Say Yes to me
summary: You've been in love with Jeon Wonwoo since forever, and due to your family relations, you had hopes you'd marry him. Your only problem? he's getting engagement to someone else.
or
During his Engagement party, your childhood best friend and love of your life, Jeon Wonwoo, asks you to run away with him.
pairing: 1960s!AU - Childhood bestfriend! Wonwoo x F!Reader
word count: 10k (45~ minute read) â My longest ever!
warnings: unrequited crushes and overall foolishness, idiots in love, best friends to lovers to not lovers to lovers again, some angst?, Wonwoo is such a nerd, making out in dingy motels, unrealistic mileage for gasoline, seokmin being the sweetest
a/n: This will most certainly be my last fic of the year! So, Happy Holidays everyone! This year has been so troublesome, but I've grown so much and written a lot more, too! I'm so, so grateful for everyone I've met and everyone that's enjoyed my stuff! See you in 2024!
Had you been questioned, there would never be a concrete answer to the question of just how long you had been in love with Jeon Wonwoo.Â
Youâd know him forever, and maybe you loved him all along.
Your families were business partners turned friends. And there had always been talk of marriage between the children. Of course, for convenience. The Jeonâs produced top-class racing and sports cars, while your family were in the chemical business, specialising in industry paints and finishes, it was only natural to unite the two families and profit.Â
Although your wealth was vast, it was nothing compared to the Jeonâs, despite always having the chance to frequent the same environments, you often found you were on different levels altogether.Â
Jeon Wonwoo was the eldest son, and he carried himself as such â with all the poise and arrogance of the heir to a global conglomerate. He liked golfing and late night swims. Always took his coffee black with no sugar, and barely had anything for breakfast, preferring a hearty lunch instead.Â
His younger brother, Lee Seokmin, was the result of an affair with a secretary, though that did not mean he was loved any less, no. Seokmin lacked a single mean bone in his body, he had a pure heart and a contagious laugh. Â
They were by all means what people liked to call Irish Twins, born less than a year apart. And the nature of that fact only made their differences more apparent. Complete opposites they were, and that extended to how they treated you, too.Â
Every summer growing up, your family would travel to the country house and you and your sister would spend the better part of the months at the club. Oh, how you loved the country club with the fun summer activities the clear chlorinated water, having a meal under the pool umbrellas and getting funny tan lines.Â
But most of all, you enjoyed Jeon Wonwoo.
His family frequented the same club and every summer, youâd be practically glued to Wonwoo, even if he didnât dare to pay you any attention.
You were only three years apart, yet he acted as if you were an immature brat. Seokmin had always been happy to play with you and your sister, though.Â
More often than not, Wonwoo would lounge by the pool with a book, never daring to go in. And you would cross your arms over tile by the sides and try your damnedest to strike a conversation with him. He would ignore your every word, or worse, poke fun at your latest obsession.Â
âWonwoo, at what time where you born?â You ask, spitting out any chlorine filled water off your mouth.Â
He arches an eyebrow, looking up from his book.
âWhat?â
âWhat time were you born?â You repeat, unbothered by his acidic tone.
âWhy would I know that?â
âCanât you ask your mum?âÂ
He rolls his eyes, âWhy do you wanna know?â
âSo I can see your birth chart,â You shrug, twirling a wet strand of hair around your finger.Â
âThe fuck is a birth chart?â
âItâs like⌠Itâs a way to see your personality⌠And I can check to see if weâre compatible.â
âThatâs stupidâŚâ He rolls his eyes, again, âYouâre stupid.âÂ
You scoff, âYou wonât play alongâ Youâre such a bore!â You yell out and dive back in the pool, leaving behind a cackling Wonwoo.Â
Those hapless summer days were spent lazing by the pool with your sister and Seokmin â without a care in the world, laughing about nothing. With the isolated water-balloon fight every now and then.Â
Youâd grown up before you could realise it, never truly leaving behind your childish crush on Wonwoo. Even if by the age hierarchy, you had no chance of marrying him â Your sister were to marry Wonwoo and you possibly married Seokmin.Â
Though you held hope, it crumbled away with every passing minute.Â
But that year, your sister had the greatest early birthday present: Sheâd found the man she was to marry and best of all, your daddy could never say no to his girls.Â
With your sister marrying the love of her life, it meant that you would marry Wonwoo, right? It was only a matter of time and you would be sworn to each other before God, your friends, and family. And your first love would blossom.Â
On your 21st birthday, your father took you to work with him for the day, though you most lazed around and answered his calls. You only expected to have lunch for your birthday and a party on the weekend.
At noon, he drove to the Jeonâs factory to deliver the new paint samples.Â
The workers, most of whom had watched you, your sister and the Jeon kids grow up, greet you excitedly and some even wish you happy birthday. Your father goes straight to the floor to speak to the manager.
Unexpectedly, Mr. Jeon himself shows up.
Mr. Jeon was a handsome old man a captivating smile, he was incredibly passionate about his work and adored mechanics, but he loved his sons above all â And he had great expectations for his boys.Â
He greets you with a warm hug and wishes you a happy birthday before discussing business with your father. To which you busy yourself with staring at the pieces waiting for a coat of paint.
âHey, baby, why donât you come with us to the patio?â Your father calls and you oblige, skipping toward the two men.
The patio is where they stored their models waiting to be shipped out to agencies or sometimes, for the higher profile clients, directly to the customer. You look at the new line to be launched next winter: sleek and modern with leather seats and wooden accents on the interior. You could never criticise the Jeonâs for their taste, they knew their stuff.Â
âCome here, baby,â Your father waves his hands, âWhat do you think of this car?âÂ
You study the convertible in a bright red with a cream leather interior; a classic.Â
âItâs gorgeous, daddy, when are they launching it?â
âIt should be out next year, but what do you think of the colour?â
âI like it,â You nod enthusiastically.
âThatâs great baby, why donât you read up on this model?â He hands you a tiny card, common in the factory, that has the model and batch number, as well as the signature from the supervisor. But just underneath the model, you see the colour name: your name.
As you look at your father, completely astonished, he just lets out a warm laugh and opens his arms for a hug.
âYou named a shade after me?!â You glue yourself to him, still in shock.Â
âHappy birthday, princess.âÂ
âThank you, daddy, youâre the best!âÂ
âThatâs your dadâs present, how about you open mine, now?â Mr. Jeon interjects, waving a tiny jewelry box in the air.Â
You fix your hair and take it from his hand, expecting maybe a ring, or earrings.Â
But you find brand new car keys.
Mouth agape, you look at him while your father can only laugh at your surprised expression.
âWhy donât you give it a spin?â Mr. Jeon encourages, rushing you toward the convertible.Â
And though your father is beside himself with worry for you driving during rush hour, he settles for sitting in the passengerâs seat and doing some good old backseat driving, even though you barely make it past 30.
