𝐌𝐘 𝐒𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐓 𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐒𝐄

CHAPTER 5

"Dad, look what Mrs. Jeon gave me." Jin skipped happily into his home.

It had been 4 months of his friendship with Jungkook, 3 months since they became best friends and 2 months since he had gotten the permission to visit the Jeons' Residence.

Mrs. Jeon had been delighted every time Jin visited them, always gushing about intelligent and good natured the boy was. She never failed to shower him with presents now and then, mostly books but today, she had given him her necklace, a symbol of accepting him as the second son of her family.

Due to which, he was excited to show it to his father.

"Da....AD!" his voice turned to a scream as he found his father collapsed on the floor of the kitchen, clutching his chest and sweating profusely.

"Dad, can you hear me? Dad......" He tried patting on his cheeks but didn't get any reply. Not knowing what to do to save his dad, he grabbed the phone on the counter with shaking hands and dialed the only number he knew except his father's.

It rang a few times before the person on the other side picked it up.

"Father, dad.....he isn't waking up. Some....something has happened to him." He sobbed.

"Try and stay calm. I'll call the ambulance and be there soon." He assured Jin.

Soon enough, Si-Hyuk was at the door along with the ambulance. He held the young boy and consoled him as the medics carried away his father in a stretcher. 

The next 2hrs proved to be the longest and most gruesome in the 10yrs of Jin's life. He couldn't do anything but see his father lying lifelessly in the hospital bed while the nurses rushed in and out.

When the doctor finally called for Si-Hyuk, Jin already knew what was coming for him by judging their expressions. He couldn't bear to stand still as his father's only trusted acquaintance walked towards him with a somber expression. He wasn't ready to hear the news.

"Jin-ah, your dad is.......Hwan has been summoned by the Almighty." 

"NO! This can't be." his scream attracted a few sympathetic looks from the relatives of the other patients. "He......he can't leave me. He promised we would organize a picnic with the Jeons next month on birthday. W...we had so many plans. He can't......" 

"Jin-ah....." Si-Hyuk tried to comfort him.

"It's a prank right? Please tell him to wake up. I can't live without him. I promise I'll be a good boy and obey everything he says, just tell him to wake up." he collapsed on the floor, sobbing hysterically.

•·.·''·.·••

One by one, the few people who had gathered payed their last homage to the honest and kind man, not paying attention to his son standing at a distance, hidden from their view.

Jin stared silently as the coffin was lowered into the grave. His only family and support was gone..... forever. Dead to the pain and sufferings of the mortal world.

He flinched slightly as a hand was placed on his shoulder. He looked back to find Si-Hyuk standing with an envelope.

"Jin-ah, your father wanted me to give this to you if something ever happened to him." he explained and handed over the envelope.

Jin tore it open to find an address and a wad of notes. He threw a confused glance at the person who had been taking care of him since his father's demise.

"It's your aunt's address who lives in the city. You must stay with her from now. And your father's savings will help you start a new life."

"I don't want to leave. Who will take care of our house and farm if I'm not here?" He desperately wanted to cling to his happy memories.

"This place isn't safe for you kiddo. I won't be able to keep you safe like Hwan did. He was your protective shield but now you're vulnerable." 

"But, I can take care of myself. Please let me stay." he begged.

"Won't you honor your father's last wish?" he had to resort to emotional blackmailing, but tried to soften it by negotiating. "You can return when you grow up and become stronger; till then, I'll look over your home and farm."

Seeing no alternative, he dared to ask meekly, "Can I meet Kookie for the last time?"

"I'm afraid you can't. He and Mrs. Jeon are out of station and will be back by next week. You can't afford to stay here for that long, rather, you should take tonight's bus for the city."

Jin let out a sad sigh and accepted his fate.