𝑸𝑼𝑬𝑹𝑬𝑵𝑪𝑰𝑨 || 𝐉𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐇𝐨𝐨𝐧

22

Sunghoon returned home after hanging out with Jake, a lightness in his step from the enjoyable evening. As he walked through the grand entrance of Jeongshimjae, he almost bumped into Park Saejin, the eldest son of the CEO of Soonyang Automobile. The older man looked at Sunghoon with a sneer, his eyes filled with disdain.

"Well, well, if it isn't the new heir," Saejin said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I heard you've been out all day instead of attending dinner with the family. Very responsible of you."

Sunghoon felt a bit of guilt but stood his ground. "I just moved in. I needed some time to settle in."

Saejin scoffed, his expression hardening. "Settling in by wasting time? You should be meeting others, getting to know the family and the business. Not playing around like a child."

Sunghoon's face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and anger. "I'm sorry, I wouldn't do this again."

"Sorry?" Saejin laughed bitterly. "You think a sorry cuts you off from fulfilling your duties? You have a lot to learn, Sunghoon. Being the heir is about responsibility, dedication, and proving you're worthy of this position. And so far, you're failing miserably."

The words stung deeply, each one like a sharp jab to Sunghoon's heart. He felt a lump forming in his throat but tried to maintain his composure. "Give me some time to prove myself," he said quietly.

"well, there's no time," Saejin retorted. "Everyone is watching you, waiting for you to mess up. And you're making it too easy for them. If you want to survive here, you need to grow up and start acting like the heir you're supposed to be.You think it's a given for you huh?"

With that, Saejin turned and walked away, leaving Sunghoon standing alone in the hallway, feeling small and defeated. 

After his confrontation with Saejin, Sunghoon turned around, hoping to escape the harsh words that still echoed in his mind. 

As he did, his eyes locked with Jay's. He had been standing there, silently observing the entire exchange, his expression unreadable but his presence undeniable.

Sunghoon's heart sank even further. 

He could feel the weight of Jay's judgment, the older brother's icy gaze confirming all the insecurities that Saejin's words had stirred up.

 In that moment, Sunghoon felt like he was literally proving Jay's words true—that he didn't belong here, that he was out of place in this world of high expectations.

Unable to bear the silent judgment any longer, Sunghoon lowered his head, feeling a wave of shame and defeat wash over him. He walked away quickly, his steps heavy and his face downcast. He couldn't bring himself to look back at Jay, knowing that seeing his brother's disappointed or disdainful expression would only make the sting of Saejin's words hurt even more.

---------------

6 MONTHS LATER ⏳

It had been six months since Sunghoon moved to Jeongshimjae, and Jake couldn't help but reflect on how much had changed. In his point of view, things had shifted significantly. Sunghoon had become more serious about his role as the heir, determined to prove himself worthy of the title. His dedication was evident in his remarkable finals results, which had impressed everyone.

Despite the pressures of their respective responsibilities, Jake and Sunghoon often found time to hang out together. They had become pretty good friends, sharing laughs and stories whenever they could.