Wabi Sabi: A Tale Of Perfect Imperfection( Taekook FF)

chapter 5: precocious obligation

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2 years later :-

Taehyung and his sister turned 2 and 1 year old, respectively, their awareness of their surroundings matured.they started going to playschool some months before. Having started playschool a few months earlier, the Kims chose to send them together, mindful of Taehyung's condition.
Now a days, Sibling fights, ranging from disputes over toys to vying for attention, have become a common occurrence in the Kim household.
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Little Taehi was always instructed to protect her brother. At such a young age, her innocent mind struggled to comprehend the weight of this responsibility.

The playmate she saw in her brother was overshadowed by Mrs. Kim's strict scolding. In her young mind, she couldn't comprehend why she couldn't freely play with her brother.

On the other hand, Taehyung began to ignore his sister. Feeling consistently inferior, he concluded that he couldn't be like her, contributing to a growing distance between them.
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At playschool:-
Both the siblings were seated together., the  siblings were closely monitored as per Mrs. Kim's strict instructions. Fearing her son might struggle to fit in, she requested the authorities to keep them together  even during playtime and breaks. Teachers consistently paired them without even seeking permission.

The constant pairing and monitoring by the teachers led to frequent fights and the emergence of ego problems between the siblings.
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As in one time during a pairing activity, none of the students chose Taehyung as their partner. When he asked, they replied, "We lose if you play on our team; you run too slow," leaving him alone as they walked away.

Taehyung's little heart was saddened by the reply, and his feelings of inferiority resurfaced. Witnessing this, the teacher hastily paired him with Taehi to ensure he wasn't left alone.
Later as anticipated, Taehi's team came last during the game, leading to laughter and giggles from the other children. Unaware of the complexity of the situation and lacking an understanding of empathy, they couldn't grasp the emotions involved. Winning was their pure focus.

Taehi's competitive nature couldn't tolerate the teasing and laughter; it hurt her deeply. She looked at her brother with rage, attributing her defeat solely to him.
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Several incidents like these created a growing gap between the siblings. The support and bonding they once shared in childhood succumbed to the pressures of society and Mrs. Kim's decisions, causing strain in their relationship.
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15 years later:-
Taehyung and Taehi were now in high school. The little girl Taehi had transformed into a young, popular girl, driven by the desire to excel in everything to gain acceptance from her grandpa and mom.
Mrs. Kim seized every opportunity to shape Taehi into the perfect heir, resembling the second version of Mr. Lee, the ideal man she revered in her parental home.

On the flip side, taehyung had grown into an introverted young boy with inferiority complex.The competitive nature he possessed from childhood was subdued by continuous failure and the stringent constraints imposed by Mrs. Kim.

Now, he avoids trying new things, be it sports or other pursuits, even if he has an interest. The fear of failure lingers, affecting his willingness to explore.
Along with that the continuous favoritism of Mr. Lee towards Taehi exacerbated Taehyung's situation. Constant praise and discussions about Taehi being the perfect heir intensified his feelings of inferiority.
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Taehyung now sits with his only high school friend, Jimin, a nerdy boy who never judged him and stuck by him despite several rejections from Taehyung's side.

He attempts to avoid any situation that requires him to speak to his sisters, trying to minimize interactions with her.

His sister also avoided him in public, burdened by Mrs. Kim's daily admonitions to "protect" her brother. This led her to perceive her brother as a weak person who could potentially jeopardize the popularity she had gained and maintained over the years and be a hindrence to her success as in childhood....
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One time during the midterms in high school, Mrs. Kim made a sudden visit to her children's school when Taehyung forgot to bring his lunch.

While entering, she encountered a few girls whom she assumed to be Taehyung's classmates by the batch. Greeting them, she asked,
Mrs.Kim: " excuse me..."
The girls looked at her .
Girl:" yes aunty?.."
Mrs.kim: " do you know kim. Taehyung of class 10B ... taehi's brother .""
Girl: "huh... Yes there's a boy named taehyung....but taehi's brother????"
Girl: "sorry mam I think it's a misunderstanding we don't taehi's brother"
Mrs.kim: " huh...you don't know taehyung..the boy of clas 10B who has problems in leg".
Girl: "yea... But he is taehi's brother?"
Mrs.kim:" yes dear...he is my son."
( She spoke with a small smile thinking about her son ).
Then Mrs. Kim pointed to the lunchbox in her hand and asked, "Can you send this box to him?"
Girls: " absolutely aunty" .
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After coming to the class the girls told everyone one about taehyung being taehi's brother. Listening it the bullies got excited, they cornered jimin and taehyung on the wall and asked them about him being her brother or not.

As Taehi passed by, a bully asked, "Hey, is Taehyung your brother?" Her face started to sweat, and she glanced nervously at her peers. Friends and classmates gathered around, eager for the answer. After a moment, her eyes met her brother's big teary eyes. She looked away and replied, "No, he is an orphan adopted by our parents."

Taehyung's eyes widened as he looked at his sister with a heavy heart. Despite their fights and quarrels, he never imagined Taehi could deny his existence. He thought she said it to mock him about his perceived deficiencies.

The Constant inhibitions and discussions about his paralysis within the family made Taehung perceive himself as a third person, an outcast with no one to call his own.
So he interpreted Taehi's statement as a confirmation of his deep-seated thoughts, further solidifying his sense of isolation within the family.
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After That torment escalated, with Taehyung becoming an easy target for daily bullying. Taehi's silence in the matter fueled a deep-rooted resentment in Taehyung's mind. Gradually, he began to view his own family as enemies, intensifying his internal struggle.
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.to be continued 💜
So what do you life with protective parents are always bed of flowers?

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