“What do you want by asking me that?” Jiyong asked while looks at Taeyeon face.

“The truth…of you… I want to know that…” Taeyeon replied and she’s stares at him deeply.

“Why you want to know the truth? I already explain to you before...” Jiyong said.

“No… you didn’t… ” Taeyeon replied with disappointed.

Jiyong sigh before he sips his drink.

“I don't know why you act like that... but, in my view... you're not a bad person. Yes, I admit... I'm disappointed after knowing the truth...but, I still think you have your own reasons to lie to us...” Taeyeon continue said with mixed feelings.

Jiyong look at her after she said that.

“Why you still think that I'm not a bad person after lying to you? Why?” Jiyong asked curiously.

Taeyeon hesitated for a while before she look in front and says

“…That's because... you are always there to save me...the wound on your arm is a witness of how you are willing to put yourself in harm just to save me...you think I will forget kindness just because of a small mistake? I'm not that kind of person... that's why... I want to know the truth... why you have to lie to us...?”

After Taeyeon said that, Jiyong feel touched when Taeyeon didn't always blame him. He knows that she's just mad because she was disappointed on him.

“I have no choice on that time... I just want my plan to run smoothly. But, it gets distracted me when I saw everyone effort on saving that guesthouse. Especially, you... I know you work hard to get money just to make sure the guesthouse get seamless management. To see you and the other's effort, it makes me feel uneasy. So, I decided to postpone my plan and help to promote the guesthouse.” Jiyong replied with honest.

“So... you're saying that you still desire to build a hotel there?” Taeyeon asked curiously.

“That's the plan...but, I'll wait until I get to become the CEO...anyhow, all of you don't need to be worry... I'll make sure everyone will get position in the hotel after it build. Trust me... each of you will get the benefit...” Jiyong replied earnestly.

Taeyeon sigh deeply after she heard that from Jiyong.

“Yah! Do you think with that hotel, everything will be perfect? Don't you think why your halabeoji... even your appa are trying to protect the guesthouse? It's your family treasure... why you want to ruin it?” Taeyeon asked with disappointed.

“I’m not ruining it… I'm planning for a bigger business opportunity... can't you see it? That places surrounded by gems! Tourist will like that kind of place... we can get more profit... everyone in that town will always have job opportunity there and no longer has to travel into the city... that's great plan, wasn't it?” Jiyong said with ambitious.

Taeyeon didn’t reply anything for a while. She thought Jiyong will understand how the guesthouse so precious to her, but turn out, Jiyong is just a businessman. His thinking stills same with other businessman.

“Hey, don't look at me like that... I know that we're not in the same thought right now, but, think of it... it's really a good plan for the future...” Jiyong continue after Taeyeon didn’t respond him.

“If you say so... then, I have no choice unless we're buying the guesthouse from your family. If their heirs don’t want to protect it, then... let us doing that. Yes, your plan for future is good, Jiyong. But you forget something... there is no future if you don't protect the history.” Taeyeon replied with frustrated.

“Wait… what? You want to buy that guesthouse?” Jiyong asked with startled.

Taeyeon nodded before she reply

“Yes, omma already found someone that interest to become a partner in buying the guesthouse. But, as condition... I will marry their son...”

Taeyeon deliberately said that to see Jiyong's reaction.

“What?” Jiyong asked with surprised.

“Yeah... that's going to happen if you still stick with your plan... as you know... I'll do anything to protect the guesthouse, even I have to marry anyone...” Taeyeon replied with firm.

Jiyong get speechless after what he heard from Taeyeon. Out of sudden, his heart feels pain after Taeyeon said that.

“You will marry their son? Just because of the guesthouse?” Jiyong asked with stuttered.

“Perhaps... why? You want opposed it?” Taeyeon asked with intent to see Jiyong reaction.

“Isn't sound so stupid? You're marrying the stranger just to protect the guesthouse? I thought you're clever... but, it's look like you're not that clever...” Jiyong replied with sarcastic.