You drive around the block and return to the factory before your father has an anxiety attack over your driving.Â
âThank you so much, Mr. Jeon! When did you even do this?! I had no idea!â
âWonwoo oversaw the whole thing, heâs the one you should thank,â He laughs it off, but your heart can only skip a beat at the mention of your belovedâs name. Especially thinking he was the one to take care of such a great gift.
Wonwoo loved mechanics as much as his dad, sometimes even more. He even went to a good college for it, coming back even smarter than before â and much sassier, too. He never stopped doing manual work in the factory, guaranteeing every car made was up to the Jeon standard.
And you were very biased toward his mechanic abilities, especially when he would furrow his brow, glasses perched on the very tip of his nose; he would wipe off sweat off his forehead with his grease covered arm.Â
You remember to this day the last time your father came to discuss swatches and you stopped by the shop. Watching Wonwoo work on an older model with a leaky oil tank.Â
He did everything himself, changed the tank perched under the car, soldering a brand new one. He also did a once over on anything else that could become a problem in the future, any filters needing change, checking wires and gears, making sure the oil was fresh. The problem came with the lights. He had such a hard time wiggling his thick arms through the machinery to reach the right spot, and you watched very intently how his triceps flexed, deep green veins bulging under his skin.
Wonwoo had gotten so frustrated heâd shed off the top part of his coveralls, sporting a white undershirt so tight you could basically tell the shape of his sweat-clad torso. Oh, how youâd hoped he never got that bulb in place.
âComeâere,â Wonwoo calls out without further ado.Â
âWhy?â
âNeed your help,â He mumbles under a sigh.
You rise from the barrel you were sitting on and approach the open hood. âWith what?â
âGetting this fuckinâ bulb in place,â He hands you the tiny light bulb.
âWhere do I need to put it?â
âSeeâ in between this part, need to shove you hand until you reach back here in the light, then you just screw it in.â
âWhat if I get stuck?âÂ
âYou wonât, youâre so petite,â He smirks.
You scoff, âShut up.â
Leaning over the hood, you place your left hand on the chassis to steady yourself and shove your right hand in between gears and machinery, trying to find the spot he mentioned.
âI canât find it,â You complain.
âKeep trying.â
âI am!â
âHere, deeperââ He reaches for you, one hand on your waist and another on your arm, forcing you toward the place.
Youâre way too focused on finding the damn spot for the light, that you barely notice the proximity at all.Â
âCanât find it!â
âRight, rightâ My right.â
âItâs the same freakinâ right, you idiot,â You hiss.
He laughs, âFine, our right,â you groan at his stupid joke, âIt should be there, try to bring it closer to you.âÂ
âFound it!â You squeal with a smile, screwing the bulb in its place.Â
âAtta girl,â Wonwoo smiles.Â
âThere!â With a relieved sigh, you finally free your grease-clad hand from the machinery, slightly cringing at the black covering your fingernails â Itâd be such a bother to clean it up.Â
When you finally lean back, you stumble onto Wonwooâs firm chest. Lucky for you, he catches you, steady hold at your waist. Youâre finally aware of his proximity, to which he only smiles.Â
Looking down at where his warm, tauntingly large hands meet your waist, youâre suddenly filled with nothing but rage. â
âYou got grease all over my dress!â You whine, looking at the perfectly stamped print of his hand over your brand new summer dress.Â
He only laughs, âLooks better this way, trust me.â
âUgh!â You groan, stomping toward the washing area where they kept clean rugs.Â
He closes the hood with a loud thump that echoes through the shop and slides into the driverâs seat. The car comes alive with a loud hum and ta-da! The headlight works.Â
You are a little proud of your work, yes. But itâs not like youâll show it.
âDo you not anything clean in here?!â You complain, eyeing the pile of grease-covered rags thrown in a corner. That had to be a fire hazard.
âWhat?â Wonwoo shouts over the running engine.
You huff and stomp your way back to the car, throwing open the driverâs door. âI have a formal dinner to go to,â You state, leaning over the door.
âOkay, then go.âÂ
Rolling your eyes, you hold back any possible insults, âLike this?â You gesture toward your otherwise perfectly fine dress.Â
He holds back a little mischievous smile, âI have some clean clothes in the office.â
Wide eyes, mouth hanging agape, you stare at him dumbfound, âI hope thatâs a joke, Jeon Wonwoo.âÂ
He laughs, genuinely. That sweet, deep, dorky laugh of his that reverberates through his chest and plunges straight into your heart.Â
âCome on, Iâll drive you home.â
As much as he did tease you, Wonwoo never made short on his promises.Â
âIs he around?â You ask Mr. Jeon, trying your best to suppress any expectations.
âOh, he had some business⌠But he wished you a happy birthday.â
Your smile falters before your catch it, forcing the corners of your lips into a beautiful, rehearsed smile. âLet him know Iâm grateful. For the wishes and for the amazing present.â
It would soon be Wonwooâs birthday and you had been preparing for what felt like ages. You got him a really nice set of electric work tools since he complained often about how the shopâs tools were always malfunctioning. But you did feel somewhat bad about only getting him a gift relating to work on what should be a day about him.Â
So you caved in and got him a gorgeous wrist watch with classy black leather straps; on the underside you had his name inscribed with a heart. â You actually hadnât planned for the heart, but the jeweller got confused in between so many orders and it was too close to the date to have it re-done. You hoped you could play it off in a cool manner, maybe he would laugh at your story.
The party would be held the eve of his actual birthday, and you arrived at the venue with hours to spare. Your father and sister are by the entrance, speaking to Mr. Jeon, you greet them.
âHi, Mr. Jeon! Where should I put the gifts?â
âOhââ Surprised, he looks at your father, âYouâve brought giftsââ He seems⌠surprised? As if it were so weird to bring presents to a birthday party. âUhâ Iâm not sure, let me check with my wife where you could place those.â
You father nervously sips on his champagne, avoiding your sisterâs burning looks.
âYou havenât told her,â Your sister turns to your father, âWhy didnât you tell her?â
âTell me what?â You ask.
âHoney⌠This isnât Wonwooâs birthday partyâŚâ Your father speaks very slowly, gauging for your reaction at his every word.
Eyebrows raised, you question, âWhat do you mean?â
âItâs an engagement party, heâs getting engaged to Suzy,â Your sister rips the band-aid off.
And you feel the air being sucked out of your lungs at once, an agonising knot pulls at your throat and your nose stings with the threat of tears. The shopping bags fall from your hands and you fight off the urge to bawl your eyes out.Â
Before you actually do cry your eyes out, you rush outside.
âBabyââ Your father calls but you just storm off, not wanting to be near anyone.Â
Engaged? Engaged!
EngagedâŚ
Wonwoo was getting fucking engaged.Â
With a bitch named Suzy who had the prettiest hair youâd ever seen and knew how to talk to investors and could speak a thousand languages. And worst of all, she was the kindest, sweetest girl ever. You couldnât even hate her!
