#98 liners friendship | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

dat-town · 2 years

Text

until marriage do us part

Characters: heir!Minho & heiress!you

Setting & genre: comedy, basically a Romeo and Juliet au if you squint, just a funny one. no angst only the title, secret friends to lovers, fake dating au

Summary: The two Lee families have been rivals even before you were born and while you should have done anything to better Lee Minho, you ended up befriending him in your freshman year of college. Now, towards the end of your masters, you plan to marry him out of spite. But maybe your friendship isn’t strong enough to bear the weight of a fake marriage. At least, not without falling in love on the way.

Warnings: westernized wedding setting, suggestive jokes, talking about sex, the rival Lee families being stupid, ridiculous rich kid things, Y/N is in denial, dozen cameos of Lees & 98-liners and Jeonghan who is a bit self-centered in this one, sorry

Words: 15.8k

Happy birthday @lily-blue! <3

Taglist: @floweronacloud

I. THE PROPOSAL

You are already nursing your third mojito for the night by the time Minho shows up.

The strong liquid burns your throat deliciously and blurs your mind into pleasant haziness which is exactly what you need right now. Perhaps your grumpiness is too obvious with that frown on your face and the smudged makeup that’s most likely trashy for a high class club in Gangnam but they would never dare to not let you in. Or maybe the bouncers took pity on you just like the bartender who is sporting your alcoholic tendencies without questions asked. But Minho knows, oh of course he knows that something must be very very wrong.

“Hey, princess. Rough day?”

The nickname rolls off his tongue so naturally like it was made for it. And however, the melodic tone of his honey-sweet voice might send shivers down your spine, you don’t even blink at his teasing. It’s part of that special routine of you two: he jokingly calls you spoiled and you tend to refer to him as a playboy. However, you both know very well that despite his reputation he isn’t like that.

“Argh… don’t even start,” you let out a frustrated groan as he slumps into the empty barstool next to you. You raise your half-empty glass towards him in a manner one would do when they say a toast or make a big announcement. Well, it’s kind of a big deal. Big enough for you to get tipsy so early in the evening. “According to my best mom and dad of the year award-worthy parents, the perfect gift I could receive for my 24th birthday is a marriage contract.”

As the dreadful words leave your mouth, the first thing you take notice of is Minho laughing uncontrollably with half of his body thrown onto the counter as if you just told him the joke of the century. It takes him a firm glare from you and a few more moments of silence to realize that you didn’t even crack a smile.

“Wait... You are not joking,” he gapes at you coming to the conclusion quite quickly after putting two and two together. Well, no shit, Sherlock.

“Nope,” you shake your head and drink the rest of your cocktail in one shot. The bittersweet burn makes it easier to say the words out loud. “I have to marry Yoon Jeonghan.”

Hearing the clear disgust in your voice, your self-proclaimed best friend looks at you with eyes as wide as the ocean like you were crazy. Maybe you are. Refusing a possible arranged marriage with somebody like Yoon Jeonghan would be unheard of.

“What’s wrong with him? As far as I know he’s totally the ladies’ man: rich, handsome and a certificated boyfriend material. Not to mention, he has a private island near Malaysia.” Minho counts the facts everybody knows about Seoul’s - if not entire South Korea’s - No.1. bachelor which makes you scoff loudly. Even though you have to admit that your should-be-fiance really has the qualities most women dream about, you have the sudden urge to suggest to Minho that he should marry the guy then.

You only met Yoon Jeonghan twice though, both were more like formal greetings at those boring charity parties than actual heart-to-heart talks. But it was more than enough for you to conclude that he’s a little bit too narcissistic for your liking. All he could talk about was either his skincare routine or his own brand. He wasn’t your type at all and you couldn’t imagine spending the rest of your life with him in a penthouse that’s probably full of his portraits and framed pictures of his oh so handsome face.

“But he’s so full of himself… and old,” you pout with sad eyes and Minho laughs at your childishness. Especially because he knows that you and your fiance-wannabe are merely three years apart.

“Old? He’s your brother’s age.”

“Exactly. It’s like if I married one of Jihoon's weird friends like Soonyoung,” you exclaim exasperated as if it was the worst-case scenario. For you, it kind of is because you already have one overprotective brother, you don't need another.

“Huh, you are a picky one, aren’t you?” Minho's mellifluous voice has a slight teasing edge as he playfully nudges you on the shoulder. You can only roll your eyes and stick out your tongue at him which he returns with a mischievous smile that makes his eyes disappear behind moonlike crescents.

“No, I just don’t want to marry somebody they want,” you mumble, still annoyed with your parents who went along and organized something like this without your consent. Not that it was the first time they did something like this. “I feel like I’m not even their daughter, just an asset to them.”

Minho hums because if somebody then he can relate to you a whole lot. Lost in his thoughts, he's sliding his delicate fingers through that silky dark hair of his and no wonder why such a tiny action can leave hordes of girls breathless. He looks like a goddamn model on runway 24/7 and he acts like the cocky heir he really is but deep down, you know very well that he's just another goofy, warm-hearted boy who had to grow up too fast.

“Okay, I have an idea how to piss off your parents and make it impossible for you to marry Yoon Jeonghan,” he says, his bright eyes shining with excitement just like little kids' on Christmas Eve before opening the presents.

“Enlighten me then, you genius,” you sigh, resigned, thinking that he can't come up with anything new under the Sun, anything you haven't thought of before. But none of your crazy plans are realistic enough to give it a try so you highly doubt he can turn the tables. Little do you know that absolutely nothing at all could have ever prepared you for what Lee Minho suggests:

“Marry me.”

To get the context, one must know that Minho and you should probably be mortal enemies since your families practically despise each other. While being the cream of Gangnam life and competitors in the cosmetics industry, it can't be helped, you guess, but they undeniably go to unnecessary extremes in this whole rivalry. Even since you can remember, your parents have always told you to be the best… or at least better than Lee Minho.

Ironically, both of you bear the surname Lee – like half of the damned country –, so it makes it an even fiercer competition to be the first Lee Cosmetics to come up in the Naver search results. (And yes, you know for a fact, that both companies have a whole team in the marketing department that does nothing else but fine-tune their search engine optimization techniques every week to make sure they are the one.)

You had never really cared about the other Lees despite all this and used to avoid Minho's family at all cost at those boring parties and events both families attended (and if one attended at a party, the other also had to and vica versa), so you managed nineteen years without facing your arch enemy. However, both Minho and you enrolled in the most prestigious university of Korea to study business, so your meeting was inevitable.

Eventually, it all came down to it at a frat party and while everybody highly anticipated you to make a riot, a huge scene to tweet about, Minho said something funny about cats and you laughed along. That was the beginning of your unlikely friendship.

Of course, your families know nothing about the midnight texting, the friendly library dates and group projects spent as partners in crime. But since then, whenever an event occurs that requires your presence, you two drink champagne on the rooftop or any other hidden place and argue about whose family is more ridiculous in this whole rivalry fiasco.

At this point, you would say yours, but Minho himself might be a bit crazy, too.

Silence.

“You must be kidding me,” you laugh uncontrollably as you wait for Minho to drop the act but he has never been that good of an actor. It’s a wonder how he can keep a straight face after such an exclamation. Lips in a firm line, determination set in the eyes as he shakes his head letting the dark locks fall back into their place on his forehead.

“No. I’m totally serious.”

“What?!” You gape at him as if you didn’t know the meaning of the word. To say you’re dumbfounded would be an understatement. What a joke! He can’t really mean it, right? And what kind of solution would that be anyway?

“I said: marry me. Should I get on one knee and propose, too? Damn, we need a ring,” Minho is talking to himself now and you still can’t wrap your head about his suggestion. It’s so crazy, it just doesn’t make sense and you aren’t drunk enough for this.

You like Minho, very much. He is your best friend after all. Well, secret best friend your parents wouldn’t approve of but still. He means a lot to you, being the one to hold your hair that one time you threw up at a college party, helping out with notes for that 8AM class you often sleep in and with his kind of useful advice about certain boys who try to hit on you. He even tries to cheer you up with his self-baked and decorated cookies whenever you’re down, so sure, you like him around. But marrying him? That’s a whole new level.

“The problem is that I don’t want to marry anybody,” you tell him and with a graceful flick of your wrist you order another cocktail.

“First, you didn’t say that a minute ago. You said you don’t want to marry somebody your parents want,” he holds up a finger reminding you in that almost annoying all-knowing voice of his he uses when of course he's right. “And second, it wouldn’t even be a real marriage, duh. More like a flatmate thing? And the bonus: you get to see this everyday,” he makes exaggerated hand gestures towards his fit body and you burst out laughing again. This time it’s more like a breathy chuckle, a lighthearted one because this is the Minho you’re used to: the smart, softly caring, joking one. A friend to come to your help even in the most ridiculous situations.

