virtuous deception || pjm (editing)

xi

JIMIN:

The air was warm today, unlike the cold we had experienced back in Seoul. The afternoon light shone over the garden, washing everything with a golden tint. This house has always had a false sense of perfection, the garden impeccable, the house ornate and shining, the family seemingly perfect. But behind closed doors it had always been different.

flashback:

I wandered into Father's office, wanting help on my maths homework. The paper was held tightly between my hands as I knocked on his study door, peering my head in when he didn't answer. We were supposed to wait, yet I was desperate for his attention. 

The room was empty, dust dancing in the still air, papers stacked like skyscrapers. The room was unoccupied and looked normal, besides one thing. The bookcase was gone, and in it's place was a metallic hallway, leading to a staircase, descending into the dark basement.

"Father?" I called before taking my first step down the staircase. Then another, and another, and another.

I reached the bottom, peering around a corner which overlooked a large concrete room. It was unfurnished and undecorated, besides a chair in the middle, a bright light and some guns displayed on a rack. The floor and walls displayed some red splatter paint, perhaps some paint accident?

My father returned from a corner, two large men behind him. I knew them as the bodyguards. I knew to not talk to them. Under no circumstances. The larger men dragged a limp man forward, throwing him into the metal chair. The limp mans head fell back before his eyes opened slightly. He was around 40 years of age, stubble coating his chin and grey flecking his black hair. He featured a scar which extended from his left eyebrow, down his cheekbone, ending mid cheek. His dark eyes were cold and bottomless, like an abyss. The light was dragged forward and for the first time, I noticed the dried blood spread along the corner of his mouths, his teeth stained as if he had eaten too many sweets.

"Mr. Lu. I believe you owe us something. A good few million  won?"

"I told you, I paid someone in your company. I'm not paying again." the man growled at him with a threatening tone, despite being the one chained up.

"Mr Lu." My father crouched so that he was face to face with the man, staring into his cold eyes. "You know what happens to people who don't pay up. Those were valuable goods." My father sighed, pushing himself into standing position. He stalled, pacing across the room with agonisingly slow steps. I should have left then.

"How's that wife of yours Mr.Lu? And that daughter? I know some people who would love to see the both of them. But I can't promise they are good people." My father chuckled, madness filling his eyes.

"You sick prick! If you touch my family, I'll kill you."

"Now now, let's not become uncivilised. Just pay me and it'll all be over."

"I can't pay you, Park. I have nothing left. I paid you and then a deal turned sour. I have barely anything left. Take my house, the rest of my money, my company, my gang. Just please, don't touch my girls." The man pleaded, his eyes almost watery.

"Well Mr. Lu. That is so touching. If I was in a caring mood, I'd let you go." My father held his heart, acting sincere before his face contorted into an evil smirk. "But sadly, men like me, never care." My father chuckled like a maniac before taking a few steps back, pulling something out of his pocket before an ear shattering "BANG" echoed through the walls, and Mr. Lu fell limp.  The wall turned even more red and I realised, it wasn't paint. It was blood. I gripped my maths homework close to me, wishing I had never wanted his help.