Min Estate

Sooyeong stood in front of a fancy black, multiple point-tipped gate that guarded the entrance of her huge home, Min Estate.

She took a breath, filling up her lungs since she felt overly nervous just at the mere sight of her home. It was something she never felt up until recently which only increased her need of wanting things to go back to the way they used to be.

She pushed on the metal gate before slipping inside and not long after, she climbed the staircase then stood at the doorway. Another breath filled her lungs when her hand had suddenly made contact with the mahogany door.

She pushed it open and her mind was instantly transported to the year 2020, June 3rd - her birthday.

She trudged inside, the door had closed behind her and she noticed how her home glowed. The foyer was huge but what had always caught her attention was the double staircase.

Each staircase curved it's way down toward one another and their bases met just metres apart which then allowed a passageway toward the kitchen but from that kitchen emerged both her mother and father with a regular size birthday cake.

A newly turned fifteen year old Sooyeong excitedly jumped at the sight of the cake which had numerous candles encircling the surface of it. She happily ran toward her parents as they began to sing the cliché birthday song but despite how cheesy it all had seemed, she smiled the brightest smile she could muster.

That Sooyeong was as happy.

Back then, she had such happiness that shone as bright as sun rays on a lovely summer day but tragically enough, all of that happiness broke which sent her plummeting into a very dark and twisted world of pain and suffering.

That year was the last birthday she shared as unit with both her parents and it was a painful thought for her.

"You wretched child!"

The sudden, screech-like voice broke the said girl from her reminiscing and she looked up. Her eyes had locked with a pair of angry narrowed ones dusted with a bright shade of orange eyeshadow.

The women's face was thick with foundation and had light touches of blush over her cheeks. She was old, you could tell from the skin on her neck that slightly hung lose. It almost felt like a peg and a pull to the nape would be enough to hold that sagging skin but alas Sooyeong simply held in a laugh at her weird thought.

Suhjin always over did it with her make up and although she did care about her skin it didn't really seem so in the case of her neck. Maybe that's what her expensive scarves were for.

As for the clothes she had on, it's like one of those loose silk robes dabbed in a dark piercing red - the one colour Sooyeong hated the most - and her raven black hair had numerous hair curlers stuck in them.

Suhjin scared Sooyeong not only because of her monstrous shouting but because of her dressing as well. It was overpowering in a sense where she tried to look youthful but it just miserably went so wrong in so many ways that it physically hurt.

"You ill-mannered child!" Suhjin roared as she grabbed Sooyeong by her the collar of her coat which made her eyes widen in fear. "I've told you a number of times! Going to that Cemetery is not going to bring your father back!"

Sooyeong's hands fisted in anger.

The words she spoke was so very true. Going to the Cemetery to visit her father is not going to bring him back but if she didn't go to visit him then who in the world was going to remember his legacy or even clean the weeds that would grow around the site.

If not her then it'll be the home's private chef - Kim Seokjin. That man has been in the family for years and he was the one who baked every birthday cake that Sooyeong's had thus far but leaving him with the task of plucking weeds wasn't something she approved of.

"You're not my mother to tell me what I can and cannot do! He was my father, not yours so I can visit him whenever I want." Sooyeong shot back bitterly and she fiercely pushed at the silk covered women.

"You dare back chat and get aggressive!" Suhjin looked disgruntled and she threw a hand up into the air about to slap Sooyeong across the face in rage.

The girl's eyes shut tight as she waited for the elders hand to impact against her soft cheek but thankfully enough it never came. Instead, a third person entered the room and he held a stiff hold on Suhjin's wrist.

"Resorting to violence will do nothing, Hyungsik ssi." The males voice was smooth and articulate.

Sooyeong slowly drew her eyes open and she noticed a frazzled Suhjin staring over at a very tall and very handsome man with plump red lips, beautifully curved eyes, perfect nose and parted raven black hair that matched the hair colour of the violent women.

"S-Seokjin Oppa-"

"Seokjin! How dare you! Get your hand off me!" The women raged in anger and her voice echoed throughout the entire passageway.

