A/N: Glossary of terms is included at the end :)
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Hana blinked at the huge traditional Korean house standing in front of her. A wry smile crept onto her face as she gripped her suitcase. Her turbulent life would be facing a little more turbulence today. Sehun had clearly warned her to stay away from his sister, and it wasn't Hana's fault that Seryung had invited her to a sleep over. She hoped Sehun would understand her today.

Hana hadn't expected Sehun to help her but that's exactly what he had started doing in school for the past few days. At the same time he insisted he didn't want anything to do with her. His small gestures had begun to kindle a flame in Hana's heart. She hated her heart for being so weak, and she hated Sehun's kindness, but in reality she hated neither. In reality, she was a little excited to see herself engaged to him. Her parent's boasted about their son-in-law a little more than Hana liked. They also knew much more about him than she did however they mistook his razor personality as someone with manners. 

Hana felt her mother prod her back. She nodded and dragged her suitcase behind her. The idea of actually becoming engaged was daunting. Hana was unable to admire the scenery that surrounded the Joseon Era styled house. It was the first time she had laid her eyes on one yet the only one in her thoughts was Oh Sehun.

-

Seryung had been thrilled after her parents had agreed to invite Hana over for a sleepover and although Sehun had rolled his eyes at the whole ordeal that their parent's had subjected them through Seryung had found it sweet. Mr. & Mrs. Oh talked about Hana in kind words and were delighted that Seryung had managed to befriend her. And what better way to celebrate this newfound friendship other than a sleepover?

Seryung was more than delighted when the parents of both Oh Sehun and Kim Hana had agreed to her little plan. She’d taken it upon her self to do whatever it was in her power to draw the two very different characters together. Her mind frame regarding Sehun and Hana was similar to that of her parents.

When Sehun had first heard that a sleepover would be taking place he'd hurriedly tried to make his own plans however Joon Myun parent's were away and hence Joon Myun wasn't allowed guests. Sehun had scoffed at Joon Myun's excuse but knew himself how pesky the maids were when it came to reporting back to their employers. Joon Myun's parents would have discovered their sons disobedience through the maids and Sehun didn't need his name cropping up.

 Jong In was too preoccupied with his own social life to make time for Sehun. Sehun had declined  Jong In's invitation to go clubbing as soon as it had arrived. Sehun didn't have an older sibling whose ID card he could borrow, and sneak into clubs with. Although  Jong In had insisted on lending Sehun with a card belonging to a 'hyung;' Sehun had safely declined the invite. Jong In  was someone who studied hard and partied harder in a way that was just too much for Sehun - or anyone else - to stomach.

To top it all off, Seryung had informed her parents that their son was trying to run away. Sehun’s parents strictly warned him to stay home and welcome Hana. In short, he wasn’t allowed to leave the house. 

It was safe to say, Sehun wasn’t the least bit thrilled to have Hana visiting. He'd already been helping her more than he liked through a mixture of pity and guilt. The school had misinterpreted his actions as something completely different. The numbers in his fan club had increased as the rumor of Sehun being a gentleman spread like wild fire. He was currently being admired for his inability to watch a girl get bullied. It was ironic and laughable that Sehun's friends were able to spread such a gimmick, but as a result the lying wangta's torture had declined.

Sehun rubbed his forehead and waited for the drama to begin, he was already uncomfortable in his ensemble. He wondered if Seryung would address him informally in front of their guests. He wished she would refrain herself even if it was their parents wish. Then there was the issue of either girl talking about school; that also gave him a headache, but the worst cause of his headache was that he suspected he'd misjudged Kim Hana. After his intervention with her bullying rumors about her personality had begun to spread. They were rumors because they were unconfirmed but Sehun reckoned that this time the school had gotten them right. The rumors talked about her being anything but a vixen, she was just a plain, boring, average girl who didn't have many friends and was just trying to get by school - just like everyone else.

