"Dojin! Dojin!" Areum screamed as she barged inside Dojin's room.
"Just go away, Areum," Dojin groaned. He was already on the verge because his to-be wife Yeona along with her family was about to arrive at any minute and he was simply not prepared for it.
He let out a soft sigh as he stared at his reflection in the mirror. He was just lounging in his room when this sudden news came to him. After that, everything was in a whirlwind. The palace staff had swarmed his room because apparently, his mother had ordered them to prepare him for the formal meeting. To simply explain, his mother had ordered her best men to be with him because she knew the moment Dojin would get this information, he would try to run away.
Which he had tried by the way.
He had tried to get them distracted and had almost sneaked away from the palace when his stupid sister caught him in the act.
And here he was, dressed up, and waiting for his destiny to arrive.
Which was not going well either because of a certain someone who could not stop shouting at the top of her lungs.
"Dojin!" Areum slapped his shoulder to get his attention. "Are you even listening to what I am saying?"
"What?" Dojin snapped, rubbing the sore spot. He was frustrated enough. He did not need more of it. He just wanted the formal meeting to get over as soon as possible.
"I got a new maid!" Areum giggled happily. "She is so cute!"
"And?" Dojin looked at Areum with his eyebrows raised. "What do you want me to do?"
"Do not be so sour, brother!" Areum slapped the same spot again which made Dojin groan out loud in pain. Why in the world was his sister so strong?
"Anyways," Areum started with her beautiful smile plastered on her face. "She is so cute, brother. She has the biggest and brightest eyes I have ever seen! Her lips are shaped just like a heart and she has such soft cheeks. It makes me want to pinch it!" Areum babbled excitedly.
Even if Dojin had stopped listening to her description of this new maid, he was quite happy to see his sister this excited. It had been a long time since she looked this happy. After she came back from Canada, she was always silent. So, this change was welcomed.
"You must be happy," Dojin smiled fondly as he ruffled her hair. She groaned in annoyance as she complained about how long it took her to get this done but Dojin could care less. He was simply happy seeing his little sister smile.
But their happy moment ended when a butler knocked on his door. "Your Highness, his Majesty is looking for both of you. He has asked the two of you to come to the common guestroom." The butler informed politely and bowed slightly before he went away.
Areum got up from her seat and fixed her hair while Dojin sat there and stared at the wall. His heartbeat started to increase as his throat became dry. He was nervous and he was not going to lie about it. He let out a sigh and finally got up from his seat. He glanced at his reflection in the mirror once again and realized how pale he had become. But no matter what, he had to face it. This was his reality, his destiny.
There was no way out.
∞
When they finally arrived at the guest room, Dojin heard a silent gasp escape from Areum. Her reaction was questionable, but Dojin did not pay any heed to it. Both walked inside the room and took their seats when their mother, introduced them to Yeona and her family.
Dojin stared at Yeona.
The latter slowly looked up and their eyes met for a second before she looked down again. Dojin had to admit that Yeona looked better than what he had expected of her. She had big eyes, a round button nose, and heart-shaped lips. Her face was round, and her figure looked neither too slim nor too thick. Dojin could not deny the fact that she looked cute. But no matter what, Soomin was way prettier compared to her.
Dojin glanced at Areum and saw her staring at Yeona. He hid a laugh behind his hand and just continued to look outside the window.
"The Royal Engagement will be held within two weeks" his father announced happily. He sighed softly and looked down at his lap. The feeling of hopelessness and desperation started to fill his heart as his parents continued to speak. Why was he not getting married to the one he loved? Why did he have to marry this stranger? Why can't it be Soomin?
He felt like he was being tied to a heavy stone and thrown in an ocean. He felt like he was sinking deeper and deeper into something unknown. He wanted to get out of it desperately but at the same time he knew that there was no way out for him. There was no way out for them. He felt like he was going to ruin both of their lives because it was impossible for him to love anyone other than Soomin.
He was immersed in his thoughts when his mother announced the most traumatizing thing.
"And I wish Yeona to move in with us after the engagement," his mother had added happily. Wait…What? Dojin instantly looked at his mother, thoroughly shocked. He wanted to say something, wanted to complain against it but he knew that if he uttered a single word, he would get a reprimand. He glanced at Areum to monitor her expression and saw his sister looking rather pleased with the news.
