Chapter Fifty-two: Rising Tensions.

Min Jun and Soo Jeon sat side by side, their dining table cluttered with wedding planners, floral samples, and invitation designs. The excitement that once filled their planning sessions now felt distant, replaced by a heavy sense of duty and deadlines.

 Min Jun rubbed his temples, glancing at the long list of tasks they still had to complete. "I didn't think planning a wedding would be this stressful. It's like every decision has a million layers to it."

 Soo Jeon nodded, her eyes tired but determined. "I know, and with our families pulling us in different directions, it's hard to keep track of what we actually want. Your parents keep asking for more traditional elements, and my family just wants something small and simple."

 Min Jun sighed deeply. "It's like we're stuck trying to please everyone but ourselves."

 The pressure intensified when Min Jun's parents invited them over for dinner, and Ji-Eun, under the guise of a family friend, made an unexpected appearance. Dressed elegantly, she smiled warmly at Min Jun, her presence a stark reminder of the past he was trying to move on from.

 Throughout the evening, Ji-Eun skillfully inserted herself into conversations, subtly questioning Soo Jeon's suitability as Min Jun's partner. "You know, Min Jun," Ji-Eun said with a calculated smile, "I remember how much you enjoyed those traditional ceremonies we used to attend. It's important to keep those cultural elements alive, don't you think?"

Min Jun's mother nodded in agreement, her gaze shifting to Soo Jeon. "Yes, tradition is very important to our family."

 Min Jun felt a familiar knot tighten in his chest. He wanted to defend Soo Jeon, to make it clear that their choices were their own, but he found himself at a loss for words, torn between his loyalty to his family and his commitment to Soo Jeon.

 Soo Jeon, sitting beside him, could sense the unease. She put on a brave face, but inside, her heart ached. She wondered if Min Jun's family would ever see her as more than an outsider. As the dinner dragged on, she found herself questioning whether she was truly the right person for Min Jun, or if Ji-Eun's constant presence would always cast a shadow over their relationship.

 Later that night, as they sat in their car, the silence between them was heavy with unspoken worries. Min Jun finally broke the silence. "I'm sorry, Soo Jeon. I should have said something, stood up for us more. I just—"

 "It's okay," Soo Jeon interrupted gently, though her voice wavered. "I understand it's hard for you. I just… I feel like I'm not enough sometimes, like maybe they're right and I'm not what they want for you."

 Min Jun turned to face her, his eyes filled with pain and frustration. "Soo Jeon, you are everything I want and more. I don't care what anyone else thinks. We're in this together, and I'm not going to let anyone, not even my family, make you feel like you're not enough."

 Soo Jeon's eyes filled with tears, and she nodded, a soft smile breaking through her sadness. "I'm scared, Min Jun. I'm scared that no matter what we do, it won't be enough for them."

 Min Jun reached over, taking her hands in his. "Then let's stop trying to please everyone else. Let's focus on what makes us happy. We can have a small private ceremony before the big wedding—just us. Something that's ours, no outside pressures, no expectations."

 Soo Jeon squeezed his hands, her heart swelling with gratitude. "I love that idea. It'll be our special moment."

 They spent the rest of the evening sketching out plans for their private ceremony, filled with the little things that were meaningful to them—a quiet garden, their favorite songs, and personal vows that spoke of their journey together.

 To rekindle their joy, Min Jun surprised Soo Jeon with a spontaneous date night. He took her to their favorite rooftop spot, where they shared their first kiss. Under the city's twinkling lights, they danced to the soft hum of distant music, wrapped in each other's arms.

 As they swayed together, Min Jun whispered, "No matter what happens, it's you and me against the world."

 Soo Jeon smiled, resting her head against his chest. "Always."

They laughed, twirling and spinning, momentarily free from the weight of expectations. In that moment, surrounded by the simple beauty of their love, Min Jun and Soo Jeon knew that no matter the challenges, they would always find their way back to each other.