[COMPLETED]
"So I'm not fired?" I stupidly ask.
He pinches his chin and hums, his eyebrows furrowing dangerously. "Oh that's right... I could fire you for this, couldn't I?"
A nervous gag gets trapped in my throat as my body stiffens and fingernail...
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❄️❄️❄️ PROLOGUE
Dragging my naked feet along the floor, I make my way outside to the mansion gardens in nothing but my silk pyjamas. I see father sitting by the fountain. As I rub my eye he greets me with a smile.
"Good morning son, come sit." He pats the space beside him before I take it. We soak in scenery of the rose display, as well as the tune of water splashing and birds singing.
"How did you sleep, chap?" He pats my head.
"I had another nightmare."
"Taehyung my boy I told you, nightmares are just illusions that creep up on you when you're at your weakest. If you let something so minor get to you, you will never be ready for this world."
I tilt my head back to gaze at the blue sky, squinting from the harsh sun.
"Mom said there's no such thing as monsters. They're not real."
He chuckles at me and shakes his head. "Of course they are real." He gets my attention by resting a hand on my shoulder.
"Son, let me teach you something about monsters. The ones with fangs and scaly skin that appear in nightmares, they're the friendly ones, because they would never hurt you. The truly dangerous monsters hide inside of us, lurking and waiting for their chance to escape."
"How do we get rid of them?"
"Sometimes, you have to find your monsters in order to get rid of them."
"Do you have monsters, father?"
"Oh my boy... too many." He stands up before spreading his arms. "But I grew thick skin and was able to achieve all this. I fought my monsters so you won't have to, and now one day this will all be yours."
One of father's workers come over and whispers in his ear.
"I see. Son, daddy has to go to work now. One hug for the road?" He kneels onto one knee, allowing me to embrace him.
"And be extra nice to your mother. It's her birthday tomorrow, the last thing I want to hear is her lady whining." He chuckles, getting a giggle out of me.
He plants a kiss on my forehead before leaving the garden. I stay there for a while, dangling my skinny legs over the bench. I look into one of our windows and see mom baking. Excited to see what she's making next I run my little feet over to the kitchen.
"Shoo Yeontan, shoo!" She kicks Yeontan away whilst taking a tray out of the hot oven. "What are you baking today, mom?"
"Angel fruit cake with fresh strawberries. Here baby, have some raisin bread." I take a slice of the warm bread on the table and eat, watching while she decorates the cake.
"Tomorrow is your birthday mom."
"Indeed it is." She chuckles.
With my mouth full, I add, "I'm going to make you something special for your birthday."
She pats me on the head, "I look forward to that very much."
Chewing the delicious buttery raisin bread, I look out the window, back into the empty gardens.
"Mom? Are you happy with father?"
She suddenly pauses at my question. "Why ever would you ask that dear?"
"You sometimes look sad, like when he's at work. Do you still love him?"
"Oh baby..." She ruffles my hair and wipes the crumbs from my mouth.
"I'll always love your father. You need love in life to survive and be happy, whether thats loving yourself or another person. Baking makes me happy and you make me happy. That's all I need." She smiles, "Without happiness and love, you find loneliness, and when you get loneliness you get—"
"You get the monsters?"
"Aish, this again. Taehyung what did I tell you? There's no such thing as monsters. What is that girl Mulan putting in your head?" She groans, before looking into my eyes and softening her expression.
"I'll tell you what, if your father gets home late from work again tonight, how about you sleep in my bed with me? That way neither of us will get lonely, okay?"
A bright smile forms on my face, I nod my head quickly.
*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ 🌙
And... perfect.
I carefully insert the lit candle through the center of the cupcake. It's the first thing I've baked without moms help, but I've seen her do it enough times.
Eager to see her reaction, I make my way up the stairs with caution.
"Mom? I have some thing for you." I look in her room, but she's not there.
"Mom, are you home?" She's not in the living room either, and it's too dark to be out in the gardens.
I start looking around the mansion.
Maybe she's out...
PRESENT DAY
It was one of the few talks I shared with my father. He was always so busy working that I never got to have more chats with him. I miss him a lot.
I take a deep breath, sitting on the grass of the riverbank whilst drinking the remaining of my coke can. Deep thoughts gather and leave my mind as fast as the wind can comb through my hair. I toss the empty can aside carelessly, standing up ready to leave and stuffing my hands in my warm pockets.
Thanks Dad... for telling me the truth about monsters.
I just wish you'd told me I'd be the worst fucking kind.