You werenât even allowed that! As much as you werenât allowed a simple heads up. How hard was it to tell you beforehand âHey, the guy youâve loved your entirely life is getting married to some girl and you just brought lemon pies to his engagement party, thought youâd want to know.â
Maybe you shouldâve taken the pies with you, at least youâd have some comfort.Â
You know what, what the fuck. Why didnât Wonwoo tell you anything?! It had been barely a couple of days since you saw each other, why couldnât he tell you? Were you not even worthy of that?Â
Like having known each other your entire lives doesnât make you worthy of such âwonderfulâ news? How hard is it to tell someone in passing that youâre getting engaged! And now, youâre supposed to smile all night and pretend like your guts arenât festering in rage and melancholy and your blood doesnât run cold at the mere thought of Wonwoo walking down the aisle.
Giving it a second thought, maybe it wasnât set in stone yet.Â
Itâs the modern times and even back in your parentsâ days, engagements were broken off all the time! He might not marry Suzy. You might have a chance.Â
Maybe you could askâ no, you could plead with your father to tell Mr. Jeon to think it all over. Wonwoo is still young, itâs not time to settle down just yet. He wanted to study abroad, he talked about the automobile industry in Europe with such amaze, and if that took a little longer, maybe Suzy would get tired of waiting?
Who were you fooling? You shouldâve seen it coming.
Of course, he wouldnât have married you, what were you thinking?!
Heâs the Jeonâs precious firstborn and youâre⌠someone who canât even tell apart the sizing in wrenches â To top it all off, Suzy was notably great with mechanics.Â
You really wish you had those pies with you, it would make your salty tears a little sweeter.
By the time youâre done sobbing in your car, you look a hot mess with runny make-up and swollen eyes. With a sigh, you pull out your purse and muster up any cosmetics that can save you for tonight.Â
You could cry all you wanted at home, but right now, you needed to look pretty and have your pictures taken.
By the time you return, the party is to start and guests are gathering at the front, your sister immediately rushes to your side.
âAre you okay?â she whispers, soft hands reaching for yours.Â
Forcing out a smile, âOf course! Who do you think I am?â
By the look on her face, you know she doesnât trust your words not one bit, but will not pry at your emotions any further. At least not for tonight, youâre sure tomorrow she will grill you about this. But for now, you put on a bright smile and greet all the guests.
From the Jeonâs, Seokmin is the third to arrive, missing only by the birthday boy himself. But he immediately greets his parents and comes to greet your family.
âHey!â You smile, putting aside your glass of champagne so you can hug him properly.
âHow you doinâ?â He asks, gorgeous smile on display.Â
âIâmâ Wellââ
âTheyâve told you thenââÂ
You press your lipstick coloured lips into a thin line, âYeah,â You nod.
âShit.â
âYeah,â You shrug, âIâm happy, Suzy is⌠aââ Nice words. Nice words. ââwonderful girl.â
Seokmin offers you a sweet smile. âLetâs hope she can handle his tantrums,â he nudges at your arm.
âOh, please!â You laugh.
Wonwoo was known for sometimes having a bit of a short temper, not often, by any means and maybe thatâs what made them so memorable. Like the one time he couldnât finish a puzzle during game night, so he gathered all the pieces and set the ablaze in the backyard.
âOrââ A waiter passes by with a tray full of champagne and he so kindly grabs two glasses, offering you one. âListen to thisâ He gets to the church, covered in grease from head to toe.âÂ
You laugh at the thought. Gods, how many times has Wonwoo decided to work on an engine while wearing his most expensive outfit? His mother nearly had a fit every time he would show up dishevelled and smelling like motor oil pretending like nothingâs wrong.Â
âPlease,â You sip at your drink, âI bet heâs gonna be all greased up tonight.â
Seokmin laughs wholeheartedly. He was the sort of guy to never hold back a fit of giggles no matter how inappropriate it may be, and it was certainly refreshing to know someone genuinely found your company enjoyable.
âFor sure, I think her parents will freak out.âÂ
You nod.Â
Tapping at your glass, you hesitate the following words, âGuess weâll be the ones getting married for the family, thenâŚâ
You didnât hate Seokmin, far from it. You loved him to bitsâ Not like Wonwoo, of course, you believed you would never love a man like you loved Wonwoo, ever again.Â
He was funny, and such a gentleman. Not to mention, handsome, too. If you werenât hopelessly in love with his brother, he wouldâve been the perfect husband of your dreams. But he did deserve better than a wife who could never give him what he deserves.Â
âSorry about that,â Seokmin comforts you and that only makes your nose sting with the threat of more tears.
âStooop!â You whine in a shaky voice and heâs overcome with worry.
âHeyâ Whatâs wrongâ?â
âDonât be so sweetâ Iâm emotional tonightââ You laugh at your emotional state, despite the teary-eyes.
âAre you a crybaby tonight?â
You nod, fanning your eyes in the hope of drying your tears before they can wash away your makeup.
Seokmin smiles, wrapping an arm around your shoulder and you lean against his chest, fighting the urge to cry.
Itâs only when youâre certain you wonât bawl your eyes out, that you respond. âItâs not that I hate you, you know I love you, but⌠You deserve someone that will love you like a husband.âÂ
He nods, âI knowâ But it might not be so bad, weâre friends! Weâll have sleepovers every day, and weâll have Italian every night, weâll watch those silly movies you likeâŚâ Seokmin lists off all the things you would do in your very platonic marriage and it doesnât sound so bad.Â
He knew exactly how you felt, he loved you, of course he did, you were so precious in his eyes, but not like a lover.Â
You pull your face away from his chest to look up at him, âAre you gonna let me choose your clothes?âÂ
Seokmin sighs. You hated his questionable fashion since forever and in only very rare occasions did he accept your input, any other time and he assaulted your spirit with clashing patterns and silly shoes.
âFineâ!âÂ
You smile brightly, properly comforted.Â
Before you can tease him any further, you spot Wonwoo entering the venue. Although he is immediately swarmed with congratulatory words, his shy nature makes it so his only response is always an awkward smile.Â
He immediately spots you among the crowd.
You breathe in. In that moment, despite knowing he was sworn to another, that did not stop your heart from fluttering at the sight of him, his broad shoulders and the crooked tie he clearly put on a rush.
âCongrats, bro!â Seokmin is the first one to greet him, not letting go of your shoulder but instead pulling Wonwoo into a semi-hug.Â
âSeokminâŚâ Wonwoo eyes his brother and then you, and then his brother again.
âCongrats, Nonu,â You smile, letting go of Seokminâs comfort to reach for a hug.Â
Wonwoo smiles, letting you cling onto his neck, your citric perfume seeping into his clothes and body.Â
Oh, how his warmth could never compare to another. How you craved his affection like no other.Â
âThanksâ Uh, did you bring me anything?â He asks in a teasing tone.
âEyâ Nonu!â Seokmin scolds his brother.Â
âHow did you know I brought you something?â You giggle, pulling away from the hug.Â
Wonwoo shrugs.Â
You reach for his crooked tie, straightening it to the best of your abilities. âI brought it earlier, but I think your mum took it to the back room,â You explain, focused on the tie.
