Point Four: The Tides, They Are A'Turning

"I watched Hyun dance yesterday."

Ga Eul looked up from from the night cream she was about to apply on her face and looked at her husband through the vanity mirror in their bedroom.

"Did you now?" she smiled. "And?"

Yi Jeong harumphed as he turned to punch the pillow he was resting against on his bed. He leaned back and met his wife's eyes in the mirror and shrugged.

"He's... not bad."

Ga Eul rolled her eyes and shook her head, continuing to apply the cream to her face. "It's okay for you to compliment your son once in a while, you know."

Yi Jeong folded his arms and furrowed his brow. "I just don't want him to get his head up in the clouds and think that he's ready for all this entertainment nonsense, because..."

"Because he's your son?"

"Because I don't want the same things to happen to him," he replied firmly.

Ga Eul turned around to face him, her beautiful face turning sad and serious. She capped the night cream bottle, placed it on the dresser counter, and walked towards their bed to sit next to him.

"Under all your harsh words and disapproving looks, I know you care for him deeply," she said softly, gently caressing his cheek. "But he's 18. Tthere's only so much you can do to protect him, Jeong-ah. He will never learn how to hold his own otherwise."

Yi Jeong pressed her hand closer to his cheek, then holding it to his lips to kiss it.

"I spoke to him this morning before he went to school. Actually, I did most of the talking. He kind of just... sat there, looking forlorn. And you saw how he was at dinner tonight," she sighed. Yi Jeong pursed his lips as he thought about his sullen son at the dinner table, listless and withdrawn.

"I hate seeing our Hyun like that, you know. Just let him try out, okay?" Ga Eul pleaded with her puppy dog eyes, which still looked as they were when they were younger, save for the added lines that came from age, "I'll allow you to say 'I told you so' to me if things don't work out."

Yi Jeong pulled his wife closer to him and kissed her on the forehead, without saying anything more. He had made his decision long before he'd even spoken to her.

...

So, how was your practice yesterday? Did you try out the things I told you to?

Tae Hyun scratched his cheek before typing a reply to Jinsu over the computer.

Yes, hyung. I added that slide after the chorus and that worked really well. I practiced today after school and I think it's coming together.

He pressed the 'Enter' button, and a reply came back to him in no time.

You don't sound too thrilled about that.

Tae Hyun raised an eyebrow.

How do you even know how I sound? This is over the computer, mind you.

He pressed the 'Enter' button again, but this time, a reply didn't come as quickly as it usually did. Hyung must have gone to the toilet, he thought to himself.

Just then, his mobile phone rang. Tae Hyun grabbed it and pressed 'answer' without even looking at the screen.

"Because I know you, So Tae Hyun," Jinsu's deep voice came streaming through the phone. "We haven't been best friends all this time for nothing, you know."

Tae Hyun sighed over the phone. "It's tomorrow, Jin. Tomorrow. I need to give an answer tomorrow. Tomorrow. Ugh. I'm beginning to hate that word."

"Your dad still isn't budging?"

"Not one bit. I didn't see him yesterday because I was practicing all night, and we didn't speak at all over dinner tonight. What's the point, anyway. He's never got anything good to say to me. But I just want him to know that I want to try out to show that I can do it, and so he can be proud of me, just for once."

Jinsu coughed. "Sorry, Hyun. I tried, and so did my appa. Unfortunately he lost a bet they made yesterday, so he's still kind of sore."

Tae Hyun smiled, appreciative of his best friend's efforts. "Thank you, hyung. And thank samchon for me too."

Just then, there was a tentative knock on the door.

"Hey, Jin," Tae Hyun said, "I have to go. Talk to you tomorrow?"

"All the best, my man. You need it," replied Jin, before hanging up.

The door opened just as Tae Hyun placed his phone back on the study table, and put his computer to sleep.

"Can I come in?" Yi Jeong asked, poking his head in.

"Be my guest," came Tae Hyun's impassioned reply. "It's your house, anyway."

Yi Jeong smiled grimly, not quite knowing what to do next. "But it is your room, Hyun. You never let me forget that."

"I guess," the younger lad said, giving up his computer chair for his father to sit on, while he hopped on his bed, sitting crossed-legged. "So, to what do I owe this visit, appa?"

Yi Jeong settled himself in the (surprisingly comfortable) computer chair, and bounced on it a few times. "Well, I figured we needed to talk."

Tae Hyun merely shrugged in reply, suddenly very interested in his duvet cover.

Off to a rolling start, the older man thought to himself wryly.

"I know we've been facing some... tension lately," Yi Jeong began, trying to verbally tip-toe around his son, "And I know we are quite at odds at this new development of yours. I am still not keen on you doing this audition thing, but I just want you to know that at the end of it all, you are my son..."

Tae Hyun rolled his eyes, still not meeting his father's gaze. "Tell me something I don't already know," he murmured under his breath.

"And," Yi Jeong continued, choosing to let Hyun's insolence slide, "I will support whatever decision you may decide to make."

Tae Hyun's head snapped up at that last sentence. "W-what?"

Yi Jeong rolled himself closer to his shocked-looking son, and put his hand on his shoulder.

"Appa knows that you are older now, and that you have dreams. Ambitions you want to fulfill. I was like that when I was your age too, a little younger even. I wanted to be the best potter in Seoul, even before my voice broke and before I had facial hair."

Tae Hyun smiled at his father's joke, but was still unsure about what he was trying to get at..

"But appa also knows that there are people who want to profit from other people's dreams, to achieve their own agenda. I know, because I met a few people like that in my day. Although, I must admit, I wouldn't be who I am today if I hadn't gone through what I did then."

Yi Jeong smiled at Tae Hyun. "And you, you are still young, Hyun. You have a long way to go in life yet. And as much as I wish for you never to meet people like that, I know it's not possible. The world is made up of many characters, and you'll encounter different kinds of people as you journey in life, but you will learn how to deal with them. I know you will, because you are my son."

Tae Hyun shifted slightly, a tad uncomfortable at his father's monologue. He'd never spoken much like this before.

"Appa, so does this mean..."

Yi Jeong nodded. "You will meet your deadline tomorrow, and you...OOF!"

Tae Hyun smothered his surprised father with a hug even before he could finish his sentence.

"Thank you, appa! Thank you thank you thank you!"

Yi Jeong chuckled and patted his son on the back. "You deserve it," he smiled, while catching his breath, "Especially you've got my genes when it comes to dancing."

"Appa." Tae Hyun pulled away from Yi Jeong and eyed him suspiciously, "Weren't you the one who tripped over your own feet when you were dancing with omma at Ji Hoo-samchon's farewell party when I was 14?"

Yi Jeong looked around the room, trying to look innocent. "Your omma's dress was too long."

"She was wearing a pantsuit," Tae Hyun replied smugly.

"Your memory, boy, would be put to better use memorizing whatever dance steps you need to impressed the judges," Yi Jeong smirked back, "And I hope you know it at the back of your hand, because your appa would like a sneak preview."