"Let go of the child first." Seokjin gave a stern look after his demand. "She's done nothing wrong. Can she not mourn the death of her dear father? And who are you to stop her from doing that?"

"Watch your filthy mouth Seokjin!" Suhjin growled and roughly released Sooyeong which sent her stumbling backwards. "Who do you think pays for you to keep working here?"

Sooyeong snorted in frustration and the same went for Seokjin because they both very well knew who paid his salary - Min Jaeyeong - since Suhjin's inherited all of his fortune.

"Get back in the kitchen where you belong! Don't let me tell you twice!" She angrily shooed the young chef into the kitchen but before he could leave Sooyeong gave him a slight bow as a token of appreciation. "And you!"

Suhjin turned to face Sooyeong so fast that one of her hair curlers almost let loose. Even inanimate objects are dying to get away from her.

This thought sent Sooyeong into a spiral of thoughts. She wondered why and how did her father ever think of marrying this women. It baffled her. Perhaps that is what people meant when they said Love is Blind.

"I have a job for you." Suhjin's crowed voice snapped the young girl back to reality, only to find a very manicured finger pointed straight at her nose. She gulped before locking eyes with the scary women. "Pick up my dress from the dry cleaners." Her overly swollen lips demanded.

The next second Sooyeong felt a paper being shoved into her grasp. She looked down and scanned the print with confused eyes.

EVERYDAY DRYCLEANERS

Name: Hyungsik Suhjin.
Date Received: 24 February 2022.
Pick Up Date: 25 February 2022.
Item/s: 1 Cocktail Dress to be dry cleaned and pressed.
Total Cost: ₩4500.

Sooyeong furrowed her eyebrows at the slip. A cocktail dress, she wondered. Why would Suhjin send a cocktail dress for dry cleaning and ironing when the equipment needed to do that are at home. Perhaps her need for lavishly spending money always should be apparent.

"I don't care what happens to you but make sure that dress comes back here in tact." Suhjin pressed, cruelly. "You go straight there and come back. No detours because I have a very important date tonight. So watch yourself, chid."

The paper beneath Sooyeong's fingers crumpled. The bitterness of this women would never fade even if the sky were to collapse but at the same time Sooyeong couldn't believe the nerve of her. Only three excruciatingly painful days had passed since she lost her father and Suhjin already wants to start dating.

It made her wonder if Hyungsik Suhjin really loved Min Jaeyeong or was it all just for show.

"Why are you still standing here! Go!" Suhjin's voice shredded Sooyeong's ear and she yelped in surprise. "Get out of my sight at once!"

Not waiting for a second warning Sooyeong quickly bolted passed Suhjin and headed straight toward the kitchen, where she also passed a very concerned looking Seokjin.

Nevertheless, she sent him a reassuring smile and opened up the sliding glass door which acted as a barrier between the mansion and the backyard. But beyond this beautiful mansion, and passed the lush green lawn sat a rather small wooden shed built for the purpose of extra storage space.

Each step Sooyeong took brought her closer toward the storage room which she now happened to call home. Since she no longer lived in the big mansion that she'd always knew because that wicked abomination, Suhjin, ousted her from the mansion the day her father died.

She was forcefully sent her to live in that old shed which Sooyeong's gladly nicknamed The Outhouse (with a small almost broken deck). It was a painful gesture and change but it was better than being thrown out into the streets or worse; sent to live with extended relatives Sooyeong's never even heard of.

Moreover, the thought of leaving her home behind would kill her a hundred times over.

Her palm pushed against the wooden door and it creaked open but not without an extra couple of pushes from her. She couldn't believe how under maintained the storage house was but then again that's what weathering would eventually do.

Once she had entered she closed the door behind her - but not fully because she just needed to get the helmet for her bicycle then she'd be well on her way, jumping at the every want of the infuriating Dragon Lady.

But as she walked through the shed her eyes fell over all of the extra equipment, decorations, boxes, old furniture, power tools - the works.

She breathed a soft sigh before suddenly, the sound of someone rummaging through something could be heard. Sooyeong froze for a brief second.

