A Life of Sacrifice

Minju's mind reeled as she tried to come to terms with the conversation she had just had with her parents. She couldn't believe they were willing to sacrifice her happiness for the sake of the company. The thought of marrying a man she had never met, a man who was apparently chosen for her by her parents, was daunting and overwhelming. As she sat there, trying to gather her thoughts, Minju's gaze drifted around the room, taking in the familiar surroundings that now seemed foreign and suffocating. She had always known that her life was planned out for her, that she would one day take over the company and marry well. But she had never thought it would come to this - an arranged marriage to a man she didn't know, a man who was apparently chosen for her by her parents. Minju's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her mother's voice, calling out to her from across the room. "Minju, dear, I think it's time for you to start making preparations for the wedding. Your father and I have already spoken to Kim Chaewon's family, and they are eager to meet with you to discuss the details of the marriage." Minju felt a surge of panic rising up inside her. She had to get out of this, she had to find a way to make her parents see that this was not the right decision for her. But as she looked at them, she knew that she was fighting a losing battle. They were determined to see this through, no matter what. The rest of the day passed in a blur for Minju. She went through the motions, her mind preoccupied with thoughts of her future and the man she would soon be expected to marry. As she lay in bed that night, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was trapped in a nightmare from which she couldn't wake up. The next morning, Minju decided to take a walk in the garden to clear her head. She needed to think, to come up with a plan to get out of this arranged marriage. As she strolled through the gardens, she came across a familiar figure - her best friend, Soo-jin. Soo-jin was a petite woman with long, curly hair and a bright smile. She had been Minju's friend since childhood, and Minju had always valued her opinion. Soo-jin was one of the few people who knew Minju's true feelings, and Minju had always confided in her. "Soo-jin," Minju said, as she approached her friend. "I need to talk to you about something." Soo-jin looked up from her book, concern etched on her face. "What's wrong, Minju?" she asked, as Minju sat down beside her. Minju took a deep breath before launching into the story of her parents' proposal. Soo-jin listened with wide eyes as Minju recounted the events of the previous day. "I'm so sorry, Minju," Soo-jin said, when Minju had finished. "But you have to fight this. You can't just go through with it, not if it's going to make you unhappy." Minju nodded, feeling a sense of determination rising up inside her. She was going to find a way out of this, no matter what it took. "I know," Minju said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But it's not that simple. My parents will stop at nothing to make sure I marry Kim Chaewon. They've already made the arrangements, and I'm not sure I can get out of it." Soo-jin put a hand on Minju's arm. "We'll figure something out," she said. "I promise you, Minju, we will not let this happen to you. You deserve so much better than a life of sacrifice and misery." Minju smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude towards her friend. She knew that she could count on Soo-jin to be there for her, no matter what. As they sat there in silence, Minju's thoughts turned to Yujin, the man she had loved and lost. She wondered what he was doing now, and whether he would ever find out about her parents' plans for her. The memory of Yujin brought a pang of sadness to Minju's chest, but it also sparked a sense of determination. She was going to find a way to get out of this arranged marriage, no matter what it took. And she was going to do it on her own terms, not on her parents'.