Neighbourhood Flowers - Chapter 13

"Your father is waiting for you in his reading room.." Shim Ji Hyeon, Juhwan's stepmother who has been living with them since he was 5 years old is approaching him while he was spending some free time at the theatre room.
 
Juhwan looked at her uninterested before focusing back on the show he is watching.
 
"He's waiting for you.." Ji Hyeon repeats before she went off to her room.
 
Slowly Juhwan got up from the couch and walk heading to his father reading room. A big room that is filled with teak wood furniture and neatly arranged books and documents. "You called for me?"
 
"Mr. Kim came to see me today about your engagement.." Lim Jong Su looked at his first born and his only son.
 
"It’s been called off dad.. Jiwon herself call it off.."
 
"They wanted to redeem their mistakes this time.." 
 
Juhwan rolled his eyes. He knows it must be Kim Jiwon's doing.
 
"Mr. Kim influence is crucial for my nomination in the senate.." He sighed. He would call off their relationship earlier if not because of the benefits that they offer.
 
Juhwan sneered. "That’s actually what matters the most.. your political goal.." Juhwan turn away.
 
"Lim Juhwan.. I'm not finish yet!" His father raises up his voice.
 
Juhwan turn to look at his father again. "That psychotic woman just can't accept that I have a new girlfriend now.."
 
Jong Su got up and walk nearer towards his 21 years old son. "You can love whoever you want. But you must marry Kim Jiwon."
 
Juhwan sneered. "Why do I need to live in vain just for your political gain? I'm not doing it.."
 
Jong Su walks nearer to his son. "It’s not just for my political gain. You know they can give you something that you required to inherit my money.."
 
"Because I'm the so-called illegitimate son of yours?" Juhwan sneered.
 
He knows well his status being the result of his dad one-night mistake with a warehouse worker. A person that his family would never approves being a daughter in law.
 
"I don't need such a lowly trick to prove that I'm worth your inheritance dad.." Lim Juhwan sharply stares at him.
 
"You may say so right now.. but things will be different once they know our secret. Only Kim Jiwon father can help you to bury our dark past." Jong Su holds his son's shoulder.
 
"Think it over Lim Juhwan.. You need to help me to help yourself.."
 
* * *
 
Kim Jiwon smiled looking at Juhwan furiously walking towards her.
 
"I was wondering why you haven't come to see me.." she said to him.
 
"Your tricks is so outdated Kim Jiwon.."
 
"But you still came to see me Lim Juhwan.." Jiwon smirked as she looked at her newly polished nails.
 
"Because I want to tell you that it won't happen. Whatever that you wished for, it will never happen." he sharply glares at her in despise. 
 
"You know your dad will lose his vote for the senate right?" Jiwon is trying to intimidate him.
 
Juhwan sneered. "I have never interested in his personal gain.." he replied.
 
"You don't have any idea what you are getting at. Do you think you will be happy with that lowly life?"
 
" You’re thinking ahead of yourself Kim Jiwon.” Juhwan sneered. “Whoever I am with, whether I’m happy or not. It’s none of your damn business.”
 
“That bitch is really something. If not because of her…”
 
“Hey hey!” Juhwan goes nearer to her. “I never say that I rejected you because of her.." Juhwan looked at her again. "You broke up our engagement first, remember?"
 
She holds his arm. "I'm trying to save it now Lim Juhwan. Can you forget what had happened?"
 
"Wake up and accept it Kim Jiwon." Juhwan brushes her hands off his arm.
 
"No! I will never accept this! We’re not over until I say so!" Jiwon shouts.
"You just can't accept that I moved on quickly. You love seeing me in pain.” Juhwan sneered. “Get some treatment Kim Jiwon. You are not normal.."
 
Jiwon grabs Juhwan's hand before he turned away again. "She will suffer badly if you continue being like this.."
 
“Do you even think you can touch her?” Juhwan smirked. "Leave her alone. She has nothing to do with my decision.."
 
"Do you think I would believe in that Lim Juhwan?!" Jiwon sneered. “I’ll show you I can do much worst!” Jiwon shouts as Juhwan is walking away, ignoring her.
 
* * *
 
"What are you thinking so deeply?" Insung greeted Juhwan who seems to be in a deep thought.
 
Juhwan took a sip of his beer and look at Insung. "You came.." He called Insung to accompany him for some beer tonight. 
 
"What happened?" Insung took a seat while placing his right leg on top of the other.
 
"Nothing.. I just feel like having a drink.." he push a dozen of beer that he bought in front of Insung.
 
Insung took a can of beer for himself. "Drinking in the middle of the week.. this is so unlike you." There must be something bothering his mind.
 
Juhwan silent while taking out a cigarette and offer it to Insung.
 
"I'm okay.." Insung replied, declining the offer.
 
Juhwan light up his nicotine supply and look at Insung. "You never reject a cigarette before.."
 
"I'm quitting.."
 
"Quitting?" Juhwan raised his eyebrows. That is so out of the blue.
 
Insung smiled. "I've lost in a bet.. So, I need to keep my promise."
 
"Your girlfriend?" Juhwan knows Insung is not a person who will easily admit defeat. He is not a person that will make such serious promise to anybody.
 
"Well, it can be considered like that." he chuckles as he took another sip of the beer. "Somebody that I currently have my eye on.."
 
Juhwan smirked. "That is unlike you.."
 
"Exactly." Insung smiled. "We seem to be doing things that are out of our ordinary lately isn't it?"
 
Juhwan looked at his cigarettes that is left half as his mind got drifted away again. "What supposedly be our ordinary?" He thought to himself.