Abyss - Kim Seokjin AU Fanfiction

Chapter 1 | Ela

It was early in the morning when Ela made her way out of the subway station. She stopped by the convenience store in the corner to buy her favorite melon milk flavoured soda. It was her routine to pick up snacks and a drink before coming to her class in the greenhouse.

The first subject of the day was Sustainability. It wasn't a class she particularly liked but it had to be tackled. Not a lot of people in the country took sustainability seriously, and the school thought teaching a subject such as this one would boost optics. Ela thought it was absolute bullshit.

As she let her thoughts wander while she walked to the greenhouse, she spotted a familiar face buried between the pages of his sketchbook. Markers spread across the wood plank outdoor table where the man sat alone sketching. It was Jin, a family friend. She had only met him twice, but she had already gathered that Jin wanted nothing to do with her.

They met at a dinner their mothers had organized. Jin had just finished summer school for advanced drawing in Italy focusing on Architectural Illustration. He was scribbling away on the dinner table and she, unaware of her actions, kept staring at him while he drew. The moment there eyes met when he lifted his head, he looked away and rolled his eyes. When they were left at the table she had tried to apologize, Jin stared at her as if she was mute and then continued drawing. This time, he sat at the far end of the table with little light as possible so she could not look at him anymore.

And that was that. Ela had remained silent throughout dessert. Her mother had smiled at her politeness and mentioned to Jin's mother to let him visit their house so they could get to know each other. At this, Jin shrugged and stuck his nose back into the sketch book.

They had been seventeen then.

* * * * * * *

"Elara, you must come to dinner." Her mother's stern tone was even more dreadful over the phone than in person.

"I will mama." She said calmly as she closed her laptop. It was now late in the afternoon, Ela had just finished the last batch of content to be posted in the following months. After university, she managed to land a job at a prestigious design company that focused on marketing products internationally.

Upon finding this out, her parents rejoiced at their daughter's initial success. She thought about telling them what she wanted to do after a few years, but decided not to since it would shatter their hopes for her. What Ela really wanted was to move to a small town in Europe and be an art teacher to children. It would not be a full time job, but that way, she could explore more of the world on her own, she would be independent, and, finally free.

Because of her condition, she was hardly left alone. She had a complete set of staff ready to attend to her needs once she started working. She had demanded them to be dismissed a day after she found out her father had sent them for her. Ela wanted to live alone in the city. She wanted to be able to manage her medication, and her finances. This was a foolish desire of hers that she was determined to get.

"Make sure to dress well." Her mother said. "We will have the Kims over. You remember them right?"

How could she forget? She saw them just last week at another function she was forced to attend. Jin looked like he did not want to be there. They had an exchange of words, or whatever you called it.

"Congratulations on the new building. Your father was very pleased talking about your work over dinner." She said turning to him with a small smile on her face.

"Thank you." He said to her, his eyes lowered to the plate where the last piece of the poached pear remained. "I did not really do much."

Ela nodded and turned away. His tone was flat, uninterested, and that was her cue to avert her eyes somewhere else.

As Ela entered the restaurant, she noticed it was a lot emptier on a Thursday afternoon. In fact, it seemed that they would be the only ones there. Her thoughts progressively got worse with every step taking her closer to where her parents sat along with the Kim family. Jin, sat at the head of the table, looking like the life was drained off of him. The moment her heel's clicks became audible to him, he raised his head to meet her gaze.

Regret. That was written all over his face. Regret, disdain. It would have been bitter if she could taste his expression at this moment. Ela began to panic. She dug her hands deep into the pockets of her trousers and began to fidget with her pill box. Was she in trouble? Had she done something wrong?

"Ela dear," Mrs. Kim's voice was soft, almost like a warm cloak wrapping around her. "Please have a seat."

She nodded at the woman and took her seat, the only seat, which was across Jin. His eyes were glued to the tabletop. He must have been examining the number of weaves and wefts, or the reflection value of the stainless steel tableware. Whatever it was, he was trying his best to mute out what was about to happen next. It was clear from his mannerisms that he did not want to be a part of this, or anything involved with her. It had always been that way since they met, and continuously saw each other in the years that followed. This time would not be different. Kim Seokjin despised her, Ela concluded. This, she had thought over through and through. It was the only explanation to the way he acted towards her. Hate, disdain, distaste, whatever it was called, it was what was written all over his eyes the moment his father cleared his throat to speak.

"Our dearest Elara." Mr. Kim said softly, almost a whisper. Why he did this in an empty restaurant, boggled Ela. It wasn't as if the wait would listen. If she hadn't paid attention, she would have missed what he said. "We and your parents have had multiple conversations about you over the past few years. We admire your manners, you were raised well and you are very intelligent."

"Thank you sir. I try to do my best to make my parents proud." Ela says, bowing her head reverently.

"I am sure you do." He continues. "Which is why we have come to let you know that we plan for you and Seokjin to marry. It is our hope that you will be a part of our family."

Ela's eyes opened wide as the hinge on her pill box broke. She had been playing with it on her lap while Jin's father was speaking. The sound of the acrylic hinge cracking echoed in the small well of the pot in the center of the table.

At that point Ela's mother put a hand on her shoulder. "Ela dear, we understand you are shocked. But this decision is something we have considered for more than two years. We are very fortunate that you and Jin are not in different relationships. So it should only make sense that you two shall wed. It will be a good way to connect out families, albeit not through business but through the both of you."

"Indeed." Ela's father added. "I have always wanted a son like Seokjin and then realized, why shouldn't I have him as a son instead of hoping that you might land someone who is half the man he is!" He chuckled, and all the elders in the table joined.

Jin bowed politely to her father in thanks.

"My dear boy, you have nothing to worry about. We will take care of you. We're doctors after all."

Ela remained silent. Her eyes searched for his and when they finally met, she shot him a look. Why?

They spoke as if they had already gotten an answer from her, as if they had her consent and Jin's consent as well. But as she replayed the situation on her mind, she realized. Her parents had not asked, and neither did Jin's parents too. They commanded. Despite their tone, though warm and kind, it wasn't something that you could count on.

Jin broke free from her gaze and she lowered her head to the broken pill box on her lap. She had finished two tablets on the drive to the restaurant to get her mind off what was about to happen. Now, in the moment of shock and panic slowly climbing their way into her head, she had run out of the only weapon she could fight them with.

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Author's Note

Hello everyone! This is the first story I am releasing. I hope that you enjoyed the first chapter! It might seem confusing at first, but please stick with it. 

I am excited to share more of the chapters with you. And I hope that you will fall in love with Jin as much as I have while writing this. 

Btw, please comment below on who your bias is! I would love to know! 

See you soon! 

Love, 
Pepper