 Sehun continued to rub his forehead. Mr. and Mrs. Oh were aiming to host an 'informal' meeting with Hana under the guise of a sleepover. Mrs. Oh had fretted over the dishes that would be served for dinner as well as nagging Seryung to clean her room a little more and not leave her clothes piled up on the chair when it was time to sleep on the bed and rotate them back to her bed when she needed her chair.

The two ladies of the Oh household had fussed over how clean Seryung’s room needed to be. Eventually Mrs. Oh had Sehun drag his sister out while Mrs. Oh, and the cleaning lady fixed up her room much to Seryung’s dismay.

Seryung’s room looked nothing like what she’d remembered. Mrs. Oh liked to call it 'tidying up' but for Seryung; the neatness meant she couldn’t find anything she tried to look for.

Sehun found the entire endeavor ridiculous. After finding out about the Kim family’s interest in India his parents had gone out of their way to prepare an Indian cuisine. What was even more unfathomable was their lack of tolerance for spicy food. Mr. Oh had ordered books about Indian history, politics and culture and Mrs. Oh had researched about fashion trends and Bollywood films.

Sehun and Seryung had been made to practice greeting in hindi. Seryung’s grin never disappeared from her face while watching her parents trying hard to match their son’s future in laws interests. She wondered whether Kim Hana’s parents were trying equally hard by delving into Korean politics, culture and traditions not having the luxury of time to enjoy it fully.

The siblings began to places bet on whether or not the Kim family would drop arrive in hanbok’s as their own parents were looking to buy Indian traditional clothing. Seryung reckoned her brother’s wedding would be a fusion of two cultures and tried to imagine what a fused-hanbok-sari would look like.

-

The Kim family did arrive in hanboks much to Mr. and Mrs. Oh’s delight. Mr. Kim stood simply and tall in his sleek white hanbok and black belt. Mrs. Kim in contrast wore a mustard blouse, a contrasting patterned ribbon, and an ultramarine skirt. Her hair was tied in a bun and decorated with an intricate binyeo hairpin. Kim Hana was also dressed traditionally. Her hanbok, a white blouse and a salmon pink skirt, was modest compared to her mothers but traditionally well-suited to that of an unmarried girl. Her hair was plaited low and fastened with a salmon colored ribbon embroidered in gold needlework.

Of course, the Oh family was also dressed for the event. Mr. and Mrs. Oh had dragged their children down to Itewon with them to purchase Indian traditional clothing. Much to their children’s shock and horror there was indeed an Indian boutique hidden among the colourful streets of Itewon. Mrs. Oh had wanted a sari for herself and her daughter but the exotic sales assistant had eventually convinced her to settle for something simpler and easier to wear. They had eventually settled on salwar kameez. Their male counterparts purchased kurta’s and turban’s.

-
 

Seryung stared at her dress in amazement. The amber shirt was bordered with red and gold lace. Gold and red flowers blossomed on its round neckline and plunged down the waist. The shirt itself dropped past her knees. It’s apricot trouser was fitted and it’s scarf was a mixture of dyes in shades of yellow, orange, red and gold. Mrs. Oh’s dress was sky blue with scattered silver embroidery. It reached almost ankle length to reveal the shine of the silver trouser and was completed with a Persian blue scarf. Sehun’s maroon reached his knee’s and somehow the white needle work on the kurta managed to match his exotic white jeweled turban. Mr. Oh’s outfit was primarily khaki and the jewels in his turban also gleamed brilliantly.

The dinner was awkward for all three offspring’s. As they’d expected both parental parties were trying hard to impress each other. Their conversations consisted of the obvious politics and fashion at first but nearing the end of the culture clash they’d begun to paint a new nation with what they believed were positive aspects of both countries. Neither offspring spoke nor did they eat much each of them embarrassed at their parents’ attempts to converse. Their parents’ words echoed in the children’s ears causing them to redden and avoid eye contact with one another. What they didn’t know was that there was more planned for them than they’d expected.

