The four words which formed a question Seungah had dreaded to answer much less explain since the day she gave life to her only son. Seemingly harmless to the naked eye, this phrase, on a much deeper level, pierced through her very soul. But true to her upbringing, she continued on with going through a new anonymous contract, her reading glasses propped slightly on the lower portion on the bridge of her nose, keeping a look of indifference plastered while she calmly answered, “Sweetie, of course your father is your father. Who else would be your father?” The final fragment of that statement caused her heart to twinge in slight disgust at herself, considering the truth was dangerously close to being rushed out into the open.
He raised both his eyebrows at her reply and proceeded with a scoff. “Mum. I’m not an idiot,” he stated in a blunt manner as he tossed the giant envelope onto her desk, causing it to rapidly slide across the surface, eventually stopped by her own free hand. The woman sighed, finally bothering to grant her son’s current tantrum an audience. Her fingers drummed impatiently against the papered surface of the package before finally opening it and looking at its contents. All that was in there was a simple black and white shot of a man she had not seen a few years since she had officially graduated much less spoken to since the end of her second to last year at Hogwarts. Park Jaebum was his name, or really, he was much more commonly known as Jay. Her eyes shut themselves while she inhaled and exhaled deeply before returning the picture to its original placement.
“What do you want to know?” A fatigued look crossed over her features while she stared at him pointedly from her seat, causing her adolescent son to become flustered at the unexpectedly calm reaction. When Jaiden finally managed to recompose himself, he had the look of a confused yet hurt child who had no idea what in the hell was going on as he finally shot her the beginning of many questions that she would prefer never to answer yet she was responsible for explaining. “Why, Ma’? I mean, did he not want me? I mean, I’m not complainin’ much about Pops because he’s been a completely awesome dad but… How come you never told me? I’m not a complete dense ass clown who doesn’t notice things. Bloody hell, I look nothing like Pops while the girls take after the both of you in more ways than we can count!“
During his mini word vomit session, Seungah was flooded with memories of an adolescent past not many would appreciate. Though, a sense of nostalgia did rush over her, causing a sad smile to take residence on her face while she gingerly placed her glasses on the wooden surface she had been situated behind before standing up and walking over to her panicking son. Placing both arms around his shoulders, she pulled him into a hug, giving a few gentle pats and rubs on his back. It felt like just yesterday when she had been cradling an infant him in her arms, his tiny hand wrapped tightly around her finger while his face was scrunched up from the strangely frigid spring air that season. “I’m sorry, love. I really am. I only wanted the best for you, and Jay…well, he wasn’t quite part of the equation. It’s not that he didn’t want you, it’s because he never knew. He still doesn’t and if you want to change that, you have every right to. But keep in mind that even the man has his own family now,” her voice began involuntarily cracking slightly while a few tears began falling, prompting her to sniffle and release the boy while giving him a dismal smile, “Jiho and I did the best we could for you… I just never knew how to ever tell you, and for that, I am truly sorry.“
Jaiden’s features immediately softened at the sight of his mother shedding a few tears, feeling guilty for even having confronted her about it. He quickly cupped her face, swiping the small trails from her cheeks before embracing her again, this time, much tighter than before. “Aw…Ma.. it’s alright! I didn’t mean to make you cry! I appreciate everything you and Pops have done to raise me. I know it wasn’t easy having me… Hell, with Joo Eun and Jin Ae, I can tell being a parent is a difficult job. I…” He sighed before letting his beloved mother go, tossing her an apologetic grin, “Thanks for everything, Ma.” Seungah could not help herself from patting both of his cheeks affectionately while studying how much her son had matured.
He was definitely on his way to becoming a great man indeed.