Egoistic Kim ✔

24✨

Kim Seo Hun sat in the living room, the sound of pages turning softly filling the air as he read his book. The late afternoon light spilled through the large windows, casting a warm glow over the space. As Namjoon entered the house after returning from the company, Seo Hun looked up, his expression unreadable.

“I have something to discuss with you,” Seo Hun said, his voice calm yet firm. “Meet me after you freshen up.”

Namjoon nodded silently and made his way upstairs to his room, already knowing what his father intended to talk about. After washing up, he descended the stairs, bracing himself for the conversation. He found his father still seated in the same spot, the book now set aside.

Namjoon took a seat across from him, his posture straight and attentive. Seo Hun wasted no time getting to the point.

“Namjoon,” he began, his tone flat and business-like. “I want you to marry Jeon’s younger son. I’ve already spoken to their family, and they’ve agreed. This alliance will strengthen the ties between our families.”

Namjoon sighed, his heart heavy. He had been preparing for this moment but wasn’t entirely sure how his father would react to his opposition. “I can’t, Appa.”

Seo Hun looked at him in shock, his usually stoic face showing rare surprise. This was the first time Namjoon had ever openly defied one of his father’s decisions.

“What do you mean, ‘can’t’?” Seo Hun asked, his voice carrying a subtle edge. “I’ve already discussed it with them. The Jeons have no issue with this arrangement.”

Namjoon held his father’s gaze, refusing to back down. “It’s not about whether they have an issue, Appa. I don’t want to marry someone I don’t love. I’ve been quiet my whole life, doing everything you’ve asked of me, but this....this I can’t do.”

The tension in the room thickened as Seo Hun processed his son’s words, clearly not used to this level of resistance from him. His silence pressed Namjoon to continue.

“I’m in love with someone else,” Namjoon said, his voice steady but soft. “I was planning to introduce him to you soon, but he’s currently out of Seoul, which is why it’s taken some time.”

Seo Hun’s expression remained unreadable. “Him?” he asked quietly.

Namjoon nodded. “Yes. We’ve been together since college. He’s an actor now, but we’ve been serious for years.”

For the first time in the conversation, Seo Hun looked away, his fingers absently tracing the spine of his book. Namjoon watched his father in silence, unsure of what to expect. After what felt like an eternity, Seo Hun picked up the book again, flipping through its pages without reading them.

Namjoon remained seated for a few more minutes, waiting for any sign that his father had more to say. But as the silence stretched on, he slowly stood up, intending to retreat to his room. Just as he turned to leave, Seo Hun’s voice broke the quiet.

“Tell your brother there’s a dinner at the Jeon’s this weekend,” Seo Hun said, his tone distant, though the weight of authority was still present. “He needs to attend. No matter what.”

Namjoon paused, nodding to himself as he realized his father had switched the focus from him to Jungkook. “I’ll let him know,” Namjoon replied, his voice steady.

Without another word, Seo Hun resumed reading his book, his face now a mask of indifference. Namjoon glanced at him once more before quietly leaving the room, feeling both relieved and uneasy about how the conversation had ended.
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