Taeyeon chuckles after Jiyong said that.

“Who are you to say me like that? You don't know me... and you judge because I act like that? Besides, why do you care if I marry anyone...?” Taeyeon asked with irate.

Jiyong stares at Taeyeon without reply anything to her. At that moment, Jiyong feel something strange inside him that make he felt sad after Taeyeon said that. He noticed Taeyeon look at him with disappointed, and he doesn't like it. But, his ego as a man makes him deny his feelings. In the end, Jiyong says

“Then, it's up to you... do whatever you want to do... by marry anyone? Go on... but, I remind you here... that guesthouse will not in sale... even, how much you're willing to pay... I'll make sure it will not go it to you...mark my words!”

After Jiyong said that, he left the table with mixed feelings. Meanwhile, Taeyeon start to cry after Jiyong leaving.

TWO WEEKS LATER

JEONJU

AT GUESTHOUSE

After she's coming back from Seoul last two week, Jaejoong come with his parent to the guesthouse to visit Taeyeon and her family. Mrs. Kim is welcoming Jaejoong family with happy, but not for Taeyeon and Hayeon. Along the day, Jaejoong mother keep looking and judging Taeyeon. She's known that Jaejoong love Taeyeon, and that's why she needed to know that Taeyeon also love her son.

Taeyeon sit on the swing while staring the night skies. Then, her mind is thinking back her conversation with Jaejoong mother.

FLASHBACK

“Taeyeon, right?” Jaejoong mother asked try to start the conversation.

Taeyeon nodded with smiles.

“Well… I'm calling you here because I have something to talk with you...” she continues with smiles.

Taeyeon look at her and wait for her continue her words.

“As you know... Jaejoong is the only son I have... me and my husband treasure him so much... we didn't push hard on him and let him choose for what he wanted... and...now, he's want to marry you...” she continues.

“Sungmo… Jaejoong oppa is a nice man…you’re lucky to have him as your son… but…” Taeyeon said but she stops her words after Jaejoong mother interrupts her and says

“I know... I understand... by saying but... I know you have your own reason for not agreeing to it. But, can you think of it?”

“Sungmo… if I'm a selfish person, I already agree with this arranged marriage. But, Jaejoong oppa is my brother friend... I don't want to use him like this... it's unfair for him.” Taeyeon replied with guilt feelings.

Then, Jaejoong mother chuckles after Taeyeon said that. Taeyeon look at her with frown.

“You're such a naive girl... look... we did not care about it. Jaejoong alos didn't care about it either. He himself said that he is willing to marry you even if you don't love him. As long as the guesthouse is yours. As his parents, we just give what he wants...and what he wants now... is you...” Jaejoong mother said.

Taeyeon feel uneasy after she heard that.

“Look... we're not trying to force you. But, think about it... if you marry our son, the guesthouse will be yours and your family doesn't have to struggle anymore. Think it positively... besides, this is good opportunity business for us too...”she continues with smiles.

END FLASHBACK

“What are you doing here?” Mrs. Kim asked before she sits beside Taeyeon.

“Just… to clear my thought…” Taeyeon replied.

Mrs. Kim looks at her daughter and then she asks

“You think about the guesthouse? Or… the marriage?”

Taeyeon sigh and she says

“Both…”

Mrs. Kim move her body to face Taeyeon and she asks

“Why you don’t agree with Jaejoong propose? I thought you like him…”

“Omma… I like Jaejoong oppa as a brother… I never thought to have feelings more than that…” Taeyeon replied with honest.

“Hmm… then, if Jaejoong is just a brother… what about Jiyong?” suddenly Mrs. Kim asked.

Taeyeon stunned after her mother asked that. Yet, Mrs. Kim smirks after she saw Taeyeon reaction.

“What about Jiyong?” Taeyeon asked awkwardly.

“Well… you tell me… ” Mrs. Kim replied with smirks.

“Omma… we just a friend…” Taeyeon said awkwardly.

M