VEIL

{12} RUMOUR

"In the quiet moments by the lake, our decisions ripple like reflections on water."

Jiah sat in her childhood bedroom, the familiar surroundings offering little comfort as she listened to her parents' earnest words. Their request hung heavily in the air, their concern palpable yet tinged with expectation.

"We've known about your relationship with Seungcheol for a while now, Jiah," her father began gently, his voice tempered with a mix of authority and affection. "And we've always supported you, but now we think it's time to take the next step."

Her mother nodded in agreement, her eyes filled with a mixture of hope and concern. "Marriage isn't just about tradition, sweetheart. It's about security, stability, and building a future together."

Jiah's heart sank as she listened, the weight of their words settling deep within her. "I understand, Appa, Eomma," she murmured, trying to compose herself. "But I'm not ready for marriage yet. I still have dreams to pursue, goals to achieve..."

Her father's expression softened, understanding flickering in his eyes. "Jiah, we know you're ambitious and determined. And we admire that about you. But you can continue to pursue your dreams even after marriage. Seungcheol is a good man, and we believe he'll support you in every way."

Tears welled up in Jiah's eyes as she shook her head. "I need time, Appa... I need to build my career, establish myself..." Her voice wavered with emotion as she struggled to articulate her thoughts.

Her mother reached out, gently squeezing her hand. "Sweetheart, we're not asking you to give up on your dreams. We just want what's best for you. Seungcheol loves you deeply, and we can see how much you care for him too."

Jiah felt torn between her love for Seungcheol and her aspirations. She knew her parents wanted what they believed was best for her, but the pressure to marry felt suffocating.

"Can we at least talk to Seungcheol about this?" Jiah finally managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper.

Her father nodded solemnly. "Of course, we'll talk to him together. But please, Jiah, consider what we've said."

As her parents left her alone in the quiet of her room, Jiah wrestled with conflicting emotions. She loved Seungcheol with all her heart, but the thought of marriage at this moment in her life felt overwhelming. Deep down, she knew she needed to have a difficult conversation with Seungcheol, one that would shape their future together.

Jiah took a deep breath and decided to call Seungcheol because she knew she needed to talk to him about it. She picked up the phone and dialled his private number. The phone rang for a few minutes, but there was no response. She thought he might be in a meeting, so she decided to drop a message to his common number, which was basically handled by his secretary, asking him to meet her at their usual place.

Jiah took the keys of her Bugatti and made her way to their usual place located near a lake. After a few hours, Seungcheol joined her.

"What happened, baby? Is there something wrong?" he asked, his voice full of concern.

"I wanted to talk to you about something," she replied, signalling him to join her to sit beside her.

Seungcheol sat down, looking intently at Jiah, waiting for her to continue. She took another deep breath, gathering her thoughts.

"My parents talked to me today," Jiah began, her voice shaky. "They told me they want us to get married soon. They know about our relationship and have always been supportive, but they are worried about rumors spreading."

Seungcheol's eyes widened in surprise. "They talked to you about this? My parents also mentioned having a talk about it."

Jiah nodded, her eyes filling with tears. "But I'm not ready for marriage, Cheol. Not until I establish my own law firm. I told them that, but they said I could do it after the marriage. It's just... too much pressure. I don't want to be forced into this because of rumors."

Seungcheol gently took her hands in his. "Jiah, I understand. I want you to be ready and happy when we take that step. We need to talk to our parents together and make them understand that this is our decision to make."

Jiah looked into his eyes, finding comfort in his words. "Thank you, Cheol. I knew you would understand. I just don't want to rush into something so important."

Seungcheol pulled her into a hug, whispering softly, "We'll figure this out together, Cherry. I promise."

They sat by the lake for a while, discussing how they would approach their parents and explain their decision. The sun set behind them, casting a warm glow over the water, symbolizing the support and love they had for each other as they faced this new challenge.

"Together, we'll navigate every wave, finding our way to the shore of our dreams."