"A Life of My Own"

Minju's thoughts swirled in her head like a storm, refusing to settle on any one idea for too long. She felt like she was trapped in a nightmare, with no escape in sight. The thought of marrying a man she didn't know, a man she had never even met, was suffocating her. She thought back to all the times she had dreamed of a life of her own, a life where she made her own choices and decisions. But now, it seemed like that life was being taken away from her. As she sat there, trying to process the enormity of her parents' proposal, Minju's mind kept wandering back to Yujin. She wondered what he was doing now, and whether he ever thought about her. Their relationship had been brief, but it had been intense and passionate. Minju had given up on Yujin when her parents had forbidden her from seeing him again, citing his family's low social standing and their disapproval of his family's occupation. But now, as she faced the prospect of marrying a man she didn't love, Minju couldn't help but feel a pang of regret for letting Yujin go. She had loved him with all her heart, but her parents had disapproved of their relationship, and she had been too weak to resist their pressure. The door to Minju's room creaked open, and her mother walked in with a tray of food. "I brought you some lunch," she said, her voice softening slightly as she saw Minju's expression. "I know this must be hard for you, but-" Minju cut her off, her voice firm. "You have no idea how hard this is for me. I'm being forced into a marriage with a man I've never even met." Her mother's expression faltered for a moment, before she regained her composure. "I understand that this is difficult for you, Minju," she said. "But this is for the good of the company. And for the good of our family's legacy." Minju felt a surge of frustration. How could her mother be so heartless? Didn't she care about Minju's happiness at all? "I'm not going to do it," Minju said, her voice firm. "I'm not going to marry him." Her mother sighed, and put down the tray of food. "Minju, I understand that this is hard for you to accept, but you have to trust me on this one. Kim Chaewon is a good man, and he will be a good husband to you. He comes from a good family, and he has a lot of influence. You will be set for life with him." Minju shook her head, feeling a sense of desperation creeping in. "You don't understand," she said. "I'm not in love with him. I don't even know him." Her mother's expression turned stern. "Love is a luxury we can't afford, Minju. This is a business arrangement, not a romance. You will learn to love him, in time." Minju felt a chill run down her spine as she listened to her mother's words. She realized that she was trapped, with no way out. Her parents would stop at nothing to ensure that she married Kim Chaewon, and she was starting to feel like she was losing control of her life. Just then, Minju's phone buzzed on her bedside table. She hesitated for a moment before picking it up, hoping that it was Yujin on the other end. Maybe he could help her, or offer some advice on how to get out of this situation. But as she glanced at the screen, her heart sank. It was her best friend, Yoon-ah, calling to check in. Minju hesitated for a moment before answering, trying to keep her tone light. "Hey, Yoon-ah," she said, forcing a smile onto her face. "Hey, Minju! What's going on?" Yoon-ah asked, sensing that something was off. "You sound really upset. What's wrong?" Minju hesitated, unsure of how much she should reveal to her friend. But something about Yoon-ah's tone put her at ease. Maybe it was time to confide in someone. "I just found out that my parents are arranging a marriage for me," Minju said, her voice barely above a whisper. There was a pause on the other end of the line, before Yoon-ah spoke up. "What? That's crazy! Who is he?" Minju took a deep breath before speaking. "Kim Chaewon. They want me to marry him in six months." The line went silent, and for a moment, Minju wondered if Yoon-ah had hung up on her.