11. Mis（TAKE）
VERENA
11
“Marry you?!” I blurted out, my voice ringing with disbelief and a sharp edge of sarcasm. “I should call your doctor for a referral, because you’ve obviously lost your mind.”
Jae didn’t even flinch. His expression was steel, all business. “We’re going to lunch. I don’t want to discuss this here,” he stated firmly, his grip on my wrist unyielding as he practically dragged me from his office. The sharp tug was more than just physical; it was a jolt back to our complicated reality, a reminder of the force Jae could exert without even seeming to try.
As we made our way through the office, I could feel the weight of every curious glance from our coworkers. Their eyes followed us as Jae’s hand, wrapped securely around my wrist, felt like a shackle I couldn’t shake. The murmurs began as soon as we passed, their whispers trailing us like shadows as we got on the elevator.
Once in the sushi restaurant next door, Jae marched me straight to a secluded booth in the back corner, away from the prying eyes and within the quiet confines where we could speak freely. He finally released my wrist as we slid into the booth, the abrupt absence of his touch leaving a strange, tingling sensation on my skin.
As I sat across from him, the distance between us felt charged, thick with unspoken words and the heavy beat of my racing heart.
“Jae, seriously, what’s going on with you?” I demanded, my tone a mix of concern and lingering frustration. “This isn’t like you. What kind of joke is this?”
He looked away, his jaw tightening. “Auntie’s cancer is back.” His voice was low, strained.
The news hit me hard. I couldn’t even process it. “What?” I whispered, my throat closing up as tears sprang to my eyes, unbidden. My heart sank.
“She’s going to stay here so I can take care of her,” he continued, his gaze distant, as if he were already bracing himself for the ordeal ahead.
I tried to process the information, but it felt like the ground had been pulled out from under me. Auntie had always been a constant, a pillar of warmth and love in our lives. The thought of her battling cancer again was almost too much to bear. I blinked rapidly, willing the tears to stop, but they came anyway, streaming down my cheeks in silent testament to the heartbreak I felt.
My voice trembled as I spoke, “How…how bad is it?”
He finally met my eyes, and the pain there was unmistakable. “It’s not good,” he admitted, his own voice breaking.
I reached out, covering his hand with mine, feeling like his friend for the first time in a long while. “I’ll help, whatever you need.”
Jae’s eyes met mine again, this time clouded with a sadness that cut right through the firm facade he had upheld moments earlier. “It’s bad, Verena,” he murmured, the weight of his aunt’s illness sinking his voice to a whisper. “It’s…it’s everywhere, and it’s aggressive.”
I swallowed hard, the reality of his words lodging in my throat. “Oh, Jae, I…I’m so sorry.”
He nodded slowly, his hand turning under mine to give a gentle squeeze, an acknowledgment of our shared past and the layers of complicated history between us. “I need to make sure she’s comfortable, happy. She’s worried about me, about what happens after… She doesn’t want me to be alone.” His voice cracked on the last word, a snap in his usually composed demeanor.
“So you thought…”
“We could get married,” he finished for me.
“That’s a bit extreme, don’t you think?” I tried to lighten the mood, but my attempt felt flat even to my own ears.
“It’s not just for her,” he admitted, looking away. “It’s for me too. I don’t want to be alone in this. And I know it’s a lot to ask, Verena, but?—”
“Jae, she’s your only family left,” I cut in, my mind racing as I thought about his parents, long gone, and how he had always leaned on his aunt for support. The thought of him facing everything alone was more painful than I anticipated. “I understand why she’s worried, but?—”
He looked back at me, his eyes pleading. “She’s always seen you as family too. Remember how she used to talk about wanting us to end up together when we were in college? This would mean the world to her, to see us united, even if it’s just for a while.”
I sighed. “Jae, pretending to be married won’t fix the real problems. And it won’t ease the pain of…of what’s coming.”
“But it could give her peace, Verena. Isn’t it worth it if we can give her that?” His gaze was steady, earnest, seeking not just my agreement but my support.
I paused, considering his words, the depth of his desperation, and the genuine fear of loss that shadowed his features. It wasn’t just about fulfilling a dying wish; it was about him grasping for a lifeline in a sea of uncertainty.
“Let’s think this through, Jae. Really think about what this means for us, for her, for the future.” I squeezed his hand, signaling not just my concern for his aunt but also for him, my once closest friend now looking so lost.
“It’s just marriage, Verena,” he shot back, his tone flippant but his eyes betraying his anxiety.
The importance of his proposal, the urgency and desperation behind it, left me reeling. “Jae, just marriage? I can help, but why do we have to get married?”
He leaned back, a half smirk playing on his lips. “Come on, we can do what they do in dramas. Have a contract marriage and amicably divorce when it’s over. I’ll even throw in a dramatic soundtrack and a slow-motion running scene for authenticity.”
