An arranged marriage, set up by their parents to strengthen both business ties and family bonds.

The two are complete opposites — the boy, Lee Heeseung, is an introvert, while the girl, Park Suzy, is an ambivert. But Suzy’s heart already belongs to someone else — the famous K-pop idol Lee Know, a handsome, smart, and pure-hearted gentleman who truly loves her.

Heeseung, meanwhile, carries the quiet ache of his own story. He once lost his first love, Karina, because of his nervousness and shyness — feelings he never had the courage to confess. He’s the kind of boy who loves deeply but silently, who hides emotions behind gentle smiles and fleeting glances.

✨ A story woven with fate, restraint, and unspoken hearts — where love stands still between duty and desire.

> Disclaimer:

This is a fan-made fictional story, created purely from imagination and emotion. It has no connection to the real individuals or events. All K-pop idols mentioned are used for creative, fictional purposes only.

..........

~into the story.....\_

The message came out of nowhere — “Can we meet? It’s important.”

Suzy’s voice echoed in Heeseung’s mind as he stared at his phone screen, the words heavy with worry. They hadn’t spoken outside of business in months, but somehow, he already knew what this was about.

When they finally met at a quiet café near the city outskirts, the air felt different — heavy yet familiar. Suzy sat by the window, her gaze lost somewhere between the streetlights and her reflection. She looked up when he entered, forcing a soft smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Heeseung,” she started, her voice trembling slightly. “Did you… hear about it too?”

He nodded, sitting opposite her. “Yeah. My father told me this morning.”

A long silence followed. The only sound between them was the faint hum of the city and the clinking of cups from the counter. Suzy looked down, her hands twisting nervously.

“This marriage… I don’t know how to face Lee Know,” she admitted, her words quiet but sharp with guilt. “He’s been nothing but good to me. He trusts me, he loves me, and now—” she stopped, swallowing the lump in her throat.

Heeseung listened quietly. He wasn’t good with words, never had been. But for the first time, he found it easy to talk to her — maybe because they both carried the same fear.

“I get it,” he said softly. “I really do. I… recently started liking someone too.”

Suzy’s eyes lifted in surprise. “You did?”

He gave a small, embarrassed nod. “Her name’s Ayeong. She’s not from a big family like ours, but she’s kind. She understands things… in a way no one else does. But I never told her. I couldn’t.”

A faint smile crossed Suzy’s lips. “Still the same Heeseung… always too nervous to confess.”

He let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head. “Yeah. Maybe that’s why I keep losing people before they even know what they mean to me.”

For a moment, they both just sat there — two people caught in a situation neither wanted. Friends once, now bound by an agreement neither could break.

“I tried talking to my mom,” Suzy said, voice breaking slightly. “But she said it’s not just about us — it’s about the companies, the image, the families. She doesn’t want to hear another word.”

“My dad’s the same,” Heeseung replied. “He said it’s time I ‘grow up and think practically.’”

They both looked away, guilt and helplessness thick between them. The blue light from the window reflected in their eyes, making the moment feel colder than it should have been.

After a long pause, Suzy whispered, “So… what do we do now?”

Heeseung sighed, his voice barely audible. “I don’t know, Suzy. Maybe we just… let life decide for us this time.”

And for the first time in a long while, she didn’t argue. She just nodded, a tear tracing silently down her cheek as Heeseung looked away — wishing, for once, he had the courage to fight for what his heart wanted.

Continue...~

After a long conversation, both Heeseung and Suzy sat in silence for a while, lost in their thoughts. It felt strange — how two people could share so much pain yet still try to smile through it. Finally, Suzy spoke softly, breaking the silence.

“Maybe it’s better if we just exchange our pain rather than hide it,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “We still have time, Heeseung. Maybe during this period, something might change… maybe the marriage will be cancelled. For now, we’re just considered fiancés. The real wedding is after three years — and that’s something neither of us truly wants.”

Heeseung looked at her quietly, reading the sadness in her eyes.

“You have someone you love, Heeseung,” Suzy continued, “and I have someone I belong to as well. I know we’re friends, but let’s cooperate for now. No one knows what tomorrow brings… maybe things will actually change. Let’s not lose hope, okay?”

Heeseung nodded faintly. “Yeah,” he murmured, “you’re right.”

Then he hesitated before adding, “We have a banquet next week, I guess you already know. Our parents decided to announce us officially as each other’s fiancés.”

Suzy looked at him, her expression unreadable. “Yeah, I heard about it,” she replied. “Let’s not do anything that could spoil our parents’ reputation. They’ve been waiting for this moment.”

She paused, biting her lip before adding quietly, “I’d be lying if I said I’m fine with it. Look, Heeseung, it’s not that I hate you or anything like that. You’ve always been a good friend — an old friend. I know we weren’t that close, but I’m dating Lee Know. And… I haven’t even told him about this engagement yet.”

Heeseung’s eyes widened in surprise. His heart skipped a beat as her words sank in. Lee Know… so she really loves him. And at that moment, he realized something — he hadn’t told Ayeong about the engagement either. Even though they weren’t officially dating, he knew they both liked each other deeply.

“Hey, Heeseung? Where did you go just now?” Suzy asked, noticing the dazed look on his face.

He blinked and quickly snapped out of his thoughts. “Ah… damn, now that you mention it — I haven’t told Ayeong either,” he admitted with a nervous laugh. “I mean, we’re not even in a relationship, but still… would it be awkward or embarrassing if I told her that my parents have already decided my marriage?”

Suzy sighed softly, her expression gentle. “Heeseung, it’s okay. If she really loves you or has feelings for you, she’ll understand. But don’t hide it from her — misunderstandings can ruin what’s pure. And I’m sure that’s not something you want.”

He nodded slowly, taking in her words. There was comfort in her honesty — a bittersweet understanding that only people trapped in the same fate could share.

As they both stood up, Suzy offered him a faint smile. “Well then… I’ll see you at the banquet.”

Heeseung smiled back, though his heart felt heavy. “Yeah… at the banquet.”

And with that, they walked their separate ways — two hearts tied by fate, yet longing for someone else.