STRINGS OF MY HEART | SVT | JEONGCHEOL [?]

17 - Falling For U

The engines roared in unison as the royal cars as well as the vehicles of the guards took their leaves.

"Seungcheol?" Jeonghan looked at him with concern as he saw him fiddling with his fingers.

"Yeah?"

"Are you okay?"

Seungcheol sighed, "I'm really nervous to meet dad."

"Why so?" Jeonghan asked.

"I-" Seungcheol looked at him as Jeonghan gestured him to proceed.

"No matter how much things have changed now and no matter how nicely he talks to me, he's still your father." Seungcheol looked down, "Will he ever forgive me for what I did to his son, by heart?"

"Don't worry." Jeonghan held his hand, "If he'll see me genuinely happy, he will also feel content."

"Are you?" Seungcheol gulped, "Are you genuinely happy, Jeonghan?"

Jeonghan stared at him for a while after which he nodded with a small smile, "You don't need to be nervous."

Soon enough, they reached the Yoon Mansion as Jaebyeom welcomed all four of them warmly.

Jaebyeom was about to pay the cultural respect to the royalty but Seungcheol and Seokmin halted him.

"What happened?" Jaebyeom asked, "Why did you stop me?"

"Because today, the royalty of the Choi Empire is not here, dad." Seungcheol chuckled.

"Your two sons and two son in laws are here." Seokmin completed.

"You're still wrong." Jaebyeom grinned, "My four sons are here."

He spread his arms as the four of them shared a warm embrace with him.

"Come." Jaebyeom stated as all of them took seats in the hall and refreshments were served in a luxurious manner.

"How are all of you doing?" Jaebyeom asked.

"Really great." Joshua nodded.

Their get together went by with a real family bonding time. Morning turned into noon and no one even realised.

Jeonghan, Joshua and Seokmin were busy talking when Seungcheol approached Jaebyeom.

"Dad?" Seungcheol cleared his throat.

"Yes, what happened, son?" Jaebyeom asked.

"I want to talk to you." Seungcheol looked back at the other three for a while, "Alone."

"Yeah, sure." Jaebyeom nodded as he guided him to the garden area, for privacy.

"What happened, son? Is everything alright?" Jaebyeom was concerned.

"I-" Seungcheol looked down, "Never in my life I had imagined that I'll do something so wrong which would make it practically impossible for me to look into someone's eyes."

It was when Jeonghan stood by the door, hiding himself. He didn't want to overhear their confidential conversation but he couldn't stop himself when he saw his father and Seungcheol secluding themselves.

"Why would you say that?" Jaebyeom held his shoulder.

"I don't know from where to start." Seungcheol looked up, "But, first of all, I'm sorry."

Jaebyeom just stared at him.

"I know, by hurting your son, I've hurt you even more. I know, you must have seen him crying to himself and getting dejected. I know, you would have blamed yourself for his misery. I'm extremely and genuinely sorry for everything.