THE ARRANGED MARRIAGE

Jun Pyo and Jae Kyung

Rated K+

Anguish/Romance

Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews, I know there aren't that many Jun Pyo/Jae Kyung fans amidst the Yi Jeong/ Gaeul mania, but it warms the heart to know there are those who appreciate this pairing.

Disclaimer: All characters belong to the series.

CHAPTER 3: THE EASY WAY OUT

Jun Pyo resorted to the easiest way to deal with a difficult situation. He made himself scarce. Jae Kyung was left to her own devices for the next three days. He also did not return to their room and had his things transferred much to her annoyance.

No matter how early she woke up, he was gone and she grew increasingly frustrated. She had the cook prepare elaborate meals only to find herself alone at the dining table every meal. He also ignored her calls and her messages.

By the fourth day, she had enough. She invaded his sanctuary.

"Don't say a word when he arrives if you still want to be employed in the morning." She warned the wide-eyed maid who thought that the master and the mistress are two peas in a pod when it comes to their employees.

Quickly she prepared for bed and readied herself for a long wait. She watched television, surfed the net, and tossed and turned until she couldn't stand it anymore. She closed the lights and fumed in the dark.

After three hours, she drifted off to sleep, only to wake up when the bed dipped.

He's back.

She heard him sigh and she prayed that he wouldn't open the lights.

Miraculously he fell asleep immediately without being aware of her presence on the other side of the bed and she exhaled a deep breath. She smiled in the darkness as she too went back to sleep.

"NO! Don't leave!" Startled out of a deep slumber, she quickly turned to see Jun Pyo thrash on his side of the bed. Upon closer inspection, she could see his anguished expression as sweat formed in his brow.

" Jan Di, I'm here! You promised to stay remember?" his tone tore at her heart, the mention of Jan Di's name adding to the pain.

She debated on what to do, clueless on whether she should wake him up and have him toss her out, or let him be.

"Commoner, you can't do this to me! You said you liked me!" he shouted and she couldn't stand it anymore.

She embraced his thrashing form, her face on level with his.

"Shh. I'm here. I'll never leave you." She softly said as he struggled to wake up from his nightmare.

His eyes opened and bore into hers. His breathing was ragged as if he was physically spent.

She caressed his face tenderly. " Please.. " she said, unsure on what it was she was pleading for, she only knew that she couldn't stand to see him in torment.

When he made a move to stand up she quickly rolled, settling on top of him and his eyes widened.

"What are you doing?"

" I don't know." She honestly replied as her heart started beating like a drum. " I just want you to stop hurting." She added softly.

Jun Pyo stared at his wife, at her pleading eyes and felt something inside him stir.

" Let me stay?" she inquired softly, her soul bared at him.

He captured her lips and her heart soared.

The marriage became real.


For the first time in her life, Jae Kyung didn't have anything to say. Glancing at her husband, she noticed that he too seemed at a loss.

Both ate their breakfast and pretended to act normal, but they both knew that what transpired between them can never be ignored.

" About what happened last night…" he began and she tensed. " It doesn't change anything." Her heart broke but she did not pretend to misunderstand.

" I never assumed it would." Surprised at her reply, he looked at her. She was hurting too much but instinct dictated that to break down in front of him would not help her situation.

" Let's get one thing straight, Jun. I am your wife. I will be your wife in all matters that count, but I am not delusional to think that having sex will make you fall in love with me." His eyes closed at her crude words but she continued, determined to salvage her pride.

" I will stay by your side, as expected of me, but I will not be ignored, or left like a piece of luggage. Remember, it was you who decided to push with this wedding." With that, she stood up and left the table. She could feel his eyes boring at her back but she had to leave quickly before the tears fell.

Life in the Gu household settled into an uneasy pattern. Jun Pyo worked three days a week and continued his studies in the remaining days, alternating between tutors and attendance at Shinhwa University.

Refusing her parents' insistence that she too finish her college degree, Jae Kyung set herself to be the perfect corporate wife. She learned how to run a household but at the same time she sneaked off to visit museums and historical landmarks. Unknown to many, she loved historical architecture and the arts, but having grown up being left on her own, she has learned not to share herself to anyone.

She also started reading on economics and politics even if it made her nose bleed, recognizing that as the wife of the heir to the largest fortune in Korea, she has to be able to keep up with him not only in personal matters but in business as well. Only her parents knew that beneath the careless façade lay an active and brilliant mind made for commerce, but because at such an early age she made it clear that she will not enter their world until she is ready, they never pushed.

For the first week after they got back from their "honeymoon" they did not share a bed. Jun Pyo seemed not to care, and Jae Kyung was still hurting from his remarks that she did not pursue the matter. However, as a concession, he began having meals with her and did not react badly whenever she insisted spending time with him.

" What shall we do with the sleeping arrangements?" she blurted out one day while they were finishing dessert.

"What about it?" he asked, though he was perfectly aware about what she was asking.

"Do you want to continue like this?"

"Do you?"

"Now who's being childish?" she snapped, irked that he was so indifferent.

" You started it." He replied and she fumed, only to see a glimmer of a smile on his lips as she looked up.

"Fine. I want to sleep in your bed." Hah. Let him get out of that one.

"Is that all?"

"What do you mean is that all?"

"Is sleeping all you want?" he lazily asked, secretly enjoying as a blush crept in her cheeks.

"No." she boldly replied and again he had to marvel at her bravado.

"Then what else?" he goaded.

A spoon hit the side of his head with a loud clink.

"Aish!" he glared at her as he rubbed the sore spot. " Are you crazy? Why are you so violent?"

"You drive me to violence." She retorted.

They both stood up on opposite ends of the table like gladiators in battle. He took a step and so did she until they stood face to face.

She stood on tiptoe and he bent his head. Just like that, sparks flew and the Gu's revisited their honeymoon.

Sleeping arrangements were never mentioned again when Jae Kyung moved to her husband's quarters after that.