𝙱𝙻𝙸𝙽𝙳 𝙸𝙽 𝙻𝙾𝚅𝙴

𓆩♡𓆪 3;

As Jimin was about to explain why he was at the party, the woman from earlier reappeared, her face lighting up with recognition. "Oh, there you are!" she exclaimed, walking briskly towards them. "This is my one and only son, Jimin. He's just arrived from LA a week ago. "You know, you two should go out together someday and get to know each other," she suggested enthusiastically, clearly oblivious to Airene's discomfort. 

Airene's smile dropped, a reaction that didn't go unnoticed by Jimin. He quickly intervened, placing a gentle hand on his mother's arm. "Eomma, I think Airene and I can manage our own plans. Why don't you go enjoy the party?"

Reluctantly, his mother nodded and moved away, leaving them alone again. Jimin turned back to Airene, his expression apologetic. "I'm really sorry about that. She can be a bit... much sometimes." Airene's face remained unchanged, her earlier warmth replaced by a cool exterior. "It's fine," she replied curtly, clearly trying to mask her irritation. Sensing the need to lighten the mood, Jimin decided to try a different approach. "You know," he said with a playful smile, "what do you call fake spaghetti?"

Airene looked at him, puzzled. "I don't know, what?"

"An impasta," he replied, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

For a moment, Airene stared at him, and then she couldn't help but laugh. The sound was genuine and light, causing her dimples to appear. Jimin felt his heart melt at the sight, her laughter a soothing balm to the awkwardness of the moment. "Okay, that was actually funny," she admitted, her mood lifting slightly. Jimin smiled, relieved. "I'm glad I could make you laugh. So, tell me more about yourself, Airene. What do you enjoy doing when you're not dazzling everyone at parties?"

The evening progressed, and despite the rocky start, Airene found herself genuinely enjoying Jimin's company. They talked about their interests, shared stories, and even discovered they had a few mutual friends in the industry. Jimin's charm and wit were disarming, and she found herself laughing more than she had in a long time.

As the night drew to a close, Airene realized that this encounter had turned out much better than she had anticipated. Jimin walked her to the door, and before parting ways, he looked at her with a sincerity that made her heart skip a beat.

"Airene, I know tonight didn't start off perfectly, but I'd really like to get to know you better. No pressure, just as friends. What do you say?" She hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, Jimin. Let's see where this goes." and Airene left the party without exchanging numbers saying that if fate wants them to meet, it'll make it happen just like today. Meeting Jimin had been unexpected, but it had also been a pleasant surprise which gave her an opportunity to smile.

ONE WEEK LATER

Life had settled into a comfortable rhythm for Airene. Her relationship with Taehyung had grown closer. They often went out for dinner after work, three times a week, and their bond was becoming stronger. There were moments of intimate tension between them—at the café in their office, in the car, and at his house—but Taehyung always controlled himself, respecting Airene's need for time. Despite their growing closeness, Airene never opened up about her past to Taehyung. He sensed she needed more time and was patient, hoping she would eventually trust him enough to share her burdens. 

After one of their casual dinners, Airene returned home to find Mr. and Mrs. Park in the hall, chatting with her parents. She smiled and greeted them politely. "Look what I said, isn't she so perfect?" Mrs. Park said, beaming at Airene. Mr. Park nodded with a smile. "Absolutely." Airene felt a twinge of confusion but excused herself as the elders continued their conversation. She went to her room, freshened up, and then headed to the garden, where her parents were waiting for her. As she approached, her mother looked up with an excited expression. "Sweetheart, we have something wonderful to tell you." Her father took a deep breath. "We've decided to arrange your marriage to Mr. and Mrs. Park's son." Airene's world tilted. She stared at her parents in shock, her heart pounding. "What? You decided? Without even asking me?"