He, however is focused on your concentrated face, parted red lips and furrowed brows. The proximity that lets him almost feel your chest pressed against his, as if extending the hug.Â
âHowever, you, mister, have to greet your guests!â You scold, setting his tie in place.
Seokmin joins in, once again throwing his arm around your shoulder. âThatâs right, mum already gave me an earful about how late you wereâ And I got here on time!âÂ
âYeahâ Yeahâ Youâre right,â Wonwoo nods.
âLiquid courage?â You offer your half-drunk glass of champagne and he downs it in one go.
You and Seokmin goof around a little more and gossip about certain guests behind their backs. Dinner is served and you all sit down to eat, Seokmin insists you sit beside him, which just so happens to also be next to Wonwoo. And you thank him for indulging you one last time.
Wonwoo is mostly quiet, but you were used to him not being rather fond of public parties, especially when all of the attention is on him. On his other side, sits Suzy, the blushing bride-to-be. She tries to make conversation with Wonwoo, though most of it falls flat, he only ever gives her monosyllabic answers and rarely contributes to discussions.Â
That is until Mr. and Mrs. Jeon stand up, tapping forks to their glasses to call for everyoneâs attention. The room quiets down instantly.Â
âLadies and gentlemen, thank you for attending our little gathering tonight,â Mr Jeon greets the guests. âWe have some wonderful news we would like to share with you all.âÂ
âMy beautiful son, how proud I am of you,â He adds, âEvery day I am amazed at your intellect. Often, I question just where did you get those smarts!â
Everyone laughs.
âYou have grown into a fine man, and I canât take credit for any of it. You are the most mature, talented, and intelligent boy and you did it all by yourselfâ â
You can watch how Wonwooâs eyes gloss over with tears.Â
âIâm growing old, you know. And every father wants the guarantee that his children will be taken care of⌠Thatâs why Iâm so relieved and happy to announce that my worries will soon be goneââ He laughs but his sonâs smile falters, âIâd like to announce the engagement of my son, Wonwoo, to this beautiful young lady named Suzanne. Welcome to the family, Suzy.âÂ
He raises his glass and soon, the room fills with uproar. Everyone claps and you join in, smiling toward Mr. Jeon and Suzy. She stands up, thanking everyone and raising her own glass.
But Wonwoo doesnât move.Â
âNonu?â You whisper.Â
In his ears all that can be heard is muffled screams of joy and the incessant acute ringing. He closes his fists so tight that his blunt nails almost break through skin, he doesnât look at you, but itâs so clear something is wrong.
You and Seokmin exchange glances.Â
Before you can call for him again, he stands up at once, the chair falling behind him with a loud bang that silences the room in an instant. In large and rushed strides, Wonwoo leaves for the patio.Â
You stand up and follow him.Â
âWonwoo!â You call out, almost tripping over your party heels.Â
He stands in the yard, hand gripping at his gelled hair while the other fights with his tie, pulling at the suffocating fabric until it slides down.
The yard is decorated with a gorgeous fountain, sound of running water somewhat soothing in this moment.
âNonu, whatâs wrong?â You whisper, a hand reaching for his heaving shoulder.
âWhat wrong?!â He yells back, shoving your hand away, âDid you not fuckinâ hear âem?!âÂ
You step back and his gaze somewhat softens, realising he just pushed you.
âYou didnât knowâŚâ You whisper to yourself, epiphany hitting you like a punch to the gut. How could Mr. Jeon do this?! Throw this on him without any previous warning?!
âYouâ You knew?â His voice is shaky, laced with the sharp sting of betrayal.
âI found it out myself tonight when I got hereâ Iâ I thought you knew! I thought you agreed to it!â You argue.Â
âHowâ How can you think I would agree to marry someoneââ His words trail off in the night breeze, never to be finished.Â
âThenâ What will you do?â
âI donât know!âÂ
You bite at your nails, finding a concrete surface to sit on and ponder.Â
âI must leaveââ He speaks out, âRun away with meââ
âWhat?!â you stand up.
âLetâs leave, drive somewhereâ Wherever! I canât stay a moment longer in this place.âÂ
Oh, what a dilemma it was.
Abandon an engagement party with the groom-to-be, leaving behind furious parents and confused guests. And part of you knew that, despite your familyâs closeness and no matter how much your father claimed you were all very close like family, driving off in the middle of the night with a committed man was a blow to any respectable, single, young ladies.
What a dilemma it couldâve been if you werenât so enamoured with this man you would beck at any given call of his.
âIâll get my bag and tell your parents you want to stay out here for a couple of minutes,â You announce and he nods.
As you walk back into the venue, all eyes are on you.
âHeâs got the wedding jitters, everyone, not to worry. Wonwoo will return after heâs had a bit of fresh air,â You announce with a smile and all guests return to their previous activities.
But Mr. Jeon immediately corners you.
âWhat is he thinking?!â He half-yells, half-whispers.
âHeâs just nervous, itâs a big bit of newsâŚâ You lie through your teeth, âI think a little heads up wouldâve helped, you know he doesnât do well with surprises.â
The man sighs, âHe wouldnât ever agree to it. Iâve offered him countless girls to marry and he never accepts any of them.â Mr. Jeon looks at you and then sighs. âDo me a favour, convince him to come back, will you?â
âYes, sir,â You nod and head off into the back rooms.
Unbeknown to you, Seokmin is on your trail and he waits until you are in the back lounge, gathering your bags and jacket to close the door and corner you.
âWhat the hell happened?â
You jump at the sudden intrusion, âYou scared me!â You whisper.
âSorry,â He whispers back.
âHe didnât know!â
âWhat?!â He says in a normal tone, soon realising just how loud that was.Â
âWhat I said, I think your dad set up a trap⌠He knows Wonwoo wonât go against his word.â
âShit. What are we gonna do?â
âHe wants to run away,â You announce.
Seokmin looks at you, and then at the purse hanging from your should and the jacket in your hands.Â
âAnd youâre coming with him?â
âI canât leave him alone, not tonight.â
âAnd where are you going?â
âI donât know,âÂ
âAnd when are you coming back?â
âI donât know.â
âYou are coming back, right?â
âI have no idea, Seokmin,â You realise, but the prospect doesnât scare you as badly.
He scratches at his head. âLeave through the kitchen, Iâll hold off my dad. Make sure to give me a call once you guys are⌠I donât knowâ Just give a call, will you?âÂ
You nod, pulling him into a hug.
Doing as he instructed, you pass through the kitchen staff and rush through the backdoor, unseen by the guests. Wonwoo is sitting on a concrete bench, his head between his hands.
âReady?â You call out.