You only hum, deep in thoughts and you can't believe you're actually considering it. But what could go wrong if it’s just for a few months to make a point?

“What do you say?” Minho prompts, nudging you in the side to get your attention back at him. The alcohol in your mojito burns your throat as you think back on all those things your parents control in your life. Education, private classes, ‘proper’ lady friends, mobile bills, bank account, your schedule... Your relationship status definitely won't be one, you decide.

“All my life I’ve been told that we were Lees first, we were in the industry first and you just want to steal it from us,” you mumble, your index finger circling on the edge of your glass in a slow rhythm. “It would be so ironic if they thought your family managed to take me away from them. Because I'm sure as hell they would be so dramatic.”

“It would be like Romeo and Juliet,” Minho grins from ear to ear, always one for the show but you don’t like the reference.

“They both died in the end," you gloomily remind him of that small detail. You don’t mention the other thing he forgot about: the fact that the Shakespearean characters were madly in love.

“We’re not that stupid and dramatic, right? How old were they anyway, ten? Plus, we’re not even in love,” Minho scoffs, sarcastically, but he’s right. If you’re doing this, you’re doing it in a smart way.

“Okay. But we need rules,” you declare, turning to face Minho with your whole body. A part of you would like to blame the alcohol for agreeing to his crazy plan but deep down you know it isn't the drink. It’s about you yearning to show your parents that they can’t control you and every single aspect of your life.

“We won’t be like our parents and make it into business. It’ll be inevitable to sign a marriage contract about money deals but we don’t do it to get a hand in the other’s company," you say and it’s not a debatable question.

You know your parents too well: after the initial shock of the announcement, they would want to make the most of it, like out of every business deal. You might not love your parents as a child should but you respect them and what they did for their company that put food onto the dinner table before you all these years, so you wouldn’t want to see it collapse because of your stupidity and it’s the same for Minho. You would never forgive yourself if your parents managed to ruin his family’s enterprise because of you, or even with just your help.

“Right,” Minho nods, the creases on his forehead showing how serious he’s about this. His warm, brown eyes find yours as he looks up and his small smile makes your heart feel at ease. “And we won’t let it affect our friendship. We’ll still be cool after the divorce, ok?”

“Of course,“ you agree hastily because you couldn’t even imagine your life without him in it, you don’t even want that. “We will get there when it seems like my family is okay with me having my damn life in my hands. But we have to be smart about it to not cause drama in the media.”

Both of you know how easily someone can fall from really high if they aren’t in the media’s favour. If two heirs marry, it will be one hell of a sensation and potentially you can be turned into the Kate and William of Korea. It would be a small chaos if the word got out of being fake and cancelling it just because of that. The law wouldn’t like it either no matter your reason.

"And we stop if one of us wants to start seeing somebody else. But as long as we are together, nobody can know it’s fake, no friend, no relative,” you add just to be sure you’re on the same page. You know Minho has had quite a few girls to warm his bed in the last few years but it would be a bit dangerous to do that if the word got out of you being a thing. A scandal is the last thing you need and universities aren’t exactly the most discreet places, so you have to be extra careful.

“What if we catch feelings on the way?” the boy tilts his head to the side because both of you have seen enough American sitcoms to know these kinds of things never work out the way people want. But it’s not Hollywood, so you laugh.

“Are you worried?” you lean closer to him fluttering your eyelashes and flashing a flirtatious smile just to tease him.

“Pff,” Minho snorts and throws his head back, his Adam’s apple bobbing. You have always known him as a handsome, collected man but you still like him the best when he’s laughing, freely and childishly. “You wish, sweetheart.”

You lean back, satisfied and the nerves are acting up again as you pick up your drink.

“Anything else?” you ask and when your best friend shakes his head no, you lift the glass. “Okay then, let’s drink to that.”

“Cheers.” Minho clinks your glasses together and drown the content of his in one go.

You need a moment after the mojito is down your throat to get a grasp of reality, to really think about the consequences like your parents’ angry faces and the inevitable argument. Then from one moment to another, you freeze, heart picking up its speed and nausea starts choking you at a possibility you haven’t thought of until now.

“Wait... what if they disown us?” You gasp terrified because in Korea it’s not that unheard of as in other parts of the world. They could easily erase you out of the family records if you were considered a disgrace to them.

“Well, they can’t kick me out of the family, I’m the sole heir,” Minho shrugs, not worried at all and fixes his hair with a swift movement. It doesn’t calm you down at all though. Your fingers play with the expensive watch on your wrist you got for your 21st birthday. That was certainly a better surprise than a marriage contract

“But I am not.”

When your best friend looks at you, there’s warmth in his eyes. Everybody knows not no matter what feminist movements achieved in the last hundred years, the conservative Korean hierarchy still makes a difference between woman and man, a first child and a second child, especially if the first is a boy. Out of the two of you, it’s you who can lose more with this risky plan, but you’re also the one who can gain their freedom if it works in the end.

“Your brother wouldn’t let it,” Minho says, putting his hand gently over the top of yours and you know it’s true. You’re lucky enough that despite how much you bicker, Jihoon loves you dearly. He might dislike the Lees just like your parents but he’s a lot more open-minded and would never let you get cut off entirely because of an affair.

“We only do it if you’re really okay with it,” the boy reminds you and he squeezes your hand and you turn to him with a grateful smile. Are you okay with it? You ask yourself and if you look deep into your heart the answer is loud and clear: you’re a lot more okay with it than continuing to act like the perfect, obedient daughter and say yes to the proposal of a man whom you barely know.

“I am. We could even fly to Las Vegas today and get it done,” you insist and it’s so crazy, to think of how easy it is to get married if you really want.

“Oh my god, I would so look at their faces if we told them about Vegas,” your best friend laughs out loud, head falling onto the counter in-between full-body giggles. You can’t help but let out chuckles on your own because your always so neat and strict, conservative mother would probably get weak in the knees hearing the news.

“Me too, but sadly they wouldn't believe it or accept it,” you remind the boy who doesn’t seem really sad hearing it.

“To be honest, I think it would piss them off more if we prolonged the engagement and played the sweet boyfriend-girlfriend thing.”

He’s definitely right, you know. If your parents see that you’re happy with someone ’from the enemy’, they would be totally out of it.

“Yeah, we have to make it believable. People will love us and our parents can only fume.”

It won't be that hard. Now that you give it a proper thought, half of the university already thinks you’re together and say they don't buy the ’just friends’ bullshit. They will be all ’we said so’ and ’we knew’, so convincing the people around you will be the easiest. The hardest nut to crack will probably be your mother because she has this delusion that she knows you better than anyone and knows what's best for you.

“I actually have a lawyer friend. I can ask him to help us with the legal documents and organize the whole thing,” Minho continues and maybe that’s when it really settles down in you that it’s happening. You’re really doing this. You’re making the show of the decade for the elite of Seoul.

“Perfect,” you smile brightly at your best friend who reciprocated with one of his own. His sharp eyes turn into adorable crescents.

“So what do you say? Would you do the honors of marrying me?” he asks with a mischief clear in his playful voice and you know the stage needs two people to play this game.

“I thought you’d never ask,” you put a hand over your heart theatrically and act like you were trying to blink away emotional tears.

“Okay, wear this,” he takes off one of his own rings and gently takes your hand in his to put the accessory on your ring finger. You watch it in awe, how easily he gives you something of his, something that’s feminine enough to deceive anyone.

“Hm, looks good on you. How do you like the sound of Mrs. Lee?” Minho looks up at you, eyes shining brightly, a hand still holding yours.

“I could get used to it,” you admit honestly and can’t help but admire your impromptu engagement ring.

You know already this will be one hell of a ride but with him by your side, you’re ready to face everything.

II. THE ENGAGEMENT PARTY

You take a deep breath and tell yourself that everything’s going to be okay. Your parents might be overdramatic when it comes to unpleasant surprises but it can’t be that bad, right?

Oh it can be, a little voice in your head tells you and just as you turn the corner and go get to the breakfast table, your mother’s sharp eyes are on you immediately.

“Where were you last night, miss? You can’t just run off like that after I told you about the marriage,” she reminds you and of course she’s still on that. No’ Are you okay? What happened?’ She only cares about what she wants, so you feel a bit of animalistic satisfaction going against her words. Suddenly agreeing to Minho's idea seems like the best decision you’ve ever made.

“Mom, the marriage can’t happen,” you shake your head carefully, playing with the ring on your fourth finger behind your back. You just wait for the right moment to show it off, to leave a big enough impact on her.

“Why not? There’s nobody better than Yoon Jeonghan. He’s perfect for you,” she says so sure of herself as she soothes out the wrinkles of your dress. She might really think she’s doing this for you but she doesn’t understand how overbearing this could get.

