LOST ON YOU

5;The rich also cry

I was confused because this was unexpected. Did he just allow the lady to take a picture with me? The happiness she showed was visible even in her eyes. I smiled and asked for her phone. At first, she hesitated, but then she handed it to me, and I took a few selfies with her.

“Thank you, sir… thank you too, Jeon Evel… my children will be so excited when they see this.” Mr. Chin smiled, and the lady left the room immediately. After she left, I looked at Mr. Chin, and he simply smiled back at me.

“She really needed that… I’m sure you saw it too,” he said, then continued playing with his pen. Well, she needed it for her children. I’ve never seen someone so happy before.

"Don’t you want one? For your children too?” I meant it as a joke, but the moment I saw his expression, I regretted it instantly. I took a huge sip of water, not even bothering to pour it into the glass. When I looked at him again no, that expression wasn’t good.

“Umm… sir… I’m sorry… I didn’t mean that… it was just a joke… maybe I took it too far…” I couldn’t even speak properly because of how tense I felt. If I could disappear from that room right then, I would have. He stood up and walked toward the window, his hands slipping into the pockets of his suit as he stared outside.

“No need to worry, Evel. It’s fine. I suppose my private life makes you all curious… my wife, my children…” He paused slightly.

“I just prefer to keep that part of my life… personal. I let people see only what I want them to see. I never mix my personal life with work they are two completely different things.” He walked back and sat down. Maybe I was supposed to say something.

“I understand, sir… I’m really sorry.” He looked at me and smiled, but I could tell it wasn’t genuine. Was he really that hurt?

“My little boy…” he began quietly. “He looks just like his mother… but he’s nothing like her.” He let out a small breath. “He rarely talks to anyone… not even to me, his own father. Always quiet. I don’t know why. He has such an innocent face… beautiful, attractive eyes. I’m not bragging, but my son is very handsome he took all his mother’s beauty.” He paused again. “Looks can be deceiving… I’m sure you’ve heard that phrase. Even with the face of an angel… he is very dangerous.” I stayed silent.

This was the first time I had ever heard him talk about his family. It didn’t sound like much, but for him, it was everything. I knew better than to interrupt. But why did he sound… sad? What did he mean by dangerous?

“I know what you’re thinking… why he’s dangerous,” he continued. “It’s those eyes… those beautiful eyes. He uses them to his advantage.” He exhaled slowly. “It’s not just a little money… it’s a lot. And how he uses it is… I’m sorry, I can’t say that.” He looked down. “What hurts the most is that I’m not close to my son. I wish we were. I’m his father, yet I can’t even tell you his favorite food… what he likes… what he hates. I try to show interest, but he never lets me in.” His voice grew heavier.

“He chooses silence… every single time. And I can feel it ,he’s lonely. So lonely it’s consuming him.” He swallowed hard. “But why won’t he talk to me? I keep asking myself that every day… Am I a bad father? Is this my fault?” He let out a shaky breath. “I try to spend time with him, but whenever I get close, he shuts down completely. He says nothing… especially when I ask about him. We can sit through an entire meal together in silence.” His hands tightened slightly.

“He’s hiding so much… keeping everything inside. And that silence… it’s slowly destroying him.” A tear almost fell, but he wiped it away quickly.

“My son is a prisoner of his own silence… I don’t even know what his smile looks like.” That hit harder than anything else.

“I don’t go into his room. I thought maybe it was because of past pain, so I sent him to study in Australia. Those four years were the hardest of my life. I would always fly there just to see him.” He gave a faint, bitter smile.

“Do you know that when I call him, he just picks up the phone and listens? He never says a word… unless he’s asking for money.” His voice cracked slightly.

“I kept giving him money, thinking it would bring us closer… but it never did. That emptiness is still there.” He looked away. “I just want my son…” There was pain in every word.

“He thinks too much… carries too much for someone so young. He’s depressed, but he hides it so well. That cold aura… it fools everyone.” He clenched his jaw. “I even hired a hacker… just to find out what he does with the money.” A pause.

“I wish I hadn’t… because what I found… it’s something I still can’t accept.” Silence filled the room. “I don’t know how to help him… If he would just let me in, we could face it together. But look at me…” He let out a hollow laugh.

“I have more money than I could ever spend… yet I can’t save my own son.” He finally looked at me. “What kind of father does that make me?” I felt my chest tighten. He was hurting. They both were.

“Sir… please don’t think like that,” I said softly. “Leave it to me. I’ll find a way to help your son… and help you get closer to him.” I hesitated slightly.

“After I finish my solo song… I don’t know how yet, but I’ll try. I promise, sir. You’ve done so much for my career… please let me do this for you.” But he kept shaking his head. Why wouldn’t he let me help?

“Please, sir… just let me try…” I stood up, then slowly knelt beside him, holding his hands. “You don’t understand what you’re saying,” he replied quietly.

“Right now, I want you to focus only on your solo song. I won’t be selfish… this is more important for you.” He gently pulled his hands away.

“Helping my son will take more than a doctor or a therapist… I’ll find a way.” He paused. “Thank you… for caring.” With that, he stood up and left the office, leaving me alone. Honestly… I didn’t fully understand everything he said. Only bits and pieces. But one thing was clear. I needed to help him. And helping him meant helping his son. I didn’t even sign the documents I came for. I slowly stood up, glanced around the office one last time… Then I left.