"Life is about give and take; you know this better than anyone; the deal is clear, either you take an in, or war it shall be.
"It's indeed give and take, so why do I feel like the only one who gives without receiving anything in return?"
"Because th...
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"How could you do such a thing? I gave you my word; I told you that I would deal with my mistakes and make amends. Why are you going this far, father? Just tell me why."
The consequences of certain actions are manifold. Sometimes, they are cheap, over-the-counter, and easy to pay for. Other times, they are expensive, a luxury that empties the wallet and results in misery. It all depends on the situation; just like with every pruchase, it depends on how much needed it is, how essential and worthy; the only difference is that we may willingly pay expensive prices because we know that what we are buying will bring us that tangible -even if temporary - happiness. But when it comes to the consequences, the higher the price, the greater the agony, with no light of contentment to be seen.
The wood in the fireplace cracked, and a few fragments flew from their confinement, just as Taehyung would have wished to leave the stifling office and get out of the cage his father had built for him to live in, like a beautiful bird expected to sing and amuse the Lord, despite the agony caused by the lack of choice and freedom for that matter. The light was dim, a few lighted sconces, but the relatability was mostly on the fireplace, to glimpse the grimaces of his father sitting behind his desk unhinged, face neutral and not expressing much of the thoughts that circulated in such a calculating brain.
"You should have thought about the consequences before you acted so foolishly." The end of his sentence, and perhaps the look on his son's face, gave him cause to discard the chair and walk towards his blood-turned enemy after he gave a voice, an opinion perhaps better hidden and far from dictatorial ears, "I don't know what made you think you'd get rid of me with this stupid stunt, but don't blame me for your stupidity, Taehyung. After all, that's exactly why you should stay under my supervision. You are volatile, son. Dreamy, disconnected from this world; you need someone to watch over you and guide you on the right path when you lose it."
Taehyung stood motionless as he felt his father's hand on his shoulder. His eyes refused to look anywhere but directly into the eyes that were very similar to his own, yet very different. "And that person is me. You erred, that's true, so this is my punishment for your mistake. Do you remember when you were a child? You used to be a guttersnipe, really. Do you remember the nights you spent in the stables? Sleeping next to the horses. It's true that I can't talk sense into you now by locking you in the barn, so consider this the equivalent of that. After all, those long nights in the stables have molded you into the man you have become, so maybe this is what will reshape the daint that appeared in your form lately."
It doesn't really matter what we call it. Repercussion, settlement of tabs, punishment, these are all just synonyms that bring us to the same definition in the end. The same meaning of what the noun actually entails: a great loss to cover someone else's great loss. So yes, perhaps settlement of tabs is the best way to put it.
"We parted ways a long time ago, Father. It's over between me and Katarina. So why don't you leave her alone, for heaven's sake?" Old Kim turned his back on his pleading son and chose to look out at the snow that was beginning to pile up outside the window. "If you're so keen on revenge, then take it out on me. She has nothing to do with any of this."
