nods, before piling up again. "But what if it's not? If you love her as much as I love my person, then it can't be too late."

"But what can we do? Our futures are set in stone."

"Stone can be broken."

——

It's been about three weeks since Hyunjin was betrothed to Yuna. The two have grown closer, but not as their parents believe. Now, she's become more of a sister, and Hyunjin her brother.

She shares her crush on the shopkeeper she's so fond of, asking for advice and tips. In turn, she gives Hyunjin the same—as well as tricks to keep his hair healthy. He likes having her as a friend.

In between their normal chatter and hanging out, they scheme. Researching legal documents, checking to see if there's any way they can get out of marrying each other. It's tiring work, but love is a powerful driving force.

"Do you know of any close family members that might be willing to take your spot?" Yuna raises her brow at Hyunjin. "I mean, I know I have a cousin or two that wouldn't mind being in an arranged marriage for a few years. If you have someone to take your spot, then I think that they'll let us off the hook."

"That's a good idea, except for the fact that I don't know any of my family. The only family in my memories are my parents, and Minho I guess, but he's not blood." The blond frowns, sighing. Why did he have to be born to money hungry control freaks?

Yuna purses her lips, "I'll have someone look into your family and see if you have any candidates. Until then, we have to just hang in there, I guess."