Kai sat in his dimly lit study, a half-empty glass of whiskey resting on the polished desk in front of him. The golden liquid barely swayed in the glass as his grip tightened around it. The room was silent, save for the faint ticking of the antique clock on the wall, each second echoing the weight of his regret.
Just as he was about to take another sip of the whiskey, his phone buzzed sharply on the desk, breaking the silence. The ringtone echoed in the otherwise quiet room, harsh and insistent. Kai's eyes flickered to the screen, and for a moment, he felt his pulse quicken. The name on the caller ID made his stomach twist in irritation.
His father.
What now? Kai thought bitterly, glancing at the phone, the call still buzzing. He could already imagine the conversation, the scolding, the nagging about his "reckless" decisions. It was always the same thing.
Kai let the phone ring, not even bothering to pick it up. He knew his father would leave a message.