A MAN TO HONOR

chapter twenty two

Taehyung

Everyone was already at the table when I joined the large dining room

They are all talking about Tae-hyi, her studies and stay in Korea etc...

I thought that would make them forget about me but as soon as I take a seat, my mother looks at me

" I thought you were no longer living in this house " she utters tersely

I play the impassive card as I start to pour some water in my glass

" I'm still here " I reply vaguely

My eyes meet Dae's and she avoids my gaze immediately

" And may I know where you were yesterday? And don't tell me you were at work cause I went to your office and you weren't "

" You had time to go to my office? I thought you were busy with the planning of the party " I say in a light tone, trying to joke around

" Kim Taehyung, don't try to play smarter than me, I gave birth to you " she says, annoyed

I can see everyone staring at us, a bit embarrassed

There are almost a dozen people at the table, Dae-Kyeong's family and also some guests that came for Tae-hyi's come back

And my mother doesn't care to start this conversation here, as if she couldn't wait to talk to me privately about it

I look around the table, no one is going to save me

I need to save myself, otherwise this pressure won't stop

How did I never realize the severity of the situation I was living in before?

" I apologize mother...what was the question again? " I ask nonchalantly

I see my sister's eyebrows raise, surprised

But I don't care, I jumped already, now I have to swim

My mother frowns, offended

" I asked where were you last night cause you didn't sleep at home , just like a few other days ago " she says again

I take a deep breath

" Are you aware that I'm a grown man? you're not going to ask me to give you a debrief every time I don't come home, it becomes burdensome "

I hear everyone's gasps and the forks stopping around the table as soon as the words leave my mouth

My mother's eyes widen, flabbergasted

" I beg your pardon? " She asks

" I'm no longer a teenager mother..." I start

" It's not a question of being a teenager or not, as long as you live under my roof, you are accountable to me for your actions, you must follow my rules and my principles" she yells at me as she cuts me off

" I would have left already if in your same rules and principles there wasn't one holding me back " I reply , furious

She turns around, looking upset, searching for everyone's eyes and approbation

And they all put an empathetic face mask on and keep nodding to make her feel right

The truth is, they're all petrified to say what they really think

" Excuse me ?  Are you trying to play the victim now? That's how our family works since forever, no one has ever changed the rules and principles of our ancestors " she says, raising the voice even more