How not to love you?

You are in the waiting room while Jiho was being called over.

He finally arrived and when the white curtains parted, you are revealed in your wedding dress, probably the most beautiful looking bride he's ever set his eyes on but Jiho is an expert when it comes to concealing his emotions.

Your insides clash with anxiety, mind racing at the thought of what Jiho might say. He keep him composure, approaching you in majestic steps.

Your eyes scan his delicious black suit, taking stock of every little detail on it.

He stops in front of you, his spicy cologne greeting your nose - clouding your senses.

Two female employees stayed behind to watch his reaction.

He brings his head down, leaning slowly towards you as if he was going to kiss you. The employees dashed out of the room, giggling sheepishly.

His lips curved slightly as his eyes follow their retreating figure, "Good, they have left." He said, taking two paces back.

Finally, he gives you another thorough look, "The dress looks nice."

"Only the dress?" You ask with a pout.

He shrug, saying in a flat tone, "You look nice too, if that's what you want to hear."

"Hey! It's my wedding day and you are going to be my husband. At least pretend to care." You complained.

"Alright. What are you expecting? Do you need a hug, another kiss?" He peruzed at you in such a way that your heart started thumping rapidly.

You swallow, looking away from his piercing gaze, "You've said enough."

He nods, "Since we are done with this formality, I will be waiting for you at the end of the aisle so we can get this done with, don't delay us. It's already too much pressure on me!" He said and turned to leave.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Your question forced him to stop, he wheels around to face you, "Tell you what?"

You lift your gaze to meet his, "That you saved me."

FIFTEEN YEARS AGO

The Kangs and Gong family were having an official meeting for the first time at the Gong family vacation house outside the city of Seoul. The two ambitious families were trying to find a proper way they can merge their two companies without stirring any backlash from the public.

Then, Kang Mo was still married to his first wife, Hyeri, and Ari was just ten.

Ari has always been a fearless and a daring kid, she snuck out and went to the woods.

Gong Jiho was thrown to his father by his mother and then the cruel woman left her only son in the hands of wolves.

Gong Hangmo had no choice but to accept his illegitimate son. Joon and his mother despised Jiho since the first day.

Gong Joon never wasted an opportunity to bully Jiho: locking him in the room, paying seniors at school to harass and mock him. He did everything he could to break Jiho, to get him out of their once 'perfect' lives.

Little Ari went deeper and deeper into the woods, appreciating the earthen hues and the woodsy fragrance that enveloped the atmosphere. She advanced to the top of the hill to admire the landscape view, only for her to reach there and realize the sky had turned dark - thunder clouds roaring in the distance.

It started pouring heavily, Ari sprinted back the way she came from.

She reached an opening, and in that moment, lightning ripped through the dark clouds and it struck someone.

Should've been Ari but at the very last second, Gong Jiho stepped in, pushed her out of the way and suffered the impact.

The voltage threw him across, he crashed into a tree and dropped unconscious while Ari went tumbling down and bashed her head against a rock at the end of the slope.

The two were rushed to the hospital. The Kang family were worried dead about their daughter while the Gong family silently prayed for Jiho's death.

"He is nothing but a liability anyway." Jiho opened his eyes only to be greeted by his father's daggering words. The people he took as his family never once accepted him, not even his own father, talk less of his step brother or step mother.

Ever since that unfortunate incident, Gong Jiho lost his sense of touch.

When he met Ari again, a month after the accident, she showed no recollection and completely ignored him, treating him as if he was invisible and in her heart, only Gong Joon had a space there.

Ever since that day, Gong Jiho harbored a strong hatred towards Ari; as she is the reason he can no longer live a normal human life.

PRESENT DAY.

"Why didn't you tell me that you were the one who saved me?"

Your question catapulted Jiho back to the past, he blinked twice - clearly surprised.

"Wha… What?" He stammered, boring his gaze into yours.

