The Arranged Marriage

Chapter 2: The Meeting

---2 days later---

Class ended. I packed my bag and was about to head to the canteen for lunch when Gwen came up to me.

"Sup! What's wrong? You look awful today," she asked.

"Family matters..." I sighed. "Why not have lunch together? I wanna find someone to talk to. "

"Sure!"

I told Gwen everything.

"Woah. I've watched this in dramas numerous times but this is the first time I've actually seen this happen to someone!" She laughed.

"Hey! That's no laughing matter!" I shouted.

"Okay okay. Chill, woman. Sorry for laughing," she apologized.

I looked at my watch.

"Gotta go now. I have to pick him up at the airport later. Ugh. See you tomorrow." I slung my bag over my shoulder and headed back home.

I took a quick shower and put on my blue T-shirt and a pair of jeans. I stuffed some cash into my pockets and was ready to go when my mom called for me.

"Hold on, Lisa! You are forgetting something!" she shouted from the kitchen.

"What, Mom?" I asked.

"The board!"

"OMG. Seriously..."

I went into my room and grabbed the piece of cardboard. It had my name largely written on it. My mom prepared this as she was afraid that Bobby would not be able to find me at the airport. I got out of the house and flagged down a taxi.

"Uncle, Changi Airport, please."

I arrived at the airport around the same time as the flight. I chose a seat not too far away from the gate and sat down, waiting. I fished out the photo of him that my mom had given me earlier from my pocket and tried to match it with the faces of the people coming out of the gate. He looks so much like a pig, I thought. After a while, I got impatient and stopped doing that. I started using my phone while holding up the board. I found it kind of embarrassing so I covered my face with it.

As I was too engrossed in using my phone, I did not realize how much time had passed. At last, I tore myself away from my phone and looked up, only to see a face staring back at me.

He was sitting on his luggage, arms folded. He was looking at me with an eyebrow raised and we shared eye contact for quite some time. That was when I realized he had really small eyes. Finally, he broke the silence.

"리사 어딨지?" He said as he pretended to look around.

I did not speak Korean but I could understand simple conversational phrases. I scoffed and shoved the board at him.

"Yes yes. I was too engrossed in my phone. Sorry," I said, sounding pretty insincere. "Let's go."

I got up and walked towards the exit, kicking the luggage that he was sitting on as I brushed pass him. He wobbled but managed to balance himself with his leg.

"야!" He cried.

I smirked as I continued walking without turning back. I heard footsteps catching up and he put his arm around me. I instantly felt uncomfortable as I personally disliked people touching me, especially those I was not close with. I pushed him away and quickened my pace.

During the journey home, it was awkwardly silent, until Bobby spoke up.

"Did you like it, when they say you are marrying someone you don't know at all?" He asked, eyes looking out of the window.

"Of course not. I hated it. I still hate it now," I replied.

"나도 싫어."

"See, since we both dislike the idea of relationship, let's act like we are enemies that hate each other to hell," I suggested. "We shall quarrel and fight every moment and make it seem like we are totally not compatible."

"Yes! Maybe our parents will scrape off the idea of getting us together. I'm in!" Bobby agreed. He raised his hand for a high-five and without hesitation, I turned towards him and returned it. Just then, the taxi made a sharp turn and I felt like I was shoved to the side. I reached out for something to hold onto. As a result, I found my arms wrapped around Bobby and my face leaning against his chest. His arm was around my shoulder as well, as if trying to protect me. We stayed in that position for about a minute. Being so close to his heart, I could hear it beating faster and faster. It was only until I thought it skipped a beat then I came to my senses. I quickly pushed myself away and returned to my original seat. Bobby, too, retracted his arm. I could feel my face burning. I faked a cough, and apologized.

"S-sorry. "

"아니야... 괜찮아..."

The remaining part of the journey home was unbearably awkward.