Lee Yong wanted to make his brother stay for the things he liked the least without even realising the dislike for business. "I thought you like business, and that's why I confidently stepped out."
Lee Whan was confused. "I never liked it, and even now, I don't like it. But why would you even come to such a conclusion?"
He always wondered why his elder brother suddenly pushed the business on his shoulder while the other was groomed for it since he was a child. Now that the chance presented itself, he wanted to know, even though it was late.
"You always followed business news and articles whenever you came home during vacation. Even engaged in conversation about some business deals and projects with dad. So I thought..." Lee Yong was desperate. He was trying to delay his brother's departure and hoping to change his little brother's mind.
"Because that's the only thing he cared about, and I do not know what else to talk with him. I had always been a disappointing delinquent who was willful and would never hesitate to hurt others in his eyes. No matter what I say, he drags it to fight. As if I was born to wreak havoc and nothing else. What do you expect me to do?" Lee Whan threw his hand up in the air as he grew furious.
But soon, he frowned. "As for the news, I do not even remember why I checked them."
"I really thought you liked it. I am sorry." Lee Yong wanted to make everything right, but he did not realise it was too late.
"You are not sorry. You loved music and wanted to pursue it. When you thought I could be interested in business, you saw the opportunity and took it." Lee Whan could logically place everything he understood so far and conclude.
"Lee Whan…" Lee Yong was guilty as he listened to the truth from his little brother's mouth.
He did not realise the truth was a tragic reality for his little brother until now.
"Did I hit the nail? You can't even deny the fact that you were an opportunist. Ain't I right, Mr Most Perfect Son?" Lee Whan almost punched his elder brother's face, but he chose not to act recklessly and get his hand dirty.
"I am sorry. I did not think about you. But do not punish mom for what I did. Go home. Or you can stay here till you calm down and go home. I will fix this. I will fix your relationship with mom." Lee Yong tried to come up with a solution to fix all of this mess. He wanted to make everything right.
"Stay here and get attacked by your saesang fans?! Or worse, breathe the same air as you? No thanks! I am good." Lee Whan rolled his eyes as he side-stepped to walk around Lee Yong.
"I am your elder brother. Listen to me! If you walk out, you sever all the ties with me." Lee Yong grabbed his little brother's forearms firmly once again. He did not even know what came over him to say such stupid threats at the brother who cut off the ties with family a few minutes back.
"If you think emotional manipulation works on me, the joke is on you. Bye!" Lee Whan easily shook off the hand and walked away.
If it were his childhood, even teenage days, he would have cherished the fact that his brother held his hand. He would have been on the moon if his brother had asked him to stay over. But the naive little brother Lee Whan who loved his family, was gone long back.
Lee Yong knew he screwed up a lot, but he grabbed his wallet and ran after his brother. He caught the other before shutting the apartment door. When he desperately stuck his hand to stop it from closing, Lee Whan actually held the door and did not let his elder brother get hurt.
"How will you survive all by yourself?! Take this! Let me know if you need more money!" Lee Yong desperately took the card, which had all his earnings from being the idol and being a model for various companies.
He never had to spend a penny as his parents still cared for his needs. So he had saved everything he had earned so far.
"I am not you to struggle. Thank you for being so concerned. But stay the fuck away from my life hereafter. You have done enough!" Lee Whan pushed the hand inside, refusing to take the card. He closed the door behind him.
In a plain button-down shirt and slacks, Lee Whan walked out of the apartment gate. He had his coat in his hand, and his possessions were his wallet and phone. The most expensive possession would be the handmade watch which lost its shine as he had used it for years.
It was a gift from his aunt Song's daughter, and she made it herself as a good luck charm when he reached the international competition for the first time.
But he was startled when Mr Koh caught up by asking him to get in the car. It was the company's car, and Mr Koh wanted to drop Lee Whan at his friend's place.
With a smile, Lee Whan politely refused the car ride in favour of taking public transport. He walked a long way to the nearby bus stop and caught the bus to where he intended to go.
It has been so long since he took a bus ride. The oddly soothing comfort from the school days crept through his skin, and he finally felt the liberation. He realised he was free of his stupid family's clutch.
Walking from the bus stop to his friend's apartment was another sweet ordeal when he took the time to be himself.
With the slow walk, he looked around and saw the place had changed but remained the same.
During his school days, on most Friday nights, he would walk back with his friends to their junior's flat. They all would laugh and tease each other as they planned to spend the entire weekend supposedly completing the assignments. Unfortunately, they never ever completed the planned assignment.
But if he thinks back, he had no idea what they did most of the days they spent together.
He only remembered laughter and experimenting in the kitchen as they all attempted to cook. Even sometimes being end up in an emergency room because of food poisoning.
But he could not remember what they did! It was a blur... A beautiful blur that always soothed him!
He longed for the days when their worries were about deadlines and winning many awards for themself.
The happiness of being surrounded by colour, music, and hard teasing amid the friends as they ran toward one conquest after another felt like bliss.
He longed for those good old days!
When everything was simple and blissful!
Where he could ignore the unreasonable demands of his parents and society as he lived in the moment for himself!
Safely tucked away in the boarding school, surrounded by people who actually cared for him!
Strangely, he missed the people who hated him openly and constantly competed with him!
His school life was bliss!
He longed for those good old days, where everything was simple!
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The chapter is dedicated to Apocalypse. Thank you for the review <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
Two chapters will be dedicated to the readers' who write the review and rate the book.
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Thank you for the votes and support my dear readers. <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
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