9. neun

“What?”

“What? I thought you had scheduled the delivery starting from yesterday, no?” Jongdae retorted.

Sehun groaned before planting his face on both his palms. He literally forgot to tell Jongdae—his cousin and at the same time, his secretary at this office—to delay the invitation delivery. And just this morning, Jongdae reported to him that he had sent out more than half of the wedding invitations yesterday, especially for those who resided in the outside of Korea—just like exactly how Sehun had ordered him before. His head suddenly felt dizzy. Because he knew that there’s no way he could take them all back.

“Jongdae, I’m afraid I have to cancel the wedding.”

“What?”

Sehun shrugged.

“You’re kidding me.”

“I’m not.”

“What the hell?”

Sehun laughed bitterly. “Pathetic, huh?”

“No way, what happened?”

“She doesn’t love me.”

“I thought we all already know how an arranged marriage works? And I understand very well how there’s no love involved in an arranged marriage. In this case, the one like yours.”

“Well, let me tell you in this case, Hyung. One, she loves someone else. Two, she doesn’t want to marry me. Three, I already fell in love with her.”

Jongdae who was busy flipping some documents literally had to stop and really lifted up his head from the document to the man sitting right across him, jaw fell freely on the floor. He was surprised. The cousin knew very well how the younger never agreed to the marriage his uncle arranged for him even just once. Knowing that he accepted this one was already a surprise for him. Now that he knew that the younger actually had fallen in love with the girl really threw him beyond surprise.

“And four, you’re screwed, Sehun.”

“I already am.”

“Good morning,” Jongin mumbled as he just woke up from his deep sleep, lazily walking to the kitchen to find Ji Hyun standing beside the coffee maker, holding a cup with her right hand.

“Hey, you’re up.” Ji Hyun turned her head to his direction and smiled, “Coffee?”

“Yes, please.”

Jongin threw his body at the couch in front of the TV before browsing through the channel to find something good to watch. It didn’t take Ji Hyun too long to bring a cup of coffee for him. A black and grounded one, with only one teaspoon of sugar, bitter, just like how Jongin like it. The man took a sip of it as the girl settled down beside him.

“Thanks, Ji.” Jongin said as he put the cup down on the side.

The girl just nodded as she examined him from the side. “Do you feel better?” She asked concernedly.

“Not really,” Jongin shrugged.

Ji Hyun was still looking at him, trying to guess what he’s feeling, and how her own feeling like right at the moment. She left last night with her heart clenching in pain, knowing that the man she cared about was hurting but she didn’t even know how to help. Still, she left after making sure that Jongin was soundly asleep. And she came back this morning, to check on him, and to help at least preparing a breakfast before she went to her work. There’s actually something bugging her, but at the same time she tried not to be selfish. She watched as the man in front of her planting his face on his palms and sighed. The girl softly whispered, “You love her that much, don’t you?”

Jongin only turned his head to her, his face blank, void from any emotion.

He didn’t know. He really didn’t know.

Just then, Ji Hyun smiled and held his hand. “I already prepared breakfast for you, be sure to warm it up before you eat them. I’m going to work, okay?” She said as she rose up from the couch.

The man suddenly held her wrist, stopping her from going further. “I’ll pick you up later. Just text me when you’re about to finish.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah. I think I need some fresh air.”

Ji Hyun smiled at him, glad that he actually willing to go out. “Alright, I’ll text you.”

Sehun saw the smile slowly spreading on the small lips of his favourite when the girl noticed his car from afar. He was sitting inside the car, waiting for her as she closed the distance between them. Sehun was picking Haneul up from the university as she said that she needed to take care of something and had to meet the professor. The couple had a fitting session appointment, and it was a family fitting for this time. Sehun actually asked her to come with him picking up her soon-to-be in law at the airport since they were arriving from Birmingham in some hours. Haneul didn’t think twice when she replied to his text, saying that she could come with him after taking care of things at the university. Sehun agreed immediately and promised to pick her up.

“I’m sorry I’m late.”

Haneul just shook her head as she came inside the car, a smile still plastered on her face prettily “Nah, I actually just finished. I’m glad I didn’t make you wait for too long.” She said.

Sehun suddenly leaned closer to help her with the seatbelt. He was too close she literally froze when she felt his breath on her cheek. Sehun only chuckled, realizing that she was startled. Right after he buckled up the belt, he leaned even closer and suddenly placed a soft peck on her cheek.

