Not Really An Arranged Marriage [On Hiatus]

1. Marry A Wealthy Man

The four friends sat around a café table, chatting about their BitLife adventures and arguing over who was living the best virtual life.

“Wait, I have an idea!” Jungwon suddenly announced, grabbing everyone’s attention.

“So what is it?” Sunoo asked, sipping his mint-chocolate drink.

“I’ll marry a wealthy man,” Jungwon declared.

“Says the guy who keeps denying he’s gay—” Riki cut in with a smirk.

“You didn’t let me finish… I’ll refrain from giving kisses—” Jungwon began.

“And then kill him and take all his money,” Riki added.

“No, we are not killing anyone, Niki,” Sunoo said, shooting the youngest a side-eye.

“That could work, but how do you even find a rich man, let alone make him fall for you?” Jake asked.

“I have my ways,” Jungwon replied, flipping his imaginary long hair, which earned him a dramatic eye-roll from Sunoo.

“Well, good luck, Cinderella,” Sunoo teased—just as “POP” by Nayeon started playing from his phone.

“Oh, I gotta take this,” Sunoo said, answering the call. A moment later he set the phone down.

“Who was it?” Jungwon asked, sipping his own drink.

“It was Mom. She wants us, and Jake, to come home ASAP,” Sunoo said.
(Yes, Sunoo and Jungwon are half-brothers: Sunoo’s father died when he was one, and a year later their mom remarried and had Jungwon. Jungwon’s dad now works abroad.)

Jake frowned. He was close to their mom, so the serious tone worried him. Checking his phone, he noticed five missed calls from both his own mom and Sunoo’s. No wonder they wanted him there.

“Well then, bye, Niki,” Jungwon said, standing.

“Bye, guys,” Riki replied. The three grabbed their drinks and hurried out.

---

“Why do you think Mom called us?” Jungwon asked as they walked.

“I don’t know, but it sounds serious,” Sunoo said.

They soon arrived at Sunoo and Jungwon’s house, let themselves in with the spare key, and were surprised to find both mothers sitting silently on the couch, looking worried.

“Mom, what happened?” the brothers asked.

“Mom, what’s wrong?” Jake asked his own mother.

“Have a seat,” said Chaerin, Sunoo and Jungwon’s mom. Diana, Jake’s mom, stayed quiet.

Chaerin sighed. “Your dad—my husband—h-he…” Her voice broke.

“W-what happened to Dad?” Sunoo asked.

“Do you remember when his business wasn’t doing well?” Diana said gently while Chaerin began to cry.

“Yeah?” Jungwon replied.

“We borrowed money to save it, but it didn’t work. We’re in huge debt. On his way back to Korea, he had an accident. He’s in the hospital now, and we need to pay both the debt and the hospital bills, or we could lose everything,” Diana explained.

“Have you visited him?” Sunoo asked.

“We went yesterday when we heard,” Chaerin said, still tearful.

“That’s not all,” Diana continued. “We were looking for a way to pay the debt. I have some connections so… Sunoo, Jungwon, Jake—you’re each being arranged to marry someone: Sunghoon, Jay, or Heeseung.”

“What?!” Jungwon shouted.

“Sweetie, I know it’s a lot, but please… do this for my sake,” Chaerin pleaded. Sunoo nodded quietly. Jungwon stayed silent.

---

In Sunoo’s Room

“Wow, what a coincidence,” Sunoo said, sitting on the bed.

“Yeah, except the part about Dad,” Jungwon whispered, holding back tears.

“Wonnie, it’s going to be okay. Don’t worry,” Sunoo said, hugging his younger brother.

“I know, but are they seriously going to marry us off like that?” Jungwon asked.

“They don’t have another choice. They’re doing this for us,” Sunoo answered.

“It’s just too much right now,” Jungwon sighed.

“I think we should sleep and clear our heads,” Jake said.

“Yeah, stay with us tonight,” Sunoo added.

“Okay,” Jake agreed.

---

The Next Morning

Sunoo woke from a nightmare where he’d been forced to marry a sixty-year-old man.
“That was weird,” he muttered, noticing Jungwon still asleep and Jake nowhere in sight. After a shower, he headed downstairs and found his mom making pancakes.

“Good morning, Mom,” Jungwon said as he dashed to the kitchen.

“Yah! You can’t even greet your older brother?” Sunoo called. Jungwon ignored him, grabbed the plate of pancakes, and dug in.

“Mom, can we go to Riki’s house?” Sunoo asked.

“Yes, but be back by 2:30,” Chaerin replied.

“Thanks, Mom!” the brothers chimed.

---

Later at Riki’s house:

“OMG, that’s a lot. How do you feel about the whole marriage thing?” Riki asked.

“It happened so fast. I don’t know what to feel,” Sunoo admitted.

“I’m cool, I guess, but also confused,” Jungwon said.

“How about you, Jake?” Sunoo asked.

“Uh… I’m fine,” Jake said.

They spent the rest of the visit trying to forget about the wedding plans.

---

Back home, their moms were waiting.

“We’re back!” Sunoo called.

“Welcome back, boys,” the moms said together.

“We need to discuss the marriage,” Diana began.

“What is it?” Jungwon asked.

“It’s about who you’re marrying,” Chaerin said.

“Oh,” Jake managed.

“We sent you their pictures and numbers,” Diana added.

“Jungwon, you’ll marry Jay Park. Sunoo, Park Sunghoon. Jake, Lee Heeseung,” Chaerin announced.

“Okay,” Sunoo said, opening the message.
Wow, this Sunghoon guy is handsome, he thought.

Jungwon scrolled through Jay’s photos. Jay was exactly his type.
Jake blinked in surprise—Heeseung was far better looking than expected.

“So, do you like them?” Chaerin asked.

“Yes,” they said in unison.

“Oh, and one more thing,” Diana added. “Pack your bags. Tomorrow you’ll move in with your soon-to-be husbands.”

“What?!” they shouted together.

The rest of the day was spent packing.

[A/N: Le Fin (I don’t know French, so… that’s the end of Episode One. Bye! 😘]