YURI P.O.V

Hi, I'm Shin Yuri. I'm 20 years old, caught in the crossroads of tradition and my own dreams. As I sprawled on my bed, drained from a long day at college, my mother disrupted the tranquility with news that jolted me from my thoughts.

"Yuri, c'mon, get ready," she insisted, her voice a blend of urgency and expectation.

Confused, I asked, "For what?"

"We need to go meet the boy we have chosen for you," she declared matter-of-factly.

My heart sank, and I let out a sigh of frustration. "Mom, didn't I already make it clear that I don't want to get married?" I protested, feeling the weight of tradition pressing down on me.

Her response was unwavering, "You don't have an option. You also know how much I tried to convince your dad."

I couldn't help but voice my concerns, "But mom! He's like 5 years older than me. How am I supposed to get married? Plus, what about my college? What if they don't let me study or go to college?"

In an attempt to reassure me, she sat beside me, her touch grounding. "You don't have to worry about that. They are a great family. They'll give all the freedom you want. Everything will be the same, just that you'll be married and living somewhere else."

Doubt gnawed at me, "But I don't want to... What if... what if he's not a good person? What if he doesn't treat me well... what if-"

Her grip tightened around my hand, a silent plea for calmness. "Yuri, calm down," she urged softly, her eyes conveying a depth of understanding only a mother could possess. "If he wasn't a good person, do you think I'll let you get even close to him?"

Her words struck a chord within me, tugging at the threads of trust that bound us together. "The only reason I'm against this marriage is because you are still young. If the circumstances were different, I wouldn't have opposed it. He really is a good person. I'm sure he'll treat you well. Trust me. I wouldn't let you go into the wrong hands."

Reluctantly, I nodded, a mix of resignation and hope swirling within me. "Go get ready," she instructed gently.

With a heavy heart and a mind fraught with uncertainty and got ready.

After we all got ready, we went to the café we were supposed to meet the family. Dad led the way, and as we entered, the anticipation hung in the air. My heart raced with a mixture of nerves and curiosity. What would this meeting entail?

Dad spotted them first and guided us towards their table. The warmth of familial greetings enveloped us as my dad and uncle shared a hearty embrace. Mom and aunty followed suit, exchanging pleasantries and smiles.

"Suhyuk, this is my daughter, Yuri," I heard myself being introduced. I offered a polite bow to Uncle Suhyuk, who welcomed me with a friendly smile. "Hello. I'm so glad to finally meet you," he said, and I couldn't help but smile in return.

The introductions continued, and I greeted Aunt Dahee with a respectful bow. Their daughter-in-law, Saerom, chimed in with a cheerful greeting, breaking the ice effortlessly. "Hi!" she exclaimed, and I replied with a simple, "Hey."

Aunty mentioned that their sons would join us soon, and Saerom, ever the friendly soul, turned to me with a mischievous grin. "Yuri, do you know his name?"

I chuckled nervously. "Oh, well no. Whenever mom and dad tried to tell me about him, I'd just leave." The table erupted in laughter, easing the tension that had lingered.

"Don't worry. I'll tell you all about him," Saerom reassured me, and I couldn't help but feel grateful for her easygoing nature.

Uncle Suhyuk then turned the conversation to a more serious note. "Yuri, your dad told us how you were against this marriage. Why'd you agree now?"

Hesitating for a moment, I spoke my truth. "If I'm being honest, I'm still unsure. But I trust my parents. They won't let me go into the wrong hands." My mom squeezed my hand, offering silent support.

Aunt Dahee chimed in, expressing her happiness at witnessing our strong bond. "Yuri, let me assure you that we won't make you feel away from home. Everyone is going to treat you like a princess."

A genuine smile formed on my face, appreciating the warmth in their words. As we continued to talk, Saerom began to unveil the mysteries of my "future husband." His name was Beomgyu, five years my senior, and he worked alongside his brother Haneul in their dad's company.

As the conversation unfolded, I couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort and acceptance.

We were still busy talking when I got a call. It was my bestie, Chaeri. Yuri: Excuse me. They nodded, and I picked up the call.

As I walked away, engrossed in my conversation with Chaeri, I collided with someone. The world seemed to pause as I looked up and found myself staring into the most mesmerizing pair of eyes I had ever seen. He appeared like a dream, so perfect that he didn't seem real.

"I'm sorry," he apologized, his voice breaking through my dazed state.

I could only manage to gape at him, lost for words, while Chaeri's voice buzzed on the other end of the line, trying to gain my attention.