Wonwoo looks up, nodding before he rises to his height. You offer him a comforting smile and reach for his hand.Â
Once you get hold of his hand, you bolt across the yard toward the parking lot. He almost stumbles over his lanky legs, but catches up rather fast. You throw your stuff on the backseat and enter your car, Wonwoo decides to jump over the door.Â
You laugh at his antics with a shake of your head.Â
Once your heels are discarded, you start the engine and drive off, leaving behind that dreaded engagement party. Wonwoo busies himself with shedding his formal wear, throwing his tie on the floor and removing his blazer.Â
In any other occasion, this couldâve been such a lovely late-night drive, just the two of you in your beloved car, night breeze caressing your faces with her ice-cold kisses, cruising through deserted roads, barely a soul in sight except for the night owls.
And you might allow yourself to enjoy this moment.
The silence isnât a bother, no, Wonwoo was always a man of comfortable silences to you, but this once, youâre worried about goes on in that busy mind of his.
âYou alright?â You ask, looking away from the road to steal a glance or two at him.
âYeah,â He replies.
âTruly?â
âNo,â He scoffs at his own lie. âBut Iâll be.â
You nod.Â
You drive out of town and on the interstate roads for ages until Wonwoo finally speaks up. Youâre completely engulfed in darkness except for your headlights.
âWe should stop soon and have a rest.â
âOkay,â You nod, âAny preferences?â
âAnywhere.âÂ
And so you tell him to keep his eyes peeled open when a sign on the road says there should be a motel in the next couple KM. It doesnât take too long before youâre pulling into the parking lot of a roadside motel, much of a far-cry from your expensive hotels and luxury living.Â
You check in at the front desk with an old man who seems very unhappy with his life, he short of throws the keys your way.Â
The room is⌠surprisingly nice, given the circumstances of the ambience. Only problem is the, although quite large, singular bed. You exchange glances.
âShit,â Wonwoo curses, âIâm gonnaÂ
âYou wanna get hit?â You joke, âHeâs minutes away from killing us over this room. We can just share the bed.â
He looks at you with wide eyes. âIâll sleep in the tub.â
Oh, he certainly seems to hate the idea of sharing a bed with you, huh.
âNonu, please, itâs late and weâre both tired. It will be just like when we were kids,â You explain, setting aside your stuff.
Wonwoo nods, sitting on the strangely comfortable bed.
âYou think they have robes?â You ask, looking around.
âWouldnât bet on it.âÂ
âOh, Iâd kill to get out of this dress,â You whine, running to the bathroom to check for anything you could wear instead of your dress.Â
He just bites at his lips, watching you pace from side to side in that tiny bedroom.Â
Thatâs when you remember your forgotten shopping bags sitting in the trunk! Your compulsive shopping habits just saved you from a very uncomfortable nightâs sleep, how convenient!
âI think I have some clothes in my car,â You announce, grabbing the keys and heading toward the door.
âWait, youâre going by yourself? let me go with you.â
âI donât wanna lock the door, though,â You whine.
He sighs, âStay here, Iâll go.âÂ
You jump, âThank you, Nonu!â
While Wonwoo rummages through your trunk and pulls out the surprising large amount of shopping bags, you shed off your clothes and head toward the bathroom, dying to get some hot water on your body, put on your new PJs and doze off.Â
When he returns however, he is greeted by a sight any other man would die to see. Youâve left a trail of clothes from the bed toward the bathroom door. Starting on your pretty dress, splayed out over tiled-floor, and then your tights and then your underwear, matching, tooâÂ
He clears his throat. âIâm back!âÂ
But you probably donât hear him through the running shower, so he just sets down the bags and avoid the sight of your clothes. He decides to turn on the tiny TV and browse through any late night re-runs. You take only a couple of minutes in your shower.
âNonu?â You ask from the bathroom.
âYeah?â He turns down the TV.
âDid you find the clothes?â
âYeah.â
âCan you bring me something to wear?â Wonwoo gulps.Â
âUhâ Which one?â
âThere should be a light blue bag and a pink one.âÂ
âOkayââ He stands up and searches for the aforementioned colours.Â
Wonwoo heads to the bathroom door and leans against the wall, facing away from the door. He knocks once. You open the door and shove your arm through, reaching for the bags.
âThank youu!âÂ
He returns to the boring TV. Though all he could think about was the sight of your wet supple skin, knowing you were bare with only a thin sheet of plywood separating you.Â
You leave the bathroom smelling of cheap soap and fresh into your brand new nightgown. It is tentatively short with an almost see-through round of lace over the hems. In your defence, you werenât planning on showing this nightgown to anyone anytime soon.Â
Sitting on the bed, you look around the room, not noticing how Wonwooâs eyes donât really meet yours or how red his ears seem to burn.
âArenât you gonna shower?â You ask.
âFeels a bit redundant to shower and get back into my dirty clothes.âÂ
âI think I might have something for you, if you donât want to sleep in a suit,â You pry.
Wonwoo raises an eyebrow, âIâm listening.â
âBut you canât judge! I bought this for my dad because you know he deals very poorly with the heatâ And he never buys himself anything!â Youâre explaining yourself in advance because you remember very well what you bought.
Silky boxer shorts and a tank top, which your father loved to sleep in on stuffy summer nights but you doubted would be Wonwooâs first choice of wear, ever.
He haggles with his own mind; give into the silky boxer shorts or sleep in the most uncomfortable outfit ever. With a tired sigh, Wonwoo accepts his fate and grabs the bag.Â
You smile as he stomps toward the bathroom with a defeated frown.
By the time he returns, youâve cleaned up your trail of clothes and made yourself very comfortable in the bed. You turn your head to face him.
God, he could make a potato sack look good.Â
âHowâs the fit?â You pull your eyes away before you look for too long.Â
Wonwoo shrugs, âIâve had worse.â
You laugh.
He coyly joins you in bed, keeping a large gap between your bodies, settling on top of the covers while youâre under their warmth.Â
âAinât you cold?â You ask, fidgeting with the TV remote.Â
Wonwoo shakes his head, leaning back into the headboard. With a pout, you cross the figurative bridge between the two of you and reach for him. He doesnât shy away from your touch but it visibly confused.
âWhatâs wrong?â He asks, hands hovering in the air, far away from your exposed back.
âIâm sorry your birthday party sucked,â You murmur against his chest, Wonwoo smiles softly, letting his hands rest on you.
âIt didnât suck in its entirety,â he says, palms slightly tapping at your back, âit was fun running away with you.â
You giggle at his comment, heart fluttering at its meaning, âWhat are we going to do? About the engagement, I meanâŚâ
âWe?â He raises an eyebrow.
You pull away from him.
âWellâ You dragged me into this!â You slap at his chest and he lets out a boisterous laugh that almost manages to pull the corners of your from into a smile.
âI know, Iâm taking the piss out of you,â He extends his arms, pulling you back to your previous position, resuming the soft caresses he leaves on your arms. âI donât knowâ This is the first time Iâve ever gone against my father.â
You sigh. âDonât you wanna marry Suzy?â
Thereâs a pause and oh, youâre begging, wishing to hear the words you want most.
âFuck no!â Wonwoo exclaims and you fail to hide your excitement.
âShe is pretty,â You throw the bait, to pry at his true feelings.
