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If you would tell Rumi from four years ago that she'd end up marrying a man like Jinu, one who infuriates her to no end- a man who can unbalance the order in her thoughts with a single sentence, she would've run you over with a car.
Now here she is lounging on a luxurious couch, eating her own words and writing wedding vows for a man she will marry, not for love, but to save everything she's worked for from financial ruin.
"What about this...I promise to coexist respectfully until death do us part."
He took her grumbling as a cue that she's unimpressed with what he's written so far.
It's funny. ‘Respectful’ would be the last thing that would come to mind for those who are aware of even the tiniest bit of concept about the nature of their relationship.
"Well, this was a complete waste of time." She tapped her pen against the blank page repeatedly, as if doing so would give her a burst of inspiration any minute now.
Jinu also gave up, already digging into the food she'd brought with her before she ambushed him in his apartment with this boring activity.
His face scrunched lightly after taking one bite. "Where did you buy this?"
"Why do you wish to know?"
"It's not good"
Rumi straightens before answering. "I made it"
A pause. And at that moment, Jinu felt his life flash before his eyes.
Well! I had a good run.
This is the part where I perish
I'm sure she's thinking of stabbing me with that pen
"Right" he calmly responds, Rumi still had that menacing look, as if telling him to choose his next words carefully "I meant that it's not just good. It tastes amazing"
He takes another bite to make it even more convincing.
"Good" she beams, happy again. But her gaze didn't leave him. "Aren't you going to finish it?"
They lock eyes again. Then Jinu takes another bite, already regretting his life choices.
Rumi's smile faltered "You don't like it"
"I'm eating it aren't I?"
"You look like you're in pain"
Jinu finishes it all in one gulp. It's fine, dying from food poisoning is much merciful than dying by Ryu Rumi's hands. But of course, she didn't buy his little act.
"Unbelivable! My future husband does not like my cooking" she abandoned the pen, crossing her arms as she sulked deeper into the couch.
"I liked it Rumi! My palate was just a little confused at first"
"Yes and you finished it but you look like you're suffering the whole time!"
"Rumi..."
"You call me a brat, you always annoy me, you don't like my cooking, you rearrange my book collection and on top of everything...you don't even like me!" She groaned and leaned back, dragging her hands over her face.
She felt the couch shifting. Rumi peeked through her fingers just as Jinu stood and walked around behind her. His arms slid around her shoulders, pulling her back against him.
"Relax" he murmured, pressing a light kiss on her forehead. She didn't pull away. To her, this already felt familiar.
Her shoulders loosened just a little. His lips lingered. From her temple, to the curve of her cheek.
"Jinu.." she sighs when his kisses trailed lower- to the edge of her jaw, breath warm against her skin.
"Maybe we should take a break" he suggested, tone playful, his fingers brushing lightly along her collarbone.
"We can't"
"And why not?"
"Because..." she tried, but a smile already broke through "...Derpy is watching."
He paused, then followed her gaze. There on the glass coffee table in front of them, Derpy stood blinking. Jinu stared back at him for a long moment, then sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"Rumi, he's a cat"
She gasps teasingly "Jinu! Derpy is just a baby- we can't corrupt his mind"
"Okay but hypothetically- what do you think he's going to do with this information"
"Tell his cat friends of course"
Jinu exhaled through his nose, shoulders shaking slightly as he fought back a laugh. He couldn't tell if this woman was being serious.
"Yes you're right Rumi, we can't have him telling other cats within the five-mile radius that his mom and dad did something so- scandalous- on the couch" he agreed with exaggerated seriousness.
Rumi nodded, completely earnest.
"Then we should evacuate to the bedroom and lock Derpy outside" he added, Rumi already smiling as he really won't back down on this one.
"Okay Jinu"
He perks up, only for a moment. Then she leaned forward, picking up her abandoned pen and pointing it at him like a tiny weapon. "But you have to finish your vows first."
He frowned. "What?"
"You heard me. No vows, no bed"
Then, without another word, he rushes back to his spot and grabbed his notepad. Rumi barely had time to react before he hunched over the page like a man possessed.
"Jinu?"
"I'm busy" he says, not even looking up.
Rumi let out a laugh, covering her mouth as she leaned back into the couch, trying to finish her vows as well.
Park Jinu is my refuge. He is the harmonious chaos in my mundane world. With him I feel seen, valued and loved...
....Loved
She stops to cross out the last word on her notepad. They weren't in love. Love is an illness to a woman with so many goals. She can't fall in love now. Not when she's so close.
"Rumi, are you done?"
They sat side by side now, the earlier chaos forgotten. "Yeah" She hesitated for a second, then handed him what she wrote.
Rumi watched him carefully. “Well?”
His teasing expression softened as his eyes moved across the page. His lack of dramatic feedback made her stomach turn.
"Show me what you wrote!" She changed the subject instead, trying to reach for his vows though he immediately leaned back.
"It's a surprise, you'll hear of it at the altar." He'd tease. Or maybe just a backup plan.
"That's not fair I showed you mine!"
He smiled "This way I could make sure you'd actually show up to our wedding."
Knowing his bride, she'd be far too curious to even miss it.
"Ugh you're insufferable!" But she didn't back down. "Give it."
"No."
"Jinu"
He held the pad just out of reach as she lunged for it. Rumi grabbed his arm, trying to pry the paper free. He twisted away, laughing now, holding it higher.
"Park Jinu, you will show your future wife what you wrote right this second or I swear to God I am attending this wedding in choo choo train pajamas and skipping the entire honeymoon to go backpacking with my friends in Europe."
She'd never seen him obey her words so quickly, lowering the paper to a height she can reach as she smugly snatches it from his hold, a winning smile grazing her lips.
She won this time.
"Heh you must really not want me wearing pajamas on our wedding day." She flipped it open, still grinning.
"Trust me, that's not the thing I'm worried about."
She rolled her eyes at that and focused on the vows. Her eyes slowed as they moved across the lines. The grin softened. A faint flush crept up her cheeks before she could stop it.
Jinu watched her closely, immediately catching it. "You like what I wrote?"
She can hear his sly smirk from his words.
"It will do" she hands it back to him, trying to look casual, but fails. "It's okay."
In one smooth motion, he guided her back against the couch again, the paper that had his vows slipping from her hands and landing somewhere on the floor with a soft thud.
"Just okay?" He teased leaning in closer.
Her breath caught, but she still managed a glare.
"Yes, it's just okay"
And then he kissed her.
"Liar"
Any comeback she had dissolved instantly, replaced with a surprised laugh against his lips. Her hands came up to push at him, but there was no real force behind it anymore.
On the floor, the paper lay open and abandoned.
Vows written, read…
Ryu Rumi is my sanctuary. She is my safety in a world that taught me to survive alone. In her arms, I am free to be myself.