Annyeongz One-shots

6. Arrange Marriage

The Ahn family dining room was thick with tension that evening.

“What’s now, Mom?” Yujin asked, voice flat, already sensing where the conversation was headed.

“Yujin… listen to your dad… just this once, please,” her mother said softly, almost pleading.

Yujin let out a long sigh. 
*Really? Am I in a K-drama or what?*

“I’m busy with work, you guys know that. No means no.”

“But at least get to know her first, can’t you?” her mother pressed.

“Oh my god… can’t you just ask Ryujin to do this? I’m swamped. I have meetings lined up for days.”

“Ryujin already has someone,” her father cut in calmly. “You’re the only one left who doesn’t.”

“Then what’s the problem, Mom?”

“Yujin, you’re already twenty-four.”

“Yeah, exactly. I’m still young. And I have zero time for this. Mom, Dad, please—you’re freaking me out. I’m not doing it. You just want to use me to secure that project, right, Dad?”

The silence that followed was heavy. Yujin hated this. Her head was already overflowing with deadlines, contracts, investor calls. Marriage wasn’t something to toy with. She wasn’t ready to take on the responsibility of being someone’s husband—especially not to a complete stranger.

“Enough is enough,” she muttered under her breath, then louder: “I’m sorry—really sorry—but no. No means no, Mom, Dad. Please just leave me alone. Let me enjoy my single life. Jebal.”

“You’re not even enjoying your life, Ahn Yujin,” her mother said quietly. “You keep burying yourself in that office.”

“Habits? What habits, Mom?”

“You overwork yourself. You need someone who can at least drag you out of that chair once in a while. You sit there twenty-four-seven like you have no life.”

“Oh come on. I own a company. Of course I’m busy.”

“No means no, Ahn Yujin,” her father said, voice firm now. “I don’t care what your reasons are. You’re still marrying my friend’s daughter. Full stop.”

“For God’s sake! Really, Dad?!”

“Tomorrow, after your morning meeting, you will go to the place I tell you. Or else you know what I can do.”

Yujin exhaled sharply through her nose. 
*Fine. Marry her, then divorce her later. Get it over with. Make work easier.*

“I need your answer now,” her father said. “Yes… or yes.”

Yujin stared at him. There was no ‘no’ option on the table.

“…Fine.”

“What?! Really?!” her mother gasped.

“I’ll do it.”

She stood, gave a short bow out of habit, and turned toward the door.

“I still have a meeting. I have to go.”