“Sehun…” She whined, cheeks flaming red at the intense affection Sehun showered her with. Sehun couldn’t help but ruffling her hair, literally couldn’t resist the extreme cuteness the girl was showing.

Haneul herself couldn’t help but blushing so hard every time Sehun did these little gestures of affection to her. Ever since that time she slept over at his place, Sehun became even bolder. He didn’t hold himself when he was expressing his feelings.  And it’s actually make her confused with her feeling even more. But little did Sehun know, she actually liked it.

“Family fitting appointment under the name of Oh Sehun and Kang Haneul, please.” Sehun said when they were welcomed by the receptionist in the front desk. Haneul was walking behind him, hand in hand with his mother as she helped the older coming out from the car. They were talking about something interesting, Sehun could tell. From the way his mother laughed and smiled elegantly at words coming out from his fiancé’s lips. And Sehun couldn’t help but smile looking at the warm sight in front of his eyes.

“Mr. Oh, we are sorry to inform you that our designer will be about 15 minutes late for the appointment. Please come with me.” The receptionist bowed before leading the family to one of the meeting room. “Please wait a minute, while waiting for Mrs. Kwon, you will be assisted by her assistant. Thank you.”

They settled inside a lounge. Sehun seemed to have a serious talk with his father when Haneul turned her head to see. Haneul herself was sitting beside the mother who was busy typing something on her phone. Her parents already had their fitting session the day before, and now that she was accompanying her soon-to-be in law, the reality was slowly downing on her. She was really getting married.

Haneul still didn’t know what to feel. She had been restless. No matter how sleepy and tired she was, she couldn’t sleep these past nights. It was only at 3 A.M she did start to fall asleep, and she had to get up early in the morning. The hint of exhaustion clearly painted on her face. Even Sehun noticed it, and constantly asked if she was okay, but the girl just brushed it off, saying that it was just because of things she needed to take care.

She heard the door clicked open when Mrs. Oh asked her something, turning her attention fully at the picture the older was showing from a magazine. When she turned her head, she noticed someone who had just come inside the room was having a talk with Sehun. Someone who was oddly familiar. It must be the assistant that the receptionist talked about. And the smile couldn’t help but slowly spreading on her lips.

“Joon Ji Hyun?” Haneul asked carefully as she walked closer to them.

“Yes, I’m—oh my god.”

“Oh my god.”

The girls threw themselves at each other, hugging. The spectator, Sehun and his parents, had no idea what was actually going on between these girls.

“God, I didn’t expect to meet you here you traitor.” Haneul said as she punched the other’s shoulder lightly.

The other smiled apologetically. “I know I owe you an apology, but that’s a story for another time. But oh my god, I can’t believe you’re getting married.”

“And I can’t believe you’re the one working on my dress! You’re surely becoming the person you wanted to be, you told me that years ago Ji Hyun, I’m so happy for you.”

“I’m clearly working on that dream, huh?” Ji Hyun remarked.

“Sehun, this is Ji Hyun, a long-lost friend that I told you before.” Haneul informed him with a smile. “Ji, this is Sehun.”

The girl nodded before shaking hand one more time with Sehun, but now as a friend of his fiancé. “It’s really nice to know you, Sehun.”

“Haneul told me about you before, she thought she saw you on the street when we were going somewhere last time.” Sehun told her.

“Oh really?”

Haneul just laughed, “Alright, there’s actually a lot to catch up, we really need to make time for that, Ji.” She said, getting a nod from the other girl.

“Then let’s just start the session, Mrs. Kwon already told me and prepared everything beforehand. She’s already on her way here.” Ji Hyun said, nodding her head at the dresses display. She then came over at the couple’s parents who were having some talks, gesturing them to get ready for the session. “Ah, Haneul, Mrs. Kwon said your dresses are almost ready. It was quicker than we’ve expected. You only need to do the final fitting, Mrs. Kwon will handle it by herself later.” She winked, earning a nod and a smile from her friend.

Haneul was talking with Sehun’s mother about the dress the older was currently trying when Mrs. Kwon came inside the room. She greeted them all before asking permission to bring Haneul out. Sehun stayed inside the room to help his father with the tux, letting the designer taking his fiancé. The older brought Haneul to another room which her dresses had already prepared inside.

The last time she went there for her dresses, it was only fifty percent done, and now it was almost completely done. Haneul herself thought that it already has done, because she couldn’t find any incomp