“Oh my goodness, Taehyun! You’re alive!”

Taehyun shows his wide smiles and hugged Ms. Kang, the majordoma and his auntie. “It’s nice to see you again, auntie,” he hugs her tight.

Ms. Kang caresses Taehyun’s face. “You look skinnier than the last time I saw you,” she sounds worried. “Is young Choi still—”

Taehyun holds her hand that is on his cheek. “No, auntie… He is not,” he lied. “Soobin’s working on himself that’s why I’m fine,” he smiles.

Despite of the feeling that Ms. Kang knew that Taehyun’s lying, she just nods at him. “Let’s prepare them food,” she invited.

“Them?”

“Don Choi and his wife are coming home,” Ms. Kang state with a smile.

Taehyun nods and smile as well. “Let’s get it done.”

Soobin’s walking on the corridor until he reached a certain door and opens it. Old canvas in stacks has welcomed him. There are also some that’s covered with white dusty fabric. Some are just leaning on the wall.

But there’s one thing on the center. It’s the biggest one in the old room. Half of it is revealed because of the loose fabric. He just walks closer and pulled the fabric off, revealing a charcoal sketch that is halfway-through finished. He stares at it, he extended his hand and touches the canvas, the lead of the pencil stain on his finger.

“Wow…” a voice heard behind him. It’s Taehyun’s. “I can still remember how you locked yourself up in here,” he reminisces and pauses as his eyes captured the center canvas. “Wow…” he reacted once again, slowly walking towards Soobin.

Taehyun’s jaw dropped as he observes every detail of the piece. “H-how is this… so alive?” he comments. “Soobin, you started doing this since she was gone, right?”

“And I still haven’t finished it yet,” Soobin continued and faces Taehyun. “What should I do? Shall I continue this?”

Taehyun smiles, “You should… No rules are stopping you.”

Soobin retract his eyes off Taehyun and stares at the canvas once more. He keeps silent while staring at a half-done masterpiece and Taehyun speaks. “How did you imagine such face?”

“It was never imagined.”

Taehyun frowns and somehow felt chills. Taehyun knows what are going inside the mansion. He knows who is who and the principle of everyone inside but there’s only one thing he never know and doesn’t want to know.

How exactly Choi Soobin’s mother died?

“I-I’ll prepare your meal,” Taehyun excused himself and went out of the room, closing the door. He let out a deep breath before walking down the stairs.

“Taehyun,” his auntie calls him. “I already prepared you bed so you can sleep peacefully, okay?”

“Thank you, auntie,” Taehyun smiles. “How are things in here lately?” he asks.

“Usual and typical,” Ms. Kang replied. “Don Choi will always be in his office and does his work. He only comes out whenever his wife is here to spend some time,” she told.

“How about Soobin’s grandpa?”

“We’ve never seen him for years, Taehyun,” she answered.

Taehyun just nods. It is so expected. If he’s not mistaken, he only seen the old Choi at least twice and that was it. He can barely remember his features. To compare the gap of Choi Soobin from his father and his grandfather, Taehyun could confirm that Soobin is closer to his grandfather.

It’s already night. Soobin hasn’t come down yet since he entered that room and there’s a car that arrived in the mansion. The servants lined up to welcome the couple.

Taehyun smiles as his eyes meet at the sophisticated woman wearing a white fitted dress, a stiletto, a luxurious hand bag on her arms, with her curled-hair up to her shoulder and also wearing a really welcoming smile.

“Taehyun!” she calls the other and even hugs him. “It’s been a while, young man. You’re here means…” she pauses and waits for Taehyun’s answer.

“Yes, Soobin’s here,” he confirms and he witnessed how Mrs. Choi’s eyes even lit up.

“Where is he then?” she asks.

“He’s at the art room,” Taehyun answered.

“I should meet him!” she exclaimed and quickly took the stairs.

Taehyun bows as she walks and also did when Don Choi walk passed by him then he pauses and Taehyun’s head remains low. “Kang Taehyun, meet me at my office after couple of minutes,” he ordered.

“Yes sir,” Taehyun affirms.

Everyone went back to their proper places and Taehyun stares above where he sight Mrs. Choi walking towards where Soobin is. “She’ll be fine, right?” he sighs and also followed Don Choi.

Soobin heard the door open after knocks. The first thing he heard is the sound of stiletto’s kissing the floor and he already knew who it was. Soobin, who’s standing near the open window where the curtain is getting blow by the cold wind, remained staring outside and didn’t even bother to turn around.

