Lee Byungho watched his grandson play with toys and run around, pretending that he was an airplane around the office on the top floor. He glanced at his son, who was watching the boy with adoration. “Father, would you believe that innocence that just shines out of that boy like a ray of sunshine?” Seokyung asked, looking at the older man. Lee Byungho harrumphed in response. ”Your son,is being very irresponisble and not acting like a future heir!” he exclaimed, “I wish you would have taken my suggestion and sent him to a private school,” he added.
Seokyung laughed and glanced at Sungyeol who waved at his dad before running off again, making more airplane noises. “See, dad, you just don’t see the innocence,” he stated. The Chief laughed and looked at the paperwork on the desk. “You should send him away for a while. He’ll grow up in the process.” Soekyung was free to follow his own desires but as head of the family, Lee Byungho demanded that all decisions were logical and decided by him.
September 2002
Sungyeol: Age 10
Sungyeol did get sent away. To Busan, and then back home to Jeju from Seoul. He was sent away for five years. He was alone and scared. His grandfather had told him that it was for his own good, but Sungyeol was scared. He hated this. He didn’t like being alone. He cried every night, begged his parents to let him come home.
They wouldn’t. They tearfully said that it was for his own good. He lived with a nanny, a butler, some maids and some cooks. There were people around him every day and yet, the ten year old never felt more alone than now. He started hating his grandfather for taking him away from his family and sending him to a place where he was alone and scared.
Sungyeol tried calling his grandfather but all he ever got was voicemail or his secretary. He never got a call back.
July 2007
Sungyeol: Age 15
When Sungyeol was 15, he decided that enough was enough. He called his grandfather and demanded to talk to him. He wasn’t taking any secretaries or anything whatsoever. He was going to talk directly to the man. When he got connected to the phone, Sungyeol heard the familiar grumbly voice. As a kid, that voice used to invoke love and adoration from him and now it invoked nothing but hatred. “Grandfather, I wish to come back home.” he said. Lee Byungho laughed. “As though I’d let you.”
“I am coming back grandfather and that is all.” he said. Byungho rolled his eyes at Sungyeol and sighed annoyed at him. “Fine. But don’t expect the king’s welcome. You are not a worthy heir and I will make sure that you never become the head of the company. You are a rebellious awful child.”
Sungyeol hung up in outrage. He had come back a few days later and was absolutely ignored. He had registered himself at school and just stayed by himself at the family house. Everyone was too busy for him now.
August 2011
Sungyeol: Age 19
“Grandfather, this is Jiyu, my girlfriend.” he said, introducing the girl of his dreams to his parents and grandparents. His parents were warm and affectionate towards Jiyu and she had given him a sweet smile in slight shock. Lee Byungho however, seemed cold towards her.
“We had chosen a lovely girl for you to marry and you choose to ignore our wishes and you bring this trashy girl into the house,” he said, standing up and leaving the room. Sungyeol stared after his grandfather, confused. He had expected this but he was shocked at how he reacted. “Hey, Yeollie...we’re going to be okay.” he heard. He offered a smile to Jiyu. “Thanks.. yeah, we’re going to be great,” he said, smiling.
December 2012
Sungyeol: Age 21
Jiyu looked at Sungyeol. “Should we send your parents an invitation to the wedding?” she asked. Sungyeol looked up from the tablet, where he was drawing and he looked at Jiyu holding their year old baby girl. He was so madly in love with her and even small accident like Haebin made him really happy. “I think we should. I think we should also send my grandparents one too,” he said. “But I want to hand deliver them. We can send out all of them, but the ones meant for my family, I’ll deliver.” he stated.
“well, they're ready. Haebin and I will be waiting!” she said, handing him the invitations. Sungyeol pressed a kiss to her cheek and he headed out to see his family. However, his grandfather even refused to see him.
July 2015
Sungyeol: Age 23
“JIYU! GRANDFATHER, PLEASE.” he rushed into the private hospital where his wife had been taken. He had only heard about the accident twenty minutes ago and he immediately rushed over to the hospital. Miracle Corp owned the hospital. He wanted his grandfather to help her. He couldn't;t lose her. Not like this.
“I can’t. I have an important patient in surgery right now and to remove them from the OR to save her...would kill the company.” he said. Sungyeol collapsed to his knees. “Please, grandfather. I have never asked for anything my whole life. Just this one thing. Please. Save her. Her daughter needs her. I need her.”
Lee Byungho took a deep breath, “I’m sorry. I cant.” he said, as the monitor flatlined. Sungyeol couldn’t believe that this was happening.
“You can however bring your daughter to the main house. She shall grow up as the next heir.” his grandfather stated. “But I have one condition: You will not be allowed to see her.”
Present Day
Sungyeol: Age 24
Sungyeol was scared. It has been a year since he lost her. He refused to even talk to his family. He felt bitter. Meeting his grandfather though, again, after what happened, angered him. He was convinced that the man had no regrets as to what he did to Sungyeol. “Grandfather.” he said, greeting the man, as he walked into the charity gala thrown by Miracle Corp.
“Trash. It’s good to see that you still haven’t proven yourself.” he said. Sungyeol glared at the old man. He was going to not say a single word. “you let her die. you took my daughter away. I will never forgive you for that,” he said. Sungyeol stalked right past him.
The weeks after his wife’s death, he fell deeper and deeper into depression and further and further away from his job and life. He ended up drinking most of time and stuck in bars when he should have been at home, drawing. But he could no longer find the desire to draw. Jiyu had been his sole motivation to follow his dream of drawing and being an artist. He had to put that aside for the sake of his own sanity. But he didn’t realize how far he had fallen down.
He raised a hand for one more drink and found it in front of him. He was messed up but getting drunk all the time was easier than facing the pain that was waiting him at home. An empty apartment. His wife’s work scattered around. His daughter’s toys scattered everywhere as well. “Another one!” he exclaimed. The bartender hesitantly brought more alcohol, and Sungyeol stared at the glass and sighed.
He drank the glass in front of him and he sighed, flopping over on the counter, and leaning on his arm. This was the reality that he chose. Getting drunk and avoiding his real life. He raised a hand for another glass and found the glass being grabbed by someone. “My alcohol,”he said, sadly.
