Blue and Grey || Taejin

Chapter 20

Yoongi turned his head to the side and scrunched his face with his eyebrows knitted as if he had tasted something acrid in his ocean of dreams. He hummed and his lips moved, but no sound trickled out. Seokjin tried not to let the flower of hope within himself wilt too soon. This was progress, so much progress.

Seokjin's thumb gently traced the scar across Yoongi's face. He knew they would later joke about it, making up scenarios where Yoongi got into a fight with some mad king and won at the price of being fatally wounded. It was a better story than carrying the weight of a trauma.

He had waited so long. Maybe he could wait a little longer.

Soft footsteps echoed through the ward as Seokjin arrived at the door and opened it with his eyes trained on the floor. He saw a pair of polished black shoes in front of his sneakers but before he could halt, he bumped into the person. With an apology at the tip of his tongue, Seokjin looked up, only to be met with the stoic face of his chaffeur.

"My apologies, Young Master Seokjin." Mr. Yun stepped aside before bowing.

"Your mother just ordered me to fetch you to your parents' bungalow as soon as possible. Guests will be arriving."

Guests?

_____________

Seokjin shoulders were hunched under the coat that the chaffeur had picked for him in a haste. The pants were two sizes smaller than what he wore so his ankles under his socks were in display and the fabric stifled his thighs. Seokjin just hoped his parents would not make too many snide remarks.

As he walked towards the main door, he noticed an unfamiliar car parked outside. When he entered the bungalow, he was greeted by the butler and was escorted to the dining room where his mother and father were speaking to someone whose back was turned to Seokjin.

"Good evening Eommo-nim, Abeo-nim," Seokjin caught their attention and bowed for a few seconds before straightening up.

"Yes, good evening, Seokjin." Mrs. Kim stood up from her seat, followed by her husband.

"We decided to invite Daehyun for dinner. Your brother would love her company, am I right dear?" Mrs. Kim brandished her hand towards Daehyun who turned around to offer Seokjin an icey smile.

Mr. Kim nodded in response.

"Yes, and since we need to attend to a few matters before our chef serves Daehyun's favourite dishes, we would have to attend to a few matters. We hope your company is pleasant to Daehyun, Seokjin." Mrs. Kim shot a silent warning through her piercing gaze before trotting out of the room with her expressionless husband on her trail.

"Where is your brother?" Daehyun asked once Seokjin took the seat vertically opposite to her.

"Good evening to you too, Daehyun noona," Seokjin stated flatly.

"The question won't answer itself," Daehyun smiled through gritted teeth.

"He is at our mansion, probably. Studying." Because what else would he do when their parents had him against gunpoint? Not literally, ofcourse. Or so Seokjin hoped.

"Mhmm." Daehyun abruptly took an interest to the tablecloth for a few fortunate seconds before her eyes trailed off to Seokjin again.

"Are you stripping behind your parents' back?"

"Pardon?" Seokjin tried not to let the astonishment distort his composure.

"I'm talking about your hair, ofcourse. I don't think anyone aside from attention freaks like strippers would dye it that shade of purple," Daehyun remarked haughtily with her eyes narrowed to scrutinize Seokjin's locks.

"And so what if I am a stripper?" Seokjin whispered sadistically and leaned forward with his weight on his elbows that were on the table.

Daehyun's eyebrows creased in a dumbfounded manner and her mouth hung open to express her guffaw.

"Aren't you such a-"

"Seokjung is here! Daehyun, dear, meet my son, Seokjung."

Seokjin rolled his eyes, ensuring to make it as noticeable as possible, when Daehyun walked up to Seokjung and held her hand out while her lips were curved into a smile that made Seokjin physically cringe. He heard Seokjung murmur a soft greeting while Daehyun bombarded him with how excited she was to acquinted with him. Mrs. Kim guided them to their chairs, and her nails slightly digging into Seokjung's arm as she made him sit in front of Daehyung did not go unnoticed by Seokjin.

"Ah, so you've arrived, son," their father's voice sounded from the entrance.

Their parents were seated on either ends of the table, looking more like predators than decent humans. Seokjin resolved to not open his mouth throughout the entire dinner.

"Daehyun, do excuse my forgetfulness, but what are you studying now?" Mr. Kim inquired as he poured wine into Daehyun's cup.

"I completed my studies last year, Mr. Kim. Currently, I am under my mother's personal training to serve as the Chief Financial Officer in her company from next year after Jae Geumwon resigns," the words flowed out of Daehyun's mouth as if she had rehearsed it beforehand.

"Marvelous! Such an ambitious young lady," Mrs. Kim clapped her hands together as she exclaimed with an impressed gleam in her eyes.

Seokjin just prayed the food would arrive soon.

"She is quite impressive, isn't she Seokjung?" Mr. Kim looked at Seokjung expectantly.

As usual, Seokjung's head was bowed as he said barely above an whisper, "Yes, Abeo-nim."

"My wife has told me so much about you, Deahyun. The highest ranker of her college as well as university, and I have heard your hands are quite skillful in playing the violin." Mr. Kim's smile was so unnatural that Seokjin was beginning to get a hint to where that dinner was leading to.

"The piano too," Daehyun claimed with pride in her words.

"Oh, honey, maybe we can have Daehyun play something for us after dinner. The piano has remained untouched ever since Seokjung moved out. Our son loved the piano."

Seokjin coughed at his mother's white lie.

Dinner was finally served. Seokjin had been so invested in enduring his company without slipping up that he did not realize how starved he was until the savoury smell of the food wafted into the room.

"Seokjung, why don't you share your plans with Daehyun?" Mr. Kim encouraged slyly.

Seokjin sensed his brother grow tense beside him because unlike Daehyun, Seokjung was not prepared for it.

"Yes, she's your future partner after- oh!" Mrs. Kim covered up her words with a guilty smile which was directed at her husband.

I knew it.

Seokjin glanced sideways and saw Seokjung balling up his fists.

"Eommeo-nim, Abeo-nim..." Seokjung began to speak.

"Is Daehyun-sshi aware that I am in a relationship with someone else?"

The room fell into dead silence. Seokjin looked at Seokjung to clarify that it was indeed his brother who had spoken. Although the words were whispered, the ferocity of them was evident.

"Seokjung, son-"

"Abeo-nim, I have abide by your every word. It is time you stand by your own words too," Seokjung spoke in the faintest voice. His eyes were still trained on his lap but Seokjin could see the tint of red in his eyes.

After a pause, Seokjung looked up at Daehyung who was flabbergasted.

"I have a girlfriend, Daehyun-sshi."

Daehyun nodded with an artificial smile that made her seem constipated. Seokjin was not sure if he should feel proud towards his brother or be fearful for him.

"Very well then."

Those three words uttered by their father was followed by deafening silence. Not a single voice dared to make the slightest sound throughout dinner.