Protologue
__________
"Mom, Dad... thank you so much," 16 year old Hyun utters, his voice a mix of disbelief and pure joy as he cradles the brand-new skateboard in his hands.
The sleek board gleams under the warm overhead light, its polished surface reflecting the excitement dancing in his eyes.
"Hyunaa, remember, safety-" his dad begins with a familiar tone of caution, the kind worn smooth by years of repetition.
"comes fast!" Hyun finishes with a playful grin, earning a hearty chuckle from his father. The room feels warmer, cozier, filled with the comfort of shared routines and inside jokes.
"I know, Appa," he adds, looking between his parents with a soft smile. "But don't you think you guys are spoiling me way too much?"
His mom, Mrs. Min, steps forward, her eyes gentle and filled with affection.
"So what? You're our only son. If we can't spoil you, who else would we?"
In a burst of affection, Hyun pulls them both into a hug, the kind that says more than words ever could. The air feels thick with love, wrapping around them like a favorite blanket.
"You know what? I got the best parents in this world," Hyun says, his voice a little quieter now, but no less sincere.
His parents hold him tighter in return, as if trying to memorize the moment.
Present
________
"Hyun? Are you Min Hyun?"
"Yes, I am," Hyun says, snapping out of his trance, his gaze shifting toward the screen where Taemin sits elegantly in front of a sleek laptop.
"I'm Kim Taemin. I wanted to give you something, that's why I sent Junki there. He's my assistant,"
Taemin explains, his voice calm and authoritative, motioning to the man who stand silently behind Hyun.
"Junki, hand him those things,".
Taemin instructs, his voice sharp yet controlled. Hyun turns slightly, confused, watching Junki as he reaches into a leather satchel with careful movements.
Since morning, Hyun had felt like a character in someone else's dream.nothing made sense. First, this Junki person appeared without warning. Then Taemin, speaking in half-answers, only added to the storm of confusion swirling in his chest.
Junki, now holding a bundle of familiar-looking accessories, extends them to Hyun with both hands.
As Hyun takes the items, recognition strikes like lightning. His fingers tremble as he touches them.every object a fragment of memories he thought lost forever.
Tears pool in his eyes as he clutches the items close.
"If you want to know more… meet me at my office,"
Taemin says coolly, and with that, the screen goes black, leaving only Hyun's reflection staring back at him.
"Junki-ssi… is this about my p-" Hyun whispers, his thumb gently caressing a bracelet, his voice cracking under the weight of nostalgia.
Junki offers a soft, sympathetic smile. "Yes, Hyun-shi. Shall we go now?" His voice carries warmth, a contrast to the chill in Hyun's chest.
"Y-Yeah… I'll come after changing," Hyun nods, slowly making his way upstairs.
But he suddenly halts midway, nose twitching."Something's burning."
"Oh god! My dish!"
Panic washes over his face as he dashes toward the kitchen. The air is thick with the scent of overcooked spices and smoke. His heart races as he lifts the lid of the pan.
A sigh of relief escapes him,it's not burned. In fact… it's cooked perfectly. A bizarre fusion of ingredients, but it's something entirely new.
"I really did it… I created a new dish," he whispers, a proud smile spreading across his face.
"Junki-shi! Today I made a new dish,would you like to taste ?" Hyun says, his eyes sparkling like a child showing off a painting to his parent.
Junki's lips twitch into a polite smile. "Of course, Hyun-shi."
In a flurry of movement, Hyun serves the dish.an unrecognizable black-colored mass placing it in front of Junki like it was an art.
Junki's face falters slightly as he stares at it.
Why does it look like coal? Is this really food?
He thinks, smiling weakly.
"It's okay, Junkie. Color has nothing to do with taste," he reassures himself, lifting a spoonful to his nose.
Why does it smell… off?
His stomach clenches. Just do it. He's the owner of a restaurant. He must know what he's doing.
With mental strength he never knew he had, Junki takes the bite. His smile vanishes almost instantly.
It tastes like… raw banana peel.
A war breaks loose in his stomach as he forces himself to swallow.
Is this really Min Hyun? A famous chef?
"Junki-shi, do you like it?" Hyun beams, watching with hopeful eyes.
How can I like the banana peel hyun-shi?
"Y-Yeah, it's really… delicious," Junki forces out, the words scraping against his pride.
"I knew it would be good! I'll change In ten min,until then,eat all of it, okay?"
Before Junki can protest, Hyun disappears upstairs.
After looking back and forth for a minute, junki rushes into kitchen and immediately washes his mouth for 5 times… and throws the leftover food into Hyun's neighbor dustbin running like Usain Bolt..
"Did you finish it already?" Hyun asks, descending the stairs, genuinely surprised.
as this was the first time someone eat his food within 5minutes.
"Aahum… yeah. So… shall we go now?" Junki replies, doing his best to erase the traumatic taste memory.
______________*******______________
Kim Enterprises
______________
The car pulls into the driveway of an enormous glass building stretching fifty floors high into the sky. Hyun steps out, awe-struck by the sheer scale.
"This is the boss's cabin," Junki says, guiding him through the polished marble corridors. "Wait here hyun-shi. He'll be here in five minutes."
Hyun nods, heart pounding. As Junki disappears, Hyun looks around, taking in the sleek interior, the soft hum of machinery, the faint scent of citrus air freshener.
