Invisible Affection | Taejin

7. Hopeless emptiness

1.5 Months Later—(Yes, there is a time skip, and there will be a few in this chapter, but don't worry—you are not missing anything. It will come together, eventually.)

I have also decided to split this chapter into two. The next chapter will be posted within the next day.

This chapter is a little sad, so I'm giving you a pre-hug.

*****

"Seokjin-"

With a strained expression, Jin kept his gaze fixed on the staff members diligently packing his belongings as he addressed his mother with a firm tone, "Mom, I said I'm fine. I don't want to stay here." His words echoed through the room as he spoke them.

Joo-young, Seokjin's mother, released a heavy, defeated sigh that seemed to carry the weight of her emotions. Her words saturated sadness and concern as she addressed Seokjin. "Seokjin, can you think about how this is going to affect me? Do you know how horrible your father and I already feel for not being there to protect you when you needed it the most-"

Jin's voice rose as he interrupted his mother, his frustration evident. "Mom, feeling horrible won't change what happened to me. Can you stop? What do you want me to do? Give up my life and live like I don't exist? I am returning to school because that's what I want to do. Dad is also fine with my decision."

Joo-young felt even more defeated than when she had entered the room to talk to her son. She didn't expect him to stop living his life, but she was painfully aware of the trauma he had endured. Despite dealing with the man and others who had threatened her son, she wasn't comfortable with his decision to leave the U.S. and return to South Korea. This decision was especially difficult for her, as she wasn't able to be there in South Korea for him most of the time as she would have wanted.

She became upset after learning that her husband was also okay with her son's decision. Without saying another word to Seokjin, she left his room and took the elevator to the third floor, where her husband's main home office was.

She wasn't surprised to see him engrossed in a phone call as she walked into his office. However, the instant their eyes met, he swiftly wrapped up the conversation, giving her his undivided attention.

"Is this about Seokjin?" Byung-chul, Jin's father, asked knowingly.

Joo-young's voice was filled with disbelief and outrage as she confronted her husband. "How can you possibly be fine with him going back there? Are you out of your mind? Our son just went through one of the most traumatic experiences imaginable, and you're actually going to be okay with him returning to that place?"

Byung-chul rose from his seat, his steps slow and deliberate, as he approached his wife, who was visibly outraged. He understood her anger completely, but he also knew that there was little he could do to change his son's decision. "Seokjin said it's what he wanted. Of course, I am not okay with it, but what exactly could I have told him? No? You wanted me to tell him, no? When has it ever been the norm to tell our son no, Joo-young? Do you want me to do that?"

Tears welled up in Joo-young's eyes, her internal struggle evident as she uttered, "No, that's not what I'm asking you to do. I just... this is... it hasn't been long since this happened. Why does he want to go back? There are schools here?"

"I understand and share your feelings, but Seokjin doesn't feel the same way, and we can't force him to think or feel as we do. He has already suffered a loss of freedom in a way he shouldn't have, and I don't want us to add to it. Our actions shouldn't further burden him.

Since he expressed a desire to return, I took the initiative to purchase a building for him. Jimin and Hoseok will be relocating to this building. I made the decision not to disclose the details of Seokjin's ordeal to their parents. They saw the practicality of the arrangement, as each of them will have their own floor and privacy whenever necessary," Byung-Chul explained, hoping to convey the thoughtfulness behind his decisions to his wife.