Jay POV
Jay was going to see a spoiled little brat. He sighed. He just doesn't understand why after all the decades his family is stil obsessed with being some kind of retainer.
Why until now do they still perform this tradition?
It's not that the Han family was even near to the line of royalties. But their family was always close to his family.
All his life, he was introduced to all kinds of study about managing, being an advisor and a bodyguard. Not that he was complaining, those things made it easier to deal with people. It was very useful.
It wasn't forced to him per se. But it was always something they do. His parents, his cousins, and his siblings all go through this kind of training.
It was a part of their lives. He didn't know it wasn't normal until he stepped into high school.
While he was preparing for his self defense training, other high schoolers were talking about the games they played or the tv shows they watched.
While he was doing economics, everyone else was going to the mall or having sleepovers or having roadtrips.
Jay briefly stopped going to his extra classes. His parents never told him what they think. They acted that it wasn't a big deal when he announced that he wasn't going to any of his subclasses.
For a brief time before going to college, he was able to live like a normal high school student. He was younger than his peers since he was able to advanced 3 years but he never thought of his age difference. He spent his free time with his friends, going to the malls and played games.
He was living his life correctly. Normally.
One month after his so called freedom, his parents announced that he would be meeting with the heir of the Han family.
Jay would roll his eyes on his parents if he could but he didn't want to offend them.
He sighed internally. He doesn't want to show his displeasure on meeting a spoiled brat. A kid who is only on his primary school. Well he was also considered a rich kid but the Han family is on a different level. The kid was definitely going to be a spoiled brat.
Why do he need to meet a kid?
"Hello, I'm Jay." Jay greeted to a six year old boy in front of him. His parents and the kid's father was already talking, motioning the kids to stay in the room they're at.
"Jumin Han" the kid offered his hand. Jay blinked.
The kid wanted to shake hands on a business like manner.
Odd. Jay thought.
After that moment, the kid decided to ignore him and sat on the sofa holding a thick book.
A vien popped out of Jay's head. After coming here and wasting three hours of his time on the way, the kid got the nerve to ignore him.
Jay approached the kid and sat beside him. "What are you reading?" He glanced at the book and did a double take.
"Modern Economics" the kid answered casually and then seemed like he forgotten something.
"I deeply apologize. I shouldn't have ignored you. You are our guests after all" the kid said bowing his head. He swiftly put down his book on the table and gestured to a blue door.
"Do you want to play?" Jumin asked tilting hus head to the side.
Jay blinked again. This kid is odd.
"If you'd like" Jay answered without thinking.
"I don't actually" the kid furrowed his brows. Jay raised an eyebrow.
"Then what do you want to do?"
"I really need to understand this book" the kid pointing at the table where he placed his book.
"Why?" Jay can't help but smile a little. The book was obviously beyond the kid's comprehension. And why did the kid even need this?
"To help my father with the business" the kid said seriously, opening the book in front of him.
Jay chuckled a little. "That room, what's inside?" he pointed at the blue door.
"Games, father gave them to me as a gift" the kid answered, still engrossed by the book.
"Did you use them at least once?"
The kid shook his head.
Jay frowned. "You are a six year old, correct?"
The kid nodded, turning a page.
"Then you don't need to read that yet" Jay sighed. He expected a spoiled brat. Not this.
This odd kid.
"Father wanted me to grow up and take care of the family's business. I have no time for games" the kid said, eyes darting back and forth to the pages.
"He brought them for you though"
The kid paused and stared at him.
"That..." the kid was at a loss for words. It was clearly the first time that the kid has realized the implications of that. Clearly, Jumin hasn't thought anything about it.
"Let's play" Jay smiled at the kid
A week later, Jay went back to his normal routine. Spending his free time without a clear plan was tiring.
And was getting boring.
It was a routine he knew full well. Not that he plan to work with the Han.
It just seems like a great opportunity. He was learning about a lot of things.
It wasn't that he doesn't have any friends or that he doesn't have any hobbies. He was still free on the weekends and still have time for himself on the weekdays.
