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Jake stood by the Han River, lost in contemplation as the water flowed serenely. His reverie was shattered by the familiar sound of clicking heels—a sound he dreaded more than anything.

"How did you get out? And how do you have my number?" Haein demanded, skipping the pleasantries. He turned to face her, a hint of annoyance in his eyes.

"Look, don't piss me off. I'm being generous right now," he warned. She looked puzzled, and he continued, "I accept your proposal."

"What did you say?" Her voice softened, a hint of disbelief lingering as she looked into his eyes.

A wide smile crept across her face, excitement bubbling within her. She took a step forward, her heart racing with anticipation, and without thinking, she jumped to hug him tightly.

But as her arms wrapped around him, she suddenly froze, realizing the intimacy of her actions. His expression shifted from confusion to a mixture of surprise and tension, caught off guard by her sudden embrace.

"Sorry, I got carried away for a minute. Anyway, why the change of heart?"

"Are you in a position to question that right now?"

Her smile was both proud and intrigued as she replied, "Nice... I promise you this game will only last for three days, then we'll go our separate ways."

Leading her to a nearby bench, Jake suggested, "Let's sit down while we talk about my conditions."

With a skeptical expression, Haein awaited his proposal. Jake's words hung in the air, leaving her stunned, "We won't pretend to get married. We'll get married for real. We'll stay married for at least a year, and you're going to live in our house with my family."

Haein's scoff was audible, her frustration evident, "Got it. You're trying to turn a crisis into an opportunity, but I'm not buying it."

Haein's annoyance was palpable as she turned to leave, but Jake swiftly clutched her wrist, pulling her back to his side.

"Why are we getting married for real though?" she asked, her frustration evident.

Jake's grip on her wrist tightened as he explained, "Because I can't accept it the other way around. Let's say you get to the wedding venue, but your father doesn't show up and doesn't stop you. What are you going to do?"

Haein paused, pondering deeply before a mischievous smile spread across her face as she looked him straight in the eye, "I'll leave you at the wedding table and walk out."

"That's exactly why we need to get married. What am I going to tell my family? I have my pride, you know. But after a year, we can say we didn't get along and get divorced."

"So, you're dragging me through the mud because you can't handle your fragile man ego," she retorted sharply.

Jake chuckled dismissively, "Eh, it's not that. My grandparents are old; they need someone to take care of them." Despite his casual tone, the tension between them was palpable, crackling in the air like electricity.

After hearing his words, Haein snapped back, "Go look for another maid; I'm leaving."

With determination in her steps, she swiftly walked away, leaving him standing there. But he couldn't let her go without a final word. "Fine! You can go back to your home and live with Daddy and your new mom," he shouted after her.

As he turned to leave, she abruptly grabbed his forearm, her anger palpable. "Fine, but a year is too much. Let's make it three months," she demanded, extending her hand to seal the deal.

He paused, considering her proposal, then finally reached out and clasped her hand firmly. "Nine months," he countered, his tone resolute yet open to negotiation.

"Four,"

"Six months is my last offer," he replied, pulling her closer, their arms almost touching, their breaths mingling. Haein felt her heart race as she met his eyes, a rush of heat flooding her senses.

"So it's a deal," she agreed, a small smile playing on her lips as she withdrew her arm.

At the municipality office, Haein and Jake sat in a nondescript room, the air heavy with the scent of bureaucracy. The clerk behind the desk seemed unfazed by their presence as he listed off the required documents.

"A photocopy of the identity card, a medical report from the designated doctor, and five passport size photos,"

Haein leaned forward, her eagerness palpable. "How soon can you give us a date?" she inquired, her voice tinged with urgency.

The clerk arched an eyebrow, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. "You're in a hurry, aren't you?" he remarked dryly.

Unfazed by his tone, Haein's determination shone through. "We want to get married as soon as possible," she insisted, her gaze steady.

Meanwhile, Jake couldn't resist the opportunity to tease her. With a playful smirk, he interjected, "She's so in love with me, but I kept rejecting her, and she kept running after me. She's traumatized, you see," he quipped, earning an exasperated glance from Haein.

"We have a free hour tomorrow afternoon; a couple backed out last minute."

Haein couldn't help but offer a sarcastic remark, "Congrats to them." She quickly corrected herself under the puzzled gazes of Jake and the clerk, "I mean, good luck to us."

The clerk nodded, unaffected by her slip. "If you can submit the papers by tomorrow, I'll write down your name," he confirmed, his tone matter-of-fact.

As the night fell, Jake returned home to find his sister bustling around the kitchen, setting the dinner table. He excused himself to wash up before joining them downstairs. As he descended, he overheard his sister's admonition to their grandfather,

"We have an important guest today, Grandpa. You have to behave."

Intrigued, Jake entered the dining room and inquired, "Who is the guest?" Soomin smiled mischievously and replied, "It's a surprise. You'll see when she comes."

Jake stood before his family, the tension thick in the air, and declared, "Well, since we're on the topic of surprises... I'm getting married."

In the midst of the charged atmosphere, Jake's grandfather, oblivious to the gravity of the moment, clapped happily, not reading the room. However, his cheerfulness was short-lived as he caught on to the mood and asked, "What?"

Jake's father, who had been engrossed in the newspaper, dropped it suddenly, while Soomin's smile faltered.

His grandmother's voice pierced the silence as she exclaimed, "What did you say?"

"Exactly, what did you say?"

"I'm bringing you a bride, sis. You won't be a maid anymore,"

As Soomin collapsed, the room erupted into chaos, family members rushing to her side, their concern evident in their frantic attempts to revive her. Jake, feeling a mixture of guilt and frustration, couldn't help but let out a sarcastic remark amidst the commotion.

"Weren't you the one who insisted that I get married? Well, here you go," he muttered, his tone laced with bitterness. Soomin, regaining consciousness, shot him a glare, her annoyance evident as she retorted.

"I told you to marry a girl we know. I didn't tell you to find one on your own. What are you, a loner?"

Jake rolled his eyes, his patience wearing thin. "What happened to your blood pressure? Aren't you dying right now?" he fired back, his frustration bubbling to the surface.

"I won't die before I give you to the right girl," she declared defiantly. Then, with a mischievous glint in her eye, she added, "Besides, I've already found you a good girl. You'll see her when she comes."

"See who?"

Soomin's reply caught him off guard. "Juri," she announced.

Jake's disbelief was palpable as he scoffed, "Lousy Juri?"

"Don't be mean. She's the prettiest girl in our neighborhood." Jake's incredulity only grew as he shook his head in disbelief.

"Good for her. What does that have to do with me?" he muttered, exasperated.

Their father intervened, his voice stern as he addressed Soomin, "Soomin, he already has a girl in his mind, and here you are talking about Juri."

"Dad, have you gone crazy? We don't even know the girl," she retorted.

Jake couldn't help but smile at the exchange, finding some amusement in the chaos unfolding around him. "It's okay. You'll meet her tomorrow at the wedding," he chimed in, his tone surprisingly calm given the circumstances.

Then, their grandmother's voice pierced through the tense atmosphere as she shouted, "What did you say?"

Soomin'a eyes, hazy with confusion, scanned the room as she asked, "Tomorrow is the wedding?"

Suddenly, she collapsed to the floor, fainting from the shock of the revelation. Panic ensued as family members rushed to her side, their concern evident as they attempted to revive her.

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