Fate

There are those who accept the harsh truth and move on.

There are those who attempt to twist the fate to their side. 

And then there are those who Rebel against fate itself.———————————————————

'Why am I doing this?'

'What is this even for?'

'Is this.... really my purpose?'

A smack landed on the back of his head. He moved his eyes from the computer screen to his side, already guessing who the person was. 

"Don't work overtime if you're gonna look like a dead man, Lee Dae-sung"

He glanced at his boss and mentor ,Lee Jae-woong, taking in her flowing brown hair, her firm and beautiful complexion, as well as the pain behind her eyes. 

"It's alright, I need the money"He replied, as he was about to divert his attention back to the screen. 

She heaved a sigh and moved her hand onto his, which had already grasped the mouse."No, you are in no condition to work. I cannot allow you to work anymore."

He looked up at her and meet her eyes. Then averted his gaze again. "Please....I really need the money..."

She sighed again and let go of his hand. "If you're that desperate... then maybe i can..."

He said, his eyes downcast. She flinched slightly. 

"I'm already indebted to you. Please just let me work... I can still work a bit more."

She shook her head and heaved another sigh. She looked at him and saw his face. He did not want to work.

".... if you must. But promise me you'll take care of yourself. Don't push yourself too much."

"I promise."

"Very well." She turned and he watched her push the glass door and walk out into the dim hallway. She hadn't always been like this. She used to be strict and punished him for small mistakes. But after seeing him wither away day by day...

He did not want to work. But he had to. He had to support his family. His fingers once again began their lifeless movements across the keyboard, yet his thoughts wandered elsewhere. 

'This family....'

His eyes moved across the screen, working ceaselessly. '... does it deserve all this?'

He moved his weight through the hospital ward surrounded by people shuffling into rooms and rooms, and yet surrounded by no one. 

He opened one of those countless doors and entered. 

"Here comes the late again, big dumb bro."

His sister, Lee Chae-hyung. She was sitting on one of the chairs beside the man lying on the hospital bed, his father, Lee Yu-Jin.

His father simply stared elsewhere. It had always been like this. He talked to anyone except him. He sat down on a chair on the other side of the bed and looked at his father who had never met his gaze. 

He then moved his gaze to his sister. 

"How was school, today?"

She retorted back at him. He was used to this. 

"You should learn your manners, sis."He said, as softly as he could. She glared at him. 

"I don't want to hear that, from a wortless scum like you. I hate that you're my brother."

She said, seething with anger. 

He would usually laugh, pretend lightheartedness, pretend that she was joking, even though he knew she wasn't.But not today.

"....I see."

Her anger didn't end there. She wanted to shout at him, to slap him, to punch him, even to choke him if she could. He knew this very well. 

The three of them stayed there quietly. It was not an easy silence for any of them. Lee Dae-sung stood up slowly. 

"I'm gonna get some fresh air."

There was no reply. He walked out and kept walking. He took the stairs and kept climbing. Eventually, he reached the roof. 

He walked across the roof towards the edge. 

He had never liked his father. A violent alcoholic who, lost his senses, lost his job, beat up his wife and his own son. He even almost lost his own life. 

As he fixed himself at the edge of the roof, he looked far and down. It wasn't a tall building, yet it seemed tall enough.

His mother had gone insane, her mind broken between her love for his father, his constant abuse and his near death.

He breathed a sigh of relief as he looked down from the edge, having climbed to the other side of the railing. 

His own education had to be compromised and he had to find work to support his father's and mother's treatment, and his sister's education. 

He turned backwards, facing the roof once more, for one last time. 

His sister had never been grateful for anything. Torn between his own feelings and his sacrifice, working without pause to earn anything at all, he had no time nor energy to ever make her feel better. He knew she was bullied in school but he was powerless to do anything about it. 

He threw his body backwards and closed his eyes, as he felt them quiver.

'If I get one more chance, just one more chance at life...'

He felt weightless as the air screamed past him. He did not see the gray, cloudy sky above him, as his end approached him. A tear escaped from his closed eye.

'....I will live only for myself.'

And his Fate awaited him.