Two days passed, and Kiseop's father wasn't home yet. Kiseop sat at the dining table as he moved his straw around in the milkshake Hoon had brought him. He sighed as he took a large gulp out of it, but his house phone rang, making him almost choke on it.
Wiping his lips with a napkin, he walked over to it as he picked up, "Hi."
"Kiseop? I'm so sorry I didn't show up, it just started storming so I had to delay."
"Whatever," he sneered.
"Um...so...I'll be there in a while, alright?" his father said from the other line.
"Fine," he exhaled. "Goodbye, sir," he said as he hung up.
Soon, Kiseop had gulped down his entire drink and waited...and waited...
Two hours passed, when he heard the front door open. His father walked in. He looked exhausted and stressed out. Noticing Kiseop's attitude towards him and recalling how he had called him 'sir' earlier, he asked, "Is there something you want to talk about?"
Kiseop stood up as he walked up to him and folded his arms, "Yeah."
The man kept his briefcase on the table as he turned towards him, "About?"
"This," he contemned as he took out the picture and handed it to him, "Dad...or should I even call you that?"
His "father" was rendered speechless. "S-Son, I-I-"
"Save it," he cut in angrily. "Why didn't you tell me I was adopted?!"
He was ignored, but Kiseop pounced on him, "Tell me!" he taunted, disapproval and heartbreak thick in his eyes. Kiseop remained patient, for about...5 minutes, but since he didn't get any reply, he quietly released his firm grip and stormed outside the house.
"Kiseop, wait!" his father cried helplessly as he followed him and grabbed him by the shoulders. Kiseop faced him, tears now dripping down his cheeks as he was pulled into a hug, "I never meant to hurt you."
"What do you mean?! You kept the biggest secret from me! Atleast you could've told me I'm adopted so I wouldn't find out myself I was living a lie!"
"I just...I just wanted us to live like a real family..."
Faking a laugh, Kiseop mocked, "Real family?! You're never at home! If it weren't for Hoon, I'd be dead," he said darkly. "Real families don't give up on each other."
"I'm so sorry," his father wept. "I never meant to make you feel dejected. You're the reason why I'm still happy."
"Huh?" he asked confused.
"My wife died from cancer before we could even have a child. So...I adopted you," he sighed, memories now beginning to flash across his mind. "I never meant any harm, Kiseop. You have every right to be angry at me."
"But I'm asking you, how did my parents die?!"
"Your parents..." he croaked, "Your parents were against the government from the beginning, so...they were murdered because they were afraid they might turn their back on them."
Kiseop pulled away as he looked at him, "Did they catch the person who murdered them?"
He nodded sadly, "So am I forgiven?"
"Yes," the red-haired boy replied. "I'm sorry as well, for you know...over-reacting..."
A small smile stretched across both their faces as the once awkward silence between them became comfortable.
Idea flashing across his mind, his step-father pulled out his phone as he called his company, "Hello? Yes, I would like to issue a month's holiday...why? Because, I need to spend some time with family." without waiting for a reply, he hung up and looked at Kiseop, "Would you like to spend some quality time with me?"
Kiseop thought about it for a while, but after remembering how his father did all that for him, he responded thankfully, "Alright."
