𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐃 || 𝐕𝐊𝐎𝐎𝐊

Deux

The most terrible poverty
is loneliness and the
feeling of being unloved.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After being contentedly married for five years, Kim Daewon and Kim Sang-mi were blessed with a baby boy: Taehyung.

Kim Taehyung was the only son of one of the most prosperous businessmen, Kim Daewon, and the eminent supermodel, Kim Sang-mi. Taehyung's parents were a true power couple—famed, applauded, and honored. But fame doesn’t always bring benefits.

There are downsides too, and Taehyung was the one who bore the effects of his parents' popularity.

The poor boy was homeschooled and kept inside the mansion to avoid the relentless paparazzi eager to pry into the Kim family’s personal affairs.

While his parents adored him, life seemed to have different plans. Everything was going perfectly until the couple realized they had been neglecting their careers. Soon, their priorities shifted, and they started dedicating more time to their professions.

Taehyung was only seven when his parents began spending most of their time away, leaving him under the care of the household maids. With no exposure to the outside world, Taehyung grew increasingly reserved.

Then, one sunny day, Taehyung met Park Jimin, the head maid’s son, while wandering in the garden. They bonded quickly, and Jimin became his best friend.

Several years passed, and now it was Taehyung’s seventeenth birthday.

---

Taehyung's P.O.V.

I woke up as bright rays of sunlight hit my face. Stretching out, I reached for the alarm clock on my headboard. It was only 6:13 AM—too early, even for someone who doesn’t go to school.

I shifted around, trying to get comfortable enough to fall back asleep, but the odds weren't in my favor. As I lay there staring at the ceiling, the door to my room suddenly opened.

I quickly turned to see Mrs. Park entering. In her late thirties, she’s more than just the head maid; she’s like my nanny, a constant figure in my life. I’m closest to her and her son, Park Jimin, who is also my best friend—the only person my age in this mansion.

Noticing I was awake, Mrs. Park gave me a sheepish smile, apologizing softly for disturbing me. I sat up, leaning back against the headboard.

"Oh no! I didn’t close the curtains last night because my night lamp wasn’t working, and it was too dark and scary, so it's not your fault I woke up because of the sunlight," I said with a laugh, though it was a bit lame.

She gave a soft chuckle and moved to tidy up. I’ve always felt a little guilty about the maids doing my chores, but with the size of the mansion, my parents’ wealth, and all the household help, I’ve gotten used to it.

Mrs. Park has practically raised me. She’s the one who wakes me with a gentle touch each morning, makes my favorite meals, and sometimes even plays with me when Jimin isn’t around. She’s kind and patient, and she spends more time with me than my own parents do. Life in this mansion is isolating, but I’ve always felt comfortable around her.

As I started to get out of bed, Mrs. Park gently grabbed my wrist.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, noticing the nervous look in her eyes.

"Uh—it’s too early. You can still sleep a bit more!" she said, a hint of hesitation in her voice. I immediately sensed that something was up.

"Oh, it’s fine. I’m awake now. I’ll just go for a stroll in the garden."

“NO! I-I mean, I think it’s going to rain soon, so—”

"But the sky’s completely clear," I said, pointing toward the window, trying to make my point.

"Uhm… alright, but first, go through your morning routine, and I’ll prepare something delicious for my sweet little Taehyungie."

The promise of a special breakfast got me moving. I grabbed my clothes and towel from the closet and dashed to the bathroom. After a long, refreshing shower, I dressed up and headed downstairs.

The hallway felt unusually quiet. Normally, there’s the soft hum of maids cleaning and chatting, adding life to the mansion. But today, it was eerily still.

As I reached the living room, I noticed balloons and ribbons everywhere. I was confused for a moment, but then I heard those two words.

"Happy birthday!" Familiar voices filled the room.

I turned around and was surprised to see my parents holding a birthday cake. My heart swelled with happiness, and I felt tears pricking at my eyes.

My mother pulled me into a hug. “Happy birthday, sweetheart. I love you,” she whispered, words I’d been longing to hear.

My dad handed the cake to the maids and joined the embrace. “Happy birthday, Taehyungie! We got some gifts for you, and we planned to spend the whole day together—and go out for dinner tonight!” He beamed at me with a bright smile.

Tears finally spilled over. I was in euphoria. My parents rarely spent time with me, but today, they had gone out of their way to make me feel special and loved.

“When did you have time to decorate?” I asked, admiring the colorful setup, the smile on my face refusing to fade.

“Oh, we woke up early! The maids helped us, especially Jimin,” my mom said, pointing at Jimin, who stood nearby with ribbons draped over him, grinning at me.

“Haemi kept an eye on you to give us a heads-up, but when she said you were awake, we had to hurry. We could have decorated even better if we’d had more time,” she chuckled.

"Ah, so that’s why Mrs. Park panicked when I was about to leave my room." I giggled, glancing at her.

"Alright, enough of that! Let’s cut the cake. I’m starving!" my dad exclaimed, making everyone laugh.

"Taehyung, I have a special gift for you after breakfast, and there’s another surprise planned for tomorrow," he added. I couldn’t contain my excitement, practically bouncing with joy.

After cutting the cake, I spent the morning with my parents—my family, my everything. It felt surreal.

For the first time, we had a real conversation, sharing smiles over breakfast, with my dad’s terrible jokes that made my mom groan, and questions like, "What did you learn this week?", "How are your studies going?", "Do you need help with anything?"

Their warm eyes were filled with love, looking at me with so much affection. It was pure bliss. If this is a dream, I hope I never wake up.

“Finally,” I whispered, cherishing every moment of this perfect day.