Arranged Marriage with Luhan

Disaster

Disaster [Luhan’s narrative]

i.

It was quite an afternoon for me. It was not that tiring, of course, but I had repeatedly seen Jjeolbae’s face. It had been days since I received the news regarding the company. I had been expecting that, but I would rather meet other people than her.

     Jjeolbae, I think, was one of the most intelligent ones, but I found her to be more of a machine rather than a person. She always followed the rules, even if it is actually wrong. She had no direction in life. For her, everything was supplied.

    ‘You find her quite boring. That’s it. Probably. I do not know her quite well, but I see that she is too cold-hearted for a young lady.’ Kris, my friend, said. I questioned the last words. I wondered if she really was a young lady. I found it a little bit hard to read.

     ‘We’ll think of that. You can see the outcome tomorrow.’ Tao pinned.

     We were walking on the corridors when Xiumin noticed that Jjeolbae was taking over our place in the canteen. We always went on that specific place, and I supposed no one dared to.

     ‘You are the daughter of my parents’ friends, I suppose? I heard they were kind and polite. Now, now. What happened to their child? They said she is a fine young lady. Oh. Are you the one? I don’t think so.’ She remained silent at my speech. It was as if she did not notice me. She was very stubborn. It garnered attention though.

     I went near her as she whispered weakly: ‘What do you want?’

I sat in front of her and played with her snacks. I told her that I just wanted to have the seats.

     ‘Do approach me neatly. It will be very effective.’

     ‘You know that will not be necessary. Not for me.’

‘That is all I am asking for.’

‘Mademoiselle, your presence is not needed in this certain area. Please evacuate. Your cooperation is mostly anticipated.’

I saw a hint of annoyance in her face. I knew it would be dangerous, but I felt that it was just correct. I was just doing what I always do, and I wouldn’t take her for consideration.

‘You chose the wrong words. I’m out.’ She said and paused for a while. After then she departed.

I encouraged my comrades to sit down. That was when I felt that something was spilling on the floor. There, I realized that it was actually Jjeolbae who did the work. My friends reacted, of course, and I was more than embarrassed.

‘We’ll do the work for you.’ Those were the last words they said to me.

ii.

I was woken up with a good news coming from Chen. It turned out that they actually gave Jjeolbae a good lecture. The next news was actually “terrible”. My mother announced that Jjeolbae was confined in the hospital. She was beaten; she was not nearly dead but it would do.

I assured my mom that I would visit her after my classes. It would lessen the suspicion on me. Besides, it would be natural if I viewed her situation.

‘Lay’s actually funny. He did not join us. He even took her to the hospital. He was scared. You afraid of Jjeolbae, man?’ Xiumin teased as Lay requested to knock it off.

‘I just need to date my gf. She goes angry from time to time. You will not want Jjeolbae dead too, will you? I’d rather see her like that—suffering.’

‘And I actually thought you were single.’ I joked, earning their laughs.

I sat down and relaxed on my seat. There, I observed my friends.

     Kris was not much of a little boy. He could actually do things on his own. Although his only problem was proper direction, he tried managing things. It was not effective though. I supposed it was because of the group’s presence.

     Xiumin was the perfect contrast of Kris. He was very bubbly and comedic. He could lure people easily. He could even deceive the teachers, too. There was even one time that teachers mistook him to be smart, but in the actual, he was digging things out from his seatmates.

     Chen, although he was as humorous as Xiumin, was a bit more terrible when it came to attitude. He was our pounder. He always found ways to drive the irritation out of everyone. He always ended up in the office, too.

     Tao had one of the most amazing characters in our group. He always had two sides. The first one was the mysterious one and the other one the opposite.

     I had nothing to say much about Lay. He was plain good. He followed orders very well, and he abided by the school rules and studied hard, too. I was wondering why he chose to be with us, but I supposed he had some dreadful attitude concealed within him, just like any of us. I had seen this in some instances, where he played with the female topnotchers without any of them knowing that they were being fooled.

     At this point in time I had to depart to visit Jjeolbae. They actually wanted to come but I knew she might jail us. I went to a flower shop and bought pink carnations. After that, I went to a hardware and purchased a black spray paint. My mother would not notice, of course, since she did not know Jjeolbae’s  preferences.

     I went to meet my mom as she stared at the carnations I was holding.

     ‘Why are they black?’ She asked as I smiled.

     ‘Jjeolbae likes them black.’ I answered as my mother stared at me suspiciously.

     ‘I have been noticing you, Luhan. I actually do not know who raised you like that. I do not even know if you are still the little Luhan I had!’ She paused.

‘Let me remind you that no lady will ever like black flowers given in a state like that. Not even the saddest one. Not even the happiest one. Not even the one with black as a favourite color. You are wishing her dead. That is plainly terrible!’

     A rush of guilt came to me as I saw Jjeolbae’s weak figure. I knew I should not have bought the paint. I had not been informed that she went through an operation. My mother told me that she was in a critical state, too, since her appendix was damaged.

     It was not like I had not seen limping figures which we actually caused—the guilt probably came from her state. I just had never seen a terrible incident before. We just caused bruises and injuries before, but not like this.

     She was still asleep, but they told me she would wake up in a while. I actually wanted to repent.

‘I still am human.’ I whispered to myself. It was not that I hate her fully. I just wanted to get rid of her, but not in this way.

iii.

     I was informed that Jjeolbae had woken up a few hours after I saw her. I was told to wait in the lobby until she wakes up. My mother knew what happened, I supposed.

     She remained silent as I entered the room. I brought her a flower that was fortunately not included while I was spraying. She accepted it with a small frown. She inspected it, smiled, and stared at me.

     ‘Where are the black flowers?’ She asked as I stared down the ground. I didn’t quite notice the black remains.

     ‘I need them.’

     ‘I left it at the lobby.’ I said and tried excusing myself.

     She let me get it, of course, but there was a closing remark.

     ‘Don’t you ever wish me dead again. I’m not like you. I’ve got hopes and dreams. You ruined one already.’