Set In Stone (Xiumin)

“Mother, why do we have to dine with Kims again?” I ask, leaning on the banister of the winding staircase.

The older woman adjusts her earrings as she peers at her reflection in the ornate mirror.

“Because we were invited,” she says sharply, turning to look at me. She folds her arms over her silk robe. “Don’t lean.”

I straighten up. “But it was just a week ago that we were last there,” I say with a sigh.

“Go and get ready,” she orders, making a shooing gesture with her hands and following my reluctant steps up the stairs. My mother disappears to her rooms.

“Yes, all right,” I murmur, “But it would be nice to do what I wanted for a change. Plus, I should be studying…”

I enter my bedroom, a huge room with white walls and dark green furnishings. I run my hand absently along my oak desk, glancing at the notes scattered over it. I study Finance at university, having been advised by my father. I had a talent for maths, so they told me, so here I am studying a degree paid for by my father. If it could please him, at least…

Heading to the bathroom, I wash my hair over the bathtub. I’ve been left with an hour to get ready, having put off actually coming downstairs and then wasting time arguing with my mother when I could never win. Wrapping my hair in a towel, I wash my face. I then return to my room and sit down at my dressing table. I apply lotion and towel-dry my long coffee brown hair.

“Miss Hyerim?” a voice asks following a knock on the door.

“Yes, Jisoo?” I call.

The maid, who is probably the same age as me, opens my bedroom door and peers in, her long black hair swinging over her shoulder.

“Do you need any assistance?” she asks, “Mrs Jung said that you are having dinner with the Kim family this evening.”

I smile at her. “If you could help me dry my hair?” I suggest.

“Of course, Miss,” she says, entering the room and closing the door behind her. She wears a neat uniform consisting of a black dress with a white collar and apron, and a hair band keeps her hair back from her pale face. I, on the other hand, am wearing a beige jumper with a pair of pinstriped trousers, along with house slippers like Jisoo.

Jisoo picks up the hair dryer and a hairbrush from the dressing table, beginning to dry my hair. I sit back in my chair for a few minutes, before getting started on my make-up. Jisoo turns off the hair dryer for a moment.

“What are you going to wear tonight?” she asks.

“Probably the green one,” I say, gesturing behind me to the long green dress that hangs up against my wardrobe.

“It will look lovely,” she says.

“I don’t see why I can’t go like this,” I argue, gesturing to my perfectly fine outfit.

“I suppose you have to blend in with your company,” Jisoo considers. “It’s what expected, and doesn’t reflect on you individually.”

I tilt my head to one side. “I suppose you’re right,” I say, cracking a smile, “Thanks, Jisoo.”

“No problem, Miss,” she says, before continuing to dry my hair. I lean forward slightly to apply eyeliner, before finishing with a pink-tinted lip balm.

“Thank you,” I say as she finishes with my hair.

“You’re welcome,” Jisoo replies, “Is there anything else you need me to do?”

“No, it’s all right,” I reply, standing up, “Finish whatever you need to do, and maybe you can get off early.”

“Thank you, Miss Hyerim,” she says gratefully. Jisoo bows before leaving the room.

I give a heavy sigh before changing into the dress. It’s a dark green and falls past my ankles, with a modest V-neck and no sleeves. I stuff my phone into a black purse as I leave the room, a pair of black heels in one hand.

“Ah, you’re ready,” says my mother. She has arranged her hair around her shoulders and is wearing a black dress and red lipstick.

“You look lovely, darling,” says my father, standing in the hallway in a black suit.

“Let’s go, then,” I say.

“Well,” says Father as we sit in the car on our way to the Kim’s estate, “Business has been booming lately, and Sunwon and I have been discussing a new proposition.”

I stare out of the tinted window as I avoid the thought of actually having to socialise with people.

“Hyerim, darling,” says Mother, “I hope you’ll be more talkative this evening. You were far too quiet last week.”

Yeah, last week. It’s far too early to be out dining again, let alone if it's with the Kims. Again.

“It’s alright, dear,” Father says to me quickly, “The Kims love your company.”

