Anguish

(A-yeong Pov)

I have been so busy with personal family affairs that I hadn't attended school in a while. I heard that there was a famous person attending our school. I tried texting Jo Woon about the situation, but he hasn't been replying to me. A part of me wanted to ask Mina for help, but I felt it was my job to make him like me on my own. However, I wasn't oblivious to the fact that he still had feelings for his ex, Mina. On the other hand, I was surprised that she broke up with him like that. As I was thinking about it, my sister walked in with her laptop and paperwork. My sister, Ji Ah, she works for my father's company as a director of the company. Unfortunately, I was next in line as my ballet career was just a hobby. After my mother died, my father made the preparation into making us his two daughters enter the work force - his company. Furthermore, we had to marry his competitor's sons since it would benefit the company. Moreover, my father and mother didn't have any sons to help push the company nor have an heir, so it was beneficial. Even though, Ji Ah wanted to be the successor, my father disapproved considering she was of course a woman.

"How is school going?" Ji Ah asked

"Good, I guess." I replied

"I know that you are not happy about dad's preparation of having us married off and joining his company. However, there is nothing that we can do about it." she said

"I know, but if mother was here this what have never happened." I said

"Don't talk about mother." she said

"Make sure that you get all of your work from your professors, okay." she said

"Why?" I asked

"Me, you and dad are going on a business trip." she said

"Are you serious? I haven't been at school for almost a week and now he wants us to go on a business trip. Besides, I have exams to do, and he is hindering me from my education." I said upset

"Yes! You have every right to be upset but we have no choice." she said

"Are you sure this is a business trip? Because from the looks of it, he hasn't ever needed us to be presented at any of his business matter unless it's an event or party of some kind." I stated

"Well, I am one of the directors at the company in case you forgot, so I have to be there." she said

"Don't make me laugh, he only gave you that position so you would shut your mouth about it. And let's not forget that you wanted to be his successor of the company, but he said no because of the fact that you're a woman." I stated

"How dare you?!" she yelled

"How dare me? I'm sorry, but you should have known better and no I am not going." I said leaving

I grabbed my car keys from the hook near the kitchen, went into the garage and drove my white Mercedes Benz. I just drove around the city of Seoul, then I thought to swing by Jo Woon's house. I have been there a few couple times as he wanted me over to speak to me about his former girlfriend. I did feel uncomfortable at times because I did think that this was something he should have told her. However, I was unsure about our relationship since he was still in love with Mina and my father wouldn't allow it. Of course, Jo Woon is rich nor comes from a more prestigious family, so it wouldn't work. On the other hand, I didn't want my father to plan how I spend the rest of my life. As I arrived at Jo Woon's house, I took a deep breath and rang the doorbell. He opened the door and poked his head out looking rather stunned. I smiled and waved at him since he seemed rather shocked that I presented myself in front of his house. He invited me inside his house, I placed my keys on the counter in the kitchen and he grabbed me a glass of water.

I know that he was wondering why I showed up uninvited at his house, which I didn't expect myself to want to show up here either. But I had to talk to him about my family situation since he was the only one that I could talk to. My other friends may understand but their family isn't going to randomly marry them off to rich competitor's sons just to benefit their family business. On the other hand, I know that he wouldn't be able to understand either since he is not on the same tax bracket as me. However, it would be nice for someone like him to talk to. Even if we don't date, I would be more content with being just a friend.

"What brings you here?" he asked

"Oh! I wanted to talk to you about something more personal. Of course, you may not understand since you are not wealthy like me, but I thought you may be someone that I could trust. My other friends may be rich as well, but they won't understand my burden." I explained

"Okay, What's the problem?" he asked taking a seat

"Well, I am pretty sure you know that my mother died. Which everyone pretty much knows since my father funds the school and my mother used to attend. However, after my mother died, my father is trying to marry both me and my sister off with his competitor's sons. Since my father and mother never had a son to make the successor of the company." I explained

"Wow! that's crazy!" he said shocked

"Don't tell me about!" I stated

"So, what are you planning on doing? Since, I know that you don't want go along with it knowing the type of person you are." he asked

"I don't know. But my father is planning on going on a business trip which we have to attend, and I have ask my professor for my homework since I am going to out for a few days maybe a week." I replied

"To be honest, it doesn't feel like you guys are going on a business trip. Because I don't think it would useful that you guys attend since he is not making any of you the heir to the company." he said

"Thank you! That is what I told my sister since it has always been her dreams to be the successor, yet my dad rejected the idea. And she has been so obsessed with the fact that he gave her the title of director. Which she doesn't realized that he just gave it to her just to shut her up." I stated

"I have never been in this type of situation obviously, but you need to do something about it." he said

"I know but thank you for hearing me out about this." I said smiling

"You're welcome!" he said smiling

I was scared to ask him about himself considering I haven't been to school often. Besides, I knew that nothing could come from it considering he was very tense talking to me. Even though, he thought that he could hide it with his nice smile. I wanted to discuss his relationship with Mina since I know he was hurting from the sudden break up and haven't gotten passed it. Especially, since there is a moment of time for her to move on and find someone else. However, I wasn't going to tell him that since it would make him angry. I blamed myself since I should not have allowed myself to get in the middle of someone else's relationship. At first, I was happy that Mina gave me her blessings for pursuing or at least being there for him. But I soon realized that is something that Jo Woon doesn't want, and he has made it clear. Even though, I feel hurt there was nothing that I could do about it and soon realized that it was time for me to move on. I would still be there for him, but as a friend.

