Author PoV

"Hey, dad, Junghan, I'm home!" she said in front of the mirror then sighs. "God, why did I have to come home?"

She put on her lip tint and placed it in her bag. After doing so, she looked at herself again in the mirror, fixing her hair and make-up. 

Quickly, she grabs her black pencil skirt and inserts her blouse in it. Again she looked at the mirror, rubbing her palm on her blouse to clean the creases out. 

She was fairly tall, around 174 cm, her hair was long black that reached around her waist, her skin complexion was fair, and her facial features were sharp. 

At one glance of the young girl, everyone would be amazed by her. Not only does she have her beauty, she's a very smart girl and very kind. Her smile resonated her soul. 

It was like, she was perfect. 

After one last glance at the mirror, she takes a deep breath and grabs her bag then goes out of her room. 

She entered the black van service that her brother requested from their father. It was surprising that she was late, knowing that she's very prompt. 

Maybe it's because she came home at around 1 in the morning from her flight. Or maybe it's because the weather feels colder in Korea rather than in Boston, USA. 

Today was her brother's graduation ceremony, and she wanted to attend if she didn't sleep through her alarms, she could've. Instead of watching the ceremony, she decided to attend Junghan's lunch celebration. 

She looked at the blue sky that is shining upon Seoul. Her eyes remembering the bitter memories she has here. Her heart reliving the time where permanent scars appeared. 

She sighed. 

Her phone rings, and she checked who it was.

Aunty Jennie. 

The only person in the world who would actually believe her. Jennie was the one who comforted her when her mother and father would not understand her. Though she does have a little kid, Jennie always finds ways to take care of Jiyoon. 

She was like a second mom to her.

"Jiyoon-ah? Yeobuseo?" Jennie asked. 

"Aunty, what is it?" she replied. 

"Did you really come home? Where are you?"

Jiyoon smiled, "I'm heading to Junghan's lunch."

"Are you sure, Jiyoon? You want to see your dad after 5 years?"

"I'll be fine, but thank you for worrying about me, aunty."

"Call me if you need some more time and space away from him, okay? I'll pick you up any time, okay?"

"Arasseo."

"I'll hang up now, take care, Jiyoon."

"Alright, aunty."

Jennie ended the call, and Jiyoon felt reassured.

Why did she leave Seoul? Why did she study abroad? She could've just studied in Korea, like what any other normal student would do.

It was simple. 

Because in Seoul, she was miserable. 

It started when Junghan turned 5 or 6 years old. Everybody was so excited for him to start his special tutoring classes. He started to learn English, Japanese, Swedish, Chinese, Spanish and French. 

But Junghan was never a good learner. He often dozed off his tutorial classes and never learned until someone who's very close with him would teach him how to do it. In Jiyoon's case, she was never like this. 

She was a very fast learner, with one look of different language's alphabet, she can memorize. After learning a language, she would often teach Junghan and Jiyoon was better than all those tutors their parents hired. 

The real reason that caused her misery was not Junghan at all. It was the reason why she was smarter and brighter than Junghan, she assumed. 

All of a sudden, she would find a day with her not being able to talk to her dad. Sometimes it would go on for weeks, then weeks turned into months. They would talk, but the answers would be either 'yes' or 'no'. 

When Jiyoon started to learn how to cook, she would often find Junghan and Jungkook talking about the family's business. It would go on for hours, but in the end Junghan wouldn't understand a single thing their father says. 

He would give the documents that Jungkook assigned Junghan to read to Jiyoon, and she would teach it to him in a more simple way. 

She didn't realize the growing pain was seeding in her heart. She only realized after her high school graduation. 

The day of her graduation, Jungkook and Junghan headed to Japan for a business trip and Jiyoon didn't know. The only person who attend her graduation was Chaeyoung, and she wanted to show her dad all the medals she got. 

When she came home, she finally wanted to show her family that all 7 ivy league schools invited her to study in their universities, Seoul National University, Korea University, and a lot of elite colleges from Europe, South East Asia and Australia. 

She was so proud and full of herself. 

But no one was there to say 'congratulations' to her. 

That's where she realized that her father only cared about Junghan because he's the inheritor. He will only notice her when he needs her. 

Since then, Jiyoon's aura changed inside and outside of the house. Inside she harms herself, she doesn't eat well, she locks herself in her room. Outside she shows off a genuine smile and presents herself as a perfect girl with a perfect life. 

Then, she moved to the US to study in Harvard University's Business School. She graduated top 1 in elementary and high school, and then landed at the top when she graduated Harvard. 

She never returned to South Korea ever since she transferred. Lisa moved to Boston when Jiyoon went to university so during the school breaks, she's often in Lisa's apartment and helping out in Lisa's cafe. 

It was her brother's request for her to attend his graduation and celebrate a few days in Korea then she goes back to the US. But really, she has no plans in going back to the US. 

The car stops in front of a very fancy restaurant. Which obviously, her dad chose. If Junghan chose the restaurant, he would choose to eat in a fast food place because he rarely eats in one. 

She exits, with a lot of journalists and cameramen waiting for her outside and the security holding them all back at least 3 meters away from her. 

