Egoistic Kim ✔

26✨

As the three of them.....Jae Hee, Namjoon, and Taehyung returned to the Kim mansion after dinner, they found Seo Hun waiting in the living room, his face set in a deep scowl.

“Seo Hun,” Jae Hee began softly, sensing the tension. “This isn’t the way. You need to calm down and approach this rationally.”

Seo Hun scoffed, his jaw clenched. “Calm down? Do you understand how I was insulted tonight? How that boy—” he shot a pointed glare at Taehyung, “has humiliated me?”

Taehyung, taken aback by the venom in his father’s tone, took a hesitant step forward. “I’m sorry, Appa… I never wanted to bring you shame.”

At the sound of "Appa," Seo Hun's expression twisted, his voice cold and biting. “Don’t call me that. You...” his voice dropped to a scornful murmur, “you’re nothing but an abomination.”

A silence, heavy and painful, fell across the room. Taehyung’s face crumpled, trying to understand the unrelenting bitterness directed toward him. He took a shaky breath. “Why… What did I ever do to make you hate me so much?”

Seo Hun’s gaze darkened, his voice laced with old bitterness. “Because you remind me of my greatest failure. Every time I look at you, I remember how I betrayed Jae Hee because of your mother. I became a cheater, and forever living with that guilt. And your very existence… It was a slap to Jae Hee’s face. How do you think she felt when your mother showed up with you? I saw the disappointment and hurt in her eyes every single day.”

Taehyung’s eyes filled with tears as he absorbed the cruel words. His voice was barely a whisper as he looked between Seo Hun and his mother, his heart heavy. “I didn’t ask to be born. All I’ve ever wanted was your approval, just to know I mattered to you, even a little.”

He looked down, his fists clenching as he struggled to hold back his emotions. “I’ve done everything I could to make you proud, Appa. Every award, every achievement… everything I did was to earn your love. But all I ever got was silence and a cold shoulder.” His voice cracked as tears slid down his cheeks. “I thought if I was good enough, you’d finally see me as your son. But no matter what, I’ve only ever been a reminder of something you regret.”

Seo Hun turned away, an unreadable expression on his face, as Jae Hee stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on Taehyung’s shoulder. “Taehyung, honey,” she whispered, her eyes glistening with sadness, “you have never been a disappointment to me. You’ve always been a source of pride.”

She turned to Seo Hun, her voice steady. “Our son deserves better than this resentment. Whatever happened back then was between you and me. Taehyung didn’t deserve to carry this burden, and it’s time you let go of it, Seo Hun.”

But Seo Hun remained silent, his face hard as stone, unwilling to give even a word of comfort. The silence was unbearable, and Taehyung finally pulled away, his head low as he whispered, “I’m sorry for being born.” With that, he turned and left the room, his silent sobs echoing down the hall.

Namjoon, who had been watching the scene unfold with a heavy heart, finally broke the silence, his voice calm but laced with quiet anger. “Appa, do you even realize what Taehyung’s life has been like? Every single thing he’s done has been in hopes of gaining just a sliver of your approval.”

Seo Hun's expression wavered, but he said nothing.

Namjoon continued, his gaze intense. “I still remember the first day I met him, that little boy with such hopeful eyes, who barely said a word because he was afraid of overstepping. He didn’t need much to be happy. He never asked for anything, never complained, and was always content with what he had. But I could see it, even back then how he looked at you, waiting for a sign that he was wanted, that he was worthy of your love.”