Chapter 7

Xam's Perspective

Here comes another day. Another day I was forced to endure.

I walked down the flight of stairs going down to the first floor of my foreboding home as I carried my backpack. I was

now leaving for school on an empty stomach after a long, sleepless night. A lifestyle I had long got accustomed to. Like back at home, I could never bring myself to sleep at night, in fear of dreaming of my sister being alive, and of all the memories we've created together. In fear of being separated from reality, enjoying the satisfaction of being with her again—and the fear of feeling the immense pain I'd feel once I wake up from my slumber, to remember that she no longer existed in this terrible world.

But somehow, those fears only remained at night. I never felt frightened to sleep during the day, which was why I prefered to sleep during class.

As I walked down the last steps, I met a few of the staff standing near the door, as if they were waiting for me.

I frowned as I neared them, knowing there was something important they had to tell me.

I stopped before them and sighed.

"If you have something to tell me, make it quick," I said quietly, but firm enough to maintain a confident composure.

"Young Master Jae-Ho is here," one of the maids said.

The information they gave me drove me to silence for a few seconds.

"…Let him in," I ordered, trying to hide my bewilderment. As they opened the door, I swallowed hard.

Han Jae-Ho looked just as he did the last time I saw him, at my sister's funeral a few months ago.

His eyes instantly met mine the moment he entered the house. He gave me a smirk as he bent down to bow before me, which I found quite irritating. Someone as prideful as my cousin would never exert such a respective bow to someone way below or younger than him, even if I was the heir to one of the world's largest entertainment company. Atleast, in the past, that was the case. But, it seemed different now, especiallys since it seemed that I had something he wanted from me.

"What brings you here, Jae-Ho?" I asked, leaving no space for a warm welcome within my voice. I knew that whatever reason he was here, it surely wasn't out of concern.

He grinned at me, surprised at the coldness of my voice. "Isn't it obvious? I'm here to check up on you, of course." With that he walked past me and made his way to the living room, making himself at home even before I allowed him to do so. I rolled my eyes at his remark and followed him.

There, I found him sitting on the couch with his legs crossed, and his hands stretched across the headrest. "Don't get me wrong though. I'm here under the Chairman's orders," he said, looking pointedly at his feet.

At the mention of the Chairman, my curiousity was suddenly aroused. I wonder what is it that my Grandfather wants now?

"Well, make it quick," I said, glancing at my watch, desperate to show him my impatience. I really wanna sleep now, I thought.

"You have an appointment with him this saturday." He glanced at me expecting for a rebellious reaction, but I betrayed none, despite how painful it felt for the little pride I had left. Thus, he continued.

"Mrs. Yu has already been informed about the details of the venue, so you have nothing to worry about. As for why…well, that's between you and him."

"Hmm, I had no idea you guys still kept in touch with Mrs. Yu," I shot him a suspicious look, but I didn't confront him any further. Knowing my grandfather, he wouldn't let go of any possible connections he had concerning the welfare of his family, and that would be Mrs Yu, his former right hand maid who assisted him in Korea before lending her to my father's staff, which, later on, led her to being under my wing. Thus, for that reason, I had doubts whether she was someone I could trust, despite how motherly she tried to act towards me. It was already a given that when it came to professional and household responsibilities, she was the one person I could count on no matter how much I doubted her when it came to our personal relationship.

Though there were more than enough reasons why I should trust her in all the years I've known her, I still remained hesitant towards the idea.

"Anything else?" I folded my arms as I leaned against the wall.

"'Cause if there's nothing else, I'd highly appreciate it if you'd leave now. I'll see you out since I have to leave for school, anyway."

I glanced at my watch, making sure to portray the impatience I was feeling as I did.

He sighed and groaned loudly as he stood up from his comfortable position on the couch and dug a hand in his pocket as I led him out of the living room, completely satisfied with myself. Though, I got to admit, it was surprising that I managed to convince him to leave with not much as an arguement, since that was what I prepared myself for him to do.

With my bag slung onto my shoulder, I led him out of the door, relieved to have him out of my roof.

He walked towards his car outside as I made my way towards the gate.

Not that I didn't have a car myself. Well, I had a few which I rarely used since it was needless for me to do so. I usually took the bus or any local transportation to school, not wanting to catch unnescessaary attention I might or might not receive, and the staff highly objected of my decisions, but, as usual, I took no heed of their words.

As I reached the large gates, my attention was stolen by the presence of Jae-Ho's BMW as it slowly stopped beside me. The window to the passenger seat slid down and was replaced by his smug face looking out at me. I lifted a brow, annoyed by his presence.

"Need a lift?" he asked politely, which was something I wasn't expecting.

My mind was debating wether to accept or refuse his offer, and I found myself surprised to settle with an agreeing nod.

