TRAGIC LOVE S01

CHP6

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" To live in a hallucination of being loved is more painful than rejection."

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Jimin repeated the words, confusion tightening its grip on him as his dad confirmed the success of the business deal with Karina's family.

Giving Jimin a condescending pat on the back, his father remarked about him becoming a man.

However, Jimin remained silent, caught in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.

The desire to escape from the situation tugged at him, but the fear of making a wrong move anchored him to his seat.

His father nonchalantly sat at the table, serving himself lasagna.

"Mr. Park," he called, and the father lifted his gaze from his plate.

"Yes, Jimin?" "We, Karina and I, can't get married."

Jimin's words lingered in the air, introducing an unexpected twist to the evening.

His father, perplexed, held his fork with increasing tension, the knuckles turning white.

The atmosphere became charged with unspoken tension as Jimin braced himself for the repercussions of disrupting the carefully laid-out plans.

He then opened his mouth again, preparing to give an excuse, feeling the urgency of needing it fast.

"What will people think if the scion of a prominent businessman were to marry before completing his education? Would they not consider it a blot on the family's prestige?"

Jimin questioned, his anxiety palpable.

His father glanced at him briefly before delivering a cunning smile.

"I've already contemplated that. We can orchestrate a scenario where you undertake further studies in America. Furthermore, I've arranged for the marriage to take place there."

Jimin was in a state of panic; it appeared his father had preemptively devised a plan.

"What if the paparazzi were to catch wind of our arrangement? You are aware of their ubiquity," Jimin voiced his concern.

The father ceased eating once again before responding, "Well, Jimin, you do have a valid point. I hadn't considered that aspect. Very well, then. Conclude your studies, and subsequently, accompany her. I shall personally liaise with her father, given our closeness"

The weight of the situation bore down on Jimin as he grappled with the intricate tapestry of falsehoods and concessions woven around him.

Jimin was relieved, thinking he would now have some time to carefully consider his options.

However, a sudden thought struck him, and he stayed silent, playing with his food.

Gathering courage, he said, "Mr. Park, i wish to apprise you that i shall be arriving home due to impromptu supplementary session in both business studies and violin "

Jimin began fiddling with his fingers, sweat running down his face.

"Jimin, why are you sweating?" the father questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, well… sir the ambient temperature is rather elevated, hence,the perspiration is a mere consequence of the weather" Jimin replied, biting his lower lip nervously.

"Well..." Mr. Park said, taking a deep breath, leaving Jimin there, growing more anxious.

He was convinced he was going to get caught.

He had messed up; he shouldn't have lied.

These thoughts flooded Jimin's mind.

What had genuinely made him think he could lie to his dad?

As he was about to apologize, Mr. Park just nodded, giving him consent surprisingly easily.

Jimin questioned himself, staring at his dad.

"The security personnel should be dispatched " the father added, eating his food.

"Oh, no, no worries," Jimin said, trying to deflect and make his dad leave him alone.

"Although it is peculiar, I did not receive prior notification . Your consistent adherence to truthfulness is duly acknowledged, considering that you know the potential consequences of lying"

Mr. Park said, getting up, stared into Jimin's soul before walking out.

Jimin let out a breath that he didn't even realize he had been holding.

He did it—he lied. It felt kinda weird being happy about it, but since it was his first time, there was this small sense of satisfaction.

He jumped into his room, closed the door, and hit the bed, feeling a bit happy.

As Jimin lay on his bed, the weight of his fabricated excuse and the tangled web of lies began to sink in.

Mixed emotions swirled within him – a peculiar blend of guilt, relief, and a lingering anxiety about the consequences of his deceit.

Closing his eyes, he replayed the evening's events in his mind.

The thought of his impending late-night return, supposedly due to extra classes, now carried a newfound weight.

The initial elation from successfully deceiving his father gave way to a subtle unease.

He blinked his eyes for a few times before going into slumber.

As Jimin lay on his bed, the thrill of successfully pulling off his lie lingered in the air.

The small rebellion against his father's expectations brought a smirk to his face.

Closing his eyes, he reveled in the freedom he briefly tasted.

Yet, beneath the surface, a seed of doubt sprouted.

The realization that he had embarked on a path of deception, even for a seemingly harmless reason, began to cast a shadow on his momentary joy.

A quiet unease settled in his stomach as he pondered the potential repercussions.

Ignoring the nagging thoughts, he decided to revel in the satisfaction of having a night to himself.

The bed offered comfort, but the weight of his actions left an indelible mark on the edges of his consciousness.

Deep down, Jimin wondered how long this newfound sense of rebellion would last before the consequences caught up with him.

Lying on his bed, Jimin basked in the thrill of fooling his dad. A smirk crept across his face, relishing this small act of rebellion.

But under the surface, doubt started to nibble at him.

Was this worth it? Guilt whispered in the background.

Ignoring those thoughts, he decided to enjoy his free night. The bed was comfy, but a lingering feeling of unease clung to him.

How long could he keep this up before it all unraveled?

As the night deepened, Jimin's room turned into a mix of conflicting feelings.

Staring at the ceiling, he pondered the balance between excitement and guilt, unsure of where this daring adventure would lead him.

A message from Karina, his partner in this scheme, popped up. "Ready for the adventure?" she asked.

As Jimin received Karina's message, he scoffed, tongue firmly held, and rolled his eyes in a silent response, choosing to ignore her  words.

The thrill of rebellion started to wane, replaced by a growing sense of skepticism about the consequences that lay ahead.

The room, once a refuge for fleeting triumph, now echoed with the uncertainties of the game he had chosen to play.