chapter one.
in the kim residence

shouts, tears, unanswered questions

KANG DAERYUL stood still, hands behind her back and head bowed low as she listened to another scolding from her step-father, kim jihyeok.

her mother, lee ryujin, was not present due to some work problems at her office. instead, her step-brother, kim minhyuk was there but kept silent.

her school had called her parents about her skipping class, but since her mother was busy, her strict step-father was left to deal with it.

scolding. scolding. scolding. that was all he ever did to her. that was the only time he would interact with her. during the moments where she makes a mistake.

daeryul had gotten used to his scoldings, which was why she never took his threats and demands seriously anymore.

" YAH, DAERYUL! ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING?! " jihyeok shouted at her, but the short haired girl stayed unfazed, making him frustrated.

the sound of their front door opening interrupted them, her mother appeared with a confused and concerned expression on her face.

" yeobo? dae? what's going on? " lee ryujin asked them, her eyes first connecting with her daughter then to her husband.

" i got a call from DAERYUL's school again, saying she's been skipping her classes and- " jihyeok began to explain before getting interrupted.

" why should that matter to you? " daeryul snaps, having had enough of hearing her step-father's repetitive words.

minhyuk displays a surprised face and lets out a smirk before quickly removing it, not wanting to get caught by his father.

" dae- " her mother warns her, but the teenager doesn't let her continue.

" tell me. why does it matter if i skip school? why should you care, mr. kim? " the 18 year old girl had her head up, her hands still behind her back, but her posture changed into something that displayed confidence and fearlessness.

" how dare you talk to me like that- "

" ALL YOU EVER DO IS SCOLD ME ANYWAYS! WHAT'S THE POINT?! WHY SHOULD IT MATTER TO YOU?! " tears of frustration and built up tension threaten to release from daeryul's brown colored eyes.

" daeryul, sweetie, calm down- " ryujin tried to de-escelate the situation.

" YOU TOO, EOMMA! YOU'RE ALWAYS SO BUSY, YOU NEVER. EVER. HAVE TIME FOR ME! you love your fucking job more than you love me. " daeryul did not mean to lash out on her mother, but her emotions had begun to take control of her system.

" KIM DAERYUL. language- " " KANG DAERYUL. KANG, not kim. " she harshly corrected, her tone firm.

" i hate this house. this place doesn't even feel like home, it just feels like four walls constantly trying to push me around... eomma... i hate it here. " her voice quivered as she was unable to hold back her tears, letting out what she's been wanting to say to her mother for years.

" i'm staying at jihun and jihan's house. their place feels more like home than this shitty place does. " ryujin's heart aches at the sound of her voice, pain and malice seeping right from her daughter's lips.

" daeryul... " not wanting to hear the rest, daeryul angrily walked to her room. she closed her door and locked it before breaking down right against it.

im ryunjin, now known as lee ryujin, silently stared at her daughter's retrieving figure. she didn't want the conversation to end yet, she hated leaving things incomplete.

her husband, kim jihyeok, who was beside her, sighs in frustration and leaves the room to cool himself off.

meanwhile, minhyuk, who had been silent throughout the whole encounter, observed the two adults.

he knew his step-sister wasn't wrong about both of their parents. even though he was itching to go in daeryul's room and comfort her, he knew that it was best if she was alone at the moment.

and with that, minhyuk stood up from the living room sofa and walked to his room without saying a word.

note  from  JAE.

not me starting my stories with angst 😭💀

2025 update : made minor edits here and there! i honestly don't like this chapter, but i don't want to change it too much either. (same goes for the others ngl)

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