Questions like:

"JIYOON, ARE YOU BACK TO TAKE OVER YOUR DAD'S POSITION?"

"WILL YOU MAKE JEON FOUNDATIONS A MORE SUCCESSFUL COMPANY?!"

"GIVE US A MOMENT, PLEASE!"

"LOOK AT THIS DIRECTION, MS. JEON!"

"IS IT TRUE THAT CEO JEON JUNG GUK WILL GIVE UP HIS POSITION?!"

"DID YOUR BROTHER NOT REACH THE STANDARDS OF CEO?!"

"ARE YOU GOING TO CREATE A BUSINESS THAT IS TOP TIER LIKE YOUR FATHER'S?!"

"JIYOON!"

"JIYOON!"

"JIYOON!"

She entered the restaurant, blocking out all the questions thrown at her. 

Aside from being labeled as the 'perfect girl' she was labeled as the most beautiful heiress and most intelligent. Her name was listed on Forbes Korea when her grandfather said that his granddaughter received invitations to all ivy league schools. 

She then became a hot topic, taking away the limelight that her brother was suppose to have. A lot of people wanted to interview her about how she achieved success in such a young age. 

After leaving for Harvard, she lived her life in peace and continued to study. 

Jiyoon looked around in the restaurant, searching for her brother and father. She hasn't seen either of them yet. And she's feeling nervous about it. 

"Oh, noona!" someone called. 

Her head turned to the direction of the voice and spotted a young boy with bunny-structured teeth. He was motioning his hand for her to come to him. 

"Junghan! You're so...manly!" she said, looking at her brother's more muscle build. 

"Thanks, noona. The food's ready, let's go in," he said. 

They walked to a more private place of the restaurant. Inside the room was only Jungkook, sitting and reading on his tablet about the reports of his workers. 

Jiyoon sat in front of Junghan and Junghan sat next to Jungkook, leaving a chair open. She placed her small hand bag on the chair and made an awkward smile. 

"Well, let's dig in!" Junghan said. "Thank you for the food!" 

Jungkook took his chopsticks and started to eat while Jiyoon looked at the 2 of them. She felt unfamiliar with this view. She's used to eating alone. 

"Thank you for the food," she whispered, forgetting her enunciation in Korean. 

After finishing her first bite, she took out something in her small bag and gave it to Junghan. 

"Congratulations, dongsaeng," she said. 

Junghan smiled and opened the envelope. A ticket to Australia. His dream place. He's always wanted to go to Australia but his dad never allowed him to go. 

He wants to see the cute koalas, he wants to see the opera house, he wants to see a lot of things in Australia. 

"Noona, you didn't have to..." he said, reading the itinerary on a separate piece of paper. 

"You just graduated, I missed 5 years of your life. This is my way of saying congratulations and sorry."

Junghan lifted his eyebrow, "But why are there 2 tickets?"

"I bought one for dad as well, you know, he loves to be around you. I figured that he should come along with you as well."

Junghan's smile brightened and he looked at Jungkook.

"Heard that, appa? Noona will treat us to Australia! Oh, daebak, eomma will be so happy if we go see where she studied and where she grew up. That'd be so amazing," Junghan smiles. 

Jungkook pats his son's back, "That sounds exciting, my boy."

Jiyoon gives a fake smile and continues to eat her food. The 3 of them are back in silence, until Junghan breaks it.

"Noona, you graduated and had your birthday just recently, right?" he asked. 

"Yeah, why?" 

"Oh, man. Why didn't you call us? We could've gone to Harvard, you know. I want to see that guy...what's his name? Uhm..oh yeah, Michael Sawyer. You should've said 'yes' when he asked you out," Junghan blabbered. "Mom really liked the guy's personality."

Jungkook puts down his chopsticks, "Let's not talk about that, shall we? You ready for dessert?"

"Why shouldn't we talk about this? Does she even know what really happened to mom?" Junghan rebelled. 

"Jeon Jung Han!" 

Jiyoon looked at both of them. 

"You knew we were supposed to go to her in America, why didn't you do what mom wished for? Are you that mad at her that you can't even go see your daughter? What is it you have against her? Why do you have to clarify that she's nothing to you?!" 

"Junghan, stop being immature and eat," Jungkook said and gave him a piece of meat. 

"No," Junghan pushed Jungkook's arm. "Why are you avoiding this? You want mom to rest in peace, then give it to her by noticing noona."

"Why are you so hard on this topic? We've talked about this, now eat."

"Why are you so mad at her?! Answer me, dad!" Junghan stood up and shouted at Jungkook.

Jiyoon looked at Junghan, "Ya, Jeon Jung Han. Sit down and apologize."

He looked at his sister, dumbfounded, "Mwo?"

"Apologize," she repeated. 

"I'm already defending you--!"

"He's our dad, give him respect."

Junghan bowed, "Mianhaemnida."

Then he quickly ran out of the room. Jiyoon sighed and was about grab her bag from the other chair. 

"I'll pay for this," she said and stood up then slinging her bag. 

"No, sit down," Jungkook told her. 

"Junghan's probably outside being harassed by those reporters. I'm gonna make sure he's fine."

