keeping up with the lees || svt

fifteen: reunion

the car ride home was miles away from pleasant. the atmosphere was so tense that even the driver wanted to jump off.

"i'll drop you two off and say hello to your mother, tell her about jihan's betrothal" their father said, breaking the silence among them.

they would ask where their father would be staying but they already knew. he owned many luxurious hotels in seoul anyway, so they stayed silent.

"are you upset about her betrothal, jihoon?" their father asked in korean, surprising them both. their father rarely talked in korean, especially towards them. this was the first time their father had spoken in korean to them ever. they found it weird.

"no, i'm not. i'm just surprised" he replied even though his face said otherwise.

their father nodded. "it is an investment anyway. i'm just doing the best i can for my children. jihan is going to have a bright future, and so will you"

"and seokmin and chan?"

"your mother will do what she wants with them" he replied, the shade was evident in his voice. "however she's raising her"

"they grew up well" jihan told.

"i'll have to see for myself"

-

they opened the doors of their fairly large house. luckily, chan and seokmin weren't home yet.

"so this is what this house has become" their father said, looking around.

"jihoon! is your sister home?" they heard their mother call from the living room. 

jihoon and jihan looked at each other even though they weren't exactly on good terms.

"don't worry, i'll handle it" their father sighed and walked ahead of them.

jihan wanted to follow but she didn't have the courage. she just couldn't. she didn't want to witness a fight between their parents. it has been years, she didn't want to hear it again.

jihoon was already pretty done with life at this point so he just walked right behind his father.

"what the hell are you doing here?" jihan heard her mother's cold voice ask. she hasn't heard it in so long.

"don't swear, hanyoung. that's not very attractive" their father curtly replied.

"i'm surprised you even have the guts to show up" her mother's voice was getting even colder and dangerous. "and even pick them up from school? wow jake, you are unbelievable"

jihan hated it. she wanted to leave.

"don't worry, i won't stay in this household for long. i have no reason to do so" their father dully replied. "i'm in korea for my daughter, hanyoung. not for you"

"why did you bother dropping by? jihan doesn't need you"

"you're so fucking rude" their father venomously said. "jihan's betrothed. i'm here to celebrate it with everyone"

"WHAT?!"

jihoon's heart broke seeing his mother furious and hurt. if he was angry, his mother must've been beyond furious.

jihan flinched. she was still in the foyer. her mother's loud voice made her even more frightened. she knew it was her responsibility to deal with the situation but she wasn't ready.

"what the hell did you do jake?!" their mother looked like she was ready to kill.

"i gave my daughter a brighter future" mr. lee calmly replied. "something you should've done to chan and seokmin"