Chapter 2
Matchmaking day, H Hotel lobby.
Hyunsoo and Miran entered the hotel lobby.
Dressed in a pink-toned dress, high heels, and wearing makeup unlike her usual self, Hyunsoo looked bright and beautiful today.
“Hyunsoo.”
In front of the elevator heading to the VIP room, Miran called her softly. Hyunsoo pressed the up button and replied.
“Yes.”
“You know how much we’re counting on this match, don’t you? And how important is it?”
Of course, she knew. Even Chan-hyuk, usually cold and distant, had said to her.
[Make sure you make a good impression.]
That was how important this was.
Chan-hyuk had originally planned to attend the meeting too, but Jae-ha’s side requested to meet Hyunsoo alone, so he stayed behind. Miran would only accompany her this far, and Hyunsoo would go into the VIP room alone.
“Yes, I understand.”
Miran briefly placed a hand on Hyunsoo’s shoulder before letting go. The warmth lingered for a moment before fading. Today was an important day for Hyunsoo too.
“Our family’s future depends on you.”
Yes, Hyunsoo’s life depended on this meeting.
“Be sure to bring us good news.”
By ‘good news,’ Miran meant that the meeting would go well and lead to marriage. And this was something Hyunsoo hoped for too.
I’ll make sure this matchmaking succeeds. I’ll marry him.
Though she had once dreaded marriage, Hyunsoo changed her mind after hearing what Yoonkyung had told her about Jae-ha. This marriage might actually be an opportunity for her.
[Reporter Kwon Jae-ha said at the end of his lecture that his foreign correspondent assignment had been approved, and once preparations are done, he’ll be leaving the country.]
[A foreign correspondent?]
[He’ll be traveling around Europe and the Middle East for about three years, focusing on regions with ongoing terrorism or conflict. Those areas are constantly in the news.]
A man about to be posted overseas getting married?
[Why not use his correspondent assignment as an excuse to call off the wedding?]
At Yoonkyung’s suggestion, Hyunsoo shook her head.
[If I don’t marry him, my dad will just push another man at me.]
It would only change the partner, her reality of having to marry wouldn’t change.
[Why would Reporter Kwon Jae-ha want to get married now anyway? You’re still a student, and he’s about to leave the country.]
[…]
[He’s not seriously thinking of taking you along while covering dangerous things like terrorism, is he?]
[…]
[Then that means you’ll be apart as soon as you get married. Basically living alone, right?]
Living alone…!
That word pierced Hyunsoo’s ears and mind with striking clarity. Though usually used in a negative sense, it sounded incredibly positive to her.
Thump thump.
Her heart pounded, and a sense of hope began to fill her.
If she could live freely for the three years while her husband was away.
Just three years, but for Hyunsoo, who had never felt a single day of freedom, it was an incredible opportunity. After marriage, she wouldn’t have to live with her parents.
If she could finally do the things she had never been allowed to try under their suffocating watch…
If she could spend even a little time living how she wanted…!
“Hyunsoo, the elevator’s here.”
At some point, the elevator had arrived, and the doors opened. Miran gave her a look, signaling her to get on.
“Yes.”
Hyunsoo stepped into the elevator. As the doors slowly began to close, Miran gave her one last word of encouragement.
“Do well. We believe in you.”
Hyunsoo answered with a determined expression.
“Yes. I’ll make sure this marriage goes through.”
Of course.
Not for you.
But for me.
For my future.
***
Hyunsoo was surprised when Jae-ha entered the VIP room. Yoonkyung’s words about his looks hadn’t been a lie. He had a face that could easily have made him a news anchor or even an actor, rather than a reporter.
Tall, broad-shouldered, and solidly built, he lacked nothing.
“Hello, I’m Yoo Hyunsoo.”
Jae-ha’s long, double-lidded eyes looked at Hyunsoo with quiet intensity.
“I’m Kwon Jae-ha.”
Even his deep voice was so charming that Hyunsoo nearly gasped in awe. But that surprise didn’t last long, because as time passed, she had to be shocked for a very different reason.
“……”
“……”
Seated across from her, Jae-ha silently stared at Hyunsoo. For quite a long time.
Why isn’t he saying anything?
Hyunsoo’s straight posture began to ache, and her palms started to sweat. She carefully wiped them against her dress.
He probably doesn’t like me.
Getting Jae-ha to like her.
That was the first step toward marriage, toward freedom. But judging by his indifferent expression, it was clear he wasn’t interested.
What do I do? What should I say?
“Um…”
Unable to bear the silence any longer, Hyunsoo finally spoke. At the same moment, Jae-ha muttered, almost tossing the words out.
