Trash of the Count's Family Anthology

Cale's Overthinking Origin Story

Spoiler: its undiagnosed autism.

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"Hey you." Kim Rok Soo looked up at his uncle at the call. He winced, this was either going to be a punishment, or his attempt at being a parental figure...which would also be a punishment. He quickly made his way to his uncle, knowing that if he was too slow, the punishment would be more severe.

"Yes sir?"

"Wanna go on a trip with me?" His uncle said turning to face him. His bloodshot eyes and darkened eyebags didn't provide a safe guardian look, so Kim Rok Soo wondered what this was. He seemed sober, and he looked like he had intentions behind the trip. Why was he doing this? This came out of the blue.

"Where are we going?" He asked as his mind whirled with possibilities.

"Dunno."

"Do you mean we're going to stay at a hotel?" If that was the case, Kim Rok Soo was definitely going to be left behind as he goes out to drink and party. And it probably meant he was meeting up with someone. At least this way he would have a safe place to sleep.

"Nah, a road trip."

"...what's that?"

"We'll like go out, and drive places and buy food." Kim Rok Soo blinked. How was his uncle meant to do that? What if there weren't places to buy food? What would they do at the places? Take pictures? Where would they sleep? How long was the trip going to be? What was the route? What was the plan?

Kim Rok Soo was so befuddled by the concept, especially since it wasn't a concept they had done before, that he let all these questions out. The more he thought, the queasier he felt at the limitless possibilities. He dropped his caution, but for his risk he got half-assed answers and the increasing irritation of his uncle.

"Oh my fucking hell. I don't know okay? Do I have to make a detailed plan before I even figure out if you want to go or not? All I know is that we're going on a trip. Could you imagine if I did this shit to you every time you wanted something?!" His uncle yelled at him, combusting with anger. 

"I just wanted to know the plan." Kim Rok Soo let out in a small voice. But the rebellious part of his brain thought, yes. Every time he made an idea, he needed to make a detailed plan, or his uncle would have scrapped it. If he didn't figure out every single possibility, then there was no point in even bringing it up. 

"No, no. If you want to stay here, and read your books, and rot in your bed, and zone out all the fucking time. Go do that. Go kill yourself. You don't even know the basic places in our god damn neighbourhood, but you're asking for a plan? Who the fuck are you to know what my plan is?" His uncle yelled louder, and stood up to tower over Kim Rok Soo, who cowered. 

Kim Rok Soo took steps back and felt fear swallow him whole. Why? Why was he getting in trouble? He just wanted to know...

"WE CAN GO!" He yelped out before his uncle hit him, and braced for impact. His uncle's anger flucuated at any given moment, making any interaction with him dangerous. He just hoped that he wouldn't hit him too hard.

"Finally. You just had to give me a simple answer like that." His uncle's anger was no longer targeted at him, and he went to sit down. Kim Rok Soo ran out of the room, praying that he would not get angry again. As soon as he left the room, his eyes pricked with tears. Overwhelming emotions flooded through him and he bit his lips so that he would not make a noise.

That wasn't fair. His uncle asked him a question like that, wanting him to say yes. If he didn't want to accept questions, or a no, then why'd he even ask? He hadn't even made the concepts of a plan, but he was expecting him to go along mindlessly? Why didn't he?

He wasn't the type to stir up his uncle's anger unnecessarily. Why did he ask questions? He should've just said yes and left. Why was he so stupid? He was basically asking to get hurt. Instead of asking questions, he should've nodded meekly. He could've done his own research. Stupid, stupid, stupid.