I watched my mothers lips move but heard no sound.  I stared at my mother, my father, my brother – no reaction.  They ate casually as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening right now.  My mother shook my hand and I looked at her in disbelief.

“Hyojin?  Stop this at once, you disrespectful child!  You are betrothed now, act as expected!”

ing my chair away from the table, I turned and ran.  I found myself running towards my bedroom.  The one place I had hated before as it was my prison.  I longed so desperately to be there right now.

Marriage?  I had no interest in boys!  I loved books, writing, literature...  but they were simply that – fiction!  The romance found within them was beautiful and pure and enchanting but could not possibly be realistic.  Boys weren't like that at all, right?  They were gross and demanding and not romantic at all!

Tears slowly formed and fell.  One drip.  Two drops.  And after that, they fell and fell until the flowing couldn't be stopped.  My mother hollered outside the door but everything she said was forgotten the second it was heard.  I buried myself deep within my wardrobe and sobbed until I couldn't sob any more.

What was I going to do?  There's no way I could run away from home.  Where would I go?  I felt very alone at that present moment.  Shakily, I stood and dragged my feet towards the bedroom.  Sunlight glistened across the baby pink carpet ad reflected from the mirror framed in pale pine wood.  How much time had passed?  I stared at the white walls and white furniture and the pink bed sheets and for once in my life, I felt love for my bland bedroom.

I sauntered into the bathroom, it's mirror showed vacant eyes staring back at me.  Hair mused and skin pale, I thought about the night before.  Purple rings clarified the lack of sleep but blood shod eyes didn't come close to showing the pain I felt inside.

The water poured from the shower head but I felt numb.  I watched it drip from my hair and hardly felt it pelt against my skin.  I felt glad that I didn't have school today, I knew my concentration would be on another level and I'd hate myself if I let my personal life intervene.

I let the water wash away the pain and prayed that the betrayal I felt would subside.  Eventually I found the energy to crawl from the shower stall to the wardrobe – deciding today would be a pyjama day as I pulled on my nightdress and slipper socks.  I really wasn't in the mood for fancy dresses and smiles.  Not in the mood for anything at all, really.

I could smell breakfast cooking downstairs but I couldn't stomach the thought of eating.  It was only when I heard Umma's beckoning call that I lazily brought myself downstairs.

“Eat something da- what on Earth are you wearing, Kim Hyojin!?  March yourself upstairs right now young lady and present yourself like so!  I thought you understood that the Park family would be joining us for lunch, what has gotten into you!?”

Mothers screeching hit a nerve.  A big one.  I ground my teeth and it took every ounce of my body not to burst out in tears, but instead I my heels and did as I was told.  I only reappeared when dressed in my white chiffon dress, accessorised with a brown roped belt around my waist and brown gladiator sandals.

“That's more like it.  Now fetch your brother – we'll be taking a picnic.”

-

The car windows glistened with rain drops.  It was Summer and the sun shone so beautifully this morning, where had the rain suddenly appeared from?  Umma didn't seem bothered by it, stating that the park we headed for had a secluded white house reserved for park dwellers on rainy days.  She continued to smile brightly and was very enthusiastic towards the day that loomed ahead.  I, for one, was not.

My brother and father shared no expression at all.  They stared gloomily at the road stretching before them.  Trees greeted us on either side of the road, reaching for the sky as if trying to stay as far away from the negative atmosphere down here on the land.

The park slowly came into view and mother blushed, “Oh, how mortifying!  They were here first, so shameful that we kept them waiting dear!”

A small group of people stood by the edge of the park and my stomach churned.  Three males and one female, who I guessed was the mother.  They all stood tall and proud, dressed very formal despite the mucky grass that awaited their footsteps.

The lady among the men approached our vehicle the moment we opened our doors.  “Mrs Kim!  Oh, how glad I am that you came!” the lady squeaked.  Her voice was very high pitched and up beat.  Around her presence was a very vibrant and glowing energy that I couldn't help but feel effected by.  I smiled sincerely and truly felt that perhaps meeting the family was not such a bad idea after all.

“These are for you, Mr Kim, I'm so glad we could arrange this meeting,” a very sturdy looking man extended his hand towards my father and they shook hands sternly.  The aura here was electrified despite the smiles on both their faces which I could tell were for appearance only.  I stared at my Appa and wondered if he too were feeling devastated towards this marriage like I was.  “Shall we, ladies?”  Mr Park gestured towards the grassy apparel.

