Narration
"So...", Jisoo looked at her mother the moment she spoke up. She watched her as she sip on her coffee and then placed the cup back on the table.
They were at a fancy café, where her mother suggested to held their talk.
Mrs. Kim then put both of her hand at the top of the table, before she clasped them together.
"I heard you're being rumored with a guy"
That words were enough for the insides of her to panic. As if there's a bomb being thrown infront of her and any minute, it will explode.
She froze on her spot.
How the hell did she forgot that her mother already knew the rumors. Heck, she even messaged her the same moment Kim Taehyung offered for a meet up.
Was she that focused on the thought of meeting up with Kim Taehyung that she forgot about her mother?
She bit her lower lip. Being nervous, mad and afraid. Her emotions were mixed up, and her tears were threatening to fall down.
Bunch of thoughts filled her mind, but out of them all, there's this particular thought that just by thinking of it, she suddenly wanted to cry.
What if...what if this time, they'll took back again my freedom?
She immediately looked at her mom when she let out a subtle laugh.
"Oh Jisoo, my poor Jisoo, relax", she said, in a teasing tone.
She looked at her mother blankly, bitterly.
Her put her clasped hand below her chin and leaned on it.
"I must say, you're smart", she suddenly said.
Her father, who was busy typing on his laptop regarding his stuffs from work, let out a chuckle, which was for Jisoo, it's kinda annoying.
She felt like they're teaming up to annoy her, to piss her off.
"You really are my daughter", her father told her.
In some cases, hearing that words from a father was pleasing to a daughter's ears, but not in Jisoo's case. Because it was not said by him to show how proud he is, but to actually mock her.
"You controlled that rumors and find a way to stop it, though it took time to do that", he said. "But still, you manage to stop them, really afraid of us--eh?"
Jisoo clenched her fist. If they're really trying to piss her off, then they succeed. Because she's more than pissed now, she's more than annoyed as of the moment, she's mad, very mad, and hurt too....
"Honey, look at how mad her expression is", her mother said to her Dad before she playfully looked back at her. "She looked like she really hate us".
No. I don't hate you. Hate is an understatement. What I felt for the both of you is more than that, worst than hate.
How she wish she was brave enough to speak out those words.
But then, what she could do for now was to remain silent. Because aside from she isn't brave enough, she's afraid she would just say harsh words that could hurt and offend them.
They're still her parents. And however worst they treat her, she still needs to respect them.
They aren't the type of parents who taught their kids with good manners and right conduct, because they, themselves, were lacking in that field.
But Jisoo's born with natural kindness, with natural soft attitude and soft heart. And even though she hate her parents, a part of her still love them. There's still a place in her heart who was longing for their affection.
And so however harsh they treated her, she still gave respect to them. She still felt care towards them, and she's still afraid to hurt them.
"Anyways", she looked again at her mother when she spoke up.
Her mother gave her a smirk before she continued her words.
"I'm glad it's just a rumor Jisoo", she said. "You know, the guy was good looking, and I must say, he has a good family background"
Jisoo's eyes widened.
Did they investigated Taehyung and his background? The heck!
"You...", Jisoo hesitated if she would continue her words or not but then she still choose the former one. "You did a background check on him..."
She looked down at her hands placed on her lap, both clenched into balls.
"Ofcourse!", Mrs. Kim said with a tone as if she's proud of what she did. "I should check those who were being linked to you, I mean, we're rich, who knows he's just after our wealth".
"He's not like that!", she defended him while still looking at her fists who clenched more.
"Ofcourse he isn't, his family was also wealthy though", Mrs. Kim said. "Anyways, that's not the main reason as to why we're here".
That's her cue to look up to them, she gave them a confused look.
"You only have several months before you graduate in college, you know what does that mean".
She suddenly felt again the urge of crying.
Why does she have to remind me of it?
"The deal my dear, the deal", Mrs. Kim stated, emphasizing every words.
Jisoo remained silent.
Four years ago, she and her parents had a deal. That was way back when she just graduated from middle school and was about to enter college.
Her parents planned in migrating to Canada because their business there was doing good and so they decided to base there so that they could focus on that branch of them.
Ofcourse if they'll planning to base there, that also means Jisoo should come with them too. So they told her that she should come, or else she'd be left alone.
But Jisoo knew more than that. They just wanted her to come with them so that she wouldn't be away in their eyes.
All her life, she grew up feeling controlled. She doesn't have freedom, all the choices made in her life, it was all decided by her parents. From the clothes to wear, the food she should eat, the brand of things to use, even the set of people to befriend.
She was very thankful that Jennie, Rosé and Lisa's parents were all have a partnership in their company, because if they didn't, her parents wouldn't allow her to get close with them.
Her parents were actually the one who told her to befriend them, saying that they do come from wealthy family as well and all belonged on her class and status.
Yes, she was forced to befriend them, but then when she finally learned their behavior, and found out that they were all great ladies, she decided to befriend them for real. Without any force or faking.
And look now, they're more than a friend to her, they're her sisters as well, not by blood, but by heart, and that's what matters.
Unwanting to be controlled again, refused to come. She didn't just refuse, she begged. She begged for them not to take her with them, she begged for them to just leave her here. She begged for her freedom.
And that was when the deal was made. Her parents would allow her to stay and would give her the freedom she wanted, for certain conditions.
First, she must remain on top of her class. She should be always on top of her class, or even on top of her batch, not third nor second, it must be first.
And second, she should stay away from boys. She must not have any romantic relationship with anyone, she must remain single.
Lastly, she could only have her freedom for four years only. Because once she graduated from college, her parents would take back the control in her life.
Jisoo agreed, feeling desperate for her freedom. But God knows how much she regretted agreeing to those when her parents told her the last condition of that deal.
The last condition....damn that last condition!
"Be ready my dear, remember the last condition? It would happen anytime soon"
And that was enough for Jisoo's world to be shaken.