Drawing the Line

Chapter 24

James drove up to a large black gate and was buzzed in. He was greeted at the door by someone who bowed and took his keys. He smiled and thanked the man.

He continued walking down a corridor, one that remained unchanged in the 20 years he's seen it. He doubted it would either, since his father hated change. He was an old-fashioned man, who was set in his ways.

"God forbid the vase moved a centimeter to the right," he mumbled as he made his way towards the kitchen.

He couldn't stand living under the same roof as his father, with his constant demands and rules. Nothing he did was ever right. He only cared about how he was perceived by others and his image. He wouldn't admit it, but it was probably the only reason he got married and started a family. Because it was what you were supposed to do.

James loved his mother so much and she was the only reason he divided his time between her and his other unit. She was in a one-sided love but deserved the world.

"Mr. Kim isn't here today, is he?" James asked the maid passing by.

"Haven't seen him all day, sir."

"Thank you. I probably should've known since he's never here, right?" The maid suppressed a smile and continued walking.

"What's that smell?" he sniffed the air and hugged his mother.

"Your favorite cinnamon rolls, of course," she beamed.

"Thanks mum, he said as he plucked one off the cooled pan.

"The missus really doesn't need to be in here but every time I tell her to leave it to me, she seems to come in here more," says the maid with a chuckle.

"The kitchen is my haven. If I wasn't allowed in here, I don't know what I'd do."

James laughed out loud but in retrospect, he knew there was some truth behind that. His mother's thoughts would sometimes go to dark places but luckily, the staff loved her, and cooking brought her joy in a house that offered her nothing. He quickly pushed the thought out of his head.

"Mum, don't worry! If you aren't allowed in this one, you can come and use mine!" he exclaimed.

The maid laughed at his childishness but stopped abruptly. Someone behind James cleared their throat.

"I see you're visiting again," said his father from behind him.

James' smile disappeared and nodded after turning around to face him.

"It's what you do when you love someone. You go home to visit them."

"Anyways...I came in because I need to talk to you. Follow me," he turned around without waiting for a reply.

James rolled his eyes and patted his mom's hands holding his. He dragged himself over to his father's office and closed the mahogany-bordered glass door behind him. He stood in front of the desk and waited for whatever he had to say.

"Why don't you take a seat?"

"No thanks, I don't plan on staying long."

"Suit yourself. I'm just trying to make you comfortable."

"I'm never comfortable around you."

"I wanted to talk to you about something that caught my attention recently. At first, I was intrigued and maybe even a little excited. But after some digging, I was thoroughly disappointed."

"What are you talking about?"

"I met your little girlfriend earlier. She may be educated and decent looking, but she's got nothing else going for her."

"Did you...did you go and see Emilia?!" he exclaimed while raising his voice.

"Oh right, that was her name. You won't be seeing her anymore. People like her from the working class only get close to us for their own personal gain."

"Arrgggh, I'm sick and tired of hearing about this crap. That applies to you of all people, and you know it! She's nothing like that and didn't even know who I was when we met!"

"That's what they all say so you let your guard down and you fell for it," he scoffed.

"You are unbelievable. It's useless arguing with you."

James could feel his blood boiling. He was always good with keeping his emotions in check in front of his father but as soon as Emilia was brought up, he lost it.

"I'm your father and you're my only son. You're expected to follow in my footsteps."

"BULLSHIT! Me and you are related by blood but that's all that we are. I'm not a pawn you can just order around. Mom is the only person I consider family."

"And don't forget you and your mother rely on me. Your blood is what will always make you my son and nothing will change that."

They glared at each other in silence.

"Next week, you'll be meeting my partner's daughter, you've met once befo-"

"NO! You have to stop doing that! I'm not putting up with your shit anymore!"

His father calmly took a few steps towards James and stopped a few inches away from his face.

"You don't have a choice. Remember, I gave you everything and I can just as easily take it away," he walked past him and opened the door, ending the conversation.

Before he could make a scene, James rushed out and ran into the kitchen to kiss his mother goodbye. As if they were expecting it, they had packed him a box of her cinnamon rolls. She smiled faintly at him to comfort him.

He had been slowly making a name for himself in the art scene and had just started making waves so he could stand on his own two feet. But it couldn't come fast enough, he needed it to come faster.

Right now, he had to get out of here and see Emilia.

-----------------------------------------------

Cameron had rolled himself in his blankets and stayed in bed like this for days. There were empty plates scattered around his bedside tables and his hair looked like it hadn't been washed in days.

Since that night, he had locked himself in his room, refusing to talk to anyone.

Getting a little restless, he perched himself up and resumed watching a drama he was streaming. While romance wasn't the focus, the side character was in love with the female lead, but she didn't feel the same way about him. He had struggled to come to terms with it, like him. But as the episode progressed, the character realized that truly loving someone meant them finding happiness, even if it wasn't with them. He let her go and remained as close friend.

He wasn't sure if it was because it was being played out in front of him so he could see it from an outsider's point of view, but he felt like he finally understood. It wasn't fair to the female lead to appease the side character and wasn't her responsibility. Nothing he did would change how she felt either.

Unrequited love sucked.

And the truth was, he missed Joel.

He sighed and flopped back onto the bed as the ending credits rolled. He grabbed his phone and found Joel under his 'Favorites'. Without hesitation, he tapped his name and waited.