The door opens with a gentle click.
There he is.
The almighty Taemin enters, crisp in his tailored suit, and takes his seat across from Hyun. His movements are precise, exuding control.
"He looks even better in real life."Hyun forgets how to blink.
Taemin clears his throat, snapping Hyun back to reality.
"So, Mr. Min -"
"Hyun. You can call me Hyun!"the chef interrupts, flashing a bright smile,trying to take initiative.
When his words register into his mind Taemin's jaw clenches. His hand curls into a subtle fist.
"I don't like it when people cut my words. Don't do it again. Am I clear?" His voice drops a pitch, colder than before.
Hyun flinches. Why is he getting angry?,I only told him to call me by name.
"Then, Mr. Kim,May i know why did you invite me-"
"Here. Take it," Taemin says, abruptly cutting him off and sliding an envelope across the desk.
So he can cut others words,but others can't?
Hyun frowns but takes the letter, fingers hesitating before unfolding the paper. As he reads, a quiet stillness settles in the room.
Pain cracks through his chest.
yes!it is a letter from his parents,his parents died when he was 16years old in a car crash leaving him as an orphan.
In that car crash not only Hyun's parents but also his parents friend and his hiking bestie whom he calls aunt also died with them, making him complete lonely.
While reading...His vision blurs,and his hands tremble as memories floods him like a fog... until a line catches his eyes.making him to quickly look up meeting Taemin's unreadable gaze.
Taemin leans forward, elbows on the desk, fingers interlaced.
The next words from taemin makes his soul to leave his body for a second,making his eyes wide.
"Will you marry me?"
____________******___________
"Wha-t?"
Hyun stammers, eyes wide, voice shaky with disbelief as he stares at the man before him.
Taemin raises a brow, expression unreadable, almost bored. "Didn't you read the letter? It clearly mentioned their decision. They wanted to arrange a marriage—"
"With my hiking bestie's nephew, right?"
*wrong move*
Hyun cuts in, still caught in a whirlwind of shock. "But… why are you proposing to me?"
Before he can make sense of the words that just left his mouth, Taemin's expression hardens. In one swift movement, the CEO stands from his seat, his presence suddenly towering, his composure cracking at the edges.
Hyun swallows nervously remembering earlier warning.
Without a word,Taemin strides toward him, The tension in the room thickens, pressing against Hyun's chest as if the air itself was shifting out.
With a sudden move,tae reaches him, his hand gripping the Hyun's chair holder.Then, with deliberate force, he drags it closer, the legs scraping against the floor with a low, warning sound.
Hyun's heart hammers in his chest.
And then,Taemin leans in.
His arms plant firmly on either side of the chair, caging Hyun in, their faces now only inches apart.
Hyun instinctively curls his palms over his chest, breathing shallow,as the warmth starts to radiate from the other man dangerously close.
"Didn't I warn you enough?…"
His voice is low,too low...like a growl restrained beneath silk."to.. not cut my words?."
His breath brushes against Hyun's ear, his lips grazing it ever so slightly,an accidental touch that sends a sharp jolt down Hyun's spine.
A tiny, involuntary gasp escapes from him, too soft to be heard, but enough to make his body tense with unfamiliar sparks.
Something between fear and something else… something that makes his skin hyperaware of Taemin's nearness.
Is it his cologne?
Or the heat in his voice?
Why does he make me feel like this?,
Like I'm standing too close to a flame?
Hyun breathes,"S-sorry…"barely finding his voice. His lashes flutter as Taemin finally pulls back, giving him the much needed space to inhale fully again.
The CEO straightens himself, cold composure returning as he adjusts his cuff with clinical grace.
"According to the letter," he begins, tone once again businesslike,
"Your parents and your aunt wished for you, to marry her nephew, didn't they?"
Hyun slowly nods, still recovering from the electric storm Taemin left in his wake.
Taemin then pulls out a small photo and holds it up. "Is this the woman you call as aunt?"
Hyun's eyes drop to the image, his breath hitching when he sees her smile. He nods again, more firmly this time.
"Yes… that's her."
"Great!," Taeminsarcasticly,slipping the photo back into his folder. "I don't know how you started calling her aunt without any blood relation.yet how come youdidn'tknow her real name?".
Hyun's silence is answer enough.
"Her name was Kim Aera," Taemin continues, folding his arms, "and I'm her nephew,Kim Taemin. You have to marry me, to fulfill their wish. So…"
He steps forward again, locking eyes with Hyun.
"will you?"
His voice is calm, but there's steel beneath it, unyielding, certain.
Hyun's lips part, but no words come. His mind is still racing processing every revelation, every name, every connection.
And without realizing it, his head begins to nod. Slowly. Absently.
"Ohh… So,you are her nephew, Now I get it," he murmurs, as if solving a puzzle.
A bright smile blooms across his face, a mix of relief and realization… until his gaze slowly returns to the man in front of him.
Then it hits him.
That man.
Taemin.
The cold, commanding, heart-stopping CEO is the one he's meant to marry.
Hyun's expression collapses into pure horror.
"Wait"
His eyes widen, voice rising an octave.
"That means… I have to marry him?"
His breath catches.
Him?
A/n:Ifyou are liking the story,let me know with your sweet comments.