Chapter 78 - Prince and Princess of Tap Dance

FLASHBACK

They were already famous kids when they got rich. But they didn't get rich because they were famous. They were just an attraction and curiosity with little paychecks and some national flattery when their mother won the lottery.

Literally.

At that time, Kim Jun Hyeon remembered well, life was not simple, but it was no less complicated after that. Among rehearsals, school, shows and featured appearances, their parents' marriage was crumbling. Maybe because their mother had a lot of ambition and worked too much on the convenience store, and took care of their children's careers. Maybe because Mr. Kim had a mistress at the hotel where he was a manager in.

Jun Hyeon knew, and Ji Hyeon knew, about their father's mistress. But they didn't have time for a.d.u.l.t affairs either. Middle-class life, with a business her mother had inherited from her family; dance appointments, studies and chores at home and in the store. It was an infinite tictoc of things to do.

It was the money that bought them some time.

They were 14 when it happened. The third most-valuable-prize-winning ticket in Korean lottery's history was in their mother's hand when they returned from school that afternoon.

Jun Hyeon guessed it was some kind of joke from her mother, but Ji Hyeon realized that her mother was literally shaking with excitement and nervousness.

"Jun, Mom's not kidding," she took the ticket from her mother's hand, wrote down the numbers, and went out to check. At this point, thinking of the real possibility that they were suddenly rich, Jun Hyeon felt euphoric. He shouted, exuding the feeling of surprise and excitement: "Wow! Whoa! We're really… I can't believe it… Wow…!"

"Shhhhh! Speak quietly, boy!" Mom closed the windows, suddenly returning to her usual pragmatism, "No one needs to know right now."

Jun Hyeon stared at his mother, seeing the reason behind her words. Getting serious again, he faced his mother. Both he and Ji looked more like the Kims, and especially now that they were teenagers, they hardly resembled the Go family. The twins were tall, thin, and very white-skinned. Although Jun Hyeon knew how socially advantageous it was, he did not like to look in the mirror and recognize in himself his father's features: arched eyebrows and wide-apart eyes; his thin and fair face losing its childish plumpness and cute features very quickly. His sister, of course, had these same features, but in a refined, pretty and feminine version. By that time too, the childhood charm was gone and it was no longer the Prince and Princess of Tap Dance, going to all the TV shows and getting presents, attention and pampering from famous people.

"No one needs to know now, Mom. That's why you should divorce now."

He saw his mother's face turn chalky white, but he didn't see how fast her hand shifted and slapped him painfully in the face.

He put his hand to his face in surprise and pain as he stared at his mother in shock. At that moment, he was sure she knew what he was implying. Ji Hyeon was coming in the door, just in time to hear her mother shouting, altered,

"Where is your respect for your father, Jun Hyeon?!"

Angry and shocked, he had left the kitchen and gone to his room, incredulous with his mother's reaction. She was a very practical woman, used to hard work, able to manage family life, kids career and a small business. She was always smart and wasn't one be made of fool. Except for this man she was married to. And she wanted him to have respect for the man who didn't give a damn about them? Worst of all, would she even share that prize with him, by staying married? It was difficult to understand.

Some time later, while he was trying unsuccessfully to study, but his mind drifted to the new possibilities of a millionaire's life, Ji Hyeon knocked on his door. He always knew when it was her.

Ji Hyeon walked in when he said she could, and pulling a stool, sat beside him near the desk. He, too, knew that this was her way of handling difficult subjects.

"What's up?"

"Jun." That's what they called each other, just Ji and Jun.

He was sulky and just responded with a grumble, "Hmm?"

"Mom's right. He's our father."

He shook his head, rejecting the argument.

"While she's working hard, he has an easy job and keeps acting like a single man… She should…"

"Jun. He is our father. We owe him respect and gratitude."

"No."

"Jun. She thinks she needs him. He is the manager of a poshy hotel. He speaks some languages ​​and knows important people. He knows the world. She is afraid. It is a lot of money. She is afraid, Jun, of dealing with this alone. She is also human and also afraid, Jun. Don't act like that. This is not the right time."

The realization of it fell like an anvil over the teenager's head. More than that, he looked at his twin sister Ji, his noona for 15 minutes. How could she be so mature? He had heard that girls mature fast, but that was ridiculous!

'How do you know that? Did she tell you?"

"Kind of," Ji Hyeon was evasive. She stroked his hair and Jun Hyeon jerked away, refusing the unexpected display of affection.

"I hope you don't do anything like that when it's your turn. I can do nothing because he is my father. But I won't let any brother-in-law be stupid with you."

"Oh, I'll take that as a show of affection," His noona joked with a smile.

"I'm serious," he growled, annoyed that she was taking it as a joke.

"Jun, there's a weird hair sticking out of your chin," she announced, rising to the door. "By the way, from your whole body."

"Haha. And that pimple on your forehead? And you're getting heavy, why don't you go on a diet? Why don't you take care of your life?"

Stopping at the door, she said,

"Brother, rest easy. I promise I will never cling to a man just because I'm afraid of something. I already have you to back me up, right? "

"Yes, I'll be there."

Jun Hyeon was ashamed of what he said, but secretly pleased that she had understood his message.

And again embarrassed because she was being unexpectedly sweet. It was probably the last time she said something like that, between the time they entered high school and the fateful fire.

She was faithful to these words until the end.

But he wasn't.