It could only be one person.

"Jungkook ah?" Her soft voice filled the room. The said boy, who had cute bunny like features, managed to master the art of rummaging in barely two days.

"Noona!" Jungkook's heavenly voice called back and she noticed his head poke up from behind a stack of boxes. His black hair completely dishevelled. "You're finally back! We were worried about you!"

Sooyeong chuckled softly at the sight and waved Jungkook him off with a soft I'm fine.

She then ventured further into the room and her single bed next to a small table and window came into view but alas on the bed laid a very striking mochi-looking boy with pink hair and a book which he had placed over his tummy just moments ago.

"Sooyeong ah, honestly, you can't be spending this much time alone. You know we're here for you like we were the last time." The mochi sat up and his voice was stern yet still evident with care. "You don't have to go through this alone, you know."

"I know Jimin ah but you two have your own things to do and senior year to prep for. You don't need any distractions." Sooyeong admitted as she searched for her helmet underneath the table. "I'll manage somehow..."

"Noona! How can you say that? Are we not your best friends?" Jungkook lashed, clearly hurt by Sooyeong's statement.

Both Jimin and Jungkook are very dear friends of Sooyeong's. They've been with her ever since tenth grade when they all had chosen the same subject course which landed them in the same class.

They were even there for her when she had lost her mother and she was eternally grateful that they had pulled her out of that very dark place she had spiralled into after the horrific tragedy. Ever since then, those two stuck by her side and always cheered her on just like she did for them.

"Jungoo..." Sooyeong whined, after having finally found the helmet. "How can you even question our friendship. I love you two pabo's to the ends of the universe and back."

A soft grunt was heard from Jungkook as he continued his rummage adventure. As for Jimin he looked very curiously at Sooyeong as she strapped the helmet to her head.

"And where are you going? You just got back? Did the Dragon Lady-"

"Jimin ah." Sooyeong sighed, and hopped on to the bed. "You worry your brain too much. Let it rest once in a while okay." She gave him a soft hug. "And thank you both for checking up on me."

"Let me run the errand for you Soo." Jimin stated. His tone was serious which caused Sooyeong to detach from him.

"Ji-"

"I'm serious." His eyes bored into her. "You need to rest. Your eyes are puffy and your body is on the brink of collapsing. I'm not going to sit here and watch you tire you-"

"Sooyeong!"

A voice which came from outside could be heard throughout the small room.

Jungkook's rummaging had immediately come to a halt.

As for Sooyeong and Jimin they had instantly bolted upward and off the bed.

"Sooyeong! You annoying brat!"

The voice yelled again and creaks on the broken deck could be heard.

"Isn't that Ahro's voice?" Jungkook declared as both him and Jimin fumbled to find a hiding spot.

The presence of these two boys in her outhouse would be breaking news to Suhjin because just the other day she had warned them about coming to visit Sooyeong and she also went as far as threatening them to keep silent about Sooyeong's new home after they got wind of it or there would be very terrible consequences for the poor girl as well as them.

So between the three of them they vowed to keep it a secret until it was absolutely necessary to reveal everything because she really didn't want to drag them down nor did they want to endanger Sooyeong's future which at the moment seemed rather blur and obscure.

Jimin had managed to push himself beside Sooyeong's bed and the table which is out of eye shot and Jungkook squeezed himself underneath the bed itself.

The creaking had gotten louder and Sooyeong felt her insides churn.

Why would Ahro visit her?

A couple of pushes were heard at the door and finally bursts of light swarmed the room followed by Ahro's silhouetted figure.

She looked annoyed, judging from her stance and Sooyeong only watched her form aggressively maneuver passed the miscellaneous items, even dropping a few things until finally, she stopped in front of a puzzled and very worried looking Sooyeong.

"I can't believe you actually stay in this dump." Ahro voiced unsympathetically. "And mother told me you were going out. Get me my favourite treat from Café Shooky would you. I trust it'll be on you." She demanded with her red lips and devilishly dark eyes which stared at Sooyeong. "You know I can't stand that Yoonji and that putrid attitude of his. As for that other one, who asked him to be so damn overly excited all of the time. Disgusting. The both of-"

"It's Yoongi and are you done?" Sooyeong interjected with a blank look - but the anger was building up within her and it threatened to burst but she fought hard to keep it in check.