“Well, he might be for somebody, but not for me. I can’t marry him because I’m dating someone,” you blurt out quickly, almost stumbling over the words and you can only hope your mistake will be written off as being flustered because you just whipped out your hand and that freaking silver ring on it with a forever symbol. “And he actually proposed yesterday.”

You thought it would be too suspicious, too convenient to tell them the proposal happened on the day before but Minho was right: somebody would have noticed the ring if you wore it before and it would have been expected from both of you to throw an engagement party right away to make things official, so that’s what you were planning now. You just needed your mom to buy it, to catch the bait.

“Oh,” she opens her mouth and closes it without saying anything. Then she leans forward taking your hand in hers closely examining the accessory. She’s acting like a pawn shop owner trying to put a price on it. She grimaces, clearly unimpressed by the lack of diamond but she doesn’t mention it which is a really good sign. You hoped so since it was an expensive ring from Tiffany at the end of the day. Instead your mother stared at you quite bewildered.

“So you have been dating? Why didn’t you tell us?” she asks oh so innocent and you are close to apologizing for keeping your so-called relationship secret in front of her, almost forgetting everything she did when she continues. “You know it’s fine until he’s in the same social class.”

You almost snort. Of course! Of course, it's always about the money. If you were to fall in love with a simple baker from the corner patisserie or anyone who hasn’t earned a ridiculous amount, they would oppose it, trying to tear it apart but not as much as with Minho, you’re sure. They will do everything in their power to stop that from happening, money be doomed.

“He is, it’s just… I was worried about your reaction,” you duck your head down in fake-bashfulness. You are indeed worried, at least that part wasn’t a lie.

“Who is he?” your mom inquires with that firm look in her eyes that makes you feel like a freaking child. But you don’t break, you don’t shout it into her face, you rather stick to your plan and smile sweetly.

“You can meet him tonight. We would like to arrange a dinner with both families to announce our proposal, so I must get to work, I’m so excited,” you beam at her showing more enthusiasm that you ever did at any family event. But at least the first obstacle was out of the question. Your mother didn’t freak out, at least, so she’s considering letting you choose the khm… lucky one to marry into this crazy family.

You consider it as a positive outcome, but to make sure they can’t make you back out of it, you make it public and let everyone see what it's about. You post a pic of your engagement ring on Instagram with the caption Soon Mrs Lee. It was (also) Minho's idea because he figured that nothing could top a press conference worthy announcement, even your parents couldn’t deny it now. Especially if your followers and strangers on the Internet were basically eating up that lie.

Operation Mr & Mrs Lee is officially so on.

“How do I look?” Minho turns towards you after checking out himself from head to toe in your wardrobe mirror. Lucky for you, your parents are rarely at home or near your room, so you were only worried about running into Jihoon while helping your best friend sneak in which – again, out of pure luck – didn’t happen.

“You always look good and you know it,” you pat him on the shoulder. It’s useless to lie, he undeniably looks like a runway model with that Christian Dior shirt and tight fit black jeans.

You booked a table at a fancy restaurant for your families who know nothing about what they’re going to face. According to Minho, his parents took his proposal with a grimace but not as shocked as yours. They probably think it’s just a fling and will be over sooner than they should be concerned about it.

“But it’s always nice to be reminded… especially by you, my love,” he coos at you in a sickeningly sweet tone and you visibly shudder by the cheesiness.

“Eww, corny. Do it in front of them, too,” you add because you’re sure your parents will hate the pet names. Your best friend laughs out loud probably thinking the same and it’s actually nice, exciting to have a partner in crime like him.

“It’s almost time. Are you ready?” he checks his Swiss watch and you nod, fixing your hair once again as you look into the mirror. The sunlight catches on the silver brand on your fourth finger and the nerves start acting up. You know that everything will change the moment you step out of this room and face your families. There would be no turning back by then. But you believe that if true love finds you one day you will laugh over this hilarious story together.

“As much as I will ever be. Let’s go,” you reach out a hand for Minho to take. He seems surprised at first not knowing what to make of your initiation but when you wiggle your eyebrow, he finally takes your hand in his.

Oh. He has a nice grip, firm but delicate, a bit like every other part of him and you mull over the thought a bit longer than you initially wanted. Hand holding, it’s not a big deal, right? Even if you didn’t do anything more than quick hugs and accidental brush of hands up until now, it won’t be awkward if you don't make it into one. Just act natural, nothing’s weird, you tell yourself as you squeeze back and walk towards the door.

The hand holding, much like the engagement ring, is just a part of the act. If anyone sees you, the better for you, so you don’t even try to be discreet while getting into the car and driving to the venue. When Minho stops the engine in the restaurant’s underground parking lot, you suddenly don't find any strength in your bones to move. Doubts start creeping up in your head like: what if you were wrong about your parents and they will disown you at first sight? Or what if they force you to marry Yoon Jeonghan no matter what? You don’t know which one frightens you more at that moment.

“Hey...” Minho bops your nose cutely but you cannot even smile at his affectionate gesture. It’s hard enough to tear your gaze away from the rear mirror and look at him. “Everything will be alright, okay? But if at any point you’d like to stop, just let me know.”

“No, I want this. I’m just nervous about the outcome but it will pass,” you reassure him and try to physically wipe that worry off his face as you pat his cheek gently and poke his wrinkled forehead. He’s the one who’s helping you, he shouldn’t be concerned about you second-guessing yourself.

“Okay, cool, let’s wreck it then,” Minho grins and hand in hand, you walk into the restaurant and the sight that welcomes you is unforgettable. It’s chaos.

There are only a handful of people inside, family and close friends but they keep yelling at each other. The two CEOs stand face-to-face in their business suits and arguing over some investment and keep accusing each other with stealing ideas. Your mother wears her best dress and one of those ridiculous fancy hats. She’s pointing her finger at Minho’s mother and whisper-tells something to your brother on her right. Jihoon is the silent kind of pissed with his arms crossed in front of his chest, judging hard on two boys age at the other table who are already in the middle of devouring the food. You almost laugh out loud at the antics of Seonghwa and Juyeon. Of course, they are unbothered by everything that goes around them. As long as there’s food, that’s their priority.

It takes a while, at least a full minute until your mother catches sight of you, standing in the doorway, welcomed by a panicked waiter. Another day maybe she would praise you for dressing up all prettily, just like she taught you and cooing as if you were still a child, she would tuck a lock behind your ear. However, now she doesn’t seem to care about your outfit or your makeup that she always found flaws in. You wave the waiter off for now as your mother strolls towards you and you prepare yourself for the impact of a hurricane.

“Honey, I’m so sorry. I tried to make them leave before they ruin your day but they claim they were invited here which is absolutely ridicu–” Your mother rambles, looking absolutely offended by the mere fact she has to be in the same room as the other Lee. Then, she scans the young man behind you, taking him in in all his loose dress shirt and nicely combed hair combo, flashing a hostile smile at her and your mother's words falter. Her gaze falls to your interlocked hands and you can practically see the gears moving in her head. There’s slight horror in her eyes when she squeals: “What the hell are you doing with Lee's son?”

Suddenly the place is all silent. Even the fork falls from Seonghwa's hand as everybody turns their head towards you, confused and angry. You gulp down your fear and with the sweetest smile, you tug your best friend even closer to you, so you can lean to his side easily.

“Dad, mom... This is Minho, my fiance,” you introduce him to everyone but only get a shocked silence in return. Minho uses this as his chance to bow before your parents in the most polite way ever.

“I'm really glad, Mr. and Mrs. Lee, that we are formally introduced,” he says, his mouth twitching slightly, pulling into a confident smirk. Everything happened just like you wanted: you got the two families at one place as shocked as ever.

Once he finishes speaking, chaos ensues again as everybody tries to speak over the others. They are making a scene (Juyeon films it with his phone) which is quite a sight to watch. it’s almost amusing until your mother doesn’t approach you again.

“Are you joking, right?” she demands to know, voice firm, eyes hopeful as if it was the worst thing that could have happened. It was more like a prank than a simple joke but call it whatever. Your best friend squeezes your hand in assurance as he feels you tense beside him.

“No joke here, Madam. I love your daughter, very much so, and I promise I will take care of her,” he promises and he’s proving to be a way better actor than you initially thought him to be.

He doesn’t falter even when his father grabs him by the collar and raises his voice.

“What are you doing, son?”

Minho's smile is both sheepish and sly as he looks up as his usually well put-together parent.

“Father, you said I should do something with my life already. I am, see? I’m marrying the love of my life,” he says so casually. It makes it look easy, the thought of you being in love. Not even the almighty CEO of their enterprise can do anything about it. Not in public at least. He drops his hands.

