Chapter 2.1 Sean POV : Family's Struggle
1597 Words
My breath came out ragged the moment I reached the front door of the house.
“DAD!”
My voice thundered through the crowd instantly.
Everyone gathered inside turned toward me at once. Their faces tightened, some of them gave me a pitying look.
It doesn't matter. My gaze focused on the man, lying on the sofa. I rushed toward while praying desperately in my heart.
Please... please let nothing happen to Dad.
Several people surrounding the chair quickly stepped aside to make room for me.
“Dad...”
I dropped to my knees beside him, staring at his pale face and closed eyes.
“Dad, what happened to you? Open your eyes, Dad...” My lips trembled as I tightly held his weak hand.
Pat...!
Someone suddenly tapped my shoulder from behind. “Don’t worry. Your father just fell asleep...”
I turned around and found a man around his thirties giving me a faint smile. He was one of my neighbors and people usually called him Mister Sam
“Can you explain what happened to my father?”
The man fell silent for a moment before glancing around. “Come with me for a second...”
He led me into a quieter room, more precisely, the kitchen—far from the noisy crowd of neighbors.
“Your father collapsed earlier and lost consciousness for a short while... that’s why we called a doctor to your house,” he slowly explained.
My chest throbbed after hearing that. Anything could’ve happened and I wasn’t there when he needed me the most.
“Then... why does he look like that right now...?” I asked, glanced a little toward the living room.
“Ah, relax. That’s because he was just given medicine and an injection...” His hand gently patted and rubbed my shoulder.
There was something strange about this man. Something I couldn’t explain.
But... forget it. My father’s condition mattered more right now.
“Thank you for your concern, Mister Sam...,” I replied while glancing at his hand, which still hadn’t left my shoulder.
How long was he planning to keep touching me?
“Oh right, how much was the doctor’s fee? I’ll transfer the money immediately...,” I said while subtly moving away from his touch.
“Ah, no need to pay us back. We’re neighbors. Helping each other is only natural....”
Even though he sounded friendly, I couldn’t shake the odd feeling. I don’t know why, but sometimes he looks at me like I’m prey.
“Okay... thank you..." I answered politely.
“Sean, how are yo—”
His words suddenly stopped halfway when the sound of coughing came from the living room.
“Sean? Cough... cough...!”
Without thinking twice, I left him behind and rushed back toward my father.
“Dad...!”
I saw Dad already sitting up while looking around at the neighbors surrounding him.
“Are you feeling better now?” A middle-aged woman approached him and spoke with a sympathetic tone.
“Why are there so many people here...?” He asked in confusion.
“Dad...” I called softly as I walked closer.
He looked at me. His expression changed, becoming much calmer and relaxed.
“Do you want me to get you some water, Dad?”
“No, no... there’s no need. I can get it myself later....” He shook his head and refused.
Hah...
He had always been like that.
Never wanting to trouble anyone, not even his own son.
“It seems like you’re really alright now... in that case, we should get going, Sir...,” the woman said after feeling reassured by Dad’s condition.
Then she looked at me for a moment before speaking again.
“Take good care of your father, Sean. Don’t leave him alone at home too often, and if anything happens, come to my house....”
Her words touched me deeply. This was the first time someone had shown concern for my family. I felt like I was about to cry.
Even if they were only words, it still meant a lot to me, because no one cared about me and my father....
For once, I didn’t feel alone in the middle of all this....
One by one, the neighbors began leaving the house.
“Thank you...,” I said to all of them, bowed slightly.
Before long, the room became quiet again.
Only the sound of Dad’s soft coughing remained. I looked at him with, my gaze softening and slowly walked over
“Dad... how did you even fall in the bathroom...? Were you feeling sick or something?” I asked while sitting beside him as he continued coughing lightly.
“Cough... no, I wasn’t feeling sick or anything...,” he replied while looking at me.
“Are you sure? If something hurts, just tell me. I still have some savings if we need to go to the hospital,” I said more insistently.
“Don’t. Save your money for something else,” he answered quickly. “I’m really fine, it’s just....”
His sentence trailed off.
“What is it, Dad...?” Without realizing it, I tightened my grip around his wrinkled hand. Despite the wrinkles, it still felt sturdy... and warm.
“The bank called....”
He took a heavy breath before falling silent for a moment.
Just by looking at him, I could already feel the burden weighing down on his mind.
“They said the remaining one billion has to start being paid in installments today... and the first payment is one hundred million....”
God...
One hundred million?
Where were we supposed to get that kind of money? There were only a few tens of millions left in our savings.
“Dad, can’t they negotiate or something? Why is this so sudden...?”
“A-actually... they already informed me about this around two weeks ago....”
My eyes widened instantly as I stared sharply at my own father.
“They gave us twenty-four hours. Otherwise... they’ll take this matter to court....”
Why were problems like this always hidden from me?
“So they already informed you? Then why didn’t you tell me?” I immediately pulled my hand away from his. Sadness mixed with frustration. “Ck... if you had told me earlier, maybe I could’ve thought of a solution instead of this...!” My voice gradually rose.
For a moment, I forgot that he was still sick.
“Sean....” He patted my shoulder gently. “Dad never meant to hide this from you....”
“Argh...!” I roughly brushed his hand away. “You always do this! Now what are we supposed to do? One hundred million isn’t a small amount of money, and twenty-four hours is way too short...!”
I stood in the middle of the room while running my fingers through my hair in frustration.
My mind was completely stuck.
“Sean, actually... Dad has a solution....”
He slowly stood up from the chair and approached me. “I was planning to sell this house cheaply so we could get the money quickly....”
“Sell this house?” I repeated sharply as I turned toward him. “You want to sell house again?” My voice was filled with pressure while the emotions in my chest burned uncontrollably.
“Yes... I already talked about it with Mister Sam a couple saya before... h-he’s interested in buying it for one hundred million....” His voice trembled, unable to meet my eyes directly.
“No.” I shook my head immediately. “This house can’t be sold. I don’t want us to lose another home.” I clenched my fist so hard.
“But, Sean... we don’t have another choice...! Mister Sam already agreed, this is our chance!” My dad kept trying to persuade me.
“I said no, means no.” My decision was absolute.
Without realizing it, I shouted at him. He fell silent.
What else could I do?
Dad was stubborn, and sometimes I had to be even more stubborn than him.
I wasn’t trying to disrespect him.
I just didn’t want him to fall deeper into trouble and make the wrong decision.
I was sure there had to be another way—no matter what it was.
I let out a long breath. “For now, don’t say anything else to Mister Sam, okay?” I stared at him sharply on purpose so he would understand how serious I was. “I’ll try to find another way, and please... this time, listen to me, alright...?” I lowered my voice and spoke more gently. I really couldn't be mad at him.
“Alright, Sean… Dad understands…” he nodded slowly and smiled.
I hurried out of the house, my eyes feeling unbearably heavy. My tears almost slipped out in front of him.
“Now I just need to figure out how to get one hundred million…” I ran my fingers through my red hair in frustration.
Not a single idea came to mind. I looked up at the clear sky for a moment.
“There’s no way money will just drop from the sky,” I muttered at my own ridiculous thoughts.
“Oh s**t—I have to work now!”
I snapped back to reality.
I almost forgot I had a part-time job today. I didn’t want to get scolded on my first day.
Then an idea flashed in my mind…
Maybe I could talk to the manager. Who knows? Maybe he could help.
- Writer
