1 Is this the starting?

[7:30 pm]

I am driving and my mind is flooded, I want to think straight but I can't. I want to scream out lot loud but I can't, for some unknown reasons. There's only one question lingering in my mind right now and that's 'how to hurt the person whom I love the most? How to break him into pieces?' This is the most difficult thing I have to do in my life, because I can't stand his sadness, I can't see him hurt, I can't leave him but eventually I have to hurt him because there's no other way

[Flashback 1 pm]

I entered the restaurant, just to know mum and dad reserved a private table. I asked in the reception and then went inside. I saw mum and dad, mum hugged me tight.

"Awwww you look pretty" mum told me.

"Mum, I am 27, stop complementing me like a 5 years old kid please"

"You are our kid, still a baby" dad smiled.

"But why did you tell me to come here suddenly and on top of that you wanted me to dress prettily. Do you know how tough it was to choose a good one and this dress, I brought last month and wanted to try. Thanks to you I got to try, it looks good" I told her

"Now sit, they must be arriving any moment" dad smiled

"Who else is coming?" I asked out of curiosity

"Just wait a bit" mum held my hand. Who knew my anxiety would make a way to me, and slowly slowly I was getting anxious and I am trying to calm myself down by telling myself that everything's going to be fine.

I saw someone entering, to be specific 'a family'. "Misoo, how are you?" the lady who was nearly of my mum's age hugged my mum and here I was totally confused because I never saw her. I saw a boy taking a seat opposite to me, and his father opposite to my dad. The boy was probably my age or maybe older or younger than me by few years.

"Nice to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Yoon and Jihoon, nice to meet you" my dad smiled

"Misoo, your daughter is so pretty, just a perfect girl"

"Thankyou" I smiled, she looked kind and gentle.

"Your son is handsome too, finally you are back here and I can see Jihoon." Jihoon smiled.

"Hello, I am Erica. I am currently working as the head of PR department. Nice to meet you all." I introduced myself and smile, other gave a reassuring smile to me.

"Hello, I am Jihoon, I am currently working as a Chief Surgeon, nice to meet you." He looked down to earth when he smiled.

"Are you working in your dad's company?"

"No, I am not working there. My company is not related with dad's company in any way"

Everyone looked happy, as if they were old friends and enjoying gathering after a long time, I didn't mind anything. This family looked humble and sweet. It was fine until she spoke.

"Both of you must be wandering why we called you despite your busy schedule? Right? We are here to discuss something important." Mrs. Yoon said and smiled, her smiled seemed sweet. Unknowingly, I started getting anxiety attack, of course I can't show them and react here. My body was going numb slowly, it was like I couldn't feel or moves my hands or feet at all, my full body was numb. I wish he was here by my side to calm me down. I looked down trying to calm myself, I was getting a feeling that whatever they will say, it's going to be a disaster to me, my heart was starting to clench slowly slowly.

Mum suddenly held my hand and I tried smiling at everyone.

"We are here to discuss about your marriage which is next Friday" dad said

"WHAT?" I shouted unknowingly; it was just a reflex reaction. Definitely, my voice shocked everyone out there, specially mum and dad, they looked taken aback and …worried?

"Sorry, my apologies. I shouldn't have shouted; I am really sorry." I apologized, mum held my hand tight and the grip got stronger. I looked at her trying to smile, and I was breaking inside, basically because I couldn't understand a single thing what was going on.

"It's okay, Erica it's obvious you to get shocked about such a serious matter." Mrs. Yoon smiled at me and I smiled at her.

I wanted to process all the words, bit by bit. We- I mean me, yes me and this boy, who is sitting infront of me, Jihoon; we are getting married- not anything else but marriage and a damn marriage. And here, I am in love with someone else. How can I? and why no one asked me for my opinion.

"It's all decided hope everything goes as we planned" my mum said and I looked at her with a surprised face. I wanted to ask her so many questions and throw a tantrum infront of everyone but I wish I could do here. I wanted to tell my tears to stop because I was tearing up, my stress, anxiety and frustration always results in tears.

"I am so excited" Mrs. Yoon said and everyone smiled, why won't they smile? They all look happy but where's my happiness? "They look so happy and excited" my dad said. Excited? For what? I regret coming here and I can't escape from here or go back because it's Sunday.

Our food arrived, whatever everyone ordered. I wanted to cry out loud, I got up. "excuse me for a while" I went straight to washroom. I looked at the mirror, I look like a mess and tears started falling without my permission, my knees went weak, I wanted to fight them then and there. How could they do this to me? How? Their own daughter? What am I? not even 20 minutes and my phone started ringing, mum was calling me. I wiped my tears and fixed myself with light make up, at least it made look little messy. I went back, everyone already started eating.

"Erica Where were you?"

"went to washroom." I replied mum

"Are you okay?" Jihoon asked, I nodded "yes I am okay." And smiled at him

"We are sorry for this sudden news but we hope both of you will understand our decisions. It's not a decision we made in a rush but years and years of thinking. Hope both of you will accept it."

"Jihoon, you are okay with it?" my mum asked him and he smiled at my mum.

"Don't worry Mrs. Hwang I am happy with this decision and I will take good care of Erica" I shot my eyes open at his words and look at him, wish my face could tell him that I never wanted to hear those words from him; I can only accept these words from one person and that's Seungcheol, the guy whom I love with all of me. I can only trust his words and his promises because he is my comfort and home.

"Hopefully Erica would agree too" Mrs. Yoon looked at me and I noticed everyone else was staring at me. I have only one way to break all of this by saying NO, why can't I say that. Mum held my hand tight as if she wanted me to agree, I want to say no, a big no. I want to go back to Seunghcheol right now, he is my comfort. How can I leave the guy whom I love for another guy whom I don't even know? What am I supposed to do? I wanted to get out of this situation.

"Erica?" my mum called up me,

I was about to reject everything, because I can't do this to myself, "I am-