"This is ridiculous,” the man concludes and on cue, this being his final word, he turns his back to the rest and leaves. Minho's mother follows him with a concerned sigh erupting from her throat. With hands clenching on nothing, your parents follow them soon after shooting a disappointed look towards you.

“Would it have been too much to ask them if I can also call them mom and dad?” Minho whispers into your ear as you watch them walk away. It manages to make you giggle.

“Minho!" you hit him in the chest scandalized but still laughing. It actually went a lot better than you expected. After the childish part of your family leaves, there’s basically nobody besides you but your best friend and his childhood friends since high school. You have heard a lot about Seonghwa and Juyeon, Minho likes to call them the Double Trouble but you know he loves them immensely. The two of them look like they have the time of their lives munching on the entrée.

The room is suddenly too silent and that’s when the waiter walks in, expecting a huge gathering but finds barely half dozen guests.

"Can we bring the main course, Miss?” he comes to you, looking absolutely shocked.

"I think we would rather have drinks, strong ones," your fake fiance smiles sweetly and the waiter bows in acknowledgement then hurries along to get them.

The two of you exchange a glance and awkward smiles, from this close, you see the slight, happy wrinkles around his eyes and don't let go of his hand while you walk to the long, white plated table. The two guys there greet you with wide smiles, curiosity written on their faces.

"Minho was so secretive, never telling us anything," one of them tsks and leans forward asking in a lower voice: “Sooo... who proposed?”

Minho snorts as the two of you take your places beside them.

“Yaah, what kind of question is that? Of course, it was me!” he says with a hand on his heart, acting as if he was offended by the mere idea of the concept of the other way around. It might amuse the guys because Juyeon nudges your supposed-to-be-fiance in the side:

“But I bet she made the first move. She kissed you first, right?” he crooks a brow suggestively at him and then playfully winks at you. You decide to give in and help them tease Minho a bit.

“Don't you dare deny it, honey!” you coo at him, clinging onto his arms, enjoying the act now that it’s about playing with Minho’s patience. You have always been playful friends.

“I wouldn't. You got me totally flustered,” Minho says with such sincerity that it takes you back for a minute. You just sit there, locking eyes from so close you've never before. You see your reflection in Minho's dark orbs and his gentle fingers caressing your wrist makes your breath hitch in your throat. You only blink, breaking the spell and look away shyly when the boys' excited voices reach your ears.

“Come on, details! What happened?”

“Well, she was drunk…”

“He was half-naked…”

“Wow, it already sounds interesting,” Seonghwa rubs his hands waiting for the good part with stars in his eyes and you let out a borderline pained laugh. Of course, you both decided to speak up at the same time, spouting out lies about a kiss that never happened.

“Yeah, it was a wild night,” you chuckle and look at your best friend again seeking his help.

“I still can't believe our first kiss tasted like vodka orange,” he grins at you mischievously and you want to smack him. He knows very well that you hate vodka orange ever since that New Years party when you threw up in the bathroom after chugging down a glass of it. Minho was right there beside you, holding your hair while you emptied your stomach.

“It could have been worse,” you shrug, eating a bit of that seasoned bread that was served as the entrée.

“True but imagine her waking up beside me next morning. I was only in my underwear and she passed out halfway getting out of her dress,” Minho keeps exaggerating the story like the good story-teller he is and you almost choke on the drink you got.

“Oooh did she freak out?” Seonghwa smirks and even though it didn't really happen with you, you have the sudden urge to bury your face into your hands.

“That she did,” Minho ruffles your hair and all of you laugh as more and more made-up stories are told.

Doing this with your best friend makes it fun, like a game. It's a show after all and you have to give your best, believable performance despite the size of the audience. Be it two people, just one or both your families, you have to act your part and make them believe that you are such a lovely couple.

You're slightly tipsy by the time you leave the restaurant. Only Minho didn't drink, so he drives back to the boys' shared apartment - whom you can't wait to meet again - and then he takes you home, too.

"Well, this went better than I expected,” you exclaim out loud naively as you get out of the car. The boy smiles at you oh so sweetly from above the steering wheel and it makes you a bit dizzy but you aren't sure that it's because of the alcohol or because of this play you have going on.

But oh, you should have known that none of your parents will show weakness in front of the other Lee family. It’s still a competition for them and they won't be so easily taken down by your childish acts. As soon as you kick your heels off and set a foot in the living room. There, in the huge beige setting, surrounded by huge, too-expensive paintings with fake gold chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, are your parents sitting on the leather coach. Your mother looks up from a magazine at the same time your father puts down the glass of whiskey from his right.

“We talked with your mom," he says slowly and it already sounds so bad, as if he was writing your death sentence. You gulp, nails digging deep into the skin of your palm waiting for him to finish. "We decided it would be better if you left. We are not supporting whatever it is you’re doing.”

”What?” you gasp, shocked.

You might have thought of this before but actually hearing the words still felt like a slap. That's it? They will kick you out just like that? Really? You expected this outcome but you wouldn't have thought they would decide on it without sitting down and talking it out with you. It seems so irrational and you blame it on your mother's emotional instability and the lack of power in your father to say no to her.

"You can't live here with us while you're associated with this other Lees," he explains and you grit your teeth.

"After Jihoon's relationships, this is why you are kicking me out?" you huff with a grimace but both of your parents' faces remain impassive. You scoff. They want war? Okay, they will get it. "Fine! You know what? I'll move in with him then."

“Mark my words, young lady. I will give it six months… hell, it won't even be summer break and you will come back home crying,” your mother yells after you as you run up the marble stairs not even looking back. You swear you won't give them the satisfaction to have power over you any further. You're almost relieved to be freed from their chains.

You don't mind folding your clothes and putting your belongings into the suitcases nicely. You throw in everything you can grab or you think you will need until you can't get the rest of your clothes and stuff or go shopping. You're too lost in your own mind in the midst of your thoughts to notice Jihoon by your door, watching you over.

"Is it worth it?" he asks quietly, worried, and although you aren't sure what he means by it, you don't fall out of character.

"Minho is worth it," you say as loudly as you can, wishing that even your parents downstairs hear you. You hear Jihoon sigh and there's real concern in his voice when he speaks up:

“I don’t know whether I wanna know or not but I’m your brother, so… When did it start? And how?”

“About a year ago. There was this group project and we stayed in the library after the others left. We started talking about cats, music, everything. Time flew by so quickly, so we grabbed a coffee and it’s history since then,” you tell him and most of it is true, this is the story of your friendship. In reality, you bonded over the stories of your childhood, what our parents told you about ‘the other Lees’ and what you hated about it. But you decided it works very well as a getting together story, too.

“Ah, cheesy,” Jihoon imitates gagging which makes you giggle. He has always been the kind of brother who lightened up the mood when you needed some laughs or gave you a shoulder to cry on. He’s a good brother and you love him, but he’s too much of a proud Lee believing in the superiority of them above the other Lees.

You close both suitcases you prepared, and stand up in the room you have owned for almost all your life. Now, you can’t wait to read and get rid of any memories of its prison.

“Take care, okay? And tell him I will kick him in the balls if he tries with anything,” your brother crosses his arms trying to seem intimidating but you know that he can’t hurt a fly. Unlike your cousin, Chan who could be rather impulsive.

“Jihoon, he’s my fiance,” you giggle. What does he think? If you were really together, why wouldn’t you do anything? Thinking of it now is surely strange, though.

“Still, you’re my little sister,” your brother says and hugs you goodbye when you leave the pink room behind alongside with your old life in it. Instead of old rules and old fears, now you welcome a new life with outstretched arms and somehow you aren’t afraid because you know you have good people beside you.

It takes a forty minutes long taxi ride from your house to Minho’s fancy downtown penthouse. His parents were generous enough to give him a fully-equipped apartment for his 24th birthday, a much better gift than the marriage offer you got thanks to your parents. You have been there quite a few times before, the old man at the reception doesn’t even ask for your ID because he knows you’re on the list. You make small talk with him, trying to find an explanation for the extreme amount of luggage you have, but lucky for you, the elevator arrives just then and you excuse yourself.

In the elevator, going up suddenly you aren’t sure it was a good idea. You keep biting into your lower lip while your brain comes up with dozens of reasons why you shouldn’t be here. You ring into Minho’s apartment anyway, telling those voices to shut up. You start to doubt he’s going to open the door so late at night and you scold yourself - damn, you should have texted him first - when the door bursts open and reveals a messy, wet haired Minho in a bathrobe.

“They said I should leave,” you tell him as soon as you find your voice after the initial shock.

“They really kicked you out?” the boy gapes at you shaking his head while cursing your parents under his breath but both of you know that it might be for the better. At least now they have less power over you.

“Basically. So can I crash here?” You look at him, hopeful, knuckles turning white around the handle of your suitcases but Minho's face just brightens with a gorgeous smile.

