RACERS to RINGS

Chapter 5: Not like you

Seokjin stormed into his uncle's office, his blood boiling. He had never been one to raise his voice, but today he couldn't keep his calm. The news of Hoseok's arranged marriage had pushed him over the edge.

"How could you do this to him?" Seokjin's voice echoed through the grand office, a place built on luxury and power but devoid of warmth. His eyes flashed with anger as he glared at Mr. Jung, who sat behind his large mahogany desk, calm as ever. "How could you decide something so important without even asking him?"

Mr. Jung didn't flinch. He barely even looked up from the papers he was examining, as if Seokjin's outburst was nothing more than a mild inconvenience. "It's not your place to question me, Seokjin," he said, his voice cold and dismissive. "This is a family matter. Hoseok is my son, and I'll do what's necessary to secure his future."

"Necessary?" Seokjin scoffed, stepping forward, his fists clenched at his sides. "Arranging a marriage with someone he's never met is necessary? Forcing him into a life he doesn't want, just so you can secure your precious legacy?"

"You don't understand, Jin," Mr. Jung finally met Seokjin's gaze, his eyes darkening. "You think this is about him? This is about the company. This is about survival in a world where connections matter more than feelings. Hoseok will thank me for this one day."

"No, he won't," Seokjin shot back, his voice trembling with barely controlled fury. "He's miserable, and you're making it worse. You think you're doing this for him, but you're only doing it for yourself!"

Mr. Jung's expression hardened. "You're in no position to lecture me about family obligations, Jin. You're no different. Aren't you in the exact same situation?"

Seokjin froze. The words cut through him like ice. His uncle's voice was sharp, accusing, and he could feel the weight of his own unspoken truth pressing down on him.

"Five months, Jin. Five months, and you haven't even met your fiancé, have you?" Mr. Jung's voice was low, mocking. "You agreed to the arrangement without hesitation. You're no better than Hoseok, no better than me."

Seokjin's mind flashed back to that day five months ago.

Flashback:
Here Seokjin is sitting in the living room of his parents' mansion, the golden light from the chandelier casting a soft glow over the polished marble floors. His mother and father had sat across from him, their expressions tense, as if they were bracing for an argument.

"Jinnie," his father had said, his voice uncharacteristically soft. "We need to talk about the engagement. The marriage."

There had been silence. Seokjin had looked at both of them, their worried faces etched with a mixture of guilt and anxiety.

Two minutes passed in silence.

And then, he spoke. "I'll do it," he had said simply, his voice calm, though his heart had been racing. His parents' eyes had widened in shock.

" jinnie, are you sure?" his mother had asked, her voice tinged with concern. "You don't have to do this. You've never even met him."

"It's fine," Seokjin had replied, his gaze distant. "If it helps the family, I'll give it a try and I know there will be a day I'll have to settle soon."

His parents had exchanged a look a glance filled with worry, sadness, and unspoken questions. But they hadn't argued. They had simply nodded, accepting his decision, though it had been clear they were far from comfortable with it.

End flashback

Seokjin raised an eyebrow, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. "In what way am I the same as you?" he asked, his voice lower now, more dangerous.

Mr. Jung's lips twisted into a bitter smile. "You agreed to marry a stranger for the same reason I arranged Hoseok's marriage to secure your future, to ensure the family's legacy continues. You're just as much a part of this as I am, Jin. Don't pretend to be above it."

Seokjin felt a sharp pang of indignation. He wasn't like his uncle. He had agreed to the marriage, yes, but not out of greed or a desire for control. He had done it because he wanted to help his family, because he believed there was something worth salvaging in this life they had built.

"Don't confuse my decision with yours, Seokjin said through gritted teeth. "I agreed because I wanted to help my parents. I wanted to give it a chance. I'm not like you. I'm not trying to control anyone's life."

"Oh, please," Mr. Jung scoffed, his eyes narrowing. "You're just as much a schemer as anyone else in this family. You're marrying into money, into power, just like we all do. Don't act like you're any different from me, from Hoseok, from any of us."

Seokjin felt a surge of fury rise within him. A schemer? Was that what his uncle thought of him? He had sacrificed so much, given up so much of his own desires for the sake of his family, and now he was being insulted for it?

"You have no idea who I am or why I made the choices I did," Seokjin snapped, his voice trembling with emotion. "You're too busy trying to manipulate everyone around you to see the truth. I'm nothing like you."

Mr. Jung leaned back in his chair, an amused look on his face. "Keep telling yourself that, Jin. But at the end of the day, you're still tied to this family, to this legacy. And no matter how hard you try to deny it, you'll always be one of us."

Seokjin stared at his uncle, his chest heaving with frustration. He wanted to argue, to scream, to break free from the weight of his family's expectations. But he couldn't. Not here, not now.

Instead, he turned on his heel, storming out of the office without another word. As he walked down the hallway, his mind raced. His uncle's words lingered in the air, but Seokjin knew, deep down, that he wasn't like him.

He wasn't like any of them.

But then, why had he agreed to the marriage?

...........
Phew you guys don't know how much I'm trying not to punch Mr. Jung while writing this anyhow
Can anyone guess who is Jins 5 months Fiance??
Hope u guy enjoyed btw