âSo is your sister, should I just marry any pretty girl?â
You raise from your position, eyebrows furrowed into a deep frown. Wonwoo looks at you, completely clueless to his words and its consequences.
âWhat the hell?!âÂ
âWhat?âÂ
Kicking off the covers in a flurry, you kneel on the bed, staring at him dead in the eyes. âYou have the hots for my sister!â
Itâs Wonwooâs turn to get angry, âWhat?! Noâ Youâre twisting my wordsââ
âIâm twisting your words?! You just said you think my sister is pretty!âÂ
âBecause she is!â
You jaw drops, you canât believe he is doubling down. âWow,â you shake your head.Â
âWhatâs wrong with saying that?â
You shrug, turning away from him and crossing your arms. âI donât know, why donât you just go an marry my sister, then.â
Only then, does this thick-headed man you love so much realise he has been complimenting other girls without so much as telling you a single nice word â the bare minimum. He sighs and offers you a soft smile, shifting in the bed until he is near you again.
âI donât want to marry your sister. I think she is pretty, but sheâs not the prettiest sister, you are.â He waits for your reaction.
Hook, line and sinker.Â
You turn around immediately, a hint of smile playing in your pretty lips.Â
Thatâs enough for him to break into a wide smile, opening his arms to welcome you back into his warmth. You crash into his chest, wrapping yourself around his torso.Â
He groans, falling back into the mattress but not letting go of you.
Minutes pass before you speak again. âItâs past midnightâŚâ You whisper.
âItâs well past midnight⌠Why?â
You shift upwards until your faces are only inches apart, breath tickling his lips, your beautiful eyes gleaming under dim motel lighting. âHappy birthday,â You whisper between smiles, âMake a wish.âÂ
Wonwoo breathes in, eyes scanning your face, âThereâs one thing I wantâŚâÂ
âWhat is it?âÂ
If he said it out loud, he mightâve lost all courage to do so.Â
So he just does it, Wonwoo leans forward until his lips meet yours in a chaste kiss.Â
It probably lasted a couple of seconds, but those seconds felt like a lifetime when you were finally kissing the man youâve loved for god knows how long. Thereâs a spark of electricity that burns bright from the moment your lips touch and travels through your body, blood boiling in excitement, shyness, and pure love.Â
When the kiss ends, Wonwoo studies your face, watching for any sign of discomfort. Which is even more worrying when youâre standing there, froze solid with an empty stare.
But thankfully, before he can say anything, you throw caution into the wind.Â
You pull him into a kiss. Throwing every sense of morale and shame you had out the damn window. He was a man sworn to another, for Pete's sake! But here you here, crashing your lips into his perfect, soft ones.Â
Wonwoo lets out a quiet groan, almost inaudible, but you hear it, oh yes, you do. And it runs straight through your chest and down to your core.Â
Although the sensible, rational part of your brain tells you to quit kissing him at once and just apologise, the other 99% of your brain, whoâs been in love with him since forever, wants nothing of the sort. And you might have listened to the not-so-rational part of you, because you just deepened the kiss, shifting your weight until youâre partially on top of him.
Your lips move against him, shyly exploring this kiss, engraving every moment into your memory.Â
Yet he reciprocates. His warm hands finds your waist, holding you flush against his torso, heartbeats thumping completely in-sync. You wrap your arms around his neck and he takes the chance to pull you deeper into those dangerous lips of his. His tongue finds its way into your mouth, licking and twirling against yours, hot and eager.Â
He dips his head, one hand reaches to tangle into your hair and manoeuvre you around, allowing himself complete freedom to explore every bit of your mouth.Â
Wonwoo kisses like no other. Not that you had too much of a repertoire to compare him to.Â
But he consumes your lips with an unbound hunger, nothing similar to the calm and collected Wonwoo you knew, no. Heâs hungry, messy, and very clumsy, clashing teeth one too many times, letting saliva drip down your chins and struggling to move with you on top of him.
When you part the kiss, you lay there breathless, gazing into his ridiculously beautiful beady eyes and long eyelashes, his handsome sharp nose and the most kissable lips youâll ever see.
 It was breathtaking, mind-blowing and nothing like youâve ever felt before. Your heart beats so fast you feel as if you might pass out at any moment but youâd die before you give up experiencing that again.
âWhat was that?â He whispers and his breath tickle your kiss-swollen lips.Â
âYour birthday gift,â You bite at your lower lip. âDid you like it?â
Wonwoo smiles, breathless and half-lidded and your heart damn near bursts. âI did. Did you?â
You nod.
He nods. âWanna do it again?â
You nod and he gives you that stupidly handsome smile of his.
And once again, youâre attached at the lips. This once, nothing like before, which you though impossible. Itâs so much more desperate and it burns, it boils your blood in absolute desire. It leaves you light-headed, it wipes away your cognitive thoughts and leaves behind a foggy cloud of barely strung-together words that only translate into wanting more. More of him.Â
You sigh into the kiss and he drinks it all up, he consumes everything you give him with erratic hands and eager tongue.Â
Wonwoo leaves your lips and you whine with a breathless sigh of his name, almost chipping at any resolve he had left. But he nips at your neck nonetheless, warm, wet tongue trailing along your skin, making you twitch in his arms with the most delectable little âyipsâ of surprise.Â
He bites, feral and determined; determined to make his claim, to leave behind his mark on your body, to indulge in carnal pleasure without a prospect of tomorrow, letting everything else be a construct beyond these motel walls, away from where you laid. Away from this reality where he had you in his hands and you moaned his name with a soft smile.
Practically tearing your nightgown, he pulls the silky fabric just enough until your tits spill out of its confine. Wonwoo sighs at the sight, fingers trailing the contour of your boobs, raising goosebumps along sensitive skin. His eyes are burning in adoration, the most depraved glaze of hunger hidden behind sheer excitement.Â
He dives in, hands kneading at the flesh, squishing soft skin.Â
Slender fingers caress your aereolas, running fingernails along your nipples in curiosity, watching you squirm and bite at your lips as your nipples begin to perk up.Â
And when you thought he was done, Wonwoo attaches his mouth to your nipple, sloppily running his tongue around it before he sucks. He makes sure to let his teeth graze, just to watch you jump.
All while his other hand makes work of your unattended boob, your attention is so thinly divided between his teasing fingers and his hot tongue and the sweetest, most satisfied groans that erupt from his throat.Â
Your face burns and you bite at the back of your hand, shoving down every stubborn moan that tries to make it past; but he wonât have that, no. Wonwoo reaches for your arms, pinning them above your head without so much as pulling away from your tits.Â
Mindlessly, youâve been rocking back and forth against him, chasing a gut feeling youâre unsure of but desire more than anything ever. And without realising, youâve been teasing him just as much as he has you, which is clear by the volume contained by his shorts.Â
He wishes he could ravish your breasts all night, but any more of your squirming and he will come undone without so much as a touch from you.Â
Wonwoo pulls away, hands once against finding your waist as he pulls you back to his chest.