What in the world was happening today? Why did his mother want Yeona to move in with them right after their engagement? He knew that Yeona had to move in once they were officially married but they still had time before that. So why was his mother in such a rush? He clasped his hands tightly as his gut started to twist in a weird motion. It was too early. It was just too early for everything. Why won't his mother give him some time to adjust? Why cannot she understand that both of them needed time to accept this?
Their parents were still discussing the rituals when Areum leaned close to whisper in his ear.
"I didn't know that my new maid was supposed to be your wife…" Areum whispered, her tone deceptively mocking.
"She is not your maid, Areum," Dojin answered back. He knew that Areum was aware that it was rude to whisper in front of guests, especially his future in-laws but the way she was getting on his nerves was amazing.
"Already feeling jealous?" Areum murmured, trying her best to not laugh.
"Will you shut up?" Dojin hissed back. He did not realize that his voice was loud enough for his father to notice. The conversation stopped midway and there was an awkward pause in the air. His father glanced in his direction with a warning look before clearing his throat and continuing the discussion.
Dojin let out an annoyed sigh and shot Areum a disdained look. The latter didn't even bat her eyelashes and continued to pretend as if she was genuinely interested in this discussion.
Jealous? Areum must be out of her mind to think such ridiculous thoughts. How can he be jealous about this girl when it was the first time, he met her? If it were Soomin, then that would have been understandable but that was not going to be possible. Cha Yeona could never become Shin Soomin.
"Anyways," Areum spoke once again. "She is so cute, right?" Areum sighed fondly and before Dojin could reply, an abrupt ring cut through the silence of the room.
He looked for the source and saw Yeona fishing out her phone as she apologized for the call before rushing off to pick it up.
"Isn't she so cute?" Dojin heard his mother coo and he could not help but wonder why everyone found her adorable. He let out another long-drawn sigh and continued to stare out of the window.
Dojin was on the verge of dozing off when he saw Yeona rushing inside the guest room. He could not help but notice how her face looked noticeably pale as beads of sweat were apparent on her forehead. She looked shocked but it is not like Dojin cared.
"Your Majesty," she bowed deeply before speaking. "My friend has been rushed into emergency. I really need to go. Will it be okay for me to leave?" she asked politely, her head bowed down.
"Not at all Yeona." His mother smiled fondly. "You must be there for your friend. I will inform the chauffeur to drop you off." His mother answered gently.
Dojin did not miss the hint of affection in her voice. So, it was happening. His family had already started to accept Yeona as their future daughter in law. He was really getting married to this woman.
He saw Yeona bid goodbye to everyone in the room before rushed off to god knows where without even glancing a second look at Dojin.
∞
As promised, the royal chauffeur dropped Yeona at the gate of Seoul National University Hospital. She thanked the driver profusely before rushing towards the emergency area and the only thought that went through her mind was Woobin. She really wanted to beat the older man up for disappearing like that only to reappear in a hospital bed. She reached the emergency ward, panting hard, and saw Jia standing near the gate. Her hair was a complete mess, and her clothes were dirty.
"Jia?" She called out to her anxiously and the said female looked in her direction, her expression frantic.
"Yeona!" Jia let out a sigh of relief as she pulled Yeona in a tight hug. Yeona could clearly feel Jia's body trembling in fear. She rubbed her back and tried to ease the tension she held within her. "Are you okay?" she asked Jia and the latter replied with a smile.
"Where is he?" Yeona asked, looking inside the ward as she tried to spot him.
They made their way through the ward and at the last bed lay Woobin, unconscious.
"What happened?" Yeona asked as she brushed Woobin's greasy hair. "He looked fine last night."
Jia let out a sigh and sat beside her. "I do not know, to be honest," Jia explained, her gaze focused on the unconscious man. "Found him in the astronomy auditorium, passed out. Doctor said malnutrition and stress..." Jia looked down at her hands.
Yeona felt a pang in her heart as she looked at Woobin. His mother had requested her to look after the older man and she had promised but look at her now. She clearly forgot to look after him. It was her fault that Woobin was laying here. She let out a sigh and leaned back in her seat as she waited for him to wake up.
∞
After three hours, Woobin stirred up from his sleep.
