“Ohmigod! He is sooooo hott!!!” The girl gushed, picking up a Big Bang cd.

The girl’s friend pointed to the cd. “TOP is my man…”

The one holding the CD giggled. “I’m going to marry TaeYang.” She blushed as the two of them giggled some more.

Then my sister butted-in. “Sorry, to tell you this ladies… but my sister,” She said pointing at me, “..is going to marry TaeYang.”

I rolled my eyes and turned away as my sister kept blabbing away. I heard the girls laughed and ask if my sister is also a VIP like them.

“Yes, I’m a BB fan too but I am serious when I said my sister over here will marry TaeYang.”

Yeah… like they’d believe that, my dearest unni. So instead of looking like a total babo, I pulled her out of the store. “Unni, why do you have to do this all the time?!”

She looked at me as if I’m the stupid one. “Lee EunMi, we both know that you two will marry, ‘tis only right for them to know that he’s hands-off.”

I sighed. My sister is crazy! As if those girls would believe her…

If you think she’s bluffing, then you’re dead wrong. She was telling the truth, I am going to marry him and if you think I’m so happy I could drop dead about it, then you are double dead wrong.

How did all this happen?

It’s one of those old stories where someone’s grandfather owes someone’s grandfather and made a promise, a deal to repay for it. In my case, TaeYang’s Grandfather swore to my Grandfather that he’d take care of our family, a way of repaying his debt. My Grandfather lend him the money, risking his own business and so the problem was solved. Then, the deal was made- his one year old grandson will marry my grandfather’s yet to be born granddaughter a.k.a Me ( I considered my self the sacrifice..)

“You’re a lucky gurl, my sister! Girls drool over your man.” My sister teased.

“Okay, first, I don’t consider my self lucky and second, he is not my man. Why wasn’t I born first? So you could marry him instead.” I looked left and right as we crossed the street.

“Me?? * giggles* Marry him? * giggles* oh… I couldn’t possibly~~” and then she giggled some more.

“ Stop being an old fashioned Ajumma and celebrate your luck! If I were you, I’d demand an engagement ring right away and then walk around with my arms clinging to his biceps saying ‘Yeah. I know he’s hot and he’s mine!’”

I looked at her from the corner of my eye. Right now, my sister has ‘FANGIRL’ written in big bold red letters on her forehead.

She continued. “Haven’t you ever wondered what his arms would feel like? I mean it’s obvious the guy works-out… what a great bod.” She turned to me for approval.

What? She expects me to bob my head up and down like those toy dog car accessories? “Unni, you’re basically lusting over your brother-in-law.”

That shut her up! Haha! Tho I know she’d start again after a while.

I wasn’t mad at her at all. I know she isn’t really ‘lusting’ over him and I don’t really care. I just wanted her to stop spazzing about that boy.

She looked at her watch and stopped. “EunMi!!! We lost track of time!”

I looked at mine- 1:30 in the afternoon. We were supposed to be home by 1 to help mom bake cookies. We have a small bakeshop at home, our only source of income. It’s not fancy at all but just enough make us get by and pay the bills.

My sister dragged me along as she ran to the bus stop, making me wish I had long legs like her. But too bad I don’t have her killer legs and too bad we just missed the bus, no choice now but wait for the next one. “When you marry him, ask for a car right away. So we won’t have to wait for the bus anymore.” She mumbled.

“Sheesh. He doesn’t even know I exist.” I quipped.

“Well, he should know by now. Mom made sure they’d remember they have a promise to keep.”

Apparently, TaeYang’s parents thought the deal was off when our family moved to America when I was 3. We migrated there for good and had no plans of going back to Korea but my father, who’s a lawyer, got shot when I was 12. He was working on a case that time involving drugs. My mom didn’t know what to do that time and had no idea how to support me and JiMin as she’s a stay at home mom and had no job. She decided to move back to Korea, in Gwangju, where her brother lives. He helped mom put up a small bakeshop. What we earn is enough but now that both my sister and I are in college mom is worried it may not be enough. JiMin’s in her senior year in music so she shouldn’t stop her education in case we have financial trouble. I’d be the one to skip for a year since I’m an incoming freshman in Home Economic. U- huh, I’m pretty much geared-up to be housewife material.

Anyway, back to our story. With the hopes of securing me a better future and a ‘good husband’ mom decided to go on with the marriage deal with his family. She was able to talk to TaeYang’s mom months ago and that’s how she found out the boy had no idea about the marriage thing but his mom said the wedding will be set..

Like I’d believe that… they’ll probably do their best to keep that boy away from me and my family. Not that I’m complaining.

I checked the cookies in the oven. “A few more minutes, Umma and these are done.”

“Make sure not to burn those cookies. Mrs. Song is quite hard to please.” Mom was mixing another batch of cookie dough.

“Nae, Umma.”

The doorbell rang. “That must be the flour I ordered.” Mom said.

JiMin’s head quickly turned to Mom’s direction hearing about the ‘flour’ part. The boy who delivers flour has a major crush on her. He’s cute but the thing is he’s petite, only reaching up to her shoulders. I felt pretty bad for him because he really likes her but the feeling’s not mutual.

“Understood. I’ll go get the door.” I volunteered so JiMin could continue coloring her nails in peace.

I opened the door expecting to see flour boy’s smiling face but instead was greeted by a lady’s smiling face. Must be in her late 40’s.

“Ahnyeonghasayo.” I bowed my head. “What can I—“

And then I saw him.

I quickly shut the door. My heart started to pound as if my heart got so big there’s not enough space in my chest.

“Yah, what’s wrong you that you had to slam the door?” JiMin walked over to me. “Where’s flour boy?”

“It’s …some other boy.”

Her jaws dropped. “It’s your boyfriend isn’t it?!” She slapped my arm. “EunMi, you’re not allowed to have one! You are so gonna get scolding from Umma!” Then she started hitting my arm again.

“Aw! Stop it! It’s notmyboyfriendcozIdon’thaveoneandit’sTaeYangwho’soutside!”

“TaeYang?!? Did you say TaeYang?!?” and she turned into a she-hulk, pushing me aside and diving for the doorknob. “Good afternoon!”

The elderly woman looked a bit confused but smiled. “Hello,dear, I’m Mrs.Dong. Are you Lee EunMi?”

Hearing my name, I hid behind the door but JiMin pulled me back with her she-hulk grip.

“No, madam. I’m JiMin, her sister.” Pulling me beside her. “This is EunMi.”

Mrs. Dong gave me a warm smile before pulling her son to her side. “Hello, my dear, EunMi. This is my son, YoungBae.”

Oh, Mrs. Dong, everyone in Korea knows the name of this buffed-up Mashimaro you call your son…I thought.

“…your future husband.” She continued.

Okay, that part people have no idea of, but they will soon.

I flashed him a look. He looked down on the floor in response before meeting my eyes and giving me a very shy and timid smile. What?! No ‘hey, babeh, it’s me, your husband! * wink-wink*’ ?!?!

“EunMi, what are you doing? Don’t just stand there, let them in.” JiMin hissed in my ear.

Ow, right. “Please come in inside.”

I stepped aside so Mrs. Dong could come in, her son followed.

He shyly looked my way as he passed me by. Made me wonder if he’d run away from me screaming if I went ‘RAAWWRR!!!!’ on him. Weird, I thought he’d be all cool and smooth bout it or maybe look at me with disgust and hate but it’s none of the above.

I closed the door and sighed. Well, he’s really here inside our house, in my life.

Till death do us part…or maybe not…