C10 Chapter 9: Meeting the Woos

Just like Jin, Asami was starstruck for a moment after seeing three gorgeous men in suits staring right at them. It made her self-conscious. Oh my, does her dress look fine?

"Ma'am?"

The staff called out to her when she did not move for a couple of seconds.

Asami blinks, “Ah-Yes, Thank you.” Her lips stretch into an awkward smile.

Even though she was anxious staying under the intimidating gazes they’re receiving, she confidently took a step forward, officially stepping out of the elevator as she fixed the strands of her hair. She then bows towards the staff politely, who just nods her head back towards her in return.

Asami glanced behind her and saw her son, frozen and standing very still inside the elevator.

"Sweetheart?" whispered Asami. Does he perhaps feel sick?

Jin snapped out of his deep thoughts, blinked his eyes numerous times before looking away. His ears began to turn red in embarrassment. He stood there, uneasy and confused on his shoes. He can feel his agitation stirring with his adrenaline.

Why was his heart erratically beating inside his chest?

Slowly, he released his hand around his stomach and acted as if nothing had happened. He stood straight as he clasp and rub his hand together, warming and consoling himself because his fingers wouldn't stop trembling.

He clenches his hands tightly, his knuckles turning white from the pressure. He dared not lift his eyes and look at the person again. He followed his mother quietly and hid behind her.

As the elevator doors close behind him, he looks back with regret inside his eyes.

Remind him why did he agree to come here in the first place?

Anyone...anyone who is daring enough to take the risk, come up here now and drag him out of here.

“Ah, there she is.” A deep and masculine voice echoed inside the large floor, followed by a faint chuckle that caused Jin's shoulders to tense after hearing loud and unsynchronized footsteps approaching their direction.

Jin watches his mother leans at the man, who looks like he's still in his early twenties. He had the presence of a charming bachelor in town who is adored by many.

The man approached his mother and gently embraced her waist as he kissed her forehead in front of his eyes.

It was an eyesore, but Jin kept his temper and head lay low. He could not bear to see another thing or two.

He could never bring himself to get used to seeing his mother being kissed by another man aside from him.

Jin played with his cold fingers and traced his nail as his mother and the man exchanged greetings with each other. Witnessing that made his mood sour. He badly wants to go home.

He breathes in and out. There's nothing he can do but endure and watch. Jin unconsciously turned his head towards the table in the center of the room when he felt someone has been watching his every movement. Conscious of being watched, he peeks at the table.

He did not fully see everything a while ago, but he's surprised to find two people seated quietly around the round table in their sharp suits. He did not dare to look at their face directly. The incident from earlier had been playing on a loop inside his head.

What’s up with the suits? These folks made it look like a business meeting rather than an actual dinner.

His gaze then shifts towards the glass wall allowing him to feast his eyes at the magnificent cityscape during the cold night.

“Who do we have here? My, my, what a handsome boy.”

Jin panicked internally when the man approached him.

Mr. Woo had the warmest smile on his lips as he held Jin's cold hands and shook them lightly.

“I’ve heard so much about you, young lad." The man's eyes were soft and warm when he looked back to his mother, "What you said is indeed true, this young boy has a beauty at its finest.”

Jin lowers his head and bows at the man. He was used to receiving praises but never received one from a…

A big-time business magnate.

“G-Good evening, Sir.” Jin greets, his voice turned out as a low whisper. He was stiff. He hopes his hands are not sweating from the numbness he felt.

Knowing the man’s status in front of him made it harder for Jin to look at him in the eye. He felt like their worlds were so apart.

“What an angelic voice you have too.” The man continues to praise him.

Jin squints his eyes, his cheeks turning red. Please stop. He's getting embarrassed after being praised in front of two other people silently watching them.

Harashi laughed out loud, his voice bouncing from every corner of the quiet room and when the man finally shifts his attention back to Jin’s mother, Jin breathes in relief. He releases the breath that he's been holding in.

He was so nervous while holding the hands of a man who has a massive influence in the business world and had billions on his bank accounts.

“As expected of you, Honey. Your son is as pretty as you.”

Should Jin feel insulted? He heard him say ‘handsome’ a while ago, which was another first.

“Of course." Asami flips her hair jokingly, Hahaha. "Don’t make me laugh. I do have to apologize that we were running late.”

“Aigoo, no need to apologize. My boys and I just arrived.”

The young man seated at one of the cushioned chairs around the table shook his head after hearing his father’s statement. The truth was they arrived here an hour early before the said dinner was set to happen. He glances at the person to his right, his younger brother has kept his mouth shut like he usually does while wearing an unbothered expression on his face.

“Oh, let me introduce my boys.”

When his father calls them out, his younger brother was the first one to leave the table, like he was in a hurry, and went to stand beside his father.

What the…

At least wait for me you douche.

“This is my eldest, Akashi Woo.”

His father turns his head to look at him and as the last person who approached them. Akashi laughed and silently glanced over his younger brother. He expected his brother to glare at their father for not introducing him first after seeing him this pumped up. But to his surprise, his brother had an unchangeable expression on his face.

Weird.

Akashi did notice Kai’s old self was not with them as he was shamelessly staring at that kid over there. He thought his brother was spacing out as he was dragged here against his own will.

Akashi covered his mouth, restraining his smile to grow further. His brother should at least not make it too obvious.

What surprised him more was he had never seen Kai standing so stiff. It makes him look like a plain wall, he was unmoving. It's barely noticeable that he’s breathing.

The oddest thing he has seen in his whole twenty-seven years of existence.

“What handsome young man. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Likewise, Mrs. Saesang.” Akashi bowed his head and stood back on the sidelines, thrilled to witness more of his brother’s firsts.

It’s the first time he’s seen him this enthusiastic.

Akashi’s eyes landed again towards the young boy who's been hiding behind his mother for a while now.

Now that he's standing near him. He’s sure of it. Watching the person's head level the height of his chest, he thought he was female as most of his colleagues in the US fancy boy haircuts. He can barely tell the difference between the two genders looking at the boy.

It looks like he'll be having another younger brother. He looks very young and docile, unlike his younger brother who’s nothing but a snob and narcissist bastard.

"I heard you’re working in a laboratory at the US, Akashi.”

Akashi grins. He's sure she heard it from his father, “Ah yes, but I’m currently on break.”

Asami nods her head. She heard this child topped the exams at a prestigious university in Europe.

What an amazing family they are.

It's been a while now, but the feeling about something is missing in her hands bothers her. That was when she glanced behind her.

Aigoo, there he is!

She pulls her son who’s been sulking behind her, then made him stand beside her. No wonder why she felt so warm, her ice pack had escaped her grip.

"And this is my youngest, my heir---”

Harashi paused when his son brush his shoulder against his and stood in his place.

“Hiro.” Kai Hiroshima Woo cut of his father's introduction. His cold voice was long gone. He couldn't help but squeeze himself into the conversation.

Everyone's eyes followed and witnessed how Hiro extended his arm and opened his palm towards Jin.

Akashi and his father both exchanged a look of disbelief, eyes bulging. This time he couldn’t help but grin at what he is seeing.

Interesting…