Imagination II Winrina

Chapter 21

M I N J E O N G

As I lay on the grass with Jimin, looking up at the stars, I couldn't help but think about our future together. I knew that I had to talk to Jimin about my feelings and where we wanted this relationship to go.

"Jimin," I say, turning to face her. "I need to talk to you about something."

She looks at me, concern in her eyes. "What is it?"

"I know we've only been seeing each other, but I can't help how I feel. I feel a connection with you that I haven't felt with anyone else. I care about you deeply, and I want to explore where this could go. But I also understand if you're not ready for something more serious yet. I just want to know if you feel the same way or if we're on different pages. I've been honest about my feelings for you, but I'm not sure if you feel the same way or if you just see us as friends. I don't want to continue pursuing something if it's not mutual, so I need to know where I stand."

Jimin takes a deep breath before replying, "Minjeong, I care about you too, and I don't want to lose what we have. But at the same time, I can't deny that there's something more here. I've been trying to sort out my feelings for a while now," 

She intertwines our hands before continuing. "I want to be honest with you. But please know that I am willing to take the risk if it means being with you. I also need to find a way to tell my family about us, but I promise that I will do everything I can to make it work."

I never expected her response to be so reassuring, but it was exactly what I needed to hear. And when she acknowledged that there was something between us, my heart felt like it was soaring with joy.

~~~

J I M I N

I stood at the edge of the crowded ballroom, my eyes scanning the sea of faces. It was another one of my family's business parties, filled with important people and deals being made behind closed doors. I was standing beside my uncle, and my father, who was engaged in conversation with a group of investors.

I couldn't help but feel out of place, like a fish out of water. I had always been expected to follow in my family's footsteps and take over the company someday, but my heart wasn't in it. I was tired of living up to my uncle's expectations, tired of trying to be someone I'm not.

I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. I knew my uncle had been expecting me to agree to a marriage with Soobin, the son of a wealthy business partner. But my heart belonged to someone else, someone my uncle would never approve of. As my uncle went on about the benefits of the merger, my mind drifted to Minjeong, the person I was starting to fall for and who had helped me in so many ways to be myself. With her, I felt free to be who I truly was, and I couldn't imagine being without her. Just the thought of losing her to a loveless marriage arranged by my uncle made my heart ache. I thought about our conversations and the way Minjeong made me feel alive. I knew that I couldn't keep hiding my true self forever, and I was ready to take a stand.

I took a deep breath, mustering all the courage I could find within myself. Looking directly at my uncle, I said, "Uncle, I appreciate your concern for the future of our family business, but I cannot agree with your proposal. I cannot marry Soobin or anyone for that matter, for the sake of the company. I have my dreams and aspirations, and I want to pursue them on my terms."

"What do you mean?" my uncle asked, his eyes narrowing with suspicion.

"I... Soobin and I broke up," I said, my heart pounding in my chest.

"What?" my uncle exclaimed, his face turning red with anger. "How could you do this, Jimin? You know how important this marriage is for the company!"

"I know, Uncle, but things just didn't work out between us," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "It hasn't been for the past years."