Sehun would have yelled “Engagement?” And argued against the idea if only his so-called in-laws hadn’t given such a heart felt speech in honor of him joining their family. Their kind expressions and genuine words made him bite his tongue. The expressions his parent’s were secretly shooting him weren’t necessary, even Seryung understood that he had been put on the spot, and that declining was difficult. And so he was engaged. Just like that. Without protest. Without much of anything. Having his photo taken beside the wangta in clothes he’d never imagined wearing, and mustering a forced smile because it seemed right to do so.

Hana had been quiet all through the ceremony. Everything felt too forced and fake. She was angry at her parent’s who’d forced her into a hanbok and decided to arrange her engagement at whim. It was awkward too. She felt as out of place in her hanbok as Sehun did in his turban. He’d been fiddling with it until it finally came undone. Her father had insisted on helping him wrap it again as the shop assistant had and hadn’t left much choice for a ‘no.’ It occurred to her that he was obsequious and she didn’t like it. It was ironic how his personality differed at home and in school. He’d been the one to initiate her torment, yet here he was agreeing to an engagement he didn’t want. Was she the one to blame for this too? Because it made her happy? She was aware that Sehun’s eyes were on her as her father remade the turban for him. She resisted the urge to knock it off his head as he was clearly uncomfortable, yet her father was oblivious and more interested in honing his turban tying skills to bother trying to understand his son in law’s feelings.

Seryung watched the uncomfortable ordeal - she was also in agony. Her scarf constantly rolled down her shoulders and she was tired of multiply putting it back across her neck. The food didn’t suit her prone-to-acid-reflux stomach. She had no choice but to aimlessly pick at it with her chopsticks under the watchful gaze of Mrs. Kim who was silently classifying her as a picky eater. Mr. Oh was busy fussing over his ‘son’ showering him with compliments not knowing that he was the sole reason why Hana’s school life being destroyed. Seryung wanted to excuse herself many times but Hana’s pestering helpless glances pinned her to her seat. ‘No one wants to be here,’ she concluded imposing a smile when it was time for the ceremony and those dreaded family photos.

After the photo taking session the three offspring’s were ushered into the second living-room and expected to mingle. Seryung had initially planned on keeping the antagonists company just in case there was an off chance the room suddenly caught fire due to her brother’s resentment. She sat with them intending to do good and make peace between the two parties who were now engaged against their will. However her presence made things all the more uncomfortable. Thinking she’d become the third wheel she’d hurried out of the living room claiming she had something ‘important’ to do leaving the fiancés’ to settle their differences.

-

Hana had already noted that Sehun behaved differently towards her at home than he did in school. He was much more agreeable under the watchful eyes of their parents almost like he had a dual personality. Now they were alone. A wall divided them from their parents. Seryung had abandoned her too. And the Sehun she was familiar with was re-emerging. It was unnerving for her. She curled her toes slowly and stared at her fingers, ever since their meeting in the school garden things had become strange. Hana wasn't sure what it was about him that attracted her. His subtle attempts to help her made her happy whereas any normal girl would be annoyed at him for putting her in an awkward situation.

Still though, she couldn't help liking him. There was much more under the layer he hid himself under, and she was curious as to what he was really like. However being alone with him felt strange, even if they were sitting opposite each other; her heart beat excitedly. Hana bit the inside of her cheek. He clearly didn't seem worried that she would hear his heart beat but she worried he might hear hers.

“Yah wangta, are you having acid reflux right now?” Came a bored voice that lacked concern. Sehun tapped his chin and wondered how his parent's had forgotten that their daughter was unable to eat spicy foods, yet for the Kim family's sake, Mr. & Mrs. Oh had gone out of their way rendering Seryung unable to eat at all.

Hana shook her head, "I'm fine," she responded with a small smile. Sehun scoffed at her as she tried to adjust herself in a dress she wasn't used to wearing. "I'm sure your friend is vomiting somewhere," Sehun replied curtly examining the cuffs if his sleeves that made him itch.

"Seryung?" Hana asked sitting up in her seat. "Why would she be?"

Sehun rolled his eyes at the round eyes that were looking at him with alarm. "Acid reflux sufferers can't stomach spicy foods," Sehun stated glaring at Hana who shrank back into her seat. "I didn't know," Hana whispered and stood up glancing at the door and then back to Sehun.

