Mingyu found himself getting more and more sour about his mother, ever since she had demanded his and Chaeyeon's relationship again last week. His mother's demands disgusted him, and she'd been doing anything and everything in her power to spark something in Mingyu's supposed 'dull brain'.
Being the ever-influential owner of South Korea's leading news agency, she could do anything: make up fake news, or indirectly instruct her stupid doormats to spew any random shit they felt like on National TV, without any evidence. No one would think twice before believing whatever was being said; if Kim Minkyoung said it, it had to be true.
If it wasn't, she made sure it manifested like she wanted. False news had been turned into reality not once, but several times before, just because Kim Minkyoung wanted it to.
Mingyu wouldn't be surprised if she announced on television his and Chaeyeon's relationship being a real thing, and he was sure as hell it would pressure the poor girl, putting a strain on her girlfriend's life in the process. People clouded with the need to trust in Kim Minkyoung's words would readily demand the 'couple's' public appearances and all. Mingyu didn't think his mother would think of the high chances of him and Chaeyeon getting mobbed, if that ever happened.
He hadn't been showing signs of getting convinced, and he never would. It was this strange, new feeling of wanting to actively rebel against the woman that had been Mingyu's motivation recently, showing her that he could do just as much; he was her son, after all. He had the same magnitude of power in his hands – nearly. He hoped he wouldn't have to step out of his shell to actually fix things if his mother started being overly paranoid. He would rather stay behind the scenes, and let his mother handle all the crap she ran.
"This unacceptable behaviour of yours is getting out of hand!"
Minkyoung suddenly slammed her fist on the glossy white marble of the dining table, over dinner.
Evening had rolled by, compelling Mingyu to reluctantly sit across his mother once again and having to tolerate everything she spat.
Glassware, ceramics and cutlery set on the table quivered, not having the least effect on Mingyu – who calmly continued with his dinner. If he didn't concentrate on trying to gulp it down, he might have ended up gagging and throwing up the contents on his plate; he'd been subtly eyeing dessert ever since dinner began, to end it off.
"You're supposed to listen to me while I talk, Mingyu," she demanded, sounding almost desperate. Mingyu absolutely enjoyed the upper hand he got by remaining silent.
"My ears aren't shut, Mother, I'm perfectly able to listen to everything being said,"
He was sure he heard Minkyoung growl in dissatisfaction, or probably fury – Mingyu couldn't really tell the difference between his mother's emotions; they all looked the same to him.
Mingyu briefly looked up from his plate, and witnessed his mother practically shaking in anger in her chair. She looked ready to flip the table upside down.
Ah. Mingyu understood. Minkyoung wasn't able to handle the mere disobedience he displayed. After being used to nearly the entire country bowing to her, a simple act from her own son not reacting to her words must have angered her a lot, wouldn't they? Mingyu would have tutted at her miserable situation if he could, but he wouldn't go to such lengths to disrespect his mother. He wasn't that trivial.
"What is this sudden ridiculous behaviour, Mingyu?" Minkyoung seethed, steely eyes staring angrily at him.
"What behaviour, Mother? You've told me to never react, or reply, to your words, and I'm just following your instructions."
Mingyu observed his mother's face as he spoke, seeing the gears turning violently in her head. He was not looking forward to what she might be planning.
--
Mingyu had originally planned to have breakfast, wait for his chauffeur to fucking show up, and be on his way to Pledis like clockwork, the next day.
Instead, he had been informed by a maid that his mother would be absent for breakfast, since she had important matters to attend to. Mingyu frowned – he'd seen her in the living room when he was walking to the dining room earlier. Nonetheless, he silently acknowledged the maid bowing and leaving, and sat at his usual spot to eat.
Once he was done and out of the dining room, Mingyu's eyes landed on a bunch of workers he'd seen around earlier, huddled around the extravagant fireplace in the living room. One of them was on the top of a ladder, while the other two stood on the floor beneath him. His mother watched the proceedings with a look Mingyu hadn't seen on her face in a while. It was a look of pure satisfaction and smug victory she wore, and Mingyu wondered what had gotten her so delighted.
No one seemed to have noticed his presence in the room yet. He curiously peered at the group of workers, waiting for them to be on their way, so he could see what they'd been doing.
It should be done in a few more minutes, Mingyu concluded, since he caught something like a photo frame behind the guy on the ladder, and light noises of something being hammered into the wall.
The worker finally readied himself to get off the ladder, and Mingyu wished he'd never waited to see what was happening. His worst nightmare, his biggest headache – the fucking photograph he'd seen a little less than a year ago.
Fucking hell. Realisation dawned upon Mingyu when his mother turned and faced him, her expression not having wavered in the least bit.
She knew. Minkyoung fucking knew about Mingyu's little problem. Before the pounding in his head could get unbearable, Mingyu figured this was what she'd been thinking of towards dinner the previous evening.
He couldn't fathom his own mother going to such extremes to get him to obey her. All of it deliberately, just to put him through turmoil, until she got what she wanted.
"You're foul for doing this. You knew, YOU FUCKING KNEW!" Mingyu screamed, ignoring the ache swelling in his head.
"I'm not letting my years of hard work drown, just because my son can't handle being in a simple relationship. It isn't difficult to follow your mother's instructions, Mingyu. You could have avoided this."
Those were the last words Mingyu registered before passing out like a weakling in front of his mother, giving her the satisfaction of regaining the upper-hand once again.
