AN: I've finally come out of hiding. This time, not a one-shot, but it will actually have chapters. Reviews are more than welcome. Well then, let's go!

Love is only a feeling

Prologue

"How long does it take to make someone fall in love with another person?" Seung Han Myung mused as he downed a small cup of soju, the traditional Korean wine.

Hwang held up the vial of fermented rice wine respectfully to his teacher, and the older man let him pour him another cup. "Pardon my insolence teacher, but… I have always thought love cannot be controlled by man. It is a sort of emotion that comes from the heart. Or so I heard."

"You might think you know much because you are well-traveled, Hwang. But to me, all these westernized, this so-called 'love' is just rubbish. I am surprised your opinions are marred by these thoughts as well."

Hwang was taken aback by his teacher's harsh choice of words. True, before he had traveled the world, there was virtually no concept of the word 'love'. People in Korea had been accustomed to marrying only to fulfill their parents' wishes, to carry on the family line, but hardly ever out of their own will, much less of love. However, traveling to places outside of Korea had opened his eyes to what they called 'marrying for love'. He could never really understand 'love' – it would forever remain a foreign word in his vocabulary. However, Mina seemed to have no problem understanding that, for she had taken an aversion to the proposals eligible men had made in her favor, in the name of not feeling any 'love'. It was no surprise that her father had taken to such a dislike the word 'love'.

"Well…" Hwang's voice trailed off to nowhere. He did not really know what to say.

"I have a plan. I want to make Mina fall in love with you."

A hollow silence permeated the air around the two men. Hwang couldn't help but look up in shock. This was the second time he had been rattled to his senses today, and it had barely been noon. He had no idea what the expression on his face had looked like, but Hwang had a feeling it must have been very comical. Han Myung couldn't help but let out a series loud guffaws. Hwang did not feel the least bit better after hearing that – he was sure his teacher had gone mad. "Relax, boy! You look like I've just asked you to kiss a toad!"

"It is really not a good idea to joke about the topic like this, Teacher," Hwang angled his eyes towards the ground so that he would not have to face the fixated stare that his teacher was sending him.

"You know Hwang, there's a reason why I like you so much," Han Myung had the uncontrollable habit of speaking exactly what was on his mind when he was slightly tipsy. And no wonder. Hwang made an attempt to hide the frantic look on his face as he realized the soju bottle had miraculously emptied itself. But then again, he usually held his liquor well… "I like your strength, discipline… and because you remind me so much of myself."

"Teacher, perhaps it's time to get some rest. We can always catch up tomorrow…"

"No, I must ask you this before today." He stared straight into Hwang's eyes, as if reading him from the inside out. "Are you willing to take Mina as your wife?" At this moment he looked perfectly sober; Hwang could look away no longer. Then, as though prompting the answer out of him, he added as an afterthought. "That is all that matters."

Hwang hesitated. He remembered Mina's hostility well, from her taunts to her incomparable sparring skills… but most of all, her uncanny ability to make him weak in the knees. He knew plain well how much she disliked him; sometimes so much he forgot how much he liked her. Now that his teacher is making a proposal he can't refuse, he couldn't think of the right words to say without sounding like he had been waiting for this moment all his life.

"I am honored that teacher holds me in such high regard," he tried to sound as somber as possible. "I am more than willing to have Mina as my wife."

End notes: Well then, should I continue:-)