Description: Chan gets to be with the love of his life... through an arranged marriage.
There was a light behind the door as you slide it open. You are about to greet your husband, but he spoke first.
“Where were you so late?”
“One of my co-workers called in sick, so I picked up an extra shift.” You take off your shoes cautiously upon hearing his tone.
“And you did so without a text or a call?” His voice is rising. “Besides, I told you you don’t have to keep picking up shifts. In fact, you don’t have to work at all; I make enough for the both of us!”
“I’m sorry; I should have given you a heads up, but I don’t see why you’re this concerned!” you retort. “You know I wouldn’t cheat on you or do anything to destroy your image. I signed a contract, and I stick to my words. Besides, you know how I feel about using your money. JYP already compensated for my marriage.”
“This isn’t about the money, Y/N; it’s about you coming home at 1 in the morning without telling anyone! What if you got kidnapped or killed?”
“Then wouldn’t that be better for you? Then I’d be dead, and you can finally get out of this arrangement!”
Chan staggers back until he trips and falls into a chair. His voice lowers and you can barely hear him when he mutters, “H-how could you think I would think that when all I’ve done till now was love you and cared for you? I thought you would at least see us as friends.”
You flinch in guilt. “But it was all pretend…”
He sighs and hunches over his legs with his hands in his hair. You wait a few moments for him to speak, but he doesn’t. You slowly tip-toe to the bathroom for a quick shower, but when you are done, he is still in that very position, unmoving.
“Have you ever considered--” You freeze at the door frame. “That I might actually be in love with you? Because I am.”
He sighs loudly and pushes himself up off his knees. He turns to you who is frozen in shock and announces, “I’ll sleep on the couch tonight. We can return back to normal tomorrow. Sorry for yelling at you like that.”
That night, the bed felt cold without Chan next to you. You cannot fall asleep with your mind racing from his confession. What he said is true though; you honestly never thought of your relationship with him being anything beyond the arrangement. It isn’t that you dislike him; he was just a card life dealt you, and you never sought anything more. So what did you feel for him?
Your thoughts are going a mile a minute, preventing you from sleeping, so you hold a pillow to your chest and get up to settle this. Once you reach the living room, however, your will falters upon seeing him asleep on the couch. Perhaps you shouldn’t bother him; you know he has had a long day too. You bite your lip indecisively until you decide that you should let him sleep. You walk towards his from to slide you pillow underneath his head when he calls your name.
“Y/N? What’s wrong? Why are you up?”
You nearly yelp in surprise at the sudden noise. “T-the bed was cold,” you stammer.
“I’ll get the portable heater,” he says while swinging his legs off the couch.
“No, I mean--!” You fidget with the corner of the pillowcase. “I mean, can you come to bed? I think we should talk.”
He pauses for a second to consider your offer before nodding. “Okay. Let’s go.”
He places his outerwear on you for good measure and walks you into your shared bedroom. Once there, you climb to your side of the bed and he sits on his. He reaches to turn on the light, but you stop him.
“Wait. I’m not sure I can say this looking at you. Can we keep it dark?”
Chan retracts his hand in response and looks at you expectantly.
“I, um,” you begin. “About the whole love thing, y-you’re right,” you admit, “I really never did consider that possibility.”
“It’s alright,” he sighs yet again. “I shouldn’t have put that pressure on you by confessing. You aren’t obligated to feel the same.”
“But the thing is, I… I don’t know how I feel about you. Now that you’ve presented this possibility, my heart’s all confused and a bunch of what-if’s fill my mind, like what if I one day loved you too?”
Chan’s ears perk up at your words. “D-do you think you might?” His voice is hopeful but careful.
“Maybe… I don’t know at this moment,” you confess.
“Then I’ll make you,” he resolves. “You’ve never considered this, but you’ve never dismissed it either, right? I’ll show you what it means to love and to be loved. I’ll make you forget who you were before this conversation. I’ll give you a real marriage!”
You chuckle at his enthusiasm and lean into him when he pulls you onto the mattress. “Okay…” you agree.
Chan lets out a hum of delight as he wraps his arms around you. He’s done this many times before, but this time, it feels different. This time, you feel electricity from his fingers tingling your skin.