âYou know what comes next, donât you?â He whispers against your lips, half-lidded, lust-filled eyes gazing so deep into your own.Â
âIâ Iâve never done it before,â You confess.
And something stirs within him, to know he is your first, the first and only man to every touch you this way, to trace his lips over your gorgeous body, to settle inside of you.Â
Wonwoo smiles and kisses your nose, âI donât care⌠But only if you donât care that I havenât either.â
Youâre surprised, to say the least.Â
Kissing in between smiles, you raise to your knees, letting him tug at the hem of shorts just enough to free his cock.Â
Itâs nothing like youâve seen before and unlike the illustrations you remember from school. Itâs red and veiny and it glistens with pre-cum under the dim lighting.
But itâs a part of him and you canât help that your belly stirs at the sight of him stroking himself.Â
When you reach for the hem of your nightgown, his hands stop you.
âKeep it onââ He whispers.
âWhy?â
âWeâve got all night to take it off,â He runs his tongue through his top teeth with a side smirk and you almost smack him up the head for being such a little shit.
As he asked so kindly, you bunch up your nightgown around your waist, hips circling around his warmth, meanwhile heâs playing with the flesh of your love handles, kneading and running his fingers over your skin.Â
âReady?â
You nod. He raises your hips and lets you control the pace, you feed in his cock, centimetre by centimetre, feeling itâs girth tear at your walls with an unimaginable sting, it burns hot and heavy in your hands. Â
Crashing onto his chest, you cry out a pained yelp.
Wonwoo run his fingers over your back, kissing the top of your head, his eyebrows are bunched up, face painted with worry. âWe can stopâ Letâs stopââ
âNo!â you raise your head and he can see the tiny droplets bundling around your eyelashes, âJust gimme a minute!â
So you sit there, his cock half-in, pulsing angry red and throbbing under the tease of warmth and tightness. Especially when you look so breathtakingly gorgeous, he gulps, leaning back against the headboard, urging his mind to be strong.Â
It takes you minutes to get used to it, to slowly let the size settle until your muscles are well and accustomed to it and then you start it all over again, feeding the remaining inches until heâs bottomed out.Â
And oh heavens, how utterly full and hot you felt. Despite the stinging pain, part of you wants to chase the pleasure, clenching in sheer hunger.Â
Wonwoo stares up at you, looking for any signs of discomfort but he is met with the most enticing, beautiful, and tempting creature heâs ever laid his eyes upon. Your eyes are glassy with tears, but youâve got a determined look on your face with a hint of a smirk that sends shivers down his spine and up his cock.Â
âShit,â He curses out with a smile, leaning back and rutting into your hips only to watch your eyebrows furrow and your mouth gape, a moan threatening to escape. âReady to move, pretty girl?â
You breathe out, âYeah.â
Steadying yourself against his chest, you raise your hips, feeling his absence leave you upsettingly empty until you let your body crash back down, his cock impaling you with its warmth once again. You rock against him, shallowly, though the motion is unbearably teasing, even for you.Â
Wonwoo lets out an obscene, strained moan, fingernails digging into your waist, but youâre too focused on rocking your hips to notice. How he wants nothing but to piston his hips into your pussy like there is no tomorrow, he relishes in the feeling of your warmth, tight and gummy around his throbbing member.Â
And he finds you might be just as insatiable as he is, especially when youâve found yourself a steady pace, bouncing up and down, and his name pours out of your lips in such a beautiful manner. Though he canât just let you have all the control, can he?
âOhââ You yip, âFeels soâ Goodââ Still unsure of your thought, you explore the feeling, rolling your hips, feeling him stretch your wider, fill your insides and leave you full like youâve never felt before.Â
His hips meet yours half way, chasing your cunt every time you leave and pounding into you when you come back down, filling the room with guttural groans and the lewd sound of skin against skin.Â
You run your fingers under his shirt, feeling bare, warm skin, the softness of his flesh against your hands, the definition of his pecs and the way his nipples peek through the fabric. Wonwoo groans at the way your manicured nails scratch at his chest, gathering momentum as you bounce yourself on top of him.Â
He notices youâve started moving faster, practically fucking yourself stupid on his cock and he would tease you halfway through tomorrow if he didnât find himself in such a similar predicament. His pupils are blown wide, eyebrows furrowed across his brow, pretty lips hanging agape. Youâre so utterly perfect and you were all his.Â
âTell me how you feel, baby,â He whispers, slowing down for a second.Â
You sigh, nuzzling against his neck, âSo goodâ I canât even describe itââ Your words are so airy and mindless, youâve been consumed by the pleasure he gives you.
He catches the sight of the white rim that pools around his member, a mix of your juices, but itâs gone, sheathed inside you before he can admire it. Thereâs a poisoning thought that flashes in his mind, a fleeting, tempting picture. Of planting his seed in your womb, watching your grow full with child, his child. How absolutely breathtaking you would look, round cheeks and gorgeous smile, pretty fingers caressing your bump. And he would taint your taut stomach with his cum, watching it drip over your skin.
Wonwoo bites his lips so hard it breaks skin, throwing his head back, willing his mind somewhere else, anything else lest he come undone right then and there.Â
Stomach tingling with indescribable pleasure, you lean forward, moaning incessantly, unable to contain your ecstasy. He supports your body, wrapping strong arms around your torso, firm hands planted on your hips, taking over the moving so you can lay still and let the buzz consume your body with its electric touch.
Itâs a feeling youâve never felt before, and it crashes over your body in a colossal wave, building up from the pit of your stomach; sending tingles rushing through your boiling blood.Â
You raise your head, eyes meeting his and it seems he is familiar with this pleasure. His left hand meets your face, caressing your cheek, yet holding you still so he can gaze, he can watch you come undone around him.Â
Wonwoo watches, unblinking, how your eyebrows furry, your eyes are glossy with tears that cling to your pretty lashes, your lips sit in an enticing pout. Yet you part them, letting out increasingly louder cries of his name.Â
And you clench around him like there is no tomorrow, egging him on. He thrusts up into you, riding out your orgasm and chasing his over the edge.Â
He crashes his lips into yours, savouring your hazy kiss, your tired sighs and it doesnât take long before heâs spurting hot white strings into you, it trickles down him and stains the silk fabric of his boxers.Â
Soon, he stills all movement except for heavy breathing and the soothing circles he runs over your exposed back.Â
He kisses your hair. âHow do you feel?â
âGood,â You breathe out, âTired. But good.âÂ
His chest shakes with a soft chuckle, he runs slender fingers along your hairline, fixing any hairs that cling to sweaty skin. âMe too.âÂ
âIt felt amazing,â You smile, raising your head to face him. âIâve never felt anything like it.â
Wonwoo hums.Â
âIâm glad it was you, Nonu,â You hid your face against his neck in embarrassment at your own mushy words, but Wonwoo feels their extent, hiding the blush of his cheeks.Â
It doesnât take long before the post-orgasm haze lulls you into sleep.Â
And you slept like never before.Â
The following morning, Wonwoo wakes up to an empty bed. He panics for a second or two, scrambling to look for your belongings, only to find everything is still there.