It was getting late, I had other places to be, and I didn't want to overstay since I came uninvited. As I left, my friend had called me wanting to hang out with me. She invited me to a Korean BBQ place that was near our school, which I heard was good. As I arrived, my phone started buzzing and it was my sister calling for the fourth time in the last minute. However, I wasn't obligated to answer the phone since I was busy trying to relieve my mind from the bad news of having to leave Seoul for a whole week. The host who was a pretty small girl sat us down at one of the tables that had a grill in the center of the table. It was really spacious and nicely decorated for a Korean BBQ restaurant in Seoul. The owner must be really rich or something since they obviously had great taste with the decorating.

Me and my friend both sat down in the wooden chairs that was really comfortable. The waiter came shortly after who looked very familiar since I had seen him at school. Of course, my friend sat there with beaming eye's as she stared at him. I had glared at her as she kept on glancing at him as he assisted other customer's orders. Of course, I had to tap her so she could return to reality or else she would be drooling all over the table. I could tell that she liked him, which this is the first time that I have seen her like this. Now, I started to realize why she had us come here so she could see her crush. As I sipped on my drink, it all came back to me that this was the guy she kept on talking about who was also in her culinary class. Byeol, she was one of my other rich friends, her father owns a popular upscale restaurant in Seoul. Which we attend often because of their really nice food even though it can be quite expensive. She wanted to own her own restaurant in the future just like her father and mother. Especially, since that was all that, she knew considering that she started cooking since young. I really enjoyed being with her since she was more humbled that me and Chul. Me and Chul do not have the best family the way that Byeol does, and we often live through her.

When we visit her family for special occasion, they are so nice and accepting of us. Sometimes, I wished that I had really supporting parents like the Parks. I just hated my father for how we turned out after my mother's death and didn't understand that we were all affected by it. I cried every night since my life has been turned upside down. My sister, she just went along with it not understanding that she is getting the dirty end of the stick as well. As I was in the middle of my thoughts, Byeol snapped me out of it. The food came shortly after along with the side dishes that came along with our meal. We began eating and the food was really good for a Korean BBQ place in Seoul. There were not much great Korean BBQ places in Seoul, especially that was really nice decorated. As we were enjoying our food, I was very nervous to talk to Byeol about my situation, yet I had to discuss it with her for possible solutions.

"Byeol, you know how difficult my family is?" I said hesitant

"Yeah! we have been friends for a long time, and you constantly complain about them." she said

"Well, there is something that I need to talk to you about." I said

"What is it?" she asked curious

"My father is arranging for me and my sister to get married soon. Furthermore, I am not going to be at school for a while since we are attending a business meeting." I replied

"What! So soon." she said shocked

"Yeah, I was more so upset when my sister brought it to my attention." I stated

"Don't you like Jo Woon?" she asked

"Yes, but you know my father won't accept because he is not wealthy or comes from a wealthy background. Besides, the only thing my dad is interested in is his business and any way to benefit. Since my parents never had a son to make him their heir to the company." I explained

"Doesn't your sister want to take over? So, what is the problem?" she asked

"Yes, but he won't allow her because she is a woman." I replied

"Damn, your father is a problem." she said

"I know but I really don't want to go through with this." I said

"The only thing I could think of is switching your major and go into business. It would be a good idea, since your father is in business, and you can get a better understanding of it." she said

"How does this supposed to help? I don't want to go along with it." I said

"A-yeong, stop being stubborn. I am telling you to transfer into business, so that you can understand the industry and place the same game as your father. He is making these decisions because he knows that you won't understand it. Besides, you can be able to get into the industry yourself and become independent. I would even ask my parents if they can teach you and offer up some shares in the restaurant to help you. In the end, you will be able to call the shots." she explained

"oH! now that make sense." I said shocked

"Of course, when do I not have a great plan?" she said flicking her hair to the side

"Okay, you are getting too ahead of yourself there." I said laughing

After me and Byeol's lunch, I had asked her if it was okay for me to sleep over her house since I didn't feel comfortable staying at mine's. She was okay with it since her parents would be staying late at the restaurant. As I was driving to her house, my phone kept ringing none stop, first it was my sister now it was my father. Of course, I didn't answer since I didn't want to speak to neither one of them. I just texted one of my trusted maids to let her know that I wouldn't be home since I was spending the night with a close friend and not to tell my father. If my father or sister had asked her about my where abouts to just act dumb and if threatened to fire you. Then, I would just rehire you and compensate you for your hard work.