Chapter Text
Seokjin tried his hardest not to find this whole thing ridiculous but it just felt surreal when he found himself sitting side by side his future husband while their parents and lawyers discussing marriage contract. It was not like he was against it, he accepted it already. It was drilled into his and his siblings mind that they were going to hold certain duties for the family business. Their wealth and livelihood were hard-earned by their grandparents, and it was a mistake if they think they would be given special treatment just because they were the third generation.
As the youngest heir of the Kim Enterprise, the multinational development company, Kim Seokjin pretty much expected the news of him being arranged to be married for business purposes. He understood the reasoning behind it; making connections and alliances were the key to ensure a company still standing. People could call it medieval and outdated, but it worked in the past and it still worked today. What he didn’t expect was for him to be married to a guy.
An arranged marriage was secured by the arranged couple to produce an heir, one that solidified the bond between the two families, and in extend, the companies. He was sceptical at first but Seokjin assumed his… groom must be of an exceptional quality for his family to considered marrying him into the family.
Seokjin tried to glance again for his future husband. Kim Namjoon, 27 years old. Top of his class, business management major. Made a name for himself when he successfully marketed the online service for AstroMoon, his family business of electronic retailer, making them one of the top companies in South Korea. Aside from what he already knows from the internet, Seokjin didn’t really make much of Namjoon. Well, Seokjin thought , he is certainly easy to the eyes .
“—with the marriage, it entails Kim Namjoon to oversee the development of the new shopping centre,” one of the lawyers said. “Kim Namjoon-sshi, you will then put you signature here, yes?”
Namjoon nodded and gave a short, “Yes.”
The discussion went on and Seokjin scooted a little bit closer to Namjoon. Ever since the meeting started, Namjoon didn’t really said much. They only addressed each other when they were introducing themselves. Namjoon was then all serious and solemn aura, he put all his attention to the discussion, smart eyes reading the contract draft critically and giving inputs just necessarily. Seokjin angled his body into Namjoon.
“Hey,” Seokjin called softly.
Startled, Namjoon almost jumped at the greeting but managed to catch himself. He faced Seokjin and whoa, he was a lot closer than Seokjin thought. Namjoon tilted his head, “Yes?”
“We are gonna be husbands soon, less than two months from now. Crazy, huh?” Seokjin chuckled. Kim Namjoon just stared back at him, his face showing nothing but the barest frown on his brows. Seokjin’s smile faltered a little bit before he sighed, “You know, it’s okay to be nervous with all this—” Namjoon looked ready to argue but Seokjin pushed on, “—because I am also very, very hecking nervous right now.”
Namjoon pondered on his answer for a bit. “I am not really nervous, Kim Seokjin-sshi,” Seokjin’s right eye twitched a little with the honorific, he had to teach his soon-to-be dear husband not to be so stiff when talking to him. “I am… apprehensive about whether or not I am going to able to fulfil my end of bargain in this contract. I don’t want to disappoint.”
“That’s what you are worried about? Not the fact that you are going to be tied to a complete stranger?”
Namjoon looked down and squeezed his palms together. “I am to be the leading man of this new shopping mall your family built and while AstroMoon will receive much resources from Kim Enterprise to develop itself, I also need to give good results so that our partnership isn’t a failure.” Namjoon stared right at him again, “So that I don’t fail you.”
For a moment Seokjin couldn’t answer to that… that painfully sincere words. When his brain was still trying to catch up, his mother called him, reminding him of the meeting still at hand,
“Seokjin, you and your husband will oversee the new mall together. It will have its opening party after your wedding day. You are both expected to make it grounded enough for the business in about two years. Is that clear?”
“…Yes, Mother,” Seokjin answered dutifully. He looked at Namjoon, but he was already giving his attention back to the contract documents again. Seokjin patted Namjoon’s thigh, “Let’s talk again, later, Namjoon-ah.”
Namjoon barely flinched (though Seokjin could feel it through his hand. It was small, but there), only nodding silently and Seokjin, too, turned back into his, their , marriage contract (He also briefly thought about how firm Namjoon’s thigh feel but soon put that mind to rest when his family lawyer gave him a document to review).
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“Namjoon-ah! Wait a minute, please,” Seokjin called out after the meeting was concluded. He approached Namjoon, standing straight and ready. “Let’s talk for minute.”
Namjoon nodded and walked them a bit farther away than other people in the room. “What is it, Kim Seokjin-sshi?”
“Ah, really, stop that. You can drop the formality, you know? I call you namjoon-ah, already!”
“Well, you are older than me, Kim Seokjin-sshi, so you are allowed to.”
“See, you’re—! Wait, no, this is not why I want to talk to you,” Seokjin took a deep breath. “Look, I get it, okay? This whole arranged marriage thing? I practically breathe it. It’s in my blood to know that my lot in love and relationship are going to be something like this. It not normal, but such is the life of the Kim Enterprise heirs. I accepted it already but the same cannot be said to you and that’s why I said its okay to nervous.”
“Also,” Seokjin grabbed both Namjoon’s shoulders and looked him in the eye. “Were you not the best of your class, Namjoon-ah? Were you not the one who successfully lead the marketing campaign?”
“W-well, yes, but what that’s going to do with—”
“You need to have a little faith in yourself. You are not going to disappoint anyone, because I will always be there to help you. I will not be disappointed in you. We are to be husbands. We are in this together. Okay?” Seokjin squeezed Namjoon’s shoulders, hoping he would be trusted enough by the younger.
Namjoon answered with a silent nod. But his eyes looked determined, maybe even more so than before. If there were any doubts or insecurities there, it seemed they were banished. Seokjin released Namjoon, feeling quite accomplished himself. He gave Namjoon a (hopefully) reassuring smile before excusing himself.
If anything, Seokjin thought , I think I will be a good partner for him, in business if not in marriage. We will be good together.