traitor

036 | chandelier

"mom," i said still looking down at my lap.

"haruto..."

her voice rung through my ears - it was the first time in 3 years i heard her voice.

"i want you to come back to japan and start going to school for watanabe corp."

i shut my eyes and tighten my fist, i looked up at her, this time i forced myself to look into her eyes.

"no,"

"i'm sorry?" she said setting her glass of water down. it was like her eyes grew darker.

"i'm not going to be part of your messed up business."

she scoffed, "did you forget? you're an heir"

that was her only excuse, that i was an heir. no one knew that i was one, i didn't want people to treat me differently. because i wasn't like them. but she knew i had a weakness for family, and she knew i would come back to them.

*flashback*

"i want to go to korea,"

"nani?"

"i want to become an idol."

his eyes beamed, "haruto, you can be anything you want. as long as you're happy,"

my head shot up, "you think so?"

he took a sip of his hot herbal tea and set it on the white marble table.

"i will talk to your parents, just make your father proud for me." grandfather patted my head.

*end flashback*

"i'm not coming back. i don't want to associate myself with this family anymore"

"haruto, you need to start going to school so you can take over your father after he steps down. we don't have much time, you don't have a choice."

"grandfather let me go to korea so i can pursue my dreams. so i could leave. and i'm not coming back to do your dirty work," i said standing up.

"grandfather wouldve wanted you to take over."

my heart dropped. i felt betrayed, backstabbed by my own family. did our relationship come this far to start threatening me with our own?

"i told you before and i meant it. and don't ever bring his name up."

i turned to leave, still feeling her eyes behind me. i walked towards the door and grabbed the gold chiseled knob.

"i know about your girlfriend." i heard her heels click against the wooden floors.

i immediately turned around and she let out a laugh, "kanemoto sora. yoshinori's little sister, 17, parents are dead and lived with her grandmother in japan. now going to sopa to finish her education"

"stop" i stepped forward. she had a plan all along. she knew, my weaknesses, and she knew i would do anything to prevent my loved ones from getting hurt.

"nice of you to get a girlfriend. it's a first... out of the other girls thatve liked you at school. not the best choice... you know ayumi is back from korea also?"

"ayumi?.."

she nodded bitterly, "they came by last week, ayumi is very beautiful now. helping with her parents in korea's and japan's branch in oil and all. you remember her, do you?"

i was silent. i couldn't form my words to respond to her.

"so, we have a few choices. now that you know i know about sora. you break up with that dumb girl awhile studying for corp and your company or i can make a call for soras grandmother- "

i cut her off "don't.. bring soras family into this."

"then what's your choice." she sat down, crossing her legs.

"you cant bring her into this. i chose to leave, you cannot bribe me back by threatening her!" i yelled.

"i'm sorry but you have only one choice. there's one i want you to make, and there's another i prefer you not to choose. make the right decision for all of us haruto."

i could feel my face burn up, either option was a risk. i didn't want to quit being an idol and work for their scam of a company. i cant leave sora. i care so much about her, but i would never hurt her or her family.

my head was spinning, she's making me choose between two things i love. but i know sora will always be more important to me. even if i have to sacrifice my career for her. the day we went to visit her grandmother replayed in my head, i just can't do that to them. i cant ruin their family too.

"what will happen if i choose watanabe corps?"

she smiled bitterly hearing my question, "we can compromise, i'll let you stay in korea. you can study there for the time being, don't try backing out. your little idol stuff can be over with after you finish your studies. you can stay with them until i say otherwise. in the mean time i'll even send you a little gift when you get back to korea."

i knew if stayed here any longer i would've exploded on her. i was pissed, she wanted me to just drop all my hard work like it was nothing. she'll never understand what it means to work for something.

kano was outside and turned his head towards me when i walked out of the room. i stood there, having a moment of realization about the deal i've just made with my mother.

a trade for my career and love for sora, to be miserable and never get control over my own life again. but i know i need to stop being selfish, i can't involve my life into others, for sora and the members.

kano led me outside and waited at the door, he always had a straight face and never showed his emotions. but only i knew he had a soft spot, he just never showed it. he always taught me to never be taken advantage of, yet he's here working for them. and soon so was i.

i smiled at him and gave him a hug, "i'm sorry kano".

i felt pity for him, he didn't deserve this.

he pulled something out of his pocket revealing a piece of candy. kano had always given me strawberry cream candy when i was younger, though i hated it, that was the only treat i would get growing up so it ended up growing on me.

i chuckled and took the piece of candy, "nice to see you, kano"

he nodded, "you too mr. haruto."

i walked out of the house of hell. the sky was dark, shades of purple and black. the shrieking wind blew passed me.

with the thought of having to break up with sora, over greedy parents.