"Sit. Down."

She sat back down quickly and held her head low on the ground. 

"Ask questions if you need to, I'm going to answer them," Jungkook says. 

"I don't have any, and I don't think you will answer them either."

"Why are you acting fine, Jiyoon?" Jungkook asked. "I know you feel hurt about what I did. You feel torn because of me. You feel so hungry for success because of me. Why are you acting as if I never did any of those to you?"

Jiyoon gave out a sarcastic smile, "Do I have to be honest with myself whenever I'm around you? I don't. There's no constitution that says so."

"Your mother cried to me about your mental health--"

"And you worry just now?" 

"What? No--"

"Where were you when I needed to leave Korea? Where were you when I graduated? Where were you on my birthdays? Where were you in my life?" Jiyoon bursted out in tears. "You say that you were worried about my mental health but did you know exactly what I was going through? You don't. So stop trying to feel like you were the father that loved me."

"I know I made my mistakes in the past, I do regret it. I never hated you, you're my first born, how can I hate you?"

Jiyoon laughed and wiped her tears, "You made me feel like I was nothing. You never talked to me. You only cared about the business' future."

There was a brief silence. 

"Fixing this too late in our lives isn't going to work," she stated. 

Jungkook looked down, "Her last wish was for me to at least give you the love I never gave."

"And I don't need any of it now, thank you for your effort."

"It made me question about how was I as a dad," Jungkook looked at her. "I thought that I've been a good father to you both. Besides, you both were very smart kids. But she asked me to recall the past if I do have any good memories of you and me, and I don't."

"Well, that isn't my fault."

"She cried when she couldn't make it until you graduate. She cried because she misses you so much but I didn't send you home," Jungkook paused. "Jiyoon, I wanted you home but you never asked me to."

"Did it look like I wanted to call you? You made me so insecure of myself that I can cry any moment and I'll feel like a stupid crybaby because my dad couldn't notice me!" she bursted into more tears. "What's worse was that I had to hear everything from Aunty Jennie instead of you. She died, you didn't call me. She fell ill, you didn't send me home. What kind of parent are you?!"

Jungkook fell silent. 

"You can't even say anything now, you were never a good father to me," Jiyoon wiped her tears. "Everyday was like competing with Junghan for your attention. Everyday felt like a prison. So don't go at me as if you had your explanation, when you never did."

She stood up from her chair and grabbed her bag. Before leaving she looked at her father one more time. 

"If you were to ask me how I lived my life under your family name, I would say that I wanted to be with mom's family more," she paused and made eye contact with her dad. "If I knew that this would happen, I would rather see you as my mom's friend who was in love with her rather than my dad. I would rather see you as an 'uncle' and not my dad. I probably would've been happier if she didn't choose to be with you."

With that, Jiyoon started to walk out of the restaurant's room. 

Jungkook stood up, "Jiyoon-ah! Chakaman! Jiyoon..."

He sat back down covered his face with one of his hands. Jungkook was blinded by the business' future. After Il-Do's kids died in a school field trip accident, he wanted to protect Junghan by putting Junghan close to him.

But he never forgot about Jiyoon. He was so happy about her getting a lot of invitations from elite universities, he was so happy that Jiyoon might've found someone that could actually like her. He was hurt when he found out that Jiyoon started to do self-harm. 

Ah..Chaeyoung..mianhae. He said to himself. 

The last thing Chaeyoung wanted was for him to put closure with Jiyoon. She wasn't able to keep the family strong and happy, like how she promised to and now that she's gone, Jungkook can't cope up with Chaeyoung's parenting. 

Outside of the restaurant, Jiyoon quickly grabbed a cab and took a walk out in Seoul's Forest Park. 

"Jiyoon-ah, gwaenchana?" 

She remembered a memory of her and Jungkook. That time, Chaeyoung was in her medical mission in Hawaii. Both of them were cycling around Forest Park and she fell of her bicycle. 

"It hurts," she complained. 

"Let's go home and treat it. Jungkook-appa will make it alright."

Her eyes brimmed in tears. 

"But we won't tell eomma, right?" she asked, giggling at their secret.

Jungkook shook his head, "Ani. She will get mad at both of us if we do."

"Yay! Jungkook-appa, saranghae!" she hugged him. 

"Saranghae, Jiyoon-ah."

Jiyoon sat around for a few more hours and head home before the sun fully set. 

When she got home, the first thing she did was pack her bags. Seoul was really a miserable place for her. Nobody was home yet, no one would mind seeing her leave, anyway. 

She pushed her suitcase outside of her room, asking one of the maids to bring it down and to grab a taxi. Her eyes roamed around the big, empty house. 

Then she found herself standing in front of her mom's picture. 

"Eomma..." she said, holding back her tears. "Mianhae, I wasn't able to see you. Mianhae, eomma, I can't forgive him. Eomma, bogoshipda, eomma!"

She cried and sobbed, "I'll be back again, eomma. Saranghae, eomma."

---

it's my birthday!

let's be merry and happy. 

with Chaeyoung out of their lives, is the Jeon family falling apart?

hmmm. 

bonus - part 2!

~ artemis1265 ~