It wasn't that difficult and he feels like he doesn't really miss anything on his school years.
A year later, his family was invited to a vacation with the Han family. It was a normal gathering on an island that his family owned.
He think that his family really is closed to the Hans. He just wasn't that interested before.
"Young master!" a shout from afar was heard accompanied by a gunshot.
"Good job" Jay heard a familiar voice. It was the kid's.
Lying on the floor, a man was bleeding. Jay immediately ran to the kid's side. "What happened?" he asked the man holding the injured man.
"Attempted kidnapping of the young master. It's alright." Jay can only nod. It was odd that a kidnapper was able to enter their island.
Odder that the kid was their target. It wasn't Han' s island after all and this vacation was not announced to anyone. Being considered as high society and all.
Turning around, Jay crouched down to the height of the kid. "Are you alright?" he said petting the kid's head.
The kid blinked at him. "I have no scratch on me. The bodyguards were great at their job"
Jay could only stare. This level of calm is really peculiar at this age. Even he was unnerved by the events and he wasn't even the target.
"How many times did this kind of thing happened to you?" he asked curiously.
"About 2. But if you counted the ones where they never gotten near me, 6" Jumin answered showing six fingers.
Jay nodded. He rubbed his hand on the kid's hair making it unruly.
"Hey!" Jumin protested, pouting. "If you'll excuse me, I need to go to the bathroom" the kid said, stomping angrily to the bathroom.
Jay chuckled. Seriously a strange kid.
A few minutes passed and he decided to check on the bathroom. The kid wasn't inside the bathroom or any stalls and Jay was getting a little bit nervous.
But then he heard sniffling at the back.
He tiptoed closer to the sound. He saw Jumin sitting at the ground, face wet with tears.
The kid seems like he trying hard not to make any noice and stop his crying but to no avail.
"Kid?" Jay called softly.
Jumin stumbled a little bit, very surprised. He hurriedly wiped his face on his sleeves before turning to the voice.
"Hi, sorry if I took longer" the kid's voice was a little dry.
"Are you alright?" Jay asked in concern. He should've known that the kid was still...
A kid.
"Yes. Please don't tell father. He'll just worry" Jumin asked almost pleading.
Jay couldn't understand. The kid is just seven years old. How and why is he thinking like this?
"You should really tell him, you know?" What was wrong about admitting that you were scared?
"He didn't need to know. Besides the guards would report it anyways" the kid shrugged. It was like the kid didn't even cry a few minutes ago.
"Why?" Jay asked. He really doesn't understand.
"Because it doesn't matter"
Jumin POV
"Elizabeth the 3rd?" Jumin called.
He was feeling drained with all the talk with V, Rika and Luciel.
The air was clearly tense because they were discussing the security of the client's data that is stored in Rika's apartment.
Rika even joked that they should install a bomb for the worst case scenario. Jumin thought she was joking but the look on her face was serious.
Jumin thought it was absurb.
No need to burn a house down if you could just put it on a box where a forced open would destroy all the files. That is how ATM protects the money inside.
Besides, there will be a lot of casualties if they decided to bomb the house. It is an apartment which a lot of people live.
Jumin stated this but Rika still seemed unconvinced. They concluded the meeting, dropping the subject for a while.
Jumin walked into Elizabeth the 3rd's room. It was a vacant guest room months before but then his present came.
The cat doesn't seem to understand what he was talking most of the time and quite frankly, he doesn't get the merits of having a pet.
Sure, the cat was cute but most of the time it breaks his concentration, destroys his documents and is an annoyance when he was trying to pet or feed her because she just doesn't want to be touch.
Maybe they gifted him a defective cat. Jumin thought but shook his head.
What would be the reasoning for that?
He spotted a white tail under the bed and bend his knees.
"Elizabeth the 3rd. I'm home" Jumin said pulling the cat and caressing her.
"Did you do anything today?"
Jumin frowned when he heard a weak meow. He touched the cat's ears and it was hot.
"Elizabeth?"
The cat was panting and looks like in great pain.
Jumin felt a snap.