“You’re young. Really young.”
There was a sigh in his voice. Hyunsoo was flustered but tried not to show it.
“Yes, I suppose I might seem young since there’s a ten-year gap between us.”
For a moment, Jae-ha’s eyes flickered with disbelief before the look vanished.
“Hearing a ‘Mr. Jae-ha’ from such a young student feels strange.”
Hyunsoo bit her lip at the phrase ‘young student’ and then relaxed it.
First ‘young,’ now ‘young student.’
Jae-ha was clearly trying to decline the match.
No. I can’t let this happen.
Being rejected right after meeting, it couldn’t end like this. Hyunsoo thought she had to do something. Clenching her small fists, she looked straight at Jae-ha.
“Are you trying to reject me right now?”
She asked him directly. She planned to persuade him after hearing a clear answer. Though Jae-ha didn’t seem like someone who could be swayed, Hyunsoo had to try something.
“Yes. Let’s call off this marriage talk. I’m not a criminal, after all.”
Jae-ha stated his position firmly. The bluntness of it made Hyunsoo’s eyebrows twitch slightly.
“A criminal? No one said that.”
“No one did, but that’s how it feels to me.”
“Still…”
Jae-ha cut her off.
“Miss Yoo Hyunsoo.”
“Yes.”
“Do you even know how old I am?”
His tone was like that of an adult gently scolding a child. Offended, Hyunsoo replied stiffly.
“I heard you’re thirty.”
Jae-ha’s thick eyebrows twitched in disbelief.
“And even knowing that, you still came here quietly for this matchmaking meeting?”
To Hyunsoo, the word ‘quietly’ felt like a thorn, pricking her sharply.
“……”
When Hyunsoo said nothing, Jae-ha spoke again.
“At twenty, shouldn’t you be dating, not getting married? It’s the age for a boyfriend, not a husband.”
“……”
“There must be so many things you want to do. It’s the time to have fun.”
A surge of emotion.
His words, spoken so casually without knowing her circumstances, almost brought tears to her eyes. She wanted to lash out at him.
Don’t speak so easily when you don’t know anything!
But instead, Hyunsoo smiled gently. She couldn’t ruin everything just to vent her frustration. She had to persuade Jae-ha.
“I’ve never dated, but I want to get married. I want to spend as much time as I can with the person I’ll be with for life. If I marry early, I can do that, right?”
“Hm…”
Jae-ha furrowed his brows and nodded. Then he said.
“Unfortunately, that’s not a convincing argument to me.”
“……”
“You said you want to spend more time with the person you’ll be with forever. Then this marriage makes even less sense, doesn’t it?”
“……”
“You’re not in love with me, we just met today, right?”
Hyunsoo was speechless. What he said was completely true.
“Maybe you didn’t hear, but I’m about to leave the country as a foreign correspondent. Even if we get married, we won’t be living together.”
“……”
“What would you gain from a marriage like this? Aside from being called a married woman at such a young age? And that’s not even a great title to begin with.”
“……”
“So we’re really not a good match for marriage. Let’s not waste any more time. I’ll be leaving now.”
What?
No!
Jae-ha stood up. Hyunsoo jumped to her feet as well. She couldn’t let him walk away like this.
“Then why did you agree to the meeting?”
“……?”
“You’re about to leave the country, why did you agree to matchmaking in the first place?”
“I had my reasons. And I’m not obligated to explain them to you.”
His reasons.
What could they be?
Hyunsoo racked her brain. She couldn’t let him leave. She thought about what those ‘reasons’ might be.
Yes. Maybe.
He must have been forced to come too.
“You’re right. You don’t have to explain anything to me. But if you’re walking out after just a few minutes, it means you came here intending to reject me, right? You agreed to show up, but you didn’t want to get married.”
Her calm, pointed words clearly annoyed Jae-ha, and he didn’t bother hiding it.
“Are you interrogating me? I don’t know why you’re doing this, but fine, my answer to this matchmaking was a NO from the beginning.”
“You don’t even know me. But if you get to know me.”
“I’m not interested enough to get to know you. So go marry someone you actually want. Someone you truly love.”
Jae-ha turned and walked toward the door. His steps were firm and resolute.
I can’t let him go like this…!
Hyunsoo stomped her feet in frustration. If she let Jae-ha go now, she’d lose her only chance at freedom.
She couldn’t let that happen. She had to do something, anything, to stop him.
Whatever it took.
Just as Jae-ha placed his hand on the door, Hyunsoo shut her eyes tight and shouted,
“I love you!”
“……!”
“It was love at first sight!”
