NETIZEN

ENGAGEMENT

Seoul, Hyatt Park Hotel

Present-day

The knot in Jun Ho's stomach tightened as he sat with his mother and father at the table Kwon Jin reserved for them. What frustrated the future groom was the feeling of being trapped, like a mouse running on Kwon Jin's hands. Ga Eun was right. Her brother had changed, or had he?

For Jun Ho, Kwon Jin's attitude seemed like second nature or a fundamental nature suppressed. The only person, the inspector, knew Kwon Jin never played with this way was Kyung Gi, who didn't allow him to have any hold on him.

Perhaps it was the reason why Kwon Jin respected the Seo's son. Jun Ho knew his future brother-in-law saw him like a little brother needing orientation in the right destination. The inspector committed an error in asking Kwon Jin of all people for the Seo's family file. Now there he sat, dressed up like a penguin for this family reunion.

Jun Ho's father even bought engagement rings without his or Ga Eun's consent. Jun Ho wanted to offer the lady a privileged moment of choosing their engagement rings; Kwon Jin stole the intimate moment. Their families transformed their union, giving it the aspect of an arranged wedding.

Only seeing Ga Eun's face relaxed the man as his in-laws arrived with their daughter and son. As usual, the lady was stunning with her overlay emerald green lace sheath dress, which delicately married her figure. Ga Eun had styled her hair in a chignon, which showed her neckline. It was alarming how she threw Jun Ho off guard every time with her appearance.

"Ah, good evening, I never thought the day would come," Kang Baek Hyun said with a wide grin.

" I thought I wouldn't make it either, having one foot in the grave, what a relief my husband would have been glad to live this moment," Ga Eun's grandmother laughing along.

One read joy on all the faces.

Hye Ra sat quietly and observed Jun Ho, who she met a month ago. The young man looked impetuous, not the type of bending, but here he appeared puppy-like and without a will. The man's passivity disappointed the woman to see Kwon Jin acquire another puppet.

How did he get a hold of Jun Ho?

Hye Ra wondered if her intuition had gone wrong. Jun Ho seemed upright; no bribe or intimidation would get to him.

So how did Kwon Jin do?

Perhaps she misjudged the inspector. Maybe Jun Ho too possessed a dark side, Hye Ra thought while she stared at him.

Everything appeared organized from A to Z, even the course. Jun Ho had a hard time containing his emotions; his face displayed too many twitches.

"Jun Ho, are you okay; you look pale?" His mother asked.

"He needn't worry. He as a doctor at hand," Ga Eun's mother said, laughing.

Hye Ra noted director Hong's silence once again. She didn't know him this way. Seven years ago, when she married his son, the hospital director was a cheerful man. He suddenly changed, becoming silent and very observant.

What people retained was the drastic deterioration of his relationship with his son. Everyone knew how disappointed the director was to see Kwon Jin enter politics instead of following the Hong family tradition. The two men didn't argue, but the tension between them was so thick one could almost grasp it in their hands.

"Honestly, I don't know where you could find a more refined partner," Jun Ho's mother said.

The woman liked Ga Eun; she acknowledged the doctor's beauty and brains. What reassured her was to see the Ga Eun loved her son; this was the essential part.

"You are right, Jun Ho Eomoni. There is no finer woman than uri Ga Eun. If she weren't Kwon Jin's sibling, I would have married her to him."

"Halmoni," Kwon Jin said.

"What both of you are pure perfection, I can't see myself giving any of you in marriage to less than the best though I feel I didn't succeed in everything."

Hye Ra gulped down her glass of wine while thinking the old hag didn't let one comment pass by.

The older woman's comment swept the table with a silence in which the arrival of the dessert rescued them.

"Where do you children want to get married?" Ga Eun's mother asked.

"The Shilla hotel would be great," Kang Baek Hyun answered in the couple's stead.

"You took the words out of my mouth," Kwon Jin added.

The scenario played without its protagonists. Jun Ho suffocated in his seat.

Was he the only one who found the scene odd?

"Maybe they could choose themselves," Director Hong said, leaving many gaping mouths with his comment.

"Hmm, abeoji Ga Eun deserves the best that's why we thought of the Shilla hotel."

"I'd like something less bling-bling."

The wedding was hers. Ga Eun had waited so long and had no intention of letting her brother run the show.

"Don't worry, my dear you can choose whatever you want we'll pay-"

"I will pay for my daughter's wedding," Director Hong said, eyes glaring at Kang Baek Hyun.

The politician smiled, he already had Kwon Jin on his side of the chessboard, and now he was winning a queen. No matter how Director Hong would try to counter him, he now had a permanent seat in the medical field with Intech Industries, thanks to Hye Ra and Hong Byeongwon with Ga Eun.

This chessboard pawn aspect was the actual utility of women when well-born they represented significant financial assets; being pretty was a bonus; intelligence was a minor drawback which blind love could overcome.

Kang Baek Hyun congratulated himself on having a son with undeniable natural charms. Ga Eun's love was opaque, and the older man felt like he was the groom of the wedding.

"Oh, please don't argue over costs. We can work that out together. First, let us know where you kids would like to get married," Ga Eun's mother said.

"Why not here?" Hye Ra said, making heads turn in her direction.

"I like the idea. The Hyatt is also a luxurious hotel. What do you think, Jun Ho?" Ga Eun said, smiling in Hye Ra's direction.

The two women didn't have many occasions to meet casually. Ga Eun always got the impression Kwon Jin kept his wife away from her in-laws on purpose. She hoped her marriage would bring them closer; they would have husbands as to the frequent subject of conversations.

"If you are happy with it, I'm fine with it, too," Jun Ho replied with a smile.

"I think the Shilla would be better," Kwon Jin added.

"For who? If they want to marry her, then so be it," Director Hong said, looking at his son over his spectacles.

"Since everyone has their dessert Jun Ho maybe you should, you know," his mother said, letting the words trail off.

She gave him a little wink before directing her eyes to somewhere next to Jun Ho.

" Oh, eh," Jun Ho reached for the BVLGARI packet, which was at his feet; he opened the box and faced Ga Eun, who sat next to him.

"I know it's late, but-"

Ga Eun gasped as she saw her B.zero1, 18-carat engagement ring. Jun Ho wanted to explain how he regretted not having consulted her, but the woman seemed to be transported somewhere on the milky way to Mars.

The gesture appeared to satisfy everyone at the table, but it was Kwon's Jin smile, which made Jun Ho cringe from the inside as he had the impression of running on his cage's mouse wheel.