But then, just as suddenly as he appeared, someone called out his name, pulling him away from my trance.

"Beomgyu!! Here!" the voice called out.

I watched him leave, my heart still racing with the shock of their brief encounter.

Chaeri's urgent voice brought me back to reality, but my mind was already made up.

"I'm gonna say yes..." I murmured, my decision made in an instant.

Chaeri protested, trying to reason with my, but I had already been captivated.

Moments later, another voice broke through my thoughts.

"Oh, Yuri. Right?"

I turned to see a familiar face, Haneul, Saerom's husband.

Their brief exchange brought me back to the present, and I smiled, grateful for the distraction.

As Haneul led me back to the table, I couldn't shake the feeling of excitement coursing through my veins.

The moment Aunty introduced us, time seemed to slow down. Beomgyu and I exchanged a brief gaze that held the promise of an unspoken connection. The atmosphere was thick with anticipation, and I felt the weight of every word on the tip of my tongue.

Beomgyu's stuttered acknowledgment and the subsequent silence between us added an unexpected layer of tension. Despite the casual banter from the others, we remained ensconced in our world of quietude. Haneul, ever the observant brother, couldn't help but comment on Beomgyu's unusual reticence.

"Beomgyu, why are you so quiet today?"

Beomgyu's eyes met mine, his unease palpable. It was a stark contrast to his usually talkative self. Saerom, always eager to play cupid, suggested we have some private time in the garden.

"Beomgyu and Yuri, don't you both wanna talk to each other? In private?"

The suggestion hung in the air, and I nervously agreed, "I-I'm fine with it."

We found ourselves in the enchanting garden, the moon casting a soft glow on the surroundings. The silence between us was thick, but I couldn't let it linger any longer.

"Haneul said you are a talkative person."

Beomgyu's eyes met mine, and he confessed, "Oh. Yeah. I usually do talk a lot. But today... it's a little different."

Understanding his discomfort, I reassured him, "I understand."

Beomgyu, in an attempt to explain himself, added, "Also. Don't mind me being under dressed for this occasion. I was sleeping when Haneul told me we had to leave."

I couldn't help but tease, "Oh, don't worry about it. You still look so hot." The words escaped me in a hushed whisper.

Beomgyu, catching the last part, asked, "You said something?"

Quickly covering up, I shook my head, "No."

As our conversation flowed, Beomgyu's genuine nature emerged. We discovered common interests, shared dreams, and he seemed genuinely interested in my pursuits. The initial awkwardness faded, replaced by the warmth of a connection waiting to be explored.

"So, mom and dad said that you are in university right now."

I nodded, "Yes. I'm in Seoul National University."

"Really?"

Another nod.

"You must be really smart."

A shy smile escaped me, "I also do singing besides uni. Do you also have something besides work?"

Beomgyu shared, "Well, I do play the guitar a lot."

My eyes lit up, "Oh wow. Ever since I was young, I really wanted to learn the guitar."

He encouraged, "You're still young. You can still learn."

The laughter that followed broke any lingering tension, and we continued our conversation under the moonlit sky. Beomgyu, with his gentle demeanor, felt like a missing piece in the puzzle of my life.

After a while, we were called back. The tension in the air was palpable, but I couldn't help the flutter in my heart as we bid our goodbyes and made our way back home. The car ride felt longer than usual, with my mind swirling in a mix of emotions.

We all gathered in the living room, and the interrogation began.

Dad: So, how is he?

Yuri: Hmm...

I couldn't hide the small smile that crept onto my face, giving away more than I intended.

Mom: You know you're smiling, right?

I let out a little laugh, trying to downplay the effect he had on me.

Yuri: Take that as you wish.

Dad: Thank god.

Later, I found myself in my room, eagerly dialing Chaeri's number. As I spilled my heart out to her, the excitement and nervousness bubbled up.

Yuri: Chaeri, I swear. He literally looks surreal. He's so tall, he has such beautiful hair. His face is so handsome. I could literally stare at him all day. And that's not even it. His voice. It's sweeter than caramel macchiato.

She burst into laughter, interrupting my confession.

Yuri: Yah!! Don't laugh! He's so sweet and nice. Saerom was telling me that he's very gentle and kind. The more I think of him, the more I am falling for him. Help me.

Chaeri: Even god can't help you now. Well, I guess you'll be a married woman in a few months.

I couldn't help but smile at the reality of it all. The wedding date was set for the 28th of the next month, and the anticipation hung in the air like a sweet melody.

In the process of preparation, we crossed paths frequently, but the conversations were scarce.