Pretty Little Runaway

ONE

I guess it started when I turned seven. I was from one of the wealthiest families in Daegu. That was great and all until my parents started forcing me to study large textbooks, learn classical piano, violin, and the Cello, not to mention years and years of acting classes. If I slacked off or disobeyed them, I was yelled at. It affected me when I was a kid, but now I just find it annoying as hell. Mom and Dad started taking me out more, to restaurants and fancy dinners but all I really wanted was to go out and see the world.

I graduated from College about three months ago. I developed a sort of reputation there. I would date people, guys or girls, and then break it off over the phone. I know, it's terrible, but I felt nothing when I was with them, and I felt like they deserved someone who loved them like they loved me. I wanted to feel that. Love. I craved affection and I didn't mean the friendly, family kind. I wanted to love someone, I wanted to know what it felt like to burn for someone, to thirst for someone as much as they did me. For crying out loud, I'm almost twenty and I've never been in love before.

Over the years my parents have gotten worse. My dad resorted to hitting me when the yelling didn't work any more. Mom wouldn't do anything to stop it. In fact she would even do it whenever father wasn't around to. But I guess that's what they thought would get me focused. They were wrong, obviously. Because now, I craved to rebel, to be free and out in the world before father forces me to take over the company and I'll have no way out. I wanted excitement, adventure. I wanted out.

I stared out at the moon as we drove along the city streets. The moon always brought me a strange sense of comfort. Tonight had been another fancy dinner with some relatives that I had no idea existed. They were strangers to me, and yet they tried to hug me.. strange isn't it? What being 'blood related' would make people think they can do. My brain was swirling with ideas and thoughts that I shouldn't be having. Thoughts of being out in the world, of being away from my parents, of being away from their constant abuse. I was never enough for them. I just wanted to be enough for someone.

I guess I want a lot of things. Selfish? Maybe. But do I care? No.

"Dinner was lovely don't you think, Beomgyu?" Mother asked with a small smile as she turned around in the passengers seat to face me in my spot at the back. I nodded, knowing that she would be able to pick up on my sarcastic undertone that knew no authority or the slight bite at the end of my sentences. I know from experience, giving attitude ends up with a beating.

"Son. I have decided. You will take over the company come next summer, and you will be married to Mr. Han's daughter come spring." My father stated, his eyes trained on the road and I choked on my spit. No. This is not happening. I kept my silence as we pulled up the long driveway that led to my house. The familiar white brick walls coming into my line of vision.
I got out of the car and stalked my way to the front door before slamming it open. I heard my father curse behind me. He walked through the entrance a few seconds later and spun me around before grabbing me by the collar of my shirt.

"What's with the attitude, boy?" He spat and I glared.

"You can't make me." I gritted out and his eyes flared in anger. My mom scoffed behind him and I rolled my eyes.

"Can't make you what, boy?" Father growled and I resisted the urge to spit in his face.

"You can't make me marry someone I don't know or love. And you can't make me take over the company! I don't want it and you know that!" I replied raising my voice, and the next thing I knew, my head snapped to the right and my jaw pounded. The familiar, metallic taste of blood filled my mouth as I glared harshly at the man gripping my collar.

"I don't care what you want! You will do what I say or you will be punished. I'll put you in the fucking hospital again if I have to." He snarled in my face and I spat my bloody seliva in his face.

"Go fuck yourself old man." I snarled back and he threw me to the floor, wiping his face. He looked like he wanted to beat the living day lights out of me but stopped when one of the maids walked by. Mother was watching in shock, as I never retaliated like this.

"You will and that's final. You pathetic excuse for a son." My father stated and walked away, mother following close behind.

Not if I can help it. I thought as I pulled myself off the ground and wiped my lip. I winced lightly but it didn't really hurt. It never really did, I had an extremely high pain tolerance and I hardly ever bruised. This wasn't even going to look like I was hit at all. Lucky me. I walked up the stairs, to my bedroom and closed the door before I sat on the edge of my bed. My thoughts and emotions were running wild. I was angry, confused, sad, and disgusted all at once. Scenarios were playing in my head over and over and they all ended with me living a dreadful, boring life if I stayed. So that means I can't stay. Who would want to anyways? They're just a bunch of assholes.

I rushed around my room and grabbed what I could find. I folded my clothes neatly and placed them in my bag, along with my toothbrush, hairbrush, and an extra pair of shoes. I went to my piggybank and carefully broke it, and dumped the contents into a bag which I could exchange for cash later. I went under my bed and pulled up one of the floorboards, under it was a metal container which I had stashed a bunch of cash that I saved over the years. This would do.

I stayed in my room, looking up places to go on my phone as I waited for the house to go silent. The furthest place away I could think of was Paju-si, in the Gyeonggi-do Province. It was near Seoul, and it was pretty cheap so that was also a plus. But it didn't matter the price, I would figure out a way to survive. And I'd need to get rid of my phone some time soon, I can always buy a new one if proven necessary.

The house finally grew silent, and nothing could be heard except for my heartbeat which was pounding in my ears as I cracked open my door and tiptoed down the hall. My parents were heavy sleepers, but that didn't mean I didn't need to be careful. I carefully slid out the front door and into the night. My chest was burning with a sense of adrenaline as I made my way to the nearest bus stop. The bus driver eyed me weirdly as I paid to get on and sat near the back of the bus.

This was going to be a long ride.