chapter20
"Ari, I am so sorry! Jian twisted her hands nervously in her lap. "My Onna isn't trusting me. He thinks, I intentionally went with Jinman. Look, if you don't want to marry me, you really don't have to. I don't want to spoil your life just because mine is a mess right now." Jian assured Arisu.
Arisu come to her house to talk about the marriage stuff that their families were discussing.
"Calm down." Arisu leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
" Your onna told me about Jinman coming here. It would have been terrible, I know. But, I think your Onna is right. You should get married now, as soon as possible. The society imagines a lot, you know."
He looked at her steadily, his expression earnest.
"I know. And I have agreed upon this marriage thing. But, I don't understand why Onna is bringing you in between. We are just friends, and I know you don't love me in....that way." She said.
"Who told you that?" He asked.
"What?"
"Who told you that I don't love you?"
"....because....that is evident. Isn't it?" She said.
Arisu sighed and took her hand in his.
Jian got confused.
"What is he doing?' She wondered.
"Look, Jiji! I know this is neither the right time, nor the correct place to confess my feelings. Actually, I was waiting for the right time to make it special for you. But, seems like Jinman spoiled my plan....I love you." Arisu confessed bluntly.
He squeezed her hand and held her gaze, a deep sincerity in his voice.
Jian's eyes widened. . She gasped softly, leaning back against the sofa.
"Fuck off,you're joking, right!" She exclaimed.
"I am not." He shook his head slowly, confirming his statement. He said seriously. Jian went silent. She never realized that. Either she was a terrible face reader or Arisu hid his feelings well. She felt a sudden rush of warmth and shock. After a while, she spoke.
"Since when?" Jian asked softly, her gaze steady now.
"High school."
"Oh my god! Why didn't you tell me?"
She covered her mouth with one hand, genuinely shocked.She asked.
"Seriously Jiji! Do you think I would have done that? Every boy who proposed to you was never seen around you, ever. You never talked to them again. How could I have told you then? I didn't want to spoil our friendship. This is why I waited for so long. I was happy that at least your Onna considered me suitable for you."Arisu shifted his posture, looking slightly vulnerable.
"....I....I don't know what to say!"
"You don't have to. But, if you love somebody else, you can tell me. I will back off, without telling your Omma." He assured.
"It's not like that. I don't love anyone. Hell!
I never got time for that, and you know that. And if you are implying towards Jinman, NO, I don't love him. I am scared of him for God's sake. He is...."
"I know how he is."
They both went silent,the air thick with unspoken possibilities, not knowing what to say. Suddenly, Arisu stood up from the bed and kneeled down in front of her. He reached into his pocket slowly, anticipation clear on his face.
"Ari?" She asked not knowing what he was doing.
"Jian, you deserve a better proposal. Even though the marriage is happening in a haste, I want to ask your hand for marriage, just like I always imagined..." He inhaled a deep breath and sighed.
"I am in love with you, Jian. Will you marry me?" Arisu asked, and pulled a ring from his pocket.
Jian's eyes filled up in realization. She never felt his love. Even if, she didn't love him, she surely loved him as a friend. And she knew, they could have a bright future together.
She smiled and nodded.
"Of course!" She replied with a smile.
Arisu stood up with a big smile and pushed the ring on her forefinger.
"I will put it on the ring finger when we get engaged in front of the family. Okay!" He said. Jian nodded and Arisu hugged her. They had hugged each other many times, but this hug was different. This was a hug shared by betrothed couples, promising a future.