“Yes, especially Minseok,” Mother adds.

I give a non-committal grunt.

“Don’t be unladylike,” she snaps.

We arrive at the estate shortly and are escorted inside. Mr and Mrs Kim are there to greet us, along with their son, Minseok. He’s a short man who is a few years older than me, I think, with dark brown hair that is swept up from his face. He is sharply dressed in a navy waistcoat and pants, with a white shirt and striped tie. As I approach in my heels, I stand at almost his height.

“Jeonwoo, Eunji,” says Mr Kim, bowing and taking each of their hands in turn. I bow as Mrs Kim greets me. She has a small frame, like her son, and her light brown hair falls just past her ears.

“It’s lovely to see you again, Hyerim,” she says, taking my hands. I smile at her. She’s so nice, it’s impossible not to enjoy her company.

"And you, Kyungok."

“Good evening, Hyerim,” says Minseok. We both bow in greeting. His hands hover at his sides before his places them in his pockets.

“Good evening, Minseok,” I reply. I glance up at his dark eyes that crinkle in a smile.

“You look beautiful,” he says earnestly. I blink in surprise. Usually a compliment would sound like he’s just trying to be polite.

“I suppose you look handsome,” I say, turning my head to hide my smile. I start walking into the house after our parents.

“Suppose?” he utters, running to catch up with me.

I tuck my hair behind my ear as the butler closes the door behind us.

“How has your week been?” Minseok asks, “It seems like yesterday that you and your family were last here.”

“It does, doesn’t it,” I answer. “Well, nothing much has happened really.”

“Anything is something,” he points out. “How is university?”

“Same as always,” I reply, “It’s still a bit strange being back after a year of not studying.”

“Makes sense,” he says, “But you’re enjoying?”

“As much as I can be,” I say, smiling slightly.

We join our parents in the living room which is wide with warm lighting. Minseok gestures for me to sit next to him on a purple velvet couch. A maid brings champagne around and Minseok hands me a glass.

“What’s the occasion?” I ask.

“I can’t think of a reason not to celebrate,” says Mr Kim, smiling at me. “Business is excellent at the moment.”

“How vague,” I remark.

Mr Kim and my father laugh at my comment. Minseok cracks a smile.

“I’m sure all will be explained to you in due course,” Mr Kim replies.

I notice Minseok frowning at this in a confused sort of way. I raise an eyebrow.

“Please, join us for dinner,” says Mrs Kim, gesturing for us to adjourn to the dining room.

The long table seems sparse with just the six of us sitting in the middle of the room. I have been placed opposite Minseok, with our parents sitting to the right. We make some small talk as the women talk fashion and the men talk business. I find myself yawning as the hours draw on.

“Hyerim, would you like to take a walk with me?” Minseok asks, hovering beside me as our parents return to the living room.

“Why not,” I consider. He offers me his arm.

We walk outside and around the grounds. It’s pretty at night; with little white lanterns in the trees that mimic the stars overhead. Heading out towards the lake, I grip Minseok’s forearm a tighter as I wobble in my heels on the unsteady ground. His arm is surprisingly muscular and for a second I wonder what exactly he looks like under that shirt.

“Woah,” he chuckles, “Are you alright?”

“I’m okay,” I reply.We continue walking in the dusk.

“Hyerim?”

“Yes?”

“I, well, I have a sort of hunch,” Minseok begins.

“About what?” I question.

“Our fathers’ business proposition,” he says.

“What do you mean?” I ask, my brow furrowing.

“Well, you know earlier?” he explains, “When my father said that all would be explained to you in due course?”

“Yeah, what about it?”

“When he said it, he looked at me as well,” Minseok says.

“I’m not seeing the significance of this,” I confess.

“Well,” he rambles, shaking his head, “My parents have been dropping hints all over the place.”

“Hints?”

“About you.”

“Me?” I utter. “What about me?”

“I think…” Minseok says slowly, and we stop walking. He turns to face me and I remove my hand from his arm.

“They want us to get married.”

Notes

Annyeonghaseyo~
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Will be updating regularly, so please anticipate!
Fighting~!