He opens the door wide and beckons you inside as he helps with your stuff.

“Of course, you can. I will set up the guest room for you. We are gonna be the best flatmates ever.”

III. THE WEDDING PREPARATIONS

Turns out in this fake engagement Lee Minho, living together wasn't the most difficult thing, it was organizing the wedding itself.

“Remind me why the hell we thought it was a good idea to do everything ourselves? Why did you say no to your mom when she offered a professional wedding planner?” You groan burying your face into your hands lying on the table in between color schemes, invitation card samples, offers from different bakeries and who knows what else. You would have never thought that a wedding costs such a hassle and if it were you and your real wedding, you would have never wanted to go through such things. It should be a small wedding with a few close friends in a secluded but pretty area. You aren't one for the hype and big parties but The Wedding of the Century has to be made now, so it has to be mind blowing.

That's something - probably the only thing - both Lee families agreed on once they realized you and Minho aren't about to change your mind despite the cut of financial support and the constant reminder of how big of a mistake you make. It took weeks (20 days to be precise) and probably half of their pride to decide to sit down and talk it through like adults with you. They still thought you two were ridiculous but their protests only fuelled you in this crazy plan. When you first discussed it, you would have never thought to make it here: to actually organize your own wedding in the middle of the semester.

“Make it worth it,” that was the only thing Minho's father said when he handed over a black card to his son, then to not look any less, of course, your father offered money too, so now you had plenty enough to throw a party for almost 600 people.

Another thing the two families agree on is the essential need for a marriage contract. It isn't that uncommon in Korea when it concerns businesses like yours and taking the Lee companies' distrust in one another, their carefulness is understandable to a certain extent. Yet, you could only sit there while the two fathers discussed the conditions of such a deal. It ended in the consensus that the termination of the marriage should be consensual or else, the guilty, unfaithful party has to give up 5% stocks of the company. Ridiculous how serious they took this issue while as parents they should have supported you and told you that life-long love also exists.

“Because if mom chose a wedding planner, they would have made sure to make your 'big day' a living hell,” Minho reasons, patting your back in an emphatic manner and he sits down on the other side of his glass dining table. You lift your head, resting your chin on your hand with a pout as you look up at your fiance munching on a buttered croissant.

You were used to seeing him in designer dress shirts and jeans or even tight pants if he wanted to get laid real bad. Expensive accessories, Rolex and hair constantly pushed back. But this, this Minho was new, something you had to get used to in the last weeks: in sweatpants and oversized shirts, rubbing his sleepy eyes with sheet wrinkles across his face. It was cute. You should have gotten more accustomed to it after weeks of living together but after years of purely friendship the change was new. Like the morning when he shaved in the bathroom next to you while you were doing your makeup. Or that by now you have a mug just for you in his kitchen. Usual domestic stuff which was foreign to you before but you got adjusted to it pretty well and pretty quickly. It was almost too easy to get comfortable.

Even Sooni, Doongi and Dori, Minho’s chic yet adorable cats, got used to having you around. The smallest had been jealous of you according to their owner, that’s why she made disapproving noises whenever you were around. But scratching behind the ear as a way of greeting seemed to do the trick to get every cat warm up to you and your presence in the apartment as well.

“How are you so calm?” you muse out loud not understanding why you are the only one stressing over such a big thing. Because even if it's fake, the foundation of it, it's serious, right? And it's not something to be taken half-assed.

“Because I don't worry about the details. No matter the date, the cake flower, the location, what matters is our goal and that's the same whatever we decide on: we will get married and you will be safe from being chained to a narcissistic guy you don't even know,” Minho explains and you know he's right, that was your ultimate plan then why are you making it into more than it is? Maybe the hype around you got into your head too and it messes with your thoughts.

After posting about the engagement online, there was no way back. It was officially out there and everyone who mattered in the Seoul high class knew about it. Social media adored your pair, you had couple names and fans and people were calling you the ship of dreams and all of it was crazy but in your opinion it might have been the positive public feedback that made your parents back down and basically accept their defeat. But the funniest aren't all these faceless strangers on the Internet but your friends. University classmates, neighbors and employees, they all look at you so fondly and you often hear them whisper about 'I told you so' as if they had known all along something they didn't. Your most eager friends are even arguing about who's going to say the best man's speech and who's going to be the bridesmaid but you have more important things to discuss before those.

“You are right. We should just get over with it,” you nod with a sigh escaping from your throat. You only make it difficult for yourself, you should be like Minho, sipping on an orange juice casually as if the world wasn't about to change around you.

“That's the spirit!” he cheered with a gorgeous, encouraging smile and you still can't get over how soft he looks like this. There's no sign of the arrogant playboy most people associate him with. “What do you say about April? It's not too hot then yet.”

You almost choke on your morning coffee at his offer.

“That's too soon. We won't get anything done in a month. That's impossible!” You shook your head because the to-do list is definitely too long to schedule it so early. But again, what's the point of long engagement?

“Oh, honey, we are the dream couple of Korea, of course we get whatever we want,” Minho smiles at you with that cunning, victorious smile of his that can get him everything, so you don't doubt he's right. If somebody is capable of getting last minute place reservations and a huge cake on time, it’s him.

In the end, after long lists of pros and cons and ordering Chinese for lunch, you agree on 20th May as the date because it’s the Chinese Valentine’s day basically, so it’s cheesy and it should bring luck and hell, you will need it. There will be too many guests to count, not to mention the press. You have already got three offers for exclusive interviews and photos of the wedding. The media is really crazy about you. Heirs of rival companies fall in love: a 21st century love story, the headlines say and you feel a bit bad for lying to everyone. But then again thinking about that you were about to be forced to do the same hassle with a basically stranger always makes your guilt vanish.

“I don't think we should bother with deciding on the seating. First come, first serve, let them fight for it,” Minho shrugs after you spend almost an hour trying to fit every guest on a map of the chosen venue and damn, you really don't care if people who don't know each other have to sit together. After all, you don’t know them either and they don't care more about you anyway, they probably will only come to pay their respects in front of your parents or the food. Barely anyone comes really because of the two of you, just your friends.

“Okay,” you lean back in your chair, giving up as well and give in to the purring Sooni to pat her.

You have other stuff to do as well, for instance to write and send the invitations. That's another hour to have a version you both like:

We, Lee Y/N and Lee Minho, would like to invite you to join the joyful celebration of our wedding, a milestone in our and our families lives. Power lies in unity, so we would be delighted to have you there with us on 20th May, 10AM, at White Rose Garden, Seoul.

You both agreed that you need something that's more than a simple invitation, so you just had to include that slight mocking for your parents to gulp down the bitter pill they have been chewing on for too long.

“Okay, so you call the venue and the authorities, I will send out the invitations. We will go to the cake tasting next Friday and we will get our clothes done separately within the next 2 weeks. The staff of La Rose restaurant will make and serve the food. We have chosen cream and golden as the theme colors. Anything else?” You kept counting on your fingers how many things you have managed to discuss within the last hours you spent together in Minho's living room.

Funny, you have been living here for weeks now but you still call the place Minho's because you know this whole setting is just temporary. Like your stuff in his room is nothing more than a display of an act in case a friend or relative makes a surprise visit. They don't have to know that you sleep in the guest room and the bed's right side is untouched next to Minho. Your cautiousness is not a nothing-out-of-the-air kind of idea because ever since Jihoon helped you move your most important things and some clothes here, he sometimes popped up without any notice. The first time it happened he gave you a bit heads up, calling from the car on his way and that was when you even learnt that the code to the apartment is your birthday.

“Ooh sneaky. Everybody will think you are smitten. Smart move, Lee,” you commented on it, still surprised how good and sly of an actor your best friend was.

“Yeah, so make sure to push the buttons reeeally slowly in front of your brother,” Minho said with a wink and so you did. But it turned out to be a cardinal mistake since Jihoon could now merge into your apartment any given seconds. You are kept constantly on your toes because it's too late to take it back now. It would be too suspicious as if you have something to hide.

Not that it would be too much of a problem, you decide as you take in the situation you got yourself into with your legs propped up, resting over Minho's lap. It's domestic enough to deceive anyone.

“Should we go for a honeymoon, too?” Minho suggests with playful sparks in his eyes that remind you of a bonfire's dancing flame.

Oh. Being so stuck up to the to-do list, you actually forgot about the honeymoon part. It's not real after all, but a vacation sounds tainting for sure.

“Oh man that would be nice but we will have exams in June,” you huff, the university making sure to keep your feet on the ground as always.

“Buzzkill,” the guy pouts with those sinfully plush lips of his and the two of you only startle out of your stubborn staring contest when the bell rings.