You briefly blush, "I mean, you found me that night, in the room? Even though you didn't help directly, you still got the employee to save me on time. So why didn't you tell me?"

She is still playing oblivious? He thought to himself, rage surging within him. With a solemn tone, he said, "I didn't save you, I only did what a normal human would. Honestly, it didn't bother me whether you would live or not, I just did what I had to."

His response was way too harsh even to him. He instantly regretted blurting way too much but what's done is done. Better to be cold than reveal how restless he was to see you lying in your pool of blood.

That night, he forced himself to leave the hallway but his heart couldn't bear the thought of you dying. He has saved you once, it wouldn't hurt to do so again and so he informed the employee, and only left when he was sure the ambulance had arrived and you were out of danger.

You scoff in disbelief, "I had forgotten how cold you are towards me. You did say you hate me, I do wonder why though."

You smile bitterly, "It doesn't matter anyway, we are getting married because we need each other so let's try and tolerate each other till we both get what we want and like you said, we will go our separate ways."

"Good." He growled.

You draw a deep breath, "Even if you hate me, I will never forget what you did for me, so thank you, for saving my life."

Your sincerity released a whirlwind of emotions welling up inside him. Should he be happy or grow more angry?

He turned away, saying, "This is not the first time I have saved you!"

"You are right." You respond with a frown, "You have saved me from those drunkards too, so thank you!"

Jiho has spent fifteen years awaiting the day you would thank him for taking the fall for you but even to date, you are still going to pretend you don't remember, or maybe you really dont, he wondered.

He folded his fists, speaking through gritted teeth, "Don't misunderstand me for not liking you. Perhaps, I am the first man in Seoul who isn't astonished by your beauty so you might be in disbelief but this is good, since we are not marrying for love, doesn't matter how I feel about you."

"Yes." You add, "I will never love anyone else ever again so don't worry Jiho, once I get what I want, I will get out of your hair."

He paused for a moment and without saying another word, punched out of the room.

You watch his retreating figure - steaming, "I just wanted to thank him properly but no, he had to be so rude. I didn't confess my feelings so why the need to be so rude? Why exactly did he get so upset? Why does he hate me so much?"

You sigh with frustration, "Gong Jiho, if not because my hatred towards Joon is bigger than my ego, I would have just called off this wedding."

I get that he saved me but what gives him the right to be so rude? And what was that about 'this is not the first time he's saving me'? Does he think fighting those drunkards makes him Iron-man or what? Thinks he's some hero of sort! I can't wait for this wedding to come to an end.

After your argument, Jiho strode out to the balcony to get some fresh air. He took a deep breath. The sun shined on his face, he closed his eyes wishing he could feel even the slightest bit, the warmth of the sun, but thanks to that decision he made to save you fifteen years ago, he is still paying the price.

If only I can feel its warmth, if only…

His thought was cut short when you suddenly grab a hold of his hand and instantly, the warmth of the sun washes over his face.

Slowly, he opened his eyes, turning his head to look at you.

You speak with confidence, "You saved me that night and I am here to make you feel alive, I think that makes us even, because believe it or not, you are not the only hero here, I am a hero too. Your hero to be precise. So you can hate me as much as you want, or let go of whatever negative feelings you have of me and we can be friends, what do you say?" You suggested this truce after lots of thoughts.

"Friends?" He paused a moment, "I can never be your friend."

You expected him to cave in but after hearing his response, you hated yourself even more and sighed, turning to leave when Jiho said,

"How can I be your friend when I'm going to be your husband?"

Sharply, you face him, "Does that mean you will stop being rude to me?"

Jiho shrugged and said, "Unless I want to be called abusive, I have no choice but to stop!"

Despite his cold responses, you find sincerity laced in his tone and that alone is enough for you to accept this new reality of yours with ease.

Slowly, you intertwine your fingers with his, looking to smile at his beautiful face,

"It's time we get married, Gong Jiho."