He scanned his surroundings, his eyes albeit blurry, and saw that he was lying in a hospital bed with an IV attached to his hand. Soon, his eyes found Yeona and he let himself smile.
"You are an idiot." Yeona grumbled as she eyed him. She let out a sigh before straightening up in her seat as she reached for Woobin's forehead and brushed off the stray strands from his face. "You should have taken care of yourself. I'm not going to be here forever," Yeona said as she held Woobin's hand tightly.
Pain seared through his whole body when he heard Yeona say those words. Woobin knew that Yeona could not stay with him forever. He knew that once she gets married, Yeona would leave him eventually and this thought alone terrified him.
Woobin was terrified to be replaced in Yeona's life when the latter had taken up such a big space in his.
"I will have to leave the dorm right after the engagement," Yeona announced with a sigh.
Woobin looked at her, a little taken aback. "What do you mean, Yu?" he asked, his tone panicky.
He was not ready yet. Woobin was not ready yet to face a life without Yeona. He could not even imagine how he had lived his life before he met her. It was too early. They had just announced the news today so how can they ask her to move in this quick? Panic started to rise within him as he looked desperately at Yeona.
"Her Majesty wanted me to move in with them, I don't know why…" Yeona shrugged as she let out a sigh.
Woobin let out a sigh and looked down at his hands. He felt tears pricking his eyes, but he kept it in. He could not, he should not show his emotions. He had to keep it in to not trouble Yeona further than she already was. Of course, they would want her to move in with them. She was a commoner after all. She had to learn all the etiquettes of the royal family if she was going to be one of them. Of course, he should have known.
"Promise me something," Yeona told, clasping his hands tightly. "Promise me that you will look after yourself when I'm gone," Yeona said with pleading eyes.
It took everything in Woobin to not ask her that if he did not, will it make her stay? But he knew that no matter what he said, he would not be able to make Yeona stay beside him.
So, he put on his best smile and said, "I will, Yu. I'm a grown man after all."
Yeona shook her head as she let out a hearty chuckle.
If only Yeona knew, how irrevocably Woobin was in love with her. If only she knew, how much it was killing Woobin to send Yeona away. If only Yeona knew that Woobin wanted her to stay.
If only she knew.
If only.
∞
The two weeks passed in a rush as the date of the Royal Engagement neared.
The whole palace was brimming with a festive mood and even Dojin's great grand grumpy grandma looked joyful. Everyone was enjoying the festive mood but Dojin felt like the only person who hated this. And not to mention, Areum too. She moped around the house in her pajamas because apparently, her cute little maid was her soon to be sister-in-law. Every time she saw Dojin, she just grumbled about how much she hated the Dojin.
Under no circumstances, could he ever understand just what exactly goes through her brain for her to act like this? Did she hit her head or something? He could never understand her weird antics.
"I do not understand Areum," Dojin announced, clearly frustrated. He was sitting on the outside study spots with Soomin. His class had just ended when Soomin had texted him to meet up so that they could hang out. And as usual, their conversation had flowed and here he was, complaining about his sister's weird antics.
Soomin chuckled at his expression and said "Areum is just affected by Yeona's cuteness,"
"Don't mention her name," Dojin mumbled, evidently miffed. He had been hearing that name straight for the past two weeks and he was so ticked off by it, that the next someone who uttered that name was going to get buried alive by him.
"Why? Oh, look...There's Yeona," Soomin beamed and pointed at the girl who was walking with another man. They looked so engrossed in their conversation that she did not even notice Dojin sitting right across her. The other man said something which made Yeona laugh boisterously. Dojin looked at them sceptically and noted how loud she was. Another reason why she was not suited to be his wife.
Yeona walked away with that guy as Soomin looked at her disappearing back with a fond smile.
"Who was that guy?" Dojin asked curiously as he kept eyeing the two-disappearing figures.
"That's Woobin, one of her friends. He is an astronomy major." Soomin informed and turned towards him with a smile. "Yeona is nice girl, Dojin. You're lucky." Soomin patted his back encouragingly as she laughed beautifully.
Yeona might be a nice girl but for Dojin, Soomin was the best. If only Soomin knew how much Dojin loved her. If only Soomin knew that she was the one that Dojin wanted to marry. If only Soomin knew that Dojin wanted her to stay.
If only she knew.
If only.