“Are we expecting someone? Someone polite enough not to burst in?” You raise an eyebrow confused because you didn’t know you had any plans for the weekend apart for finally getting some arrangements done. Minho just shrugs and leaves the room to get the door after brushing your legs off of his gently. Soon, you hear him greet your sudden guest and a vaguely familiar figure follows him back to the inside of the apartment. You stand up to say hi to the tall, fluffy haired guy dressed all elegantly with a briefcase in one hand and wait for Minho to introduce you.

“Hey, remember my friend, Bang Chan? He's a lawyer and he'll help us with the papers,” your soon-to-be-husband provides an answer to your unsaid questions as he offers a seat to his friend at the table. You’re immediately aware of your surroundings, of how you act and start to pay more attention to what you are saying like you always do nowadays around everyone except Minho. The web of lies are too vast to escape these days when everything seems to be about your upcoming wedding. Minho seems to sense your uncertainty and he shoots you a smile bright as the sunrise as he squeezes your hand over the glass table lightly, to massage the tenseness out of the curled fingers. “He knows. I had to tell him to keep us legally ok.”

“Don't worry. Your secret is safe with me,” Bang Chan nods towards you and even though you don’t know him that well, you trust Minho’s word. If he says the lawyer is trustworthy then he will have your full support, too. Especially because you trust anyone better than the ones your parents wanted as your lawyers to make the contact. A close, university friend seemed like a reasonable option because he wasn’t swayed by the Lees’ influence.

“Although, we have to make sure you have closures to ensure you will stay intact even if someone finds out about the pretend act,” the guy adds and you furrow your eyebrows. It’s not like you can write something like that in a marriage contract, right?

“But how?” you blink, confused.

“Therefore both parties take the risk and accept the consequences of their feelings not being mutually reciprocated but being deceived by the other party's some sort of intent, whether it be good or mal. No excuse brought upon the falseness of the foundation can undo the marriage bond unless both parties agree on it. Something like this,” Bang Chan finishes reciting and you could only gape at him, because wow, that was impressive. Since both of your parents somehow seem to think that it’s only an avenge plan of the other family, they will probably do everything in their power to dig up stuff to try and prove their points. This little closure will be your insurance if they insist on your marriage being invalid.

“What do you say?” Minho turns to you mischievous little stars dancing in his eyes again. A smile tugs on your lips too, eyes narrowing from grinning too hard. You are getting better and better in this prank.

“Let's write a marriage contract!”

The next weeks pass in a busy haze. You still have to attend university while planning something as big as a wedding and professors don't seem to be understanding towards that fact at all. While students whisper behind your backs and point at your linked arms on the campus, you don’t get assignment points for being good at faking.

So it’s especially nice to feel cared for when you step over the doorstep of Minho’s place and be welcomed not only by the cute cats’ purring and delicious smells of Italian food - Minho is a better cook than you could ever suspected - but also a beautiful, colourful bouquet of flowers is displayed in the middle of the dining table.

“Oh, you got me flowers, how sweet of you!” you exclaim a smile creeping onto your lips as you tentatively touch the soft petals of the stargazing lilies among the red roses and white tuberoses. Since Minho has never really cared for interior design that much, he was all in for practicality over aesthetics, you doubt he only bought the flowers for being pretty but then for what? It’s not even your birthday or anything. But before you could question his intentions he shakes his head.

“It wasn't me. It was delivered to your name in the afternoon.”

It confuses you even more because you have no idea who it could be from then. You check the flower arrangement once again and you notice the small card tucked between two flowers. Huh, a surprised sound falls from your lips as you read the short lines.

“Oh, it says Yoon Jeonghan. He's inviting me for dinner tomorrow.”

That manages to grab Minho’s attention and he takes the card from your hands, so he can run over the words too.

“Who the hell does he think he is? Doesn't he know you have a fiance now?” he snorts in a tone that’s almost jealous. Crazy, isn’t it? He has no reason to.

“He does. We sent him an invitation, remember?” You tilt your head, pondering over the invitation.

“Do you think he wants to convince you to choose him?” Minho voices out your concerns and your eyes meet over the sweet scented flowers. His dark coffee eyes burn with something unknown feeling and you can tell from the way his shoulders got tensed that he’s annoyed. Weird, you would have expected him to just laugh it off.

“I don’t know,” you say honestly. Maybe it hurts the pride of Korea’s number one bachelor that you chose someone over him? But then again, you have never considered yourself as a prize to be won over.

“Will you go?” your fiance asks gently, almost too quiet, his fingers brushing yours as he gives back the card to you.

“Why wouldn’t I? He must have something to say.”

“I hope you know what you’re doing. Maybe your parents are trying to set you up,” Minho warns you like the good friend he is and you flash him a comforting smile. You know that he worries about you and he knows pretty well how much you didn’t want to marry that guy, so much that you’re willing to go along with his plan to marry him. Maybe he was worrying about all your efforts crumbling to dust after one meeting but gosh, he should have more trust in you.

“Well, we’ll see,” you muse and text to the number on the card saying that you’ll be there at the restaurant proposed.

Before meeting Yoon Jeonghan, just the two of you, you’re more nervous than you should be. It’s just a meeting after all, it shouldn’t mean anything. Maybe you just feel weird because you decided to fake marry your best friend only to not have to marry him. That’s kind of a big offense if you look at it that way. Good thing, he will never know what you are up to.

“Y/N?” A soft voice welcomes you when you step into the fancy restaurant with knots in your throat. You gaze darts to the dashing man in his late twenties and you murmur thanks to any grace that you decided to dress up nicely because the man surely outdid himself with a full-on tuxedo.

“Jeonghan, hello,” you greet him with a forced smile that frowns on your face when the self-proclaimed model presses a kiss onto the back of your hand if you were in a black and white movie.

“You look pretty today. Come, we should go inside,” he leads the way already and you’re a bit overwhelmed. He really does look like he has no idea about your engagement with Minho. Then what are you doing here? And why does he act like you were on such good terms while you barely spoke two sentences last time you met?

It doesn’t help your first - or third to be precise - impression that Jeonghan orders food and drinks for both of you without asking you or taking your opinion into account saying that you’ll surely like the ones he chose for you. Once the waiter leaves, it becomes even more awkward because you really don’t know what to say other than voicing out your complaints but you don’t want to be impolite.

So instead of saying anything you let your gaze wander in the gilded room, listening to the soft, jazz song played on the piano, wine tasting sour in your mouth and you suddenly miss the movie nights with popcorn and beer at Minho’s.

“How is Minho? Are the preparations going well?”

It’s Jeonghan who breaks the silence casually sipping on his wine, tasting it like a connoisseur. He looks like a Greek sculpture with his perfect lines and features to drool over. But there’s something in his eyes you can’t decipher as he looks over you, it’s like he’s trying to figure out a difficult riddle.

“Uhm… yeah. Everything is fine. Minho too, he’s fine. We’re doing great,” you stumble over your words. It’s an understatement to say you’re taken aback by the question and your fingers dart to the ring on your fourth finger on instinct.

“What did your fiance say when you agreed to dine with me?” the man raised a brow with a rather curious twitch of his mouth and you don’t like where this is going, but you hold your chin up.

“We trust each other unconditionally, so there’s nothing to be worried about and he knows that,” you say with a sweet smile and you earn an equally honeyed one.

“That’s good to hear,” Jeonghan bobs his head in respect, takes another sip then his lips become a firm line before speaking up. “Actually I’ll be frank with you, Miss Lee, your parents asked me to meet you. As I gathered they aren’t quite pleased with your choice of man...”

You’re about to protest, claiming that if that’s why he came then you can leave because nothing is going to change your mind. Especially not your parents’ stupid plan but Jeonghan lifts his right hand to silent you.

“Please, let me finish. I agreed because I was curious myself,” he admits and watches your reactions closely. “I always thought you two had something going on. Always sneaking away at parties and such things.”

Did he really? You have never thought he paid attention to you or to anyone at all besides himself. So it surprises you that he really noticed the way you and Minho always managed to get away from boring rich people parties to have your own.

“I’m glad it seems to work out for you two even if your parents are being… excuse my language, hard-ass idiots about this,” Jeonghan asks and the first genuine smile that night graces your lips as you let out a small giggle. Gosh, suddenly the dinner took a much better turn than you ever expected.

“You know what? You’re not that bad of a guy,” you note with a smile over your glass, a genuine one for the first time since you arrived.

“I know I'm not,” the guy grins at you and you clink your glasses at that toast.

From then on, you talk about trivial things like favorite dramas, brands to wear or places to visit and time really flies fast if you have fun. The food is great, he indeed has a good taste, you have to give him that and you still feel giddy inside when the man drops you off at Minho’s apartment complex after your dinner because he has a movie premier to attend around that area anyways.

You press the numbers of your birthday in the door’s lock control and almost as soon as it buzzes and you step into the space you would be confident enough to call home, a straightforward question is aimed at you.

