The Hunt

46

I snapped my fingers at Jimin. He was still staring through me.

"We had a deal," I said through clenched teeth. I knew it wasn't Jimin's fault, but I didn't care. "Your dad and uncle agreed to it!"

"I know. I'm sorry," he whispered. "But our hands are tied."

"'Our hands?'"

"My family," Jimin sighed. "The Choi family's business is very important to my family's security business. The services we offer for the hospitals and clinics generates about half of our annual revenue."

I wanted to scream and break things.

I wanted to grab Jimin by the shirt collar and shake some sense into him.

I wanted to cry.

I wanted to run and never look back.

But I didn't do any of those things. Instead, I sat there, breathing heavily, and tried to calm myself down and think rationally.

Of course the Parks had no choice. They probably weren't any more thrilled about the situation than I was. I couldn't imagine them being happy about bringing a Choi into their family.

They were just as trapped as I was.

I took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "So, did he specify if he meant within the current calendar year, or just sometime in the next 365 days?"

Jimin blinked hard a few times and his eyes finally focused on me. He cocked his head to the side and I could clearly see the confusion written all over his face. "The year is almost over, so I think he meant 365 days."

I nodded. Obviously it would take more than a few weeks to plan a wedding befitting a member of the Choi Family. It was a matter of pride.

That's what this all boiled down to.

I had hurt my father's pride by leaving.

The great Choi Seunghan was not someone you could cross and then walk away unscathed.

Insisting the wedding happen sooner rather than later was my father's way of taking control of the situation. I had embarrassed him and he would make sure to put me in my place. Under his thumb.

My rage started to melt away and I was gradually beginning to feel guilt gnawing away at the back of my mind.

I had brought my father's wrath upon the Park Family. As far as I knew, they didn't deserve that.

"This sucks," I mumbled to myself.

Glancing at my awkwardly silent guests, I noted that Jimin was holding his head in his hands, and Yoongi was trying not to be noticed. He had sunk into the couch as much as he physically could and was very still.

At least I'm not the only one feeling the weight of this news.

"Well," I began, my voice startling both men. "Taehyung will be thrilled."

Jimin let out a mirthless chuckle. "Yeah, he will be."

"So, I guess it's official then."

"Yes, it is," Jimin sighed and rolled his neck side to side, his bones cracking loudly in the process. "My uncle is giving me Grandma Park's wedding ring tomorrow." His tone was slightly bitter.

I couldn't blame him. The situation was less than ideal.

A sudden knock on the front door caused all three of us to jump in our seats. Even with my newly enhanced hearing, I had somehow failed to notice someone had come to the door.

As I stood, it dawned on me that it was Wednesday. My friend Sarah and I met for dinner every Wednesday evening to catch up and watch dramas. With everything that had happened over the past few days, I had momentarily lost track of what day it was.

I jumped up and quickly opened the door, waving my friend inside.

"I didn't realize you were having company tonight," Sarah said quietly as she stood just outside the door. "Should I head home?"

"No, no. Come in," I waved her inside more vigorously.

She quickly slipped off her shoes, and glanced over at the two men who were trying not to look at her too obviously. Standing at just over 5'10", Sarah was used to people staring at her.

"Guys, this is Sarah. Sarah, this is Yoongi and that's Jimin," I gestured to each man. They both smiled shyly and mumbled a greeting.

I glanced at my friend to gauge her reaction to Jimin. It was fleeting, but I saw her nostrils flare a little and her nose scrunch up slightly as if she had just encountered a pungent odor.

Neither Jimin nor Yoongi was wearing cologne, and I hadn't put on any perfume. I inhaled, attempting to figure out what the offending odor was. But there was nothing.

Nothing other than the smell of hybrids.

"Sarah?"