“Soobin?” the lady calls him in her sweet voice, as if he’s calling his son. Soobin remains quiet. “I know there’s an art room in here but I never really entered this room since you’re the only one who has the key,” she started.

Soobin acted deaf and the woman breathes out. “Are you still mad at me?” she asks. “Soobin—”

“Stop calling my name, it doesn’t really suit your voice,” he cuts her off and turns his back to meet her eyes.

Mrs. Choi was taken aback by how Soobin’s dead eyes meet hers. She glances away for a second and collect herself. “I’m sorry… I know you’ll never going to like me after because I married your father,” she apologizes.

“I don’t really care,” Soobin casually replied and started walking close to her. “Do what you want, earn what you want, do what pleases you,” he continued.

The lady took a few steps away from him but still ended facing such fierce and huge man. She controlled herself from shaking. “Soobin,” she calls. “Just be a good son to your, father please,” she almost sound like requesting.

“Why are you shaking?” Soobin smirks. “Afraid? Of what exactly? What I’m going to do or how will I take everything from you?” he grins and leans his face near the lady who almost shut his eyes. “Hey woman, don’t act as if you’re my mother.”

Soon completely passed by the lady and she immediately walk closer to the wall to find support. Up until now, she can’t stand the intimidating aura of her stepson. He really emits the same dangerous presence of his father— or could be greater than.

But she always pursues him. She will always try her best to make Soobin welcome her as his mother or even just a member of the family. Bet it will never happened.

In Don Choi’s office, Taehyun is standing in front of the respected’s desk while he’s sitting on the swivel chair, there’s tobacco pipe on his hand and smokes reeks inside. The man who appears to be in mid 40’s, sleeves are folded up to his wrist, there are signs of wrinkles on his forehead, skin is also showing his old age yet despite of it, his presence remains superior— a total manly, older, and powerful version of Choi Soobin.

“How is Soobin’s condition?” he asks.

“He doesn’t skip his medicine, he rarely causes trouble in the university, and never miss his check ups,” Taehyun answered.

“Other than that?” the old man asked.

“Nothing special, Don Choi,” he replied right away, obviously covering up what’s Soobin is up to. Especially being drawn to Yeonjun as of the moment.

Don Choi nods, “Make sure he won’t cause another mess again,” he reminds. “I will really disown him this time.”

Taehyun just listens but he knows Don Choi can’t. He just can’t throw Soobin away from him. Not just because he is his son.

“Don Choi,” Taehyun calls. “What are you going to do to Soobin… if he loses his mind again?”

“You know what I always do,” Don Choi replied, piercing Taehyun’s eyes. “I do what I should do.”

Taehyun nods. “Yes,” he responds.

“Dismissed.”

Taehyun went out of the office and loosen the tension of his shoulder. One of the reasons why he doesn’t want to be in the mansion as well is because every action is calculated. Every word should be thought right before spilling.

At the supper, the couple is eating. Soobin didn’t bother to go and eat with them even if how much they forced him to. The lady just agreed to Soobin and explained things to his husband.

“Taehyun,” Ms. Kang called his nephew. “Bring this to Young Choi,” he instructed.

“Yes,” Taehyun responds and hold the tray. He walks upstairs until he reaches Soobin’s door. He knocks and the door opened. “Your dinner,” Taehyun said and Soobin let him in.

Taehyun put the tray on the table and fixes it for Soobin. “You should eat now,” Taehyun stated.

“Taehyun,” Soobin called him and the other pays attention. “Be here with me tonight,” he said.

Taehyun frowns for a second. “W-why? I can sleep below…”

Soobin didn’t reply right away. He pulled the drawer of his cabinet beside his bed and Taehyun noticed a gun and handcuffs in there— which he isn’t surprise at all. Soobin even keeps a dagger beneath his pillow whenever he sleeps at the mansion.

Soobin picked the hand cuffs and put it on bed. “You’ll sleep here tonight and you’re not allowed to go out the whole night,” he stated.

Taehyun nods even if it’s against his will. He knows. He just knows why Soobin is acting this way. Another reason why Soobin won’t let him come with him at the mansion.

“H-he’s coming home too… tonight?”

Soobin stares at him. “Yes and that’s why I’m going to cuff you in.”

“T-then why d-did you let me come in h-here if you know that h-he’ll be here?” Taehyun’s trying his best not to stutter and bit his lowerlip.

“He’ll only come here if I tag you along and there’s something I need to discuss with him. That is why, stay here. Disobey me or I’ll bury you alive.”

---
A/N: I'm so busy but whatever. Hopefully i could go back on tract this weekend.