Sehun exhaled slowly and crossed his arms as he swung one leg over the other, "Sit down, you can't do anything about it now. When someone chooses not to eat, you know now, that you shouldn't force them."

Hana nodded uncertainly staring at the door. She took her seat and felt the contents of her stomach digest in guilt. "Will she be okay?"

"Not right now but maybe later. This is all your fault, you know. If you hadn't been so loud no one would have noticed. That being said those parents of hers forgot, so why do I even bother scolding you, who doesn't know anything?" Sehun massaged his temples grimly asking not to be disturbed by Hana who wanted to probe him with questions.

"I thought I asked you to stay away from Seryung," Sehun finally spoke, his words hung in the room that was lit by a lone standing lamp in the corner.

Hana shifted in her seat as he brought up something she had no control over. Seryung had taken some sort of liking to her and hence although Hana had tried to stay away. Nothing could stop Oh Seryung from bounding over to her like a long-lost sister.

"You did, but I can't, Seryung is my friend," Hana replied quietly.

"That doesn't make sense! You're free now; you don't have to cling to her. You're free to chose anyone else as your friend but not my sister. Seryung isn't good with friends." Sehun explained in a strained tone.

It was getting harder and harder to push the two apart now that they'd decided to become friends and share secrets. Sehun found the whole idea repulsive. One would hurt the other and that would be it. Seryung had chosen to keep away from friends for a reason, the last time she'd had a friend things had ended badly and this time even Sehun couldn't predict how things would turn out. The worst part was that Hana would be glued to him by the term 'arranged marriage.' He would unnecessarily be involved when things exploded.

"You think I befriended your sister because of you," it was more a question than a statement and if Hana could have felt acid reflux she would have vomited. "What kind of person do you think I am?" Hana asked raising her head to meet his icy glare. He always chose to glare at her and she had never understood why. Why did he hate her so much while exhibiting kindness?

Sehun stared right back into her eyes in search for something, he found nothing except hurt, had he hurt her? Sehun smirked and found the shield he'd let down in front of her. "You're a fox, you managed to get to me using your parents. You're like the rest of those girls who try to make me theirs. You're just taking a different path by winning over my family."

First, Hana's eyes widened until they could widen no more. Second, she blinked rapidly and shook her head vigorously. "I'm not, I didn't plan this," Third, she laughed to herself at the ridiculous words that had come out of Oh Sehun's mouth. She believed he was joking until his expression hardened. Sehun didn't find any of it funny and her laugh hurt his ego more than he liked.

"Cancel this engagement," he ordered darkly. Hana shook her head sadly until the wisps of hair loosened from the sides of her head. "I can't, I have as much control over this as you. You've tried to get them to stop, right? If your parent's won't listen to you, then this engagement-marriage thing, will probably go on. My parent's won't listen either."

"Have you even tried talking to yours?" Sehun scoffed as Hana lowered her eyes. She was transparent enough for him to deduce that she wasn't capable of lying without giving something away.

'Trying to feign innocence?' Sehun flared, and his eyes narrowed at her. It was difficult to deduce a person without knowing their thoughts.   

A young female ghost watched them with great interest. Her eyes locked with Sehun's and she nodded a 'hello.'

Just in case anyone was wondering what the following things were:

Hanok - a Joseon Era styled house, they're very old and it's unusual for people to live in them, these days they're usually just used as a tourist attraction. However this is the type of house in which the Oh family will reside in, in my fic :)

Hanbok - Joseon style clothes / traditional Korean clothes, you will probably see your fav groups wear these on Korean New Year.

​Binyeo Hairpin - this is basically a fancy hair accessory that women used to stick into their buns.

Sari - Traditional Indian dress, I think this ones usually worn by older girls/women.

Salwar kameez - Traditional Indian dress, usually worn by girls or unmarried women.

​Kurta - A long shirt is the best I can describe this.

Turban - Traditional Indian head dress.