SHADOWS OF DESIRE|JK FF| S1

CH-55: STUCK WITH YOU

Taeyong's POV

"HELLOOOO DAEGUUU~~" 

I yelled out as I stepped off the train. The breeze hit my face, and for a second, I actually felt... alive. It was nice to be away from all the chaos, away from Min Ho, away from the mansion with its suffocating silence. But still, I had a mission. And it all started here, in where my father's orphanage was- where he grew up.

The streets were a mix of old and new. There was something oddly comforting about it, but I wasn't here for nostalgia. I was here to figure out how my dad died. The place where it all began.

I took out my phone and checked my list. 

First stop: an old friend of my dad's. His name was Mr. Jang, a retired businessman who apparently knew more than he ever let on.

"Alright, Jang ahjussi," I muttered to myself, "time to spill the beans."

As I made my way through the bustling market streets, I wondered what this guy could possibly know. Did he know the truth? Did he know who my real father was, and why his brother, my so-called "uncle," had been playing dad all my life? There were so many questions swirling in my head, but one thing was for sure: I wasn't leaving Daegu without answers.

As I walked through Daegu's busy streets, heading toward Mr. Jang's place, my phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen: "Dad" calling. Or should I say, "Uncle."

I rolled my eyes. Of course, he'd be checking in. He thinks I'm on a business trip, probably wondering why I haven't given him any updates. I sighed, knowing I had to answer or he'd get suspicious.

"Yeoboseyo?" I answered, trying to sound as neutral as possible.

"Tae-yong-ah," the familiar voice came through, laced with fake concern. "Where are you? I haven't heard from you in days. How's the trip going?"

I could practically hear the fake smile in his tone. This man really thought I had no idea about his lies. Well, let him believe that for now.

"It's going fine," I lied smoothly. "Busy with meetings. I'll be back soon, don't worry."

There was a pause on the other end, as if he was trying to figure out if I was hiding something. "Good. Don't forget to handle that contract I mentioned. It's important for the future of the Lee family."

I clenched my jaw. The "Lee family." How ironic. He wasn't even my real father, yet he spoke as if he cared about me or our so-called family.

"I'll take care of it," I said quickly. "I gotta go, I'm in the middle of something."

"Alright," he replied, sounding satisfied. "Don't let me down, son."

I hung up, fighting the urge to throw my phone. Son. The word echoed in my head, filled with bitterness. He had the nerve to call me that after all these years of lying.

I shook off the frustration as I arrived at Mr. Jang's small, old-fashioned house. Time to get some real answers.

Knocking on the door, I took a deep breath. I didn't know what I'd uncover here, but I was ready to face whatever truth came next.

Mr. Jang's house smelled of old books and the faint scent of lavender. He led me into his cluttered study, a small desk covered in yellowed papers and dusty photographs.

"So, Taeyong," Mr. Jang began, his face serious. "What exactly do you want to know?"

I've already told him that i was coming to get some answers, and even explained everything to him in short.