Exception [Soonhoon]

Exception

There was a time when I wished to be born as a different person. I hated my life so much, that crying about it or being depressed seemed to be the norm in my life. Until I have to come to a decision to stop caring altogether.

Why should I care when nobody did? Why should I let myself be depressed when the only person who cared about me was just me? Why should I even give a damn when nobody even considered my feelings? No one did. Not even my own family.

Family—they are those with the same blood as I. No, I was born from the same flesh as them.

Technically, they're supposed to be the first to care and ask if I'm okay. Unfortunately, they don't, and I have come to accept that fact. They're too busy making sure our family's business is doing well. They're too busy making a name for themselves that they've already forgotten that it's not just the two of them in the family, that they have a son-their one and only son. So that's how I lived my life with them.

I was merely someone they'd greet good morning at breakfast, and someone they'd say goodnight before they retire for the day. I was just someone they'd criticize when I didn't do well at school. I was only a part of their master plan-to be looked up by the whole city. And for that plan to succeed, I had to live up to their expectations.

That's just who I am to my own family; a mere part of their elaborate plan to take over the business world-nothing more, nothing less. And I hated how it has always been like this for us.

I felt as if I was a living doll. I did what they expect me to do. They didn't even care if I want something not tangible. Everything is about money. I hated it. I hated my life so much.

Even my school life revolved around reputation. Everything was about money, as if it's the only thing worth mentioning when it comes to me. "Oh, look how rich the Lees are?" and all the other comments about my wealth, my family, my reputation.

God, I hate this with all my heart.

So I had come to hate everything and everyone...

...until I met...

Kwon Soonyoung.

---

I was playing the piano during break that time. Music is a passion my family does not support, but nonetheless, they benefitted from it by making me play whenever they'd hold corporate events. It's the only good thing I have in my life, and the only reason I could endure hours at a party I never wished to go to.

I was playing random chords on the sleek black grand piano. I just wanted to drown myself in music and forget the rest of the world. It was working. I was so immersed in the music that I didn't notice someone was watching me.

I stopped once I heard someone applaud-a little too enthusiastically for my liking. So I turned to look at whoever the unwelcomed person was.

And it was probably the best decision of our lives, because that very moment changed us both-in more ways than one.

---

"Play Chopin for me today, please?"

It became a habit. I'd go to the music room followed by the small-eyed boy as I listened to him name songs he'd like me to play. I was surprised when he first started listing Mozart's compositions one time we were hanging out. From symphonies to piano concertos, to my favorite sonatas, I never thought he was the kind who would listen to classical music and be very knowledgeable about them. So I'd indulge him despite how annoyingly enthusiastic he gets.

"Which Chopin do you want to hear this time?"

Being with him like this, I never thought I'd like it as much as I'd like to admit. I don't know how we ended up like this. I don't even remember talking to him before we met for the first time at the music room, but then he never questioned me about my life, and never asked for anything that involves money. It's the first time someone wanted to be with me for who I was-just Lee Jihoon-and not as the heir of Lee Industries, so I got used to seeing him around while I allowed music to drown me.