One sided love

Chapter 2 - First Meeting As a Couple

Lee Jieun's pov

My father opened the door carefully, letting us see inside the private room. I took a deep, sharp breath in and let it out to calm my horribly pounding heart. Suddenly I was very aware of the fact that my parents had already stepped in, leaving me standing there all alone. I quickly walked in after them and hoped my first impression didn't seem like an idiot's.

Then I saw him.

I saw my love, my other part. He was sitting beside his mom with a frown on his face. A wide smile appeared on my face magically, just like it did every time I saw even a glance of him.

"We have arrived!" My father declared happily, raising his hands widely on the air. Mr. Kim was my father's best friend ever since high school, or so I have been told. There was no reason to doubt it as I saw Mr. Kim respond to my father with evenly loud noise. I have met him couple of times before, but I never even dreamed that it was possible for him to be my father-in-law.

Mr. and Mrs. Kim stood up to warmly greet us, leaving Myungsoo sitting there all alone. My eyes focused only on him and I felt many butterflies flying freely in my otherwise empty stomach. I liked this feeling. It was a feeling that let me know how much I loved him, how much I'd always love him.

His parents bowed to my parents and we bowed to them. Then they approached me, smiling sadly as they knew my condition and I bowed to them again. Before I could get up, I felt someone's hand on my shoulder. I lifted my head and saw Mr. Kim standing near me.

"I heard from your father. Life, as usual, seems to take the finest roses first instead of the already worn ones. You seem like a nice girl, Jieun, you really do. Now, do your best, fighting!" He said and made fists to cheer me up.

At first I didn't know what he meant, until his eyes shifted towards his only son. "Thank you, Mr. Kim." I said and bowed for the third time already. It was never a bad thing to make sure you were acting polite enough.

"Don't call me Mr. Kim. Call me your dad." He said and I nodded shyly. He welcomed me so happily and he made me feel like a precious human being in this big world. It warmed my heart.

Then Mrs. Kim placed her hands on my cheeks after his husband gave him some room to do so. Her touch was warm and it gave me strength, just like my mom's. "Take care of my Myungsoo, okay?" She said and smiled kindly. I nodded and bowed yet again.

"Yes, I will Mrs. Kim." I promised quietly.

"Please call me mom, okay?" She said and I nodded to make sure she knew I heard her. She patted on my cheeks gently and followed Mr. Kim to our table. After that, I sat down with my parents and we ordered some food to fulfill our growling stomachs. My parents were chatting enthusiastically with Myungsoo's parents, and the mentioned boy just sat there quietly, not uttering a word.

I decided to admire his handsome features as I had nothing to say about politics either, and I couldn't stop the cheery mode that took over the shy me. He had fascinating eyes that looked like some unsolved mysteries, maybe even a thriller that awaited for a victim.

His hair was short, but dark brown and it was styled to go right. It looked like wind had shaped it naturally that way, but I knew he must've spent hours in front of a mirror to get it look like that. His lips that looked too pink to be real were luring me to kiss him, and his small nose fit to his face perfectly.

His perfect appearance made my heart skip a beat and I just stared him openly, memorizing every detail of him. He was doing something with his smart phone, probably texting, so he didn't see my loving smile that belonged only to him.

Even I didn't notice the silence around us. I didn't see or feel the pitying stares our parents gave me. I didn't realize how happy they were, when they saw that special smile on my face. I only stopped glancing at my soon-to-be husband that I loved, when I heard my mom sobbing.

I panicked for awhile, not knowing what had happened or how should I react. I watched her fight against her tears right next to me, until finally I placed my hand on top of hers, trying to console her. She smiled at me in a assuring way, telling me that everything was okay.

Only then I realized, that those tears were tears of happiness. Happiness, when she noticed how deeply I loved him. I smiled at her, not hiding my excitement for this marriage. I did not even think about hiding them, not even for a second.

Unlike others, I had no time to waste. My time was almost up and the death angels would soon come to get me. Not that I was afraid. I had accepted my fate already.

"Tsk.. My parents really know how to ruin my life. I have to marry you?" Myungsoo suddenly spat with a mocking tone . I turned to face him, but it was a mistake. His despising look made me feel sad and unwanted. It was nothing like I had imagined this to happen. I was prepared for the rejection, but I didn't know he's mock me as well.

I still smiled. Even though it was a weak smile, it was a smile that showed his parents that I didn't mind about it. It prevented them from interrupting or scolding him for something so small. "I'm really sorry that I don't appeal to you. Should I have worn something else instead?" I asked calmly, wanting to do better to please him. He snorted and grinned somehow evilly at me.

"Yes. Your dress should be shorter, your hair should have more curls in it and you should tie them. Make up.. Isn't your thing. You're ugly even with it, so don't use it." He said.

Then he rose up from his seat, not caring that he wasn't permitted to leave before everything would be settled. He bowed to my parents before he actually left the room without saying anything else. There was a long silence where we all stared at the door, the same door he had left open.

I almost followed him, wanting to apologize my ugly appearance that made him hate me. "I apologize on his behalf." His mother, Mrs. Kim said, looking really ashamed of her son's behavior. I looked at her and I couldn't help but to feel guilty as I knew this was all my fault.

I was the one who insisted this marriage. Just because that was the only wish I had. I did wish that he'd love me too, but I already knew that it wasn't possible. He would never return my unrequited love. I sighed so that they wouldn't see it, and plastered a smile on my face once again.

"It's okay, Mrs. Kim. It is my fault. My wish was too selfish to be fulfilled. I didn't realize to think about his feelings at all. This marriage was never meant to happen anyway. Maybe it's for the best if it never will." I said and rose from my seat. I bowed respectfully to my parents and to Myungsoo's parents before walking to the door myself.

I wanted to leave without hesitation, just like Myungsoo, but I just couldn't. If I would, it meant the deal was off and there was no wedding. I wasn't ready for that. Tears were already streaming on my face and I knew I was mean to cage Myungsoo against his free will.

"Jieun! Please don't go! We'll make it happen. You love him, don't you?" Myungsoo's mother asked me. I turned around, showing my teary face to them. They gasped in surprise, but I just smiled at them. Somehow I knew no one ever believed my smiles, but I couldn't show how much this all hurt me. Not to his parents or mine.

"I do. From the bottom of my heart, I love him." And I guess it won't ever change.