“I received an invitation today from Ahn Ro. It seems that the girl is finally getting married” her Aunt told her.

“That sounds great” she answered “It seems everybody is getting married nowadays.”

“Well… I daresay it’s high time for you too to get married. Have you not yet thought about it?”

Unbidden to her mind, an image of Ji Yong suddenly flashed and she shook her head to dismiss the image.

“You seem very determined in being single as long as allowable” her Aunt commented, taking the shake of her head as a firm negative against the idea of marriage.What her aunt said was true but she wasn’t going to share anymore that her firm shaking of head awhile ago was because of Ji Yong.

“I still have a lot that I want to do and being married will only be a hindrance” she answered – the same old adage that she always uses for questions like this.

The older woman let out a sigh “Poor Jay… if he is really going to wait for you, I believe he would grow old and wither away.”

Dara smiled “He doesn’t have to. I told him that he can go out with other women and look for other potential partners. If in the end, we still end up together then maybe we are indeed meant for each other.”

“Let’s hope he does as you have said then… he seems like a very cautious man… I hope ladies don’t get bored with him.” This directness of her aunt was what endeared the old woman to her even when she was still a child. Her cousin, Chaerin, had acquired the same directness but had the biting tongue to go with it. The two women had been such a source of comfort for her in the past and even up to now that when Chaerin married Seungri, she cried harder than her Aunt.

“He’s a good guy Auntie” she replied “and I daresay, there are women who will want to find a man like him.”

“And how about you? Is he not your type of guy?”

“Me?”

“I was just thinking… is it that the reason you do not want to marry Jay is because he is too cautious?”

“It is not that at all Auntie” she denied “I fell out of love with him and I have told him so. However, he continues to go after me.”

“That’s because you’re answers still give him hope…”

“I’ve told him to date other girls –“

“The last part where you tell him that who knows you could be the two in the end is a very safe answer. I think that you purposely leave him hanging so you always have a fall back… you are more cautious than Jay actually is.”

Growing hot in the neck, Dara knew that what her Aunt said was true.She couldn’t find anything to say.

“I want you to find someone you love dear” her Aunt continued “but you can’t very well find that man if you’re not willing to take the risk.”