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Jimin
"Jimin what was that?" Umji asks worriedly.
I close my eyes, I know my mother is listening so I can't tell Umji the truth without her hearing. If I did we'd both be in trouble.
"Don't worry, they're fine," I say before leaning closer to her ear. "I'll tell you everything after we leave the house," I whisper. "Don't be suspicious in front of my mother,"
She swallows and nods, still scared. She takes a deep breath before putting on a fake smile as she walks back into the living room.
"Ah, Umji!" My mother says with a smile. "What took you so long?"
"I just got a little lost, you know how my memory is," Umji replies, laughing.
My mother nods and motions to the couch for us to sit down.
We sit and continue to discuss wedding plans.
A few hours go by when my mother claims to be tired, sending us away.
I grab Umji's hand, pulling her out of the house.
"Explain everything," She demands as soon as we exit.
"My mother is crazy," I start. "The boy down there is my friend and my mother thought he was bad so she locked him up. She knows how much I care about him," I say and Umji nods. "The other boy is my half brother. My dad had an affair with another lady so my mother locked up their child,"
"Oh my god," Umji mumbles.
"Yeah," I say. "She told me the only way for my friend to be safe was to... marry you," I say slowly, looking at her.
"So... you didn't want to marry me?" She says unsure.
"You're a great girl," I start. "But I don't love you,"
"You... you love the other boy, your friend who is locked up, don't you?" She asks, smiling.
I furrow my eyebrows, confused on why she's smiling.
"...Yeah," I say, unsure.
"That's great!" Umji says. "I thought you actually loved me and I was worried,"
"What do you mean?"
"I have a girlfriend, but my parents didn't like it so they talked to your mom and set up an arranged marriage. I didn't actually want to marry you either but I didn't want to disobey my parents,"
"Wow,"
"Why haven't you called the police about this though?" She asks.
"She told me that if I told anyone or called the police she'd hurt him even more. And I don't want her to do that,"
"How is she going to hurt him if the police come? She'll get arrested before that can happen," Umji says.
"I don't know, anything can happen," I say. "I figured it'd be easier to get married and have him be fine then risking the chance of his death,"
"True," Umji says. "but he was in a really bad condition- I think it would be better to get him help before she kills him accidentally,"
"Please don't call the police or anyone, I can handle this," I say.
She sighs and gives me a look.
"Don't do anything stupid. And save him before it's too late," She says. "I'll see you later,"
I watch her walk into her house and I sigh, making my way to a nearby bar.