“How was it?” Minho looks up from his place on the couch and you see the way he takes your sight in that lace-patterned, dark blue dress you chose for tonight.

“Good. He's funny and nice,” you shrug nonchalantly as you kick off your high heels and walk further inside.

“Do you regret not engaging him instead?” Another blunt question but it’s so ridiculous, you snort.

“What? No, I’d still rather marry you. He's a stranger, but I know you and your weird habits,” you tell Minho, cheeky, stealing a bit of the snack he’s munching on so late in the evening before you plop yourself next to him on the couch. There’s some anime you don’t know screened in the television but you stand no chance watching it when the next quiet question leaves you best friend’s mouth:

“But what if you liked him if you knew him?”

“I…” You blink, finding it hard to find the right words. You have never really given it a thought and yet, it seems so absurd. “Well, I don't think that would happen. There was no spark, I didn't feel anything special with him. He could be a friend but nothing more.”

“So just like me?” Minho nudges your bare knees with his and looking up at him you see something akin to fear in his eyes. It scares you because you can’t even tell when was the last time you have seen him this anxious.

“No, you’re my best friend! What has gotten into you suddenly? Are you jealous?” you narrow your eyes in disbelief but before further accusations could slip through your mouth, you notice the empty bottles of soju on the kitchen counter and it makes so much more sense now. Minho has always been the sensitive kind of drinker.

“No, god, why would I be? We’re friends,” the guy rolls his eyes, hiccups a bit and then looks away. “It's just that it feels like cheating. I wonder if what we’re doing is wrong. What if you would be happy with him?”

“Minho, it was my decision too,” you remind him that whatever will go down on the way both of you are in for it. You both agreed that night, so why was he having second thoughts? You would get married after a while anyways? It’s not like you lock him down for life, so what’s his problem?

“But I persuaded you.”

“And I let you. I wanted this,” you insist and take Minho’s hand in yours, squeezing it a bit, the engagement ring being cold in the embrace of your warm fingers. “I want this to bring our families closer, for them to understand they don't have to be enemies and I also know that we will grant each other freedom even after those vows. I wanted to get away with them and you gave me an opportunity to do so. I want this.”

But is it the reason behind you saying yes to the most ridiculous engagement of history? Is it really? And is it enough to walk down the aisle and make vows to love each other with no end?

Apparently it is because a few weeks later you say your I dos.

IV. (WED)D(ING)-DAY

“Do you, Lee Minho, take Lee Y/N to be your wedded wife, to cherish in love and in friendship, in strength and in weakness, in success and in disappointment, to love her faithfully, today, tomorrow, and for as long as the two of you shall live?”

“I do,” the boy in front of you in black and white tuxedo smiles at you gently like a caress and in that moment nothing, not even the flashing camera lights could make you avert your eyes.

“Do you, Lee Y/N, take Lee Minho to be your wedded husband, to cherish in love and in friendship, in strength and in weakness, in success and in disappointment, to love him faithfully, today, tomorrow, and for as long as the two of you shall live?” The man turns to you then, and you gulp, nervous, knowing that your next words would determine the outcome of your crazy little plan.

You look down at your gorgeous, white lace dress Minho called beautiful when he saw you out in the corridor (neither of you cared about traditions and possible misfortune it could bring) and suddenly you know that it won't be just a moment you'll laugh at in the future. It's your wedding day even if you aren't religious enough to believe in the one for forever kind of marriages. You swore to yourself that if you had such a terrible relationship with your spouse like you parents had, you wouldn't stay with them just because of others' opinions. You aren't willing to sacrifice your happiness for success and this is partly why you're here: to prove a point.

So you smile back at Minho and opening your rosy, tinted lips, you say the page-turner words:

“I do.”

It feels surreal. Like a dream, just weirder because it's real. The clapping, the signatures, the overly cheesy vows you had so much fun writing together on Minho's couch and even that tiny kiss onto the corner of your mouth. Friends kiss sometimes, don't they? Friends kiss and marry each other apparently, too.

You have to keep reminding yourself that it's all just a big play on the stage, a performance of vengeance and freedom. Your marriage is only the hype and a piece of paper your parents care about, other than that you are just as good friends as before. It's like nothing ever really changed, apart from the fact that you moved in with your best friend and became more independent, finally.

But do you love him? Do you love your best friend? It's hard not to, in a way. The way he cares, he cares in the small ways like he makes you your favorite coffee every morning or reminds you of assignments you would have forgotten otherwise and in grand gestures too like marrying you by giving up his bachelor days. You really don't understand what he won in this deal, why he is doing this but you could have sworn he enjoys this act more than you.

The wedding goes by in a flash. There are so many guests you basically swim in the crowd of familiar and foreign faces. Even your Canadian cousin, Mark came to visit (most likely for the free food), but unlike other relatives you had he didn't comment on how chaste your kiss with Minho was. But it’s not his presence that makes the whole ceremony the most uhm… interesting to put it lightly.

It's probably the first time in years that the two Lee families are together at an event where it's not obligatory. Their smiles are forced and the family members basically divided the room into two, your relatives on one side and Minho's on the other. They didn't interact with each other all night, they even refused to talk with each other or sit at each other's table but that's not something that surprises you. You even laugh at it with your best friend until one of his distant cousins, Felix, walks over to the other side. He crosses the huge dance floor where everyone refused to act like they were actually enjoying themselves, followed by curious eyes from both families and your eyes widen when you see him smile down at your own cousin, Naeun. You can see the surprise on her face even from this afar as she stares at the blonde boy's out-stretched hand and you see Jihoon has to physically pull back Chan from intervening. Then, to the surprise of basically everyone in the room, Naeun smiles, sweet, cheeks dusted pink and she takes Felix's hand, agreeing to the dance.

Someone hollers from one table and you exchange a look with Minho, his eyes sparkling with enjoyment just as much as yours. This is what you wanted after all, wasn't it? For your families to not hate each other. And if it took a wedding, a bit of bravery and some dance steps to make peace, you are happy to be part of the process.

"Dance with me, wifey," Minho grabs your hand with a mischievous look in his eyes and pulls you towards the dance floor, too. Seeing his smile, you don't have it in you to say no even if your ankles hurt in your heels.

Song after song, you dance and it's been a while since you had so much fun. Your cheeks hurt from smiling and laughing so much. Slowly, the guests disappear, at least the elder generation, and you find yourself at a table with Minho's friends, munching on the definitely overpriced but still, delicious cake.

“Yoooo, who would have thought that Minho would be the one to marry first? At the ripe age of 24. Man, good catch,” Juyeon hiccups and pats the new husband’s shoulder after he stumbles over you. The after party has barely started but he's tipsy already. He has always been such a lightweight.

You flip your hair behind your shoulder, overexaggerating being fluttered (the hairdresser who worked on the perfect waves you have definitely wouldn't approve the sudden movement) but you almost choke on the dessert in your mouth when Changbin speaks up first:

"Okay, real talk, how’s the sex? Is she bossy in bed, too?"

"Yah," you throw a napkin at him for the scandalous question at the same time with Minho's quick answer:

"She's rather pliant under touch," he says so casually that you can’t even hide your surprise.

You whip your head towards him in disbelief, eyes wide, because you haven't talked about this! How could he act so nonchalant as if he wasn't talking about your non-existent sex life? But his answer and your uncharacteristically shy reaction seemed to be enough to please his friends who just laughed along and teased in a good-hearted manner.

You stay out late, later than you have done in the last months but for the first time in a long time you feel really free. Weird, isn’t it? You just signed a paper, bonding your life to your best friend’s and yet, you haven’t felt this carefree ever. It leaves a content feeling in the depth of your chest, it settles there, nice and warm as you nuzzle close to Minho’s side in the taxi he got for the two of you after you sent home the last of your friends. (You swore you saw Felix and Naeun in the back garden still talking under the moonlight and it made you smile.)

Maybe it’s the alcohol, maybe this giddy feeling inside your ribcage but after Minho helps you out of the taxi, you cannot help but tease:

“Will you pick me up bridal style and take me home?” you raise a brow, playful, mouth in a lazy line and the boy laughs, but it sounds scratchy. He doesn’t hesitate to reach under your legs and lift you off the ground. You yelp in surprise, automatically wrapping your arms around his shoulder to not fall and help him keep his balance with the extra weight too.

“Anything the love of my life wants,” Minho singsongs teasingly as he walks towards the elevator.

Both of you giggle at the reaction of the 24h receptionist’s reaction and you swing your legs like a child until you reach his place… your home. It surely feels like that but not the minimalistic design or the homey cushions you bought together last month but the way your best friend makes you feel there: welcomed.

The best friend who, despite his good stamina, stumbles even before you reach the door and you laugh when he claims it’s the alcohol.

