EUPHORIA ¦ PARK JIMIN

Chapter 26

December 1, 2010

What's actually the purpose of marriage? Jimin thought over and over again. He hadn't had a wink of sleep since last night and talking about it to Yoongi made him feel even worst. He felt mentally sick. First, his mother was trying to hook him up with a woman he doesn't even know. Now, they were planning a wedding. He leaned on his head board, feeling too exhausted to move a muscle. The news that his mother had agreed to engage him to Chae In made him feel so weak, yet irritated. His mother's way of saying 'You'll know Chae In better when you two are married' made it even catastrophic than it already is. Jimin thought that marriage, was a hella huge commitment to accept and he just wasn't ready for that. Or perhaps, he just wasn't ready because he was to be married to a complete stranger.

With his alarm clock blaring an annoying noise, he slammed his palms to turn it off and sighed before laying back to bed. He knew he wasn't suppose to be like this and he had to handle this situation professionally but the thought of marriage was just draining up all the energy he had. Deciding that he wasn't heading off to work in any minute, he had sent a quick message to Ha Eun that all his meetings and appointments for today are to be cancelled. Tossing his phone behind him; Yoongi at the same time came in his room.

'Wow, you look like shit,' Yoongi said as he scrutinised Jimin's devastated situation. Jimin eyed him, but yet was to tired to make an annoyed face.

'Thank you. I knew that,' Jimin replied with laziness in the tone of his voice.

'Well, get up. It past 8AM,' Yoongi pulled away Jimin's blanket.

'No, I'm not going to work today. I'm sick. Bye,' Jimin replied and shut his eyes close.

Yoongi shook his head and left Jimin's room to head off to work. When Jimin had heard the door close and Yoongi's footsteps fading away, he opened his eyes and heaved a heavy sigh again.

Ha Eun, reading Jimin's message immediately obliged to the orders given to hear. Shortly after, she began to complete her unfinished businesses with Yoongi suddenly coming out of the blue. She instantly stood up, bowed ans greeted him with her usual smile.

'Here's the file you asked about yesterday,' He said and handed it to Ha Eun.

'Kamsahabnida, sajang-nim,' She replied and took it from him.

When Yoongi had spun around to leave, she had brought up the topic of Jimin and asking why he had decided to not go to work last minute.

'He said he was sick,' Yoongi said with a sheepish smile and shrugged before he walked away and was completely out of sight.

During lunch, Ha Eun descended to the cafeteria to get her lunch when a familiar face caught her attention, sitting at the far end of the room. Recognising who it was, she pretended to have not seen her and went directly to get her lunch.

'Miss Jung!'

She spun around and there it was, Chae In calling her and gesturing her to sit with her. She walked towards her sat across her with the smile she sustained.

'It's nice to see you again,' Chae In began while pushing away the cherry tomatoes from her salad.

'Likewise, ma'am,' Ha Eun replied.

'Actually, I just wanted to ask, is my fiancé in?' Chae In asked which made Ha Eun puzzled. 'I've been trying to reach him since just now but he isn't answering,'

Fiancé? Who on earth is her fiancé and why is she even asking me?! Appalled, Ha Eun still smiled but her face had suggested all the confusion she was having. Chae In with her hidden agenda to simply make Ha Eun jealous and envy her like any woman did, giggled and placed down her fork.

'Ah, you haven't heard?' Chae In added.

'No, ma'am,' Ha Eun replied.

'Jimin and I have been engaged,' Chae In answered and showed the engagement ring on her ring finger.

Engaged? Since when? Why didn't I know? Ha Eun, confused, feeling strange and shocked about the knews she had just heard still smiled at Chae In.

'That's amazing. Congratulations, ma'am,' She said sounding as enthusiastic as she could.

Then Chae In began blabbering things about Jimin and how sweet he was but Ha Eun had heard nothing. Her mind was too occupied by questions. What was happening to her? And why was she too affected by the situation that she's never involved in? When her food had arrived, she had quickly excused herself to leave.

On her way to her desk, she had thought it must be yesterday when it all happened. Chae In and Jimin were holding hands and there was only one explanation for it. However, what messed up her mind even more was that when Chae In first visited Jimin, he had made it clear that Chae In was never to enter again and he had denied the fact that Chae In was his girlfriend and said she had claimed false things.

Completely losing the appetite to eat, she set her food aside and stared into space, thinking. She felt even more perplexed when she felt a strange pang of jealousy and a pinch in her heart. A few minutes later, she laughed off whatever it was she was feeling and thinking and gave herself a pip talk before she hsd decided to eat her lunch.

'It's time that he gets married anyway,' Ha Eun muttered when her phone vibrated upon receiving a message from Jimin asking if there was anything important that he had to know.

Ha Eun had merely replied that there was none then Minji and Jae Soo came rushing towards her desk.

'JungBiseo, have you heard?' Minji began in a panicked voice.

'Heard what?' She asked. What news is it again this time that I have not heard?

'Huijang-nim is engaged!' Jae Soo claimed with a frown and so as Minji.

'Ah, ne. I've heard,' Ha Eun replied with a smile. 'What's with the faces?'

'The handsome and hot huijang-nim is no longer single and my dreams of being his future wife had totally vanished into thin air,' Minji sighed and pouted her lips.

'His future wife is so lucky,' Jae Soo added.

'Do you guys really find him handsome and hot?' Ha Eun asked.

'Of course,' Jae Soo and Minji said and unison.

'Wae? Don't you?' Jae Soo asked.

'How should I know, I don't stare at him that much,' Ha Eun laughed awkwardly.

I would be lying if I said he isn't.