I was unable to suppress a reluctant smile. “Really, Jae? We’re going to reenact one of Auntie’s favorite soap operas? What’s next, amnesia and a long-lost twin?”
“Why not? Might as well go all in,” he replied, shrugging nonchalantly. “But seriously, Verena, it would give her peace. And I need this. I need you.”
“No, Jae. The goal is to escape from you, not entangle myself further.” My tone was light, teasing, despite the gravity of his proposal.
“But you want to quit, right? Focus on your writing? That’s your dream.” He leaned forward, his gaze intense. “Think about it. No day job, just you and your words. And all you have to do is play my adoring wife for a bit.”
I leaned across the table, fixing Jae with a pointed look. “So, let me get this straight, Jae. You want me to upgrade from managing your professional life to managing your personal life too? From executive assistant to executive wife—what’s next, coordinating your socks with your mood swings?”
Jae’s defensive reply was tinged with his usual dry humor. “Well, you’re very good at managing, Verena. I thought you’d appreciate the promotion.”
I scoffed, shaking my head. “Oh, right, a promotion. Because being your fake wife just screams career advancement. And here I was, thinking I could finally enjoy my alone time without someone asking me to schedule their tooth brushing.”
He folded his arms, a smirk playing on his lips. “It’s not like you don’t already handle everything for me. Plus, you love organizing. You’d be living your dream.”
“Jae, being your wife—fake or not—sounds a lot like I’d be working twenty-four seven,” I shot back, my tone dripping with sarcasm. “And honestly, the thought of having to sync my bathroom breaks with your conference calls? Pass.”
Jae chuckled, clearly enjoying our banter despite the seriousness of his proposal. “Come on, Verena. Think of it as…immersive role-playing. You love a good drama, and what’s more dramatic than pretending to be married to me?”
I rolled my eyes, the absurdity of the situation washing over me yet again. “Yeah, a drama where I play the pitiful wife who has to listen to you drone on about your day. And let’s not forget the thrilling episode where I pretend to be interested in your golf scores.”
Jae leaned forward, his tone mock-serious. “You’d get to share in all the perks, too. My charming company, my bank card. Plus, I promise to upgrade your title to Chief Life Organizer if it makes you feel any better.”
I laughed despite myself, the tension easing slightly. “Wow, how can I refuse such a generous offer? Do I also get hazard pay for every family dinner where I convincingly call you honey without cringing?”
“Absolutely,” Jae quipped. “And let’s not forget the bonus for every time you manage to keep a straight face while my aunt discusses our non-existent future children.”
I let out a genuine laugh, one that felt strangely liberating amidst the tension. It was a rare moment, reminiscent of easier times. Jae’s expression softened, a flicker of nostalgia passing over his features.
“It’s been a while since we laughed like this,” he noted, the corners of his eyes crinkling slightly.
The warmth of the moment faded as quickly as it came, and my voice took on a sharper edge, the lingering bitterness finding its way back. “Yeah, well, it’s been a while since I’ve felt like your friend, Jae. Not just an extension of your office.”
He looked taken aback, but he didn’t interrupt, allowing the weight of my words to hang between us.
“Look, Jae, I will help Auntie and be there for her. You know I love her like my own family. I promise.” My tone softened with sincerity as I mentioned his aunt, but then it hardened again as I addressed his proposal. “But I can’t do this insane idea of a fake marriage. It’s just too much.”
Jae’s expression shifted, the business side of him coming to the forefront as he considered my refusal. “Then I guess you’ll be working for me for six months,” he said flatly, a hint of resignation lacing his tone.
A spark of defiance lit within me, bolstered by the absurdity of his backup plan. “Well then, I guess I’m going to be the worst employee you’ve ever had.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes,” I retorted confidently.
“Good luck with that,” he shot back, the corner of his mouth twitching in amusement.
I glanced at my watch, feigning nonchalance. “It’s my lunch hour. I don’t feel like eating sushi, so I guess you’ll have to do without me.”
“But we need to discuss my schedule for the day,” Jae insisted, starting to list off a series of meetings, calls, and decisions that supposedly couldn’t wait. “There’s the conference call at two, the budget review at three, and?—”
“Hmm. Nah.” I cut him off with a dismissive wave, standing up from the booth. “I’m going to visit Auntie. She’s probably done having lunch with my mom by now.”
Jae’s face showed a flicker of frustration, masked quickly by his usual composed exterior. “You’re really going to leave me to handle all this alone?”
“Looks like you’ll have to manage your own crises today, Jae,” I quipped, stepping away from the table. “Consider it practice for when I’m not around to bail you out.”
He watched me for a moment, then a sly grin spread across his face. “You think you’re pretty clever, don’t you?”
I shrugged, feigning innocence. “I don’t know about clever, but I am on lunch break. And last I checked, that means no bosses, no schedules, just me time.”
He scoffed. “You haven’t taken a legitimate lunch break in years.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “And that, Jae, is the problem.”