𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐧 • 𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧

11; the truth about families

"jeonghan, my son!" hanyeong stood up from her seat, walking to minghao's coworker with open arms—only to get hurled away by his own son. "j-jeonghan!"

"jeonghan hyung!" minghao exclaimed, dropping his pencil to aid hanyeong—who was on the floor. "please do not hurt your mother!"

"ah ha ha, don't stick your nose in my family issues, minghao. you shouldn't have gone here today." jeonghan says, panting as his bitter smile turned into a frown. "you shouldn't have contacted my company, mom! come on, minghao, let's go back. work hours are over." jeonghan grabs minghao by the wrist.

minghao moves his arm in a circular motion, and grips jeonghan's forearm. he twists the older artist's arm, and pins it against his back. jeonghan winced loudly, and hanyeong pulled minghao away.

"mister xu, please don't hurt my son!" hanyeong pleads, gripping minghao's sleeve. "jeonghan, i'm happy to see you! i—"

"no. minghao, that was unacceptable. we're going back home, and or i'll tell seungcheol about your misconduct." jeonghan demands, pointing a finger at minghao.

minghao's excitement was all drained now, and he felt defeat. misconduct, huh? it felt like he was back in the military again.

"jeonghan hyung... this is my first commission," minghao says. "i would at least want an explanation why i can't take it, if i can't know about why you hurt your mother. seungcheol hyung allowed me to be here, but why won't you...?"

jeonghan grumbled, fisting his hands. "i always wanted an explanation from my mom, too, but guess what?! i never got it! that's how life is, minghao!"

"son..." hanyeong interjects, looking up at jeonghan's eyes. her favorite feature of her son. "i don't understand."

"oh yeah?! or were you just erasing it from your memories?!"

"that what, jeonghan?"

"that you hurt me for no reason!" jeonghan's voice volume raised again, and minghao took a step back. "you wanted me to take after my father. you wanted me to become someone i'm not, and you didn't even want me to enter art school! i had to run away! i had to run away and work for the money i needed to enter my dream school! i entered every job possible to become an artist, and when dad found out from his colleagues that i'm making the yoons' image filthy, he took me out of the family tree!

"and now that i became successful and as rich as your filthy, wealthy dead husband, you want to see me again! why do you only always care about money?! it's like i was only created for the insurance of your money in the future, when you two die!" jeonghan spat. "why? why do you treat me like this? i should've never been born to this family! i should've never been born at all!"

jeonghan walks out of the room, slamming the door behind him. hanyeong was crying, and minghao was still shocked—but he felt the need to follow jeonghan.

and so, minghao did.

"jeonghan hyung! wait a minute!" minghao shouted as he ran after jeonghan in the hallway—who spared him a glance, and slowed his pace down. "thank you."

when minghao caught up to jeonghan, the older completely stops—and faces minghao. minghao, still lost, stopped as well, and faced jeonghan.

"go get your stuff, bub," jeonghan smiled sweetly at minghao, placing a hand on his shoulder. "i'm sorry for being so insensitive. i'm sorry i turned your first commission into a huge disaster. i was excited to hear about it, but when i found out that it was my mom who asked for you.. i.. i just made a whole scene."

minghao thought otherwise. his first portrait commission experience was quite interesting, and even though he couldn't be very proud about it and tell wonwoo that his first commission went smoothly—he was learning more about people, and families.

"i'm surprised. i thought.. i thought families are always supposed to be happy," minghao states. jeonghan's hand falls down from minghao's shoulder, and he slumped in sadness. "why is your family a different case?"

"oh. right. i'm sorry to ruin your expectations, but, most well-off families are like this." says the older, pretty eyes brimming with tears. "they want to be in complete control of your life. they only care about making you take a job that will make you rich, or they will marry you off to some other rich person to mantain the family image."

"i didn't know," minghao innocently replied, tilting his head. his eyes look at jeonghan with empathy. "i'm glad you ran away and became an artist, hyung."

jeonghan smiles at minghao and hugs him, which, minghao was still surprised about despite experiencing it for the second time. again, minghao doesn't pull away—and just lets jeonghan embrace him.

"thank you, minghao. i'm glad you became an artist, too." the older pulled away. "ah. you know what? fuck it. just go back there and finish your first commission, sir xu minghao." jeonghan jested, brushing off invisible dust on minghao's clothing. "i shouldn't be bringing personal issues in your business. i sincerely apologize. go back there and do your job."

"are you sure?" minghao asked, confused. "i respect your decision if you don't want me to take this commission anymore, as this client is someone who.. hurt you."

"it's okay! i'm sorry for barging in. i was just scared that she was going to use you to get to me again, which i didn't want. i wanted to cut off all connections with her. but i realized... that she actually had work for you," says jeonghan, sighing. "i'm sorry. i'll make my exit now. goodluck, minghao. i'll be cheering for you!"

"your mother is asking me to paint you, hyung," minghao truthfully replied. "if it's alright with you, can you make up for the commotion earlier by staying here with me as i work?"

jeonghan slightly smiled, laughing. "it's always good to have reference, huh?" he crossed his arms. "i'll try, bub. i don't want to see the face of my mother, though, so..."

"we'll make it work, hyung." minghao answered, with a slight smile.

"wonwoo will be so proud of you, minghao."