Winter had spent the entire weekend dreading the aftermath of her dinner with Taeyong. She hadn’t told Jimin about it yet, unsure of how to bring it up. Though Taeyong had been kind and understanding, the dinner still felt like a betrayal to her heart—a betrayal to Jimin, the person she actually wanted to be with.
But just when she thought things couldn’t get any more complicated, her mother threw her a curveball she hadn’t seen coming.
---
At Home: The Revelation
It was Sunday afternoon when Winter’s mother called her into the living room. Her father was there, sitting with his legs crossed, flipping through a magazine with a casual air. Her mother, on the other hand, looked unusually thoughtful, as if she had something important on her mind.
Winter sat down, bracing herself for what she expected to be a continuation of the conversation about Taeyong. But instead, her mother gave her a small, almost amused smile.
“Winter,” her mother began slowly, “your father and I have been doing some thinking. We’ve reconsidered the match.”
Winter blinked, her heart skipping a beat. Reconsidered? “What do you mean?”
Her mother exchanged a glance with her father before continuing. “After meeting Taeyong, we realized that maybe this arrangement wasn’t the best fit. He’s a wonderful young man, but we’ve seen that your heart just wasn’t in it.”
Winter’s mind spun, disbelief settling in. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Were her parents really giving her a way out of this? Relief started to flood her, but then her mother’s next words made her heart stop in her chest.
“We’ve decided there might be someone else more suited for you,” her mother said, her voice calm but firm. “Someone you already know.”
Winter stared at her, confused. “Who are you talking about?”
Her father cleared his throat and gave her a knowing look. “Jimin.”
Winter’s breath caught in her throat. Jimin? Had her parents somehow figured out what had been happening between them? Panic and hope warred within her as she tried to keep her composure.
“We’ve been watching the way you and Jimin interact,” her mother continued, her tone matter-of-fact. “We didn’t want to interfere, but we’ve noticed that he makes you happy. He’s from a respectable family, and he has a bright future ahead of him.”
Winter’s heart was racing. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. After everything, her parents were… suggesting Jimin? Her Jimin?
“But…” Winter struggled to find the right words. “You never said anything about Jimin before.”
Her mother smiled gently. “We didn’t think much of it at first. But it’s become clear that he’s important to you. And after speaking with his parents, we’ve come to the conclusion that a match with Jimin might be a better fit for you.”
Winter’s eyes widened. Spoken with his parents? “You talked to his parents?”
Her father nodded, setting down his magazine. “Yes. It’s not official yet, but we’ve had some initial conversations. His parents are open to the idea.”
Winter felt like the ground was shifting beneath her feet. This was the last thing she had expected. Her parents, who had always been so controlling about her future, had just matched her with the person she actually wanted to be with.
---
At School: Breaking the News to Jimin
Winter couldn’t focus on anything for the rest of the weekend. Her mind kept replaying her mother’s words, and by the time Monday morning rolled around, she still hadn’t figured out how she was going to tell Jimin.
When she finally saw him waiting by their usual spot outside the school, her stomach flipped. Jimin smiled when he saw her, but the worry in his eyes was clear. He could tell something was bothering her.
“Hey,” Jimin greeted, his voice soft. “You okay? You’ve been a little quiet lately.”
Winter bit her lip, her heart racing. She knew she couldn’t keep this from him any longer. She took a deep breath, steeling herself.
“Jimin, we need to talk,” she said quietly, pulling him aside to a more private area near the school garden.
Jimin frowned, his playful expression fading into concern. “What’s going on?”
Winter hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to begin. “Remember how I told you my parents were trying to match me with someone?”
Jimin nodded, his jaw tightening slightly. “Yeah. What about it?”
“Well…” Winter exhaled, her fingers nervously twisting together. “They changed their mind.”
Jimin blinked, clearly confused. “Changed their mind? About what?”
Winter bit her lip, feeling the weight of the moment press down on her. “They’ve decided… to match me with someone else.”
Jimin’s brow furrowed, his confusion deepening. “Who?”
Winter looked up at him, her heart pounding in her chest. “You.”
Jimin’s eyes widened in shock, and for a moment, he just stared at her, as if trying to process what she had just said. “Wait… what?”
“My parents talked to yours,” Winter explained quickly, the words tumbling out in a rush. “They think you and I would be a good match. They’ve already started talking about it.”
Jimin’s expression shifted from shock to something softer—something that looked almost like hope. “You’re serious? Your parents want us to be together?”
Winter nodded, her heart pounding. “Yeah. They do.”
For a moment, neither of them said anything. Jimin just stared at her, his face a mixture of surprise and something else—something warm, something that made Winter’s chest tighten.
And then, to her surprise, Jimin’s lips curved into a slow, teasing smile.
“Well,” he said, his voice light but with an undercurrent of something deeper, “looks like I’ve got your parents' approval after all.”
Winter let out a shaky laugh, the tension in her chest easing slightly. “Yeah, I guess you do.”
Jimin took a step closer, his hand finding hers. “But what about you? Is this what you want?”
Winter met his gaze, her heart thudding in her chest. There were still so many questions, so many uncertainties, but one thing was clear: she wanted Jimin. She had wanted him long before her parents had ever decided he was a “good match.” And now, with the weight of their approval lifted, she could finally admit it.
“Yes,” Winter said softly, her fingers tightening around his. “This is what I want.”
Jimin’s smile widened, and without another word, he pulled her into his arms, holding her close. Winter closed her eyes, her heart swelling with relief and happiness.
---
That Evening: A New Beginning
That night, Winter sat with her parents at dinner, the atmosphere lighter than it had been in weeks. Her mother seemed pleased, and even her father looked satisfied with the outcome.
“We’re glad you’re happy with our decision,” her mother said, her tone warm. “Jimin is a good match for you, Winter. You’ll have a bright future together.”
Winter smiled, but this time, it wasn’t forced. For the first time in a long time, she felt like things were falling into place. Her parents’ approval had always loomed over her, but now, she didn’t have to choose between them and her own happiness. She could have both.
As she lay in bed that night, Winter couldn’t help but smile. The road ahead wasn’t going to be easy, but with Jimin by her side, she knew they could handle whatever came their way.
TBC.
YOU ARE READING
Falling for Mr. Yoo
FanfictionWinter Kim is focused on maintaining her academic excellence and staying out of unnecessary drama. However, her life takes an unexpected turn when a new student, Yoo Jimin, transfers to her school. Unlike the quiet, composed Karina everyone knows, t...