“Nice save, I would have smacked you on the head if you said I’m too heavy, Mr. I Go To The Gym At Least Twice A Week,” you click your tongue, teasing but still help Minho open and close the entrance door, thinking that he would finally put you down now that you are actually over the threshold. But it seems like he has a different idea.

Your head is swimming with too many questions and thoughts, both the alcohol and his closeness making you dizzy as you realize he’s taking you to his room and not the guest room. Your breath hitches when you are laid down over his expensive dark blue bedsheet, the mattress dipping by your sides where Minho puts his hands to keep himself balanced hovering over you.

In the moonlit room, in the serenity of dawn, alcohol and excitement still buzzing in your veins, you can do nothing but stare. He is so close, close enough for you to see the pretty moles scattered all over his handsome face and the deep brown of his eyes. A while ago, you would have pushed him off laughing, teasing if he liked you so much but you can’t make yourself to joke with the situation, not when your gaze slides down onto his plump lips and briefly you wonder how they would feel against yours.

“Have you ever wondered?” you blurt out, not thinking straight, not thinking of the consequences. You can write it off as being drunk when you wake up later and start your married life together, but now you want to know.

Your voice seems to pull Minho out of some kind of daze as he blinks and looks you in the eyes, tilting his head. “Hm?”

“Have you wondered how it would be to be in bed with me? At Changbin’s question you sounded like you did,” you remind him, not being able to get that conversation out of your head, not with the way he was smirking at you over his glass of whiskey after his smug reply.

“Ah well, yeah,” he admits and laughs, but it’s weak, embarrassed. You had never seen him like this, it’s a new territory. Or maybe you feel like that because you’re literally under him, his legs tangling with yours over the covers.

“Really?”

You expected him to deny it, to say he made it up on the spot, he was good at being spontaneous after all. He was quick-witted too, so you would have believed him. But apparently that’s not the case. The fact makes your cheek heat up.

“You didn’t? Even after all our friends’ nagging? At your bridesmaid party?” Minho seems more surprised than you, eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

“I didn't have one. My mother said it would be lowly of me, remember?” you remind him but it doesn’t really matter. Your friends already think Lee Minho must be a god in bed too, and you didn’t correct them which they took as a confirmation. “So no, I didn’t really think about it before.”

“Before?” That seems to get tipsy Minho’s attention and you’re suddenly shy under his gaze. “So you’re thinking about it now?”

“Well, are you blaming me?” you give him a pointed look, referring to your current situation and he chuckles, the sound of it bouncing off the walls and you feel it resonate through your body. Minho sighs, tired, and he settles next to you, pulling you close by the waist, his chin resting on your shoulder from behind. It should have been uncomfortable since both of you were still wearing your clothes from the wedding but somehow, in his arms, you didn’t care. Tired, tipsy yet content, you fall asleep to the sound of his breathing and him mumbling sweet words into the juncture of your neck.

V. THE HONEYMOON (PHRASE)

Married life isn’t that different from what you had before.

It's been fun and everything, to be married like this but it doesn't feel like anything has changed from being best friends to being flatmates. Not that you expected anything else just because of a simple paper. You talked about staying best friends regardless of the titles and labels people around you put on you. It didn’t even change after your wedding night and the day after when you woke up in each other’s arms. So things were chill, you really thought you could keep it up like this but then one night, after cooking and eating together with wine but still very much sober, you suddenly had the urge to kiss Minho again while watching a romantic movie on the couch and after that there was no way back.

Really, it feels like you opened a door and now you can't close it. Suddenly, the smallest things he does make your heart flutter. He makes you coffee in the morning, just as sweet as you like it. He texts you good luck before your tests. He invites you to a fancy restaurant you end up ditching for takeaway chicken after graduation to celebrate. And sometimes he just looks at you, his smile plastered on his face, eyes sparkling as he stars, it makes your breath hitch. You want to touch him, hug him, kiss him more and more often and catching on, sometimes you wonder if he feels the same.

You agreed on going on a 'honeymoon' after your exams and you planned the heck out of your Phuket vacation, making it so extra none of your parents could complain about it being cheap. But planning a holiday together, it once again made you feel so domestic, so cozy that you basically just wanted to get lost in this fantasy. For the first time since you started this, you couldn't internally laugh off your friends' teasing about how perfect you were for each other. Are you really? Does Minho think so too? Even Jeonghan, who invited you both to one of his high-end parties, said that you looked sickeningly in love. Did you? Are you? You are so so confused.

These questions don't let you rest these days and while your families didn't suddenly become best buddies, they were actually in discussion for a future collaboration between their brands which you counted as a win. Maybe they finally understood how much resources they wasted on their rivalry and hatred instead of working together for common goals. And it's all thanks to you and Minho, you gloat secretly behind their backs.

"We're perfect peace makers," you boast, giddy, walking up to his car. Minho insisted on picking you up after your meeting with your father and Jihoon about your future role in the company. Your brother offered to give you a ride as well and he just sighed when you told him, Minho was already on his way. Ever since Jihoon threatened your best friends to ruin his life personally if he broke your heart, he was fine with your relationship, he’s a good brother and he just wants you to be happy after all.

"No, we're perfect at setting you free. It's just a pleasant consequence," Minho argues as he opens the car door for you before taking the driver seat. Such a gentleman really!

"Smartass," you roll your eyes and reply to a friend's text about your upcoming Phuket trip. This way you miss the way Minho goes straight at the cross road where he should have turned right to get to his apartment. You only blink in surprise when you catch sight of the lit riverbank.

"Where are we going? Are you kidnapping me?"

"Yeah, sure, you live right in the next room but I sure want to kidnap you," the boy laughs, amused but you can't stop with the guesses, not until he buys two tickets to Lotte World. It’s so out of you that it makes you totally dumbfounded

"Ew, cheesy, what's this for?" your eyes widen at the surprise, taken aback, even though you found the idea cute. It had been years since you had fun at an amusement park.

"My friends can't stop bothering me about the lack of date pictures we have. We should prove them wrong," Minho explains and knowing how competitive he is, you don't even protest, just enjoy your so-called date.

You hold hands while walking around, take lots of funny and cringe-worthy pictures, he wins you a teddy bear and you feed him cotton candy in between the different games that are actually very fun. Somewhere along the way maybe you stop pretending that it isn't real. You feel so light and so happy, the fear of rejection in your heart lessening with every fond gaze Minho sends your way, so you're feeling brave and maybe a little stupid when after one last ride on the merry-go-round, you tiptoe to press your lips chastely over Minho's.

It’s such a small peck, something short and sweet, over before you could think twice about it but you did it.

"What was that?" Minho blinks at you, surprised but not mad. That's good, you note with a smile.

"A kiss," you tell him with a straight face and it's such a witty answer, yet a dumb one but it makes Minho smile, so it's worth it.

"I know that but what for?" he raises a brow, challenging and you know that it's the perfect chance to confess but you're not going to make it so easy for him. You took the first step, come on, he should catch up.

"That's what people do on dates, duh. Especially married couples. Even better if Dispatch caught it," you smile mischievously, trying to act nonchalant as you swing your hands between you. Minho hums as if he was deep in thought and without another word he resumes your walk towards his car, back to his apartment. The car ride is filled with anticipation, not the bad kind, yet you are not sure what he's planning or what he’s thinking, so anxiety has you nibbling on your lower lip even when the front door closes behind Minho's back.

He doesn’t waste much time after that.

"What if I kissed you right here?" he turns to you suddenly, stepping close and backing you to the wall as your smile spreads all over your face. Here as in your home where nobody else could see, where you wouldn't have to pretend. But maybe neither of you pretended for a while now.

"Why would you do that?" you challenge him the same way he did when he asked why you kissed him. Minho brushes a lock out of your forehead, his smile cunning as he does so.

"Because I loved it," he admits, easy, honest, excited. Then he looks you in the eyes, sincere. "Because I like you."

Your heart thumps at those words and you cannot help the happy smile on your lips.

“I feel like we’re doing things backwards. First marriage then kissing then I get a confession? Woah Mr. Lee,” you muse out loud, playful as you sneak an arm around his neck, very much delighted by his words.

“We’re sure one of a kind, baby,” he says and you close your eyes when he leans in to capture your lips. You can feel the smile straining his lips, the ring on his fourth finger as he cradles your cheek and his heart pounding just as fast as yours. It all feels just like home.

Yes, you are married. But you are best friends first and lovers second because not even falling in love could mess up the bond you already had. Maybe you should be grateful to your parents for their amazing 24th birthday gift after all because without that, who knows how long it would have taken you two to get together and you wouldn't want to waste any more seconds not loving Minho.

#stray kids scenarios #stray kids x reader #lee know x reader #minho x reader #lee know scenarios #stories

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