Author's Note:
Hey everyone! I'd love to hear your thoughts and feedback on this story! What do you think of Taehyun's chaotic family life? And do you think the marriage situation with Mr. Lee is going to escalate? Let me know what you think in the comments! Your opinions really mean a lot to me, so don't be shy! đ
---
The Unwanted visit
Taehyun had spent the past week in the comfort of his family's mansion, doing absolutely nothing.
"Taehyun, you should be doing something productive ," his mother scolded as she flitted around the kitchen, preparing another dish no one asked for.
"I'm being productive!" Taehyun replied, sprawled out on the couch with his phone, tapping away aimlessly.
""Productive with your phone?" his father chimed in, lifting an eyebrow in disapproval.
Taehyun's only response was to grab another handful of chips from the bowl beside him.
"I'm working on my mental health, Dad. That's important too," Taehyun grinned.
Taeho, his younger brother, snickered. "You're just avoiding anything that requires effort."
"Exactly," Taehyun winked.
Their mother grumbled, setting down a bowl of fruit in front of Taehyun. "You can avoid your responsibilities, but don't avoid fruit!"
Taehyun sighed dramatically and took the bowl, but his attention drifted back to the TV.
---
The front doorbell rang, and Taehyun's heart sank.
"Mr. Lee?" his father asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Guess so," Taehyun mumbled. "Should I hide under the couch?"
Taeho's eyes widened. "I'll be right behind you if you do."
But it was too late. Mr. Lee and his son, Lee Minjun, had already entered the mansion. Taehyun could practically hear the clingy energy of Minjun from across the room.
Mr. Lee started talking to Taehyun's father about "business matters," but Taehyun could tell his dad was barely listening. His attention was more focused on avoiding eye contact with Mr. Lee.
Taehyun tried to slip away, but as soon as Minjun spotted him, he bounded over.
"Taehyun! It's been forever!" Minjun squealed, eyes too bright.
"Has it?" Taehyun said, trying his best not to cringe.
Minjun threw a hand over his heart. "Oh, I've missed you!"
"RightâŠ" Taehyun mumbled, backing away.
Taeho, seeing the awkwardness of the situation, decided to make his exit. "I've got assignments... see ya later, guys!" He dashed out of the house as if a ghost was chasing him.
---
The living room now felt like a battlefield, and Taehyun was stuck in the trenches.
"So, Taehyun... what's it like being so cool all the time?" Minjun asked with his eyes wide, like Taehyun was some sort of mythical creature.
"I just breathe, Minjun," Taehyun replied flatly.
Minjun clutched his hands together. "But you're soâsoâ"
"Normal?" Taehyun offered.
Minjun blinked. "Exactly!"
The conversation continued in a loop of awkwardness, with Minjun constantly trying to "bond" with Taehyun, while Taehyun just stared blankly at him, wishing for the world to swallow him whole.
---
The next week, Taehyun reluctantly returned to the office.
"Good morning, Taehyun," Haru, his secretary, said as Taehyun entered the office.
"Morning," Taehyun grinned, completely ignoring the pile of paperwork already waiting for him.
"Let me guess⊠you've been living your best lazy life at home, huh?" Haru raised an eyebrow.
"Uh, that's what the family calls it. I'm recharging," Taehyun said with a wink.
"Recharging? You mean avoiding work, as usual," Haru retorted, flipping through the paperwork on his desk.
The amount of work piled up was insane.
"Look at this," Haru muttered, clearly fed up. "This is death by paperwork. If this continues, I'm going to have a meltdown, and you'll have no one left to yell at but yourself!"
Taehyun laughed. "Haru, relax. It's not that bad."
Haru raised a hand, pretending to strangle himself. "If you don't ease up on me, I'm resigning. I'll send you an email with my resignation notice, and you'll have no choice but to work this all out yourself."
Taehyun didn't take him seriously. "Haru, don't joke like that."
"I'm not joking," Haru said with a deadpan expression. "You have a mountain of work, and I'm the only one standing between you and total chaos. Don't test me."
Taehyun just shrugged. "You wouldn't leave me. You love me too much."
Haru rolled his eyes. "You're lucky I'm dedicated to my job, or I'd be out of here by noon."
Taehyun chuckled but knew deep down Haru was serious. For now, he'd let Haru vent, but the pile of work wasn't going anywhere.
---
The dinner table was set, and everyone was gathered around, teasing each other like they always did.
"But seriously, Taehyun," his father started. "You're growing up. What are your plans for the future?"
Taehyun dropped his chopsticks. "What do you mean by that? I'm still a kid."
His father looked at him, then back at his mother, who just sighed.
"No, Taehyun," his dad replied. "You're not. You're the heir to the company. That means you need to make decisions."
Taehyun wasn't ready for this conversation, but he didn't argue. "I'll figure it out, Dad."
The dinner was filled with light-hearted bickering, but there was an underlying message. The Park family might have been loud and chaotic, but at the end of the day, they stuck together.
Taehyun was starting to see how his family wanted him to shape his future, but it felt like the pressure was mounting.
"Well, I'll deal with it⊠eventually." Taehyun thought as the evening drew to a close.
---
Later that night, Taehyun's phone rang. It was Mr. Lee again.
"Taehyun, my son really is a good match for you. You should consider it seriously," Mr. Lee's voice was too sweet, almost too convincing.
Taehyun sighed and glanced over at his dad, who had his own concerns. His father wasn't completely on board with the idea, but the pressure from Mr. Lee was becoming too heavy to ignore.
"Well, we'll talk about it more later," Mr. Lee said before hanging up.
Taehyun tossed his phone onto the couch, frustration evident on his face. He ran a hand through his hair and stared at the ceiling, already feeling the weight of the conversation settling in his chest.
"I'll deal with it⊠later," he mumbled, knowing full well that he was only delaying the inevitable.
But deep down, he knew that later might not be so easy to push away.
The doorbell rang again.
Taehyun froze. Who else was coming at this hour?
As he stood up to answer the door, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was the beginning of something he couldn't escape.
The doorbell rang again.
Taehyun froze. Who else was coming at this hour?
When he answered the door, there was no one there. Instead, an unexpected delivery had arrived. He frowned, unsure of the sender, but there was no time to dwell on itâhe quickly glanced at his phone and saw another message from Mr. Lee, pushing for the marriage talks to happen soon.
Taehyun sighed, tossing the delivery aside for later. He felt the pressure mounting, but he wasn't ready to face it.
"I'll deal with it later," he muttered again, the words almost a mantra at this point. He turned back to his family, who were busy discussing the ongoing issues with Mr. Lee. Their voices were a background hum, his mind too clouded with frustration and uncertainty to focus on them.
As the evening passed, Taehyun tried to push away the mounting stress, still avoiding the thought of the upcoming marriage and what it might mean for him.
But in the back of his mind, the unease about the delivery, the photos, and the hidden truths about his situation gnawed at himâhe couldn't run away from this forever.
TO BE CONTINUED
A little introduction of new characters
Character Profiles:
Mr. Lee : A businessman and Taehyun's father's long-time best friend. He has a hidden agenda involving Taehyun and his family, especially wanting his son to marry into the Park family.
Lee minjun : Mr. Lee's clingy omega son, always seeking approval from those around him. He has a soft spot for Taehyun and is overly eager to form a connection, despite Taehyun's discomfort.
Kim Haru: Taehyun's capable but overworked secretary. He's been handling Taehyun's dramatic tendencies with a mix of patience and sarcasm. He has a soft spot for Taehyun, but his breaking point is fast approaching with the amount of work he's being handed.
Thanks for reading