Deleterious

Chapter 6

The rest of the day went by fast, too fast. It's as if the universe couldn't wait for me to suffer. I should've known things were too nice earlier. Things had been going too well for me today, I made a friend, no problems at work, and at the time my  brother wasn't upset with me. Things had been going so incredibly well, it's only fair that things would go straight to shit now.

It's all happening so fast, it felt like I was in the office for only an hour before I was back in my car, instructing my driver to deliver me to my brother's home. It's not fair, I needed more time, I needed to prepare myself for whatever was about to happen when I arrived in the lion's den. Now I'm in the back seat of a car, shaking like a leaf for a man that I can't even see, squeezing my hands together trying to control my anxiety.

"Sir? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine! Just drive." He didn't deserve that, my driver is always so nice to me, whether it's because I pay him well or because he's just a good person I don't know. I'm pretty sure it's the latter though, which makes the guilt after snapping at him worse. Unfortunately I can't find it in myself to apologize, my mind is occupied with other things. There's only one person I'd ever really feel the need to apologize to anyway. The fear completely takes over whatever guilt may have festered once I look out the window, it's all too familiar, the streets, the shops, and even some of the people. We're close, why does he live so close to the company? Couldn't he live just a few more minutes away?

I drop my head back down once we make it to the garage, it's as if my body completely shut down from the stress of it all. Is he still angry? I still don't know why he was so mad in the first place. What did I do? The short trip to his front door from the garage does not help my nerves, with such a short amount of time to calm down I fear I'll break too easily. I stand there, looking at the tip of my shoes, unable to gather enough courage to knock.

I still don't know why he's angry

Surely I can't walk in clueless, wouldn't that only make things worse? It seems like I don't have much of a choice though. No matter how much I think about it I can't make sense of it all. Other than that 'stand up for Chairman Jang' fiasco I've been on my best behavior. Actually, that situation wasn't even my fault so I won't count it against me.

With a deep breath I bring my hand up to the door, the knock isn't as loud as it should to be heard. Expectantly the door opens anyhow, only seconds after my hand drops to my side. Han seok stands in front of me, wearing a robe too loose to really cover anything and grey sweatpants. I don't have a chance to stare or say a word before he walks away. I instantly follow him but the silence is unnerving. The fact that he hasn't said a thing since I arrived does not help my nerves. I could at least get some type of read on the situation by his words, the tone of his voice. Currently I have no idea what he's feeling. Is he still upset? If so how upset is he? These questions plague my mind as I follow him to the living room. I watch as Han seok takes a seat on the black leather couch, arms spread out on either side of him. The expression on his face is unreadable, his dark eyes give nothing away as he takes in my shaking figure. Standing quietly in the entrance of the room I realize just how terrified I am, the fact that I have no idea what's about to happen leaves me unable to speak. Usually I'd be begging for mercy at the first sign of anger but right now I haven't seen a single sign of anything.

Please say something

A loud sigh resounds then, "Little brother," I look at Han seok from where I stand, cautiously taking everything in.

"Yes s-sir?" The whisper like tone is evidence of just how anxious I am, I'm too shaken up to even speak properly. I watch as he points to a spot on the floor in front of him, "Sit."

Like a loyal dog I quickly move to follow his command, sitting on the floor in front of him. Folding my hands on my lap, I stare hard at the floor. I can't muster up the courage to look up into his eyes, I'm too afraid of what I might find there.