Once Again

Chapter 3

Aroha's POV

I'm getting married today. The biggest day of my life-the day l've always dreamed of. It's surreal, really, how everything has come together. My parents arranged my dream wedding-the venue is stunning, the cake is perfect, and my dress fits like a glove. Everything is in place, except for one crucial detail: the groom.

Juyeon. Just thinking his name sends a chill down my spine. The past week flew by faster than I ever imagined. I wished it would slow down, that somehow time could stretch to give me a little more breathing room. I wanted to delay this marriage, to escape from the reality that I was about to become his wife. But there was no way out now.

I don't want to marry him. The truth is, the fact that we don't love each other isn't the only thing driving me crazy. It's the sheer hatred that simmers between us, the resentment that feels like a dark cloud hanging over our heads. Most couples in arranged marriages eventually find a way to love each other, but what about us? We can barely stand to be in the same room without arguing.

How can we possibly build a life together when he's the one who has hurt me more than anyone else ever has? Just the thought of living with him makes me feel sick. The memory of that night at Sunwoo's, the laughter and the chaos, feels like a distant dream now-one that quickly turned into a nightmare the moment reality set back in.

We haven't spoken since he dropped me off at my house that morning. It was as if we'd fallen off the edge of a cliff, separated by an unbridgeable chasm. I've spent countless hours replaying the events that happened 10 years ago, wondering if we could have done things differently. But now, all I have are the remnants of what could have been-an unbearable weight pressing down on my chest.

As I look in the mirror, adjusting my veil, I feel the tears prick at the corners of my eyes. This should be a day filled with joy, but all I feel is dread. I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I can do this. I have to do this. I just wish I could find a way to silence the chaos inside my head and embrace the life that's waiting for me, even if it's with him.

I wonder what's going on in his head right now. Does he feel the same way I do? It's hard to imagine that we could be on the same wavelength when there's so much animosity between us. But when I really think about it, he's the one who's lost the most out of all of us. Juyeon lost his two best friends, Eric and Sunwoo, me and Younghoon- his best friends' sister and brother.

But that's not all. He doesn't even realise the betrayal lurking behind the scenes, the one dealt by his own sister and girlfriend. He's the main victim of all the chaos Jiyah and Aera stirred up, and yet... that doesn't excuse his actions. He hurt me, and that's not going to change.

It still stings when I think about the things he said. Calling me an orphan, as if I didn't have parents who loved me. Being a parent isn't just about giving birth; it's about raising a child with love and care, something he clearly doesn't understand. How dare he label me like that?
I should have kicked his ass that day instead of letting his words get to me.

Why did I even cry? It feels so embarrassing now, like I let him get under my skin. I shake my head, trying to clear those memories away. I can't let myself dwell on that moment any longer. Today is supposed to be about starting fresh, no matter how twisted that fresh start may feel. But still, a part of me wishes things could have been different, that we could have faced our circumstances without the hatred weighing us down.

Juyeon's POV

Ah, I don't want to marry her. I can't bear the thought of tying the knot with the woman my ex-best friend loves. And the fact that she's the sister of that jerk who hurt my sister drives me insane. Jiyah is going to see Eric today, and he'll be arriving with his fiancée, right? I don't want them to meet. I can't stand the idea of watching my little one get hurt right in front of my eyes. Ugh, if only time could stop right now or take me back to ten years ago.