A Gift

#30

Tae is still in shock after looking at her. It's been so many years since he last saw her, but she looks different. She loses weight, eye bags under her eyes. Her clothes look old, Hana looks at him with teary eyes "T-Tae."

Flashback

Hana and her father came to meet Mr.Kim as he agreed to meet them but Mr.Kim sent Taehyung to a meeting.

Hana looks around the house which is very luxurious, she feels nervous and anxious so does her father.

Mr.Kim sits in front of them while his legs are resting on the coffee table, in front of her father, which is very disrespectful but they remain calm. Mr.Kim looks at her father "what do you do for living?". Her father gulped nervously "I-I'm a professor."

Mr.Kim let out a mocking chuckle "professor? look at my dog.... The money I spend on it is more than your monthly salary.... HOW DARE YOU EVEN THINK OF YOU BEING RELATED TO MY FAMILY!".

Hana's heart drops at Mr.Kim insulting words, her eyes well up at her father's insulted face. Maybe her father is not wealthy like him but he earns with his hard work money.

Her father cleared his throat to control his quivering tone "Mr.Kim it's not like that... Our kids love-" Mr.Kim gets up in rage while kicking the coffee table "LOVE?! BULLSHIT! I KNOW GIRLS LIKE YOUR DAUGHTER! THEY TRAP RICH BOYS!!".

Her father clenched his fist and also got up "enough now! I let you insult me but if you come to my daughter's character then it won't be good for you!".
Hana holds her father's arm to calm him, her tears falling. Mr.Kim smirk "Just in a blink... I can destroy your whole family life.... No one will give you, or any other member of your family any work... You will come on the road."

Hana's eyes widened in shock and fear, her father looked at Mr.Kim with a pale face.
Mr.Kim chuckled mockingly "but I won't do it... I'll let it pass.... on one condition, if your girl will stay away from my son.... And never contact him."

Hana let out a chocked sob when her father nodded slowly, accepting his defeat.

Time skip

Tae waits for Hana at the park where they usually meet. He smiles when he sees her coming towards him but his smile fades. He sees her cold expression "w-what happened?". Hana look at the setting sun "we went to your house... Me and dad, as you said your father was ready to talk."

The air between them was thick with unsaid words. Her hands clasped tightly together, and she stared at the ground, avoiding his eyes.

Hana swallowed hard. Her heart raced. She could feel the weight of the lies she was carrying, the fear that gripped her chest whenever she thought of her family. Of his father. But she couldn't tell him.

"It's not you, Tae," she whispered, her voice shaky. "It's... it's me. I think we're just not right for each other."

Tae's brow furrowed, and he leaned forward, a flicker of hurt in his eyes. "Hana, what are you saying? We've been through so much together. I thought we were-"

"I know, I know," she interrupted, blinking away the sudden sting of tears. "But things have changed."

Tae reached out, his hand resting gently on hers. "What do you mean? We can figure this out, Hana. We can-"

Her pulse hammered in her ears. She wanted to pull away from him, but her body was frozen, as though her emotions had turned to stone. She had to end this. Now. For her family.

He feels his heart beating fast, anxiously. She gulps and continues, still looking at the sunset "you are really wealthy... We can never be at your level... My dad fixed my marriage to someone else... that matches our status."