"It's big news for us, Mr. Kim. They are finally agreeing." the clink of wine glasses got blended to their gossip, "That's why I called for this party, haha."

SeokJin watched his dad from afar talking with his personnel. He, one of the successful industrialists, wanted SeokJin to be like him, the reason he was there, entertaining the guest or probably just alienating himself. He took a small sip from his orange juice, the ice cubes jingled as he bluntly looked at the glass. 

The house saturated with pretty things and well furnished as if a part of heaven.
A home rather a cage of numerous lavish things where he dwelled in.
His well-proportioned face plastered a fake smile all the time. All these made him feel suffocated and imprisoned. 

"Master SeokJin," a feminine papery tone got his attention, though he lingered in his nonchalant posture, "You're being called by Mr Kim."

"Tell him to wait." He replied, not even turning. The housekeeper left after a second. The scene, however, didn't go unnoticed by his mom who was hosting a group of guests. The boy who never dared to delay his dad's order to carry out showing the opposite appearance of him was enough to get surprised. She excused and steadily jogged to her son.

"Jin, what happened?" she asked in a tone that anyone could explain her thoughts. 
"Nothing." SeokJin drank the liquid by sips. His mom sighed a little, "You shouldn't be late otherwise—"

"He'll be mad at me... I know." SeokJin calmly completed her words before leaving her alone. His mom watched her son from the back, the despair she felt concealed with her genteel look.

"Ah! there you are, my son." his dad, however, looked expertly delightful but SeokJin could feel his madness over him for delaying. His dad went on, "Gentlemen, meet my son, SeokJin Kim." 

All eyes now on SeokJin, some may be appreciating or judging him silently, were something not so foreign but to him still not so adaptable. He gulped twice as he felt himself like a fish out of water. 

"Nice to meet you son." the colleagues extended their hand to shake. SeokJin just acted everything that he learned perfectly even though feeling suffocated. 

"May we know what your speciality is, Mr SeokJin." one of them asked this out of the blue at which SeokJin just glanced blank. He, himself, was so clueless as the fact always made him scoff at him. 

"Speak up Jin, why are you silent?" his dad whispered but he just kept calm.

"I can only play the guitar. Count that as my speciality" Jin answered confidently after a bit later. A smirk crept on his lips while his dad shooting a death glare at him. 

"Could you guys please excuse us?" Teeth gritting, his dad clutched his hand and went upstairs leaving their guests dumbfounded. The wide hallway and the long corridor repeated the loud thump of their feet and ended as soon as they walked into the office room. 

"What you think you're doing?" his dad's voice was deep and harsh towards him at which he remained calm like before.

"Answer me, SeokJin." this time it echoed through the room and SeokJin blinked.

"D-dad I didn't mean to say anything. That guy just asked and I honestly answered him, that is what I learned from you." he reasoned swallowing. At this, his dad scoffed, "Seriously! I taught you business, not saying this bizarre thing, you pabo."

"Honey, stop it. We have guest out there." Mrs Kim snapped in.
"Tell him this." Mr Kim huffed in despair. 

SeokJin pressed his lips together, closing his eyes for a moment before mustering the courage to utter a few words, "...Dad, " gulped the secreting saliva, "Grandpa… was he the same to you?" Tears threatened to fall. As if his dad caught off guard, slowly spun his heels to face his son, eyes widened. 

"SeokJinnie…" his mom squeezed his broad, wide shoulder when he just stayed calm outside and broken inside.

"SeokJin, leave… now." Mr. Kim this time averted his gaze from his son clenching his fist. His face held an unreadable expression.

SeokJin took one last look before leaving. Walking out of the room he halted for a second. From his every breath, he could feel guilt even though the fact was out of his acknowledgement. 

He ran, letting his feet drag himself wherever it wanted. Unknowingly, he stopped in front of a half-closed door leading him into a dark hallway. Adrenaline rushed into his veins as he caught a glimpse of a dark shadowy figure coming towards him slowly.

''SeokJin-ah, Let's awake, shall we?'' a chanted whisper bothered the silence as he heard it. He locked his hand with it, nodded hesitantly.