Despite the two men Ahro had mentioned having a very significant part in her life she couldn't afford any mishaps with Ahro sincd she was just as spiteful as her mother.

"If your mother doesn't get her dress in time. I wouldn't want to take responsibility for that." Sooyeong spat.

Ahro smirked and leaned forward, "Then you should get paddling then. Twice as a fast." She scathed and harshly patted Sooyeong's helmet. "And try not faint like you did the day your father died. How embarrassing was that."

Sooyeong gritted her teeth and looked to the ground. She was a second away from bashing the youngers teeth in. Her eyes shut tight and she tried to control her anger by taking shallow breaths.

"Was there a need for you to actually come here? I wouldn't want you breaking a nail or something. Smartphones exists for a reason, you know." Sooyeong vented her anger in a different form.

"You ignore every call and text mother or I send to you. You ignorant brat." Ahro bit with a hand pressed harshly against Sooyeong's cheeks. "So don't act smart."

Sooyeong roughly shoved Ahro's hand away from her face. The anger brewed in her eyes. Ever since February 22nd Ahro had been extra cowardice. As if acting that way would earn her extra credits to her drama class but all it did was piss Sooyeong off.

After their little argument Ahro stomped out of the Outhouse and made her way toward the main house. The moment Ahro left, Sooyeong allowed a short squeal to leave her lips. Ahro pushed all the wrong buttons of hers. She had always been like that - a spoilt, ungrateful child.

"The disrespect that girl has." Jungkook voiced completely disgusted at what he just heard, while he ever so smoothly slid out from underneath the bed. "And she should be calling you unnie not by your name."

"Exactly." Sooyeong agreed with an annoyed huff.

"Sooyeong ah." It was Jimin this time, and his hand fell over her shoulder. "Just rest. I'll do their shit and what's her favourite treat anyway?"

"Croissants." Sooyeong mumbled, and this time she didn't protest. She allowed herself to fall over her bed - helmet and all. "How annoying..." She pouted.

Jimin chuckled softly as he removed the helmet from her head and Jungkook rested beside her, "Just look after her alright Koo and I'm using your bike Soo."

"Just go hyung!" Jungkook hollered. "Do your thang!"

"Get back here in tact okay." Sooyeong mumbled as she turned to her side and faced her table.

"He's already gone Soo noona." Jungkook added, before gently pushing a pillow under her head.

But Sooyeong just laid still; her body frozen and her eyes were fixed on a small image neatly framed up which had been gifted to her by her parents on her fourteenth birthday.

It was a replica of Van Gogh's, A Starry Night painting.

That little piece of wood, paper and print meant the world to her. As she deeply stared at the frame she allowed the treasured memory behind the starry image to suddenly bombard her mind.

The reason why her parents gifted it to her was because of a family activity they did a few years prior. All three of them, on a beautiful summer's night, had supinely laid on the lawn of the backyard with picnic cloths underneath them and they stargazed until Sooyeong fell asleep.

Stargazing had always been one of the activities her parents loved to do but it was especially true in her dear mother's case and because of the both of them Sooyeong grew accustomed to stars and the kind of comfort it gave her.

It was her mother's happy place and it became hers as well.

But later on, when Taehyung had lost his grandmother, she found out that he had a rather deep appreciation for Van Gogh which so happened to be the main reason that their fates had moulded together which eventually lead to her falling for him.

"Why can't things go back to the way they used to..." She mumbled and gripped onto her pillow, sadly. "Back to when I had my parents and could freely talk to Taehyung..."

A U T H O R ' S N O T E:

I honestly feel like I'm disappointing you guys and I'm so sorry. 😭 When it was sitting in my drafts it felt a lot deeper but as I'm editing it feels so different. 😭 But if you guys did like this, then please vote and comment!

Author, Lu. 💜