The Heir: What Lies Underneath - [TAEBIN/BEOMKAI]

Chapter 3: His Quest

🎶: 'Lie' by Jimin of BTS

Have you ever had that feeling where you're just... far too stunned, beyond stunned even, to even move?

Like as if your feet were glued to the ground.

Like you're stuck, frozen in time and space.

Because this was exactly what Taehyun felt as shock froze his entire body, head to toe, upon hearing the words that came out of his...

What can I even call you now?

Yeseo was equally shocked, eyes frantically wandering between her brother, and her father, and her mother, confusion taking over her shiny orbs that were beginning to glisten with tears, overwhelmed by this now too.

"W-What do you mean?" she asked.

Taehyun's mouth was too dry to even mumble, so he was thankful his... sister asked for him.

Eunsae wiped the corners of her eye ducts, taking a shaky breath in.

Why today? Why, tonight out of all nights, do I need to face this.

But what other choice did she have?

Her husband was right, they were old enough to know. 

"Sit down."

No response.

"Both of you, sit down, then I will explain!!"

That snapped them all out of their trance.

Now, the entire Kang family found themselves seated around the coffee table on the couch. Hyunsuk sat by his wife, whereas Taehyun and Yeseo sat across from them, a couple centimeters apart, but in the exact position.

Sitting up straight, palms face down on the leather cushion of the couch.

Eunsae observed this, knowing they both got the habit from her, as she did this a lot as a teenager—

"Speak."

Taehyun's voice was sharp and cold, but his pupils were trembling too.

"We deserve the truth Mom," Yeseo added.

Eunsae finally gathered enough courage to face her son in the eye, sighing one last time before beginning to speak.

"Your father's name is Kang Jiheon."

Taehyun's eyes widened.

"I know who he is, Taehyun. We were high school sweethearts after all, so it's not like in the movies or whatever y'all kids watch these days where the mother had a one night stand. The two of us were dating all the way into our mid twenties, so when I was 25 and he was 27, but then we were blessed with a child: you."

Eunsae stopped for a moment, waiting for Taehyun to process some of this.

Although she knew it would take him way more than just one sitting to take in all this newfound information.

"We were still unmarried at the time, but to our relief, your grandparents didn't shun me. They only told me to get married as soon as possible to make things easier for us once you're born. And after you were born..."

She suddenly became still.

For this was the part that... she wished she didn't have to share.

No child, no matter how old they are, should hear these next few words.

"... you were barely two years old Taehyun when he left me. And then he suddenly disappeared."

Eunsae's voice began breaking midway through her sentence, and as soon as she finished it, she lowered her head and began crying again.