𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐆𝐄

f o u r t e e n

The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a soft, golden glow across the room. Jisoo sat in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection. Her hands trembled slightly as she adjusted the delicate lace of her wedding dress, her heart pounding in her chest. Today was the day she would become someone's wife—a man she didn't even love.

Her thoughts raced, unable to settle. Would she be able to live with Jungkook, a man who had shown her nothing but cold indifference? What kind of life awaited her after today? The idea of spending her future with him, sharing a home, pretending to be a happy couple, felt suffocating.

A soft knock on the door broke her thoughts. The door opened, and Jennie walked in, her face lit up with a soft smile. She was wearing a lavender bridesmaid dress, her hair cascading in soft waves.

"Hey, unnie," Jennie said gently, walking over to her sister. "How are you feeling?"

Jisoo let out a shaky breath, looking at her reflection again. "Nervous," she admitted. "I don't know if I can do this, Jennie."

Jennie placed a comforting hand on Jisoo's shoulder. "I know this isn't what you wanted," she said softly. "But no matter what happens, I'll always be by your side. You're not alone in this."

Jisoo looked up at her sister, her eyes welling up with tears. "Thank you, Jennie. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Jennie smiled and hugged her tightly. "We'll get through this together. And if anything goes wrong, I'll be there to kick Jungkook's butt."

That made Jisoo laugh a little, easing the tension she had been feeling. Just then, their mother appeared in the doorway. Her eyes were already misty with emotion as she looked at her eldest daughter, dressed in a beautiful white gown, ready to walk down the aisle.

"Oh, my beautiful Jisoo," her mother whispered, walking over and hugging her tightly. "I can't believe you're getting married today. It feels like just yesterday you were a little girl, running around the house."

Jisoo felt her throat tighten with emotion as she hugged her mother back. "I'm going to miss being home."

"You'll always have us," her mother said, her voice trembling with emotion. "And I know you'll be happy, Jisoo. You've always been so strong and so kind. Jungkook is lucky to have you."

Jisoo smiled weakly, unsure if she believed that herself. Before she could respond, Rosé entered the room, her face lit up with excitement. She was dressed in a simple yet elegant bridesmaid dress, her dark hair framing her face perfectly.

"Wow, Jisoo unnie," Rosé said, walking over and giving her a tight hug. "You look absolutely gorgeous."

"Thank you, Rosie," Jisoo replied with a small smile.

Rosé stepped back and studied Jisoo for a moment, her expression turning more serious. "Look, I know you and Jungkook aren't... well, you know. But if he does anything wrong, you can count on me to be on your side. I love my brother, but I'm not going to stand by if he makes your life difficult."

Jisoo's heart warmed at Rosé's words. Even though Rosé was Jungkook's sister, she was always kind and supportive. "Thank you, Rosé. That means a lot."

Rosé gave her one last encouraging smile before stepping aside, just as their father entered the room. His usual serious expression softened when he saw Jisoo in her wedding dress. He walked over to her slowly, taking in the sight of his eldest daughter all grown up.

"It's time to go," he said quietly, offering his arm.

Jisoo stood up, her legs feeling weak beneath her. She took her father's arm, her hand trembling slightly as they prepared to head to the venue. Her nerves spiked as they walked down the hall, her heart pounding louder with each step.

The wedding was being held at one of the most luxurious venues in Busan—a testament to both families' wealth and status. As they stepped out of the car and approached the grand entrance, Jisoo felt her breath hitch. The decorations were stunning, from the towering floral arrangements to the glittering chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. Guests murmured in awe as they admired the venue's elegance.

But Jisoo could barely focus on the beauty of it all. Her mind was clouded with thoughts of Jungkook, the man she was about to marry. What would his reaction be when he saw her? Would he even care?

As they approached the aisle, her eyes fell on him. Jungkook stood at the altar, dressed in a tailored black suit that fit him perfectly. His dark hair was styled neatly, and he looked as handsome as ever. But his face... his face had that same cold, distant expression he always wore.

Jisoo swallowed hard, trying to calm her nerves. She felt flustered seeing him like this—he was undeniably stunning. His presence commanded attention, and for a brief moment, she found herself silently admiring him. But then she reminded herself that appearances didn't matter. She knew what lay beneath that handsome exterior—someone who didn't care for her, someone who was as reluctant as she was about this marriage.

Jungkook glanced at her as she walked toward him, his expression unreadable. But something flickered in his eyes when he saw her in the dress—something she couldn't quite place. He looked at her for more than just a passing glance this time, his gaze lingering on her face and the way the dress hugged her figure.

Jisoo felt her cheeks heat up under his gaze. She quickly looked away, trying to focus on anything but the fact that Jungkook was staring at her. What was he thinking? Did he find her beautiful, or was he just as indifferent as always?

The ceremony began, and everything felt like a blur. Jisoo could hardly focus on the vows, her mind still spinning with nervousness. The officiant spoke, and they exchanged rings, both of them going through the motions as if they were on autopilot.

And then, it was time for the kiss.

Jungkook leaned in, and for a moment, Jisoo tensed up, expecting... something more. But he simply gave her a quick peck on the cheek, barely touching her skin before stepping back.

The crowd clapped politely, and the ceremony came to an end.

Jisoo stood there, feeling a mixture of relief and confusion. The kiss had been so mechanical, so devoid of any feeling. But what had she expected? They didn't love each other. This was all just for show, a marriage based on family expectations and business deals.

As they walked down the aisle together, hand in hand, Jisoo glanced at Jungkook out of the corner of her eye. His face was emotionless, but she could see the tension in his jaw, the way his hands were clenched at his sides.

This was it. She was now Mrs. Jeon, whether she wanted it or not.

But as the reality of it all started to sink in, one question lingered in her mind: What now?