Calm, he washes himself up and gets dressed to leave. Finally having a moment to digest the previous nightâs events.Â
He had made up his mind, he would confront his father. His future was his to decide on.Â
Looking for you, Wonwoo reaches the foyer, only to see you leaning against the wall, attached to the payphone. When your eyes meet his, you immediately say your goodbyes, ending the call.
âWho did you call?â Wonwoo crosses his strong arms against his chest and you try to ignore the sight of his muscly forearms peeking from the folded sleeves.
You donât like his tone. âSeokmin.â
He raises an eyebrow. âWhy did you call him?â
âI promised I would,â You shrug.Â
Wonwoo canât believe you would call Seokmin out of everyone, especially after you were glued to him last night at the party. âWhy him?â
âHeâs worried about you, you stupidâ Stupidââ You choke out on any mean names, simply stomping away from him.Â
Why was Wonwoo being so mean so early in the morning? You thought after the amazing night you spent together things would change between you. Â Stomping your way back to your room, you grumble under your breath.
While youâre folding your clothes, Wonwoo comes back.Â
âIâll talk to my father,â He announces.Â
Before you can say anything about that, he continues. âWeâll get marriedâ You and I, I meanâ â He clears his throat, âWill you marry me?â
Like a deer in headlights, youâre frozen, staring at him big-eyed with a dopey smile on your lips.Â
âYouâll marry me?â You question, just in case youâve tricked yourself into hearing the words youâve wanted most.Â
âYes. And Iâ Iâll take full responsibilityââ
You smile crashes into the ground. âYou want to marry me out of⌠Responsibility?!â The words choke you on their way out.Â
Wonwoo furrows his eyebrows, not understanding why you would be upset. âDo you not want to?â
âNo, I donât want to fucking marry you!â Not like that.
His face falls and he assumes a much scarier look on his face. âWhat would you rather marry Seokmin, then?â
And in your fury, you blurt out âYes! Yes, I would rather marry him!â
You realise your rejection hurt him, you do. But youâre so blindsided by your anger you canât bring yourself to care, not when he sees you as a responsibility.Â
Wonwoo is suddenly not so angry, but indifferent. You watch his expression go away, replaced by one much scarier, in your opinion; nothing. A plain poker face.Â
âGather your things and go to the car.â
Itâs all he says before he leaves the room.Â
The ride back is the most nerve-racking hours youâve ever experienced. Wonwoo is silent, even you huff and puff under your breath, angrily chewing on your breakfast of vending machine snacks.Â
Though he says one phrase as you reach the city. âLeave me here.âÂ
And thatâs the last you saw of him for over a month.Â
Your previous anger dries up, turning into sadness. Then youâre furious. And heartbroken until youâve accepted your reality. Youâve ruined your friendship and lost the love of your life.
It takes your sister plucking you out of bed for you to finally leave your bedroom in weeks.Â
She was the first and only person youâve told about the night spent with Wonwoo. Your parents were absolutely furious that youâd do something so dangerous, though relieved at your safety, they werenât easy on their words.Â
âHeâs not doing well, you know,â You sister says.Â
You humph.Â
âIâm serious. Daddy said heâs clumsy, keeps messing up his work. I think you should go and see him.â
Closing your eyes, you let out a worrisome sigh. You still cared way too much to hear those news and not do something about it.Â
So you dress up in whatever you can find and drive to his shop, building up a speech on your way there and practising every scenario. You just hoped everything could go back to the way it was.Â
Heâs working on an old model, hunched over the hood in his light blue coveralls, stains of grease from head to toe.Â
âKnock knock,â You announced your presence, fidgeting with the hem of your dress, looking forward to meeting his eyes as much as you dread to.Â
Wonwoo immediately recognises your voice, turning around to meet your eyes.Â
And he looks just as wrecked as you felt. Deep-set eye bags and a tired gaze. Yet he still smiles just as handsomely.Â
âHey,â He greets.Â
âBusy?â
âNo! No,â Wonwoo scrambles, placing the wrench down removing his gloves.Â
âCan we talk?â
âYeah, I actuallyâ I wanted to talk to you, too.â
Itâs somewhat relieving as well at itâs worrying to hear him say that, it could be an apology as well as an insult or something of the sort.Â
âWe shouldâ We should go to my office, someone might come inââ
âYeahâ We should.â You nod.
You walk into his office, one youâve visited and killed time in quite often. But coming here after everything feels so crushing, all this distance between you.Â
âGo aheadââ
âYou firstââ
You both say at the same time and that seems to ease the stubborn awkwardness pooling in the air. You laugh.Â
âHow about we say it together?âÂ
âOn 3?â
â1â
â2â
â3â
Breathing in, you say the words that come to your mind from the bottom of your heart.Â
âI want to marry you.â
âI love you.â
âWhat?!âÂ
âWhat?!â Once again, you both say it at the same time.
âYou want to marry me?â He breaks into a wide smile.
âAnd you love me?â The words feel so alien to you, you can barely believe your ears, you feel the tips of your fingers shake in excitement, your heart pounds so strongly against your rib cage you can almost hear the thumping.
Jeon Wonwoo just said he loves you.
âIâ Are you sure you want to marry me? You said you didnât want to!â
âYes. Wellâ Iâve loved you since forever! So when you said you wanted to marry me just out of responsibilityâ I was heartbroken! Itâs like you were forced into doing it!â
âI didnât want to marry you out of responsibility! Iâve been planning to marry you since the beginningââ
You choke, âYou what?!â
Wonwoo sighs, âI never wanted to marry your sister and she was well aware of that⌠We were blessed that she found her husband and when everything went well, I thoughtâ I hoped that itâd mean weâd be the ones to be wed.â
Processing every word, you almost feel dizzy. âBut you said youâd take responsibility!âÂ
âFor roping you into running away from my party.âÂ
âOh.â Youâre beyond embarrassed for assuming and above all, for getting so angry you didnât even let him explain himself.Â
âI shouldâve been clearer,â He admits.
âNoâ I shouldâve talked to you.â
Wonwoo smiles. âThank you.â
With tiny tears threatening to fall, you can only confirm what you want to know the most.Â
âYou love me?â
âAlways,â He smiles.
Wonwoo seems to remember something, he raises his finger in a âwaitâ motion and leans over his desk, reaching for the top drawer. Itâs only when you catch a peek of the velvet box that you almost keel over.
Gulping, he gathers his courage.
In his grease-stained coveralls that smells of expensive cologne and lavender cleaning supplies, Jeon Wonwoo gets down on one knee, nervously looking up at your with his stupidly gorgeous beady eyes and an expectant smile.
âWill you marry me?â
And in your least presentable dress, the one heâd ruined with grease stains and an unruly hairdo, you respond with the biggest smile:
âYes. Yes, Iâll marry you.â
Had you been questioned, there would be an answer to just how long you will love Jeon Wonwoo.
Youâll love him forever.Â
1K notes
¡
View notes