Black & White

three;

Mina sat down on the floor with a heavy breathe. It's been a long time since she taught ballet to anyone. She looked at the kids around 5 to 10 years who were still practising passionately in the dancing room. They reminded her to her old self. 

A girl who's few years younger than her walked towards Mina and took a seat next to her on the floor. 

''It's tiring?'', she asked in Japanese.

Mina startled when she heard the girl asked her in Japanese ''You know how to speak Japanese, Tzuyu-shi?''

The girl named Tzuyu laughed at her. ''I learned from you. It's already been three weeks since you started working at here. That means I have been learning Japanese for three weeks already!''

Mina giggled looking at Tzuyu being her cute self. ''Nah that means you should teach me some Mandarin too!"

Tzuyu nodded ''I will do, later. I rarely speak Mandarin after living in Korea for years already''

Mina sighed ''Don't you feel bad leaving your own country?''

''It's not that bad because I got married to someone's nice.''

''EH?!'', Mina slightly shouted at Tzuyu's face because she was too shocked.

The younger one laughed at Mina and smiled ''You don't notice the ring on my finger?'', she waved her right hand, showing the sparkling ring that nicely placed on her slender finger.

Mina looked at the ring and moved her gaze to Tzuyu ''But you're too young for this''

''There's no such thing as being too young in marriage. He has been a great supporter to me and I know he's the one for me ever since he came into my life''

''So he is a Korean?''

Tzuyu nodded and patted Mina's head ''Aigoo~ You look a kid with this shock face'' she gigled looking at Mina. 

''How?'', even with the short question, Tzuyu knew well what the girl meant. 

''We have been best friend since forever and the same thing goes to our parents''

And Tzuyu continue talking about her marriage story to Mina who's excitedly listen to it as if she's watching a romantic Korean movie.

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''I'm home''

Mina entered the house and found her parents watching the tv in the living room. Ever since his father stopped working because of unknown reason that she don't even know and not wanted to know, the couple have been spending their time together more oftenly and that's what make her happy.

''Okasan~'', she hugged her mum after dropping her backpack on the floor. She then moved to hug her father after that.

''Where is Mark?'', she asked after looking around the house but can't find her older brother.

''He left to play basketball with his new friends'', her father replied with a proud smile. Mark, the eldest knew well how to adapt in different surrounding and that's what make him and his wife happy.

''How's it feel to become a ballet teacher?'', her mother asked after she took a seat on the couch next to her mother. 

Mina smiled happily ''It's tiring but fun! And my partner is a kind girl! Her name is Chou Tzuyu.''

''I don't think it's a Korean name though?'', her father interrupted.

''Yes! She's a Taiwanese! But her husband is a Korean''

Her parents nodded listening to Mina's talking about her teaching ballet even though it's already been three weeks since she became a ballet instructor. She just told her parents about it today as her parents has been busy going outside together attending few meetings with their friends so she never found the time to share her story before this.

Their attention were back on the smart tv watching a talk show that present few Korean celebrities as the guests.

After a few minutes of silence, her mum suddenly spoke ''Have you ever thought of marrying someone from here? I mean a Korean''

Mina looked at her mum in disbelief. Her mum never talked about something related to marriage before this because her mum knew her too well. She's not the type who got into relationship or spent her time going out her boyfriend and yes, the fact that she never got into a serious relationship even when she was studying in Japan. A typical personality for a studious girl like her.

''W-What?'', she asked back and fake a laugh pretending that she's not taken aback with her mum's question.

''Mina.. have you ever thought of marrying someone that you never met before?'', Mina's expression turned dark with her father's abrupt question.

She don't even know what to answer at the moment and the feel of awkwardness when her parents' eyes were on her, patiently waiting for her to answer.

''I-I don't know..''

Her father sighed ''Sorry for the sudden question, daughter but it's actually what we wanted to talk about with you for real''

''I know this sounds harsh and so sudden but... what if you're getting married next month?''

Mina jumped off from her seat and stood looking at her parents with a shock face. 

''No... this is a joke, right? Please... tell me it's a joke..'', she pleaded and her parents only shook their heads with serious expression. Her parents rarely joke around about something like this.

Mina couldn't control her tears anymore. She sobbed sadly ''W-Why? This is too suddenly? Why me? Why not Mark? Don't tell me it's a business marriage..''

Her parents can't look at Mina in her eyes anymore as she looked so sad asking all those questions.

''Please answer me... Have I been a bad daughter?''

Her mum cried at her question and hurriedly walked towards her and gave her a hug ''No, Mina.. You have been a good daughter.. We're so sorry''

Her father done the same as her mother and hugged her to comfort their daughter. After Mina has calmed down, her father held her hand and explained the whole thing to her daughter while  wiping her tears away.

''This is the last help I wanted to ask from you as a father. I hope you can help me, my daughter. I can't think of another solution anymore.. you are tied with a marriage but you don't need to act like one''

Mina can't help but to cry once again hearing the marriage word. She never thought her idea of dream marriage already been ruined with the stupid arranged marriage.

''I'm home'' suddenly a voice greeted them.

It's Mark, her older brother. 

Mina looked at her brother with teary eyed. Mark sighed after knowing what happened without anyone told him. He walked to her younger sister and hugged her tightly.

''I'm so sorry I can't protect you''

Mina cried in his shoulder. ''Whyyyyy me?''

Her brother patted her on the back to calm her down. ''Just get divorce after everything's become normal. I will help you out'', he promised.

Mina looked up to her brother's face and tried to stop crying. ''Is it based on contract?'' she asked while wiping her tears.

''There's no contract. It's just that we need to build a connection between our family and their family and this kind of connection can only be build through marriage.'', her father explained.

''This is not Joseon dinasty'', she cried and her brother continued hugging her tightly.

Mark felt guilty looking at his sister crying on his shoulder but he knew he can done nothing to help her. If only he can replaced her, he's willing to do so but the fact that his father's business partner only has a son in their family was not helping him at all.

Her father sighed. If only he didn't went that far to save his business but the promise has already been made and it can't be broke easily.