Golden Slumber 📚 ATEEZ [▶]

9

Wooyoung spent his time in an incredibly annoying way. 

He should have been sitting in the small store where his mother, Hyoyeon, sold various items, perhaps practicing a new song he intended to perform after graduating from school. But it was not the case. He remained standing next to his father, following the burly man wherever he went without much conversation. Occasionally, he would glance over, observing how his father interacted with others.

"Here are the tickets."

"Alright, let me count them first."

Miguel Gomez—Wooyoung’s father—had spent a lot of money buying several BTS concert tickets for an event happening in two months. This did not make him bankrupt. On the contrary, he made a profit by buying many tickets to resell them. Someone had asked him to order, competing with others, and then sell them at a slightly higher price.

It seemed Miguel was so excited about the profit he was making that he didn’t realize Wooyoung beside him was starting to get restless. His finger kept plucking at the guitar strings irregularly, causing some people around them to frown in displeasure.

“Missing one ticket,” said the buyer.

Miguel was equally puzzled. He was sure he had bought as many tickets as the man in front of him wanted. He searched his front and back pockets again, looking for a piece of paper worth more than two months' salary. His red, dry lips fell, making his already stern face even more unfriendly. Wooyoung, on the other hand, began to move away, hastily stepping away from his father.

He was about to run when Miguel grabbed his wrist, making him stop.

“Give it back!”

“What?”

Wooyoung swatted Miguel’s hand away, which kept searching as if he was hiding something dangerous. However, his lie could no longer be concealed when his father’s hand pulled the last ticket from the green knee-length pants he was wearing.

“What’s this?” Miguel glared fiercely at his son, tapping the ticket he was holding against Wooyoung’s annoyed face. “Do you know how much this ticket costs?”

“I also want to watch! You know I like BTS!” Wooyoung defended himself.

“You could make me lose a lot just by taking this, do you know that?!” Miguel’s voice rose, becoming hoarse from yelling too much.

Wooyoung was equally furious, not understanding why his father couldn’t grasp that he only wanted to see his favorite idol perform. Without thinking twice, he snatched the ticket from Miguel’s hand and fled.

“Hey, chase him!” Miguel was too angry to tolerate his son's behavior. Together with the ticket buyer and other citizens who happened to be there, he ran after Wooyoung, who struggled to run with his guitar swinging and hitting his back with each step. It was a commotion.

In stark contrast was Seonghwa, who had just dismounted from his motorcycle and walked into the market. Not many places were open at this hour. Seonghwa didn’t need to ask around. Based on the information he had from school, the store selling household items and spices was where Wooyoung’s family lived. The presence of an unfamiliar face outside the store made Seonghwa more confident.

“Excuse me.” Seonghwa entered the store, noting with some concern how the goods were poorly organized in used cardboard boxes with holes everywhere. Right next to him, a middle-aged woman was wrapping flower pieces in plastic. “I’m looking for Salazar Gomez. Are you his mother?”

“Yes.” Hyoyeon replied awkwardly.

“I’m his teacher.” Seonghwa bowed, and it was reciprocated. “Where is he?”

Hyoyeon tried to remember where her son had gone a few minutes earlier. “Maybe outside, with his father.”

“Ah, alright. Thank you.”

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