The walk towards the secluded green house was very awkward on my part.  I was introduced to the Park family which included Mr and Mrs Park's two sons.  The youngest of the brothers was very pleasant – Shindong, he was called.  He was tall but very plump and adorable looking.  He smiled brightly and I couldn't help but smile back, clearly he inherited his mother's easy charm.  He was also very funny and I was almost upset that it wouldn't be him I was to marry.  A marriage with someone so kind really couldn't be that bad even if it was arranged without my knowledge.

Unfortunately it was the older brother to which I was betrothed.  His icy glare and dominating frame was clearly an influence from his father.  I couldn't help but feel like a small child when he looked at me so scrutinizingly scary.  I felt terribly small in his presence and I so bad wanted to flee back to my deserted castle.

Park Jungsu was very tall and sported mid-length light brown hair.  He dressed smartly in black skinny jeans and a blazer from which I could see a white designer shirt underneath.  I caught Ryeowook staring at the boy critically and this warmed my heart.  My brother and I weren't too close but I knew he loved me dearly as he had often threatened to protect me in my school.

“If you don't mind, Mr and Mrs Kim, I would like to take your daughter for a small stroll around the perimeter of the park?”  I felt a hand grip above my elbow and I stared up at Jungsu in surprise.  What was he planning?  He didn't seem to have any interest to be near me in any way much less to be alone with me.  And he was touching my arm so tightly – was it a warning?  Was he going to hurt me?  I shot a quick look at the two families as my mother gushed with glee and gave Jungsu her permission to walk with me.

I was practically dragged hastily away from everyone and only when we were at a safe enough distance not to be heard did he slow and begin to walk at a mighty slow pace.  This frightened me.  He frightened me.  He was so domineering.

“So you think you can swoop in and take over the Park company?  My father may be fooled by your beauty, but I am not.”

I gasped at this.  He sounded so disgusted.  I shook my head before replying quietly, “I...  That's not...  I have no interest in your company...  Appa needs help and I'm the price.  You need not concern me in your companies worries – I do not care much for fame or money.”

“Everyone loves money.  Why else would you marry me?  Of course you want my money, don't be such a stupid .”

I tore my arm from his hand and stopped walking.  I refuse to walk with someone so anti-social!  Had he no manners at all?  I had just met him and he was already using such vile words!

“If you don't start walking again, you'll make me mad.  And you don't want to do that, Princess.”

“You're threatening me?”

“We're engaged.  Start acting like it.  Link your arm with mine and get walking before you make a scene.”

He scared me.  I felt so weary in his presence.  I had never experienced such a fearsome aura.  But this man... he was everything to be afraid of.  I quickly linked my arm in his and began walking again, my head low and trying desperately not to cry.  What was mother and father thinking?  How could they sell me to this man?  What was my life going to consist of now?  Where would my future lead?

“After you graduate next month, you will marry me.  And then we will live together.  But I have rules.  You will not share my bed, you'll have a room of your own.  You won't speak with me unless I ask you to and at formal parties you will act like the happiest wife ever to be seen.  Am I understood?”

I nodded, but immediately regretted doing so as a tear shook from my eye and rolled down my cheek.  He quickly wiped it and tilted my head up with his hand which was large and masculine.

“Don't worry Princess, you have no reason to cry yet.”

--

[ A/N: Ahh, Leeteuk Oppa is sooo scary!  (((╹д╹;)))

I ask that you please listen to this song, it's such a beautiful composition and I loved listening to it while writing this chapter: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVeD9b8cgow ✿♬ﾟ+.(｡◡‿◡)♪.+ﾟ♬✿。

I really look forward to posting the next chapter but I feel I must apologise for taking so long on uploading this one.  You see, I live in a small country within the United Kingdom (UK) called "Scotland".  You may have heard about it lately on news channels?  If not, Scotland recently went through a very historic event - we got the choice to have our own independence.  Many negative energy has sufficed due to the result of the referndum, however, and many people within Scotland are having a difficult time in dealing with their thoughts and how they should react with the outcome of the Referndum.  Did you know that Scotland is now the only country in the world's history to ever vote "No" to their own independence?  ( ؔ⚈͟ ◡ ؔ⚈͟ ๑)…ﾝ？

I, too, am very upset with the outcome and I admit that even now I feel troubled and write with a heavy heart.  I pray for the best for Scotland and the UK's future and I apologise that I let my problems effect my writing.  I promise I will try much harder, and so I present this chapter to show my motivated persistence!  Thank you for reading and hope that you stay to read more.  ꒒ ০ ⌵ ୧ ♡

Much love and light,

-Kang Hyekyo~(｡♥‿♥｡) ]