''Maybe I can never fly,'' He closed his eyes, hoping for something better, wishing for a new return. As he shut his eyes, something or more as some odd objects flashed before his sight — Broken glass, burnt-out piano, candy box filled with pills, poisonous apple, paintings, and curled chain — what more is needed to make space this messy and broken. A small smile made its way to his lips before darkness totally grabbed him.

-

His eyebrows squinted as a ray of light hit his eyelids. Slowly, Jin opened his eyes twitching. Moments needed to realize the surrounding since the boy found himself in the middle of the shadows. Eyes watching at him when he was just blinking to have a clear sight. 

"Jinnie, How're you feeling, son?" Jin turned to the side where the worried voice came from. 

"I-I'm fine, mom." he tried to sit but felt pain in his back, "What happened?" he gathered the strength to articulate. 

"Master SeokJin, you need to take rest. Your fever, it's still unstable." the papery tone of their housekeeper took his attention. 

Seokjin stopped trying to sit and speared a blank stare around him. At the corner of the room where the figure of his dad was seated on a chair caught his sight. He was staring outside the window, not specifically at anything. Only watching his dad made him gulp. 

His mom exhaled. Things got more awkward when they all vacated the room leaving both alone. SeokJin kept quiet even though being so tensed up inside. His dad lifted himself from his sitting posture and slowly jogged until he stopped near the bedside. Both exchanged glances awkwardly in silence, only their breath could be heard.

"...SeokJinnie," the tranquillity dropped as soon as his dad uttered softly.
"Yes… dad," he responded. 

"May I ask you something?"

He nodded, gulping, "Y-yeah, sure."

His dad paused for a while before speaking, "What did the baby corn ask the mother corn?"

SeokJin blinked at him for a good few seconds, his eyes puffed up and his lips turned into an oval shape. "Popcorn!" he mumbled, mentally facepalmed. 

His dad smiled, genuine that it was, Jin kept staring at him. Never knew his dad looked this humble and serene with that small smile. 

"Your grandpa…" he paused a second, "was the same. You take after him in this respect. He cracked this kind of jokes most often." he turned to face at Jin. 

"Dad, I didn't mean it, I mean..." SeokJin tried to explain realizing what his dad wanted to say. 

"Ssh! calm down, son. I'm not mad at you anymore. I thought for a while." uttered his dad smiling at which Seokjin blinked multiply. Beside the bed on the nightstand where a photo frame was — SeokJin, his parents and grandparents — a complete family picture. His dad faced himself to the photo, a sigh escaped his throat. 

"Comfort zone what I had preferred and still do the same." He moistened his dry throat, " Dad often used to say this to explore the self. Seems like I never actually realize what he meant. But you did Son." he glanced at Jin who was obediently listening to him by all ears. 

"I just let myself go with trends, always reject to think of being different. Just because of keeping myself in a safe zone. I took it as a reality of life." he chewed his lips.

"But Dad, you're someone so successful. Every one of your colleagues follows you like a role model." SeokJin, despite being sick, spoke with a cheerful tone. His dad, then shuffled on his seat to scoot closer to his son, which was, however, so rare mannerism of him. His tone dropped an octave lower, "SeokJinnie. The soul may change, personality doesn't."

He looked so thoughtful. SeokJin in his obedient look observed every expression his father was giving. "Perfection and quick feedback on what I craved the most for everything, I never was pressurized for this though." Mr. Kim uttered with dismay.

Silence dropped. The window was wide open letting the breeze blow in. 

"He wanted me to keep the belief and patience in me which I got so wrong." he caressed his forehead, "SeokJinnie, I always wanted you to be like me, " he paused to take a glance of his son's innocent look, "from now on, you're free." 

"But dad…" SeokJin started but cut off, "Keep believing in yourself Jin, be the one that you should be. Put on a smile, a real one, like always you do." his dad smiled. SeokJin blinked and watched his dad for a few seconds before wrapping his arms around him for a hug. Hot tears streamed unknowingly, a happy one, for he conquered his very own heaven. 

_____________________________________

Guess who's the next=>

A/N:

ForeverBTSxArmy thank you for appreciating me. We don't know each other but still, you keep complimenting me is so much of happiness. 😊