Maybe it was because I was already as late as one could be, and that I was to tired to commute, especially with the heat.

He opened the door and I seated myself in the passenger seat beside him as he stepped on the engines, bringing us back in the road.

The two story apartment I was living in was located at the top of a desolated hill, not to far away from the city, but enough to avoid any neighborhoods. The car sped down a path in the hill, which led to the steady land below us.

"It kind of surprises me how your not skipping school and going out to parties without your parent's watchful eye's, " he said amidst the silence. I leaned against the headrest before replying to his absurd remark. First of all, I never went to parties, and second, that was the kind of thing he would and did do. He was only 4 years older than me, but that didn't make him less reckless than I was.

"Guess I'm just not like you," I said bitterly closing my eyes.

"Well, I'm damn glad you aren't. And it seems like your tired. Slept late last night? Doing some homework?" I could feel him averting his gaze from the road to me.

"Yeah, sort of," I lied knowing to well how big of a lie it was.

Suddenly, he laughed. I opened my eyes, driven by surprise at his reaction.

"You're terrible at lying," he says. "Guess that's one reason you can't be me."

I gave him a questioning look before he s

dropped the bomb.

He sighed. "You think I have no idea your neglecting school for whatever the heck your doing?" He raised an eyebrow as I rolled my eyes at him. I didn't even bother to ask how he knew. Damn, Mrs. Yu, how much do you tell them about my life?

"Whatever," I said,disgusted by his smug look. I don't even know why he and Sasha got along. He was the polar opposite of my sister, who wouldn't dare skip any of her classes to go at some bar and hook up with random strangers, like he did when he was about my age. He was even older than Sasha, but it could take him decades to act the part. Probably, despite his loathing personality, I didn't completely resent him since he highly respected my sister when she was still alive, and I swear I even saw him cry for the first time at her funeral, something I never expected to see him do.

And now, even with my sister gone and his annoying personality still remained, there was something about him that couldn't bring me to resent him. Maybe it was because I knew my sister trusted him from the bottom of her heart or because of what he said next.

"Don't worry, I won't tell your old man about it," he said suddenly, noticing how I became silent.

I turned to him in surprise. I wasnt actually worried about that even though I knew it would greatly affect me if they knw, but I was pretty surprised with the generous offer he's making to shut his mouth for my sake.

"Yeah. Thanks, i guess. Do you still keep in touch with him?"

"Who? Your dad?"

I nodded.

"What reason do I have to do so? Well, aside from professional reasons, I've never contacted him for any personal ones since you moved in Korea, for all I know."

"I see. Just asking."

Jae-Ho and my father weren't as close as what was expected of their uncle and nephew relationship, but when it came to bussiness, I'm sure it must've been different.

I kept my eyes on the road and notice that we were nearing the school, and that thought alone made me feel sleepy. "Hey, you don't exactly have to drop me at school. Maybe at the corner is fine."

He quirked an eyebrow at my sudden request. "Your not actually making a detour to some kind of bar are you? Look doesn't mean I was like that at your age, doesn't mean it's healthy. And, besides the chairman woul—"

"It's not what you think," I immediately interrupted. "I don't want to catch attention by coming late and being dropped by a fancy car or anything like that. And I suppose I already made it clear that I'm nothing like you."

He smirked. "Whatever you say, young master."

I rolled my eyes at him. Expected, but couldn't make him less annoying.

As he continued driving, I fixed my eyes on the road and was suddenly distracted by a slender figure running in the side walk.

I eyed it carefully and realized that it was a girl, noticing her long brown pony tail dangling behind her as she ran.

She looked very familiar and I didn't dare take my eyes off her.

Not until we passed her did I realize that it was her.

Xiyan.

She was running at a fairly fast pace behind us, sweat trickling her forehead.

Jae-Ho chuckled at the sight of her, half in humor and admiration, I could tell, and I certainly didn't like it.

"She's pretty fast," he remarked as I looked away from her. "And cute."

I have no idea if he was saying it to himself or to me, but I certainly didn't like it.

I glared at him.

"Don't tell me you don't mind hooking up with a 16 year old? Cause she seems to young for you, if I say so myself."

He smirked as he stepped on the breaks and leaned against the headrest. "No, but it seems like you do." He gave me a knowing look as I realized that he was certainly teasing me when he called her cute.

Fuck. I should've kept my mouth shut.

I took a deep breath before opening the door and getting out, eager to change the topic. "Thanks for the ride," I said bitterly and waved him goodby before turning around.

"You seem to have good preference when it comes to girls, Xam!" I heard him call out and I immediately cringed, trying to ignore him.

Damn. Knowing him, he'd spend decades bugging me over a small crush. How annoying.