Kim stood at the door of his house, his hand resting on the cold metal of the doorknob. His heart was pounding in his chest as a storm of thoughts rushed through his mind. The events from the university still lingered in his thoughts—the tension between the wealthy students and those from less privileged backgrounds, the humiliation he had witnessed, and the unspoken divisions that ran through the campus. Every step he had taken that day seemed to reinforce the harsh reality of the social divide that awaited him.
He felt a tight knot in his stomach, a combination of fear and uncertainty, as he tried to figure out how he could explain everything to his parents. The pressure of his new life weighed heavily on him. On one hand, the university promised a brighter future, a chance to rise above his current circumstances. But on the other hand, it was filled with challenges he had never anticipated—discrimination, unspoken rules, and the feeling of being out of place. Kim wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep up the facade of being just like everyone else. His mind replayed the moments when the wealthy students treated those like him with disdain, as though they were somehow inferior. The whispers, the subtle looks, and the casual cruelty were all too much to ignore.
But despite all of that, there was one thought that kept him from speaking to his parents about it: the fear of disappointing them. His family had sacrificed everything to send him to this university. They had worked tirelessly to give him the chance to make something of himself. If he told them about the struggles he faced, they might question whether it was worth it, and worse, they might suggest he leave the university to avoid the pain.
Kim couldn’t bear the thought of going back to the life they had all struggled to escape. The hardships they had endured for so long still haunted him—living with little, always worrying about money, and never having the opportunities he now had in front of him. He couldn’t bear the thought of going back to that. His family had worked too hard for this moment, and he couldn’t let them down. The future he had promised them, the better life he was supposed to build, depended on him making it through this university.
He took a deep breath, pushing aside the overwhelming feelings of fear and doubt. He couldn’t show weakness. Not now. Not when his future was so close, when the dreams of a better life were within reach. Kim knew that he had to push through this—no matter the cost. There was no turning back now. He had made a promise to his family, to himself, that he would succeed. No matter how difficult it got, no matter how much he wanted to quit, he would endure. The burden of responsibility he felt was suffocating, but he had no choice. This was the path he had chosen, the path that would secure a future for his family, and he would not allow anything—no matter how painful—to stop him.
With one final glance at the door, Kim pushed it open and stepped inside. The familiar scent of home hit him immediately, a stark contrast to the cold, sterile environment of the university. He was home, but even in the comfort of his family’s presence, the weight of everything he had experienced at the university hung over him. He couldn’t share any of it with them—not yet, anyway. Not when they were so proud of him for making it this far.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
As soon as the door closed behind him, Kim was greeted by the sounds of his younger siblings, Kim Ji-sung and Kim Ji-yeon, rushing towards him. Their eager faces lit up as they saw him, their excitement palpable. They didn’t know anything about what had happened on campus, and for the moment, Kim was determined to keep it that way.
“Hyung, how was university? Did you make new friends?” Ji-sung asked, his voice full of curiosity. He was looking up to Kim, eager to hear all about his older brother’s new life.
“Yeah, tell us everything!” Ji-yeon chimed in, her wide eyes sparkling with anticipation.
Kim smiled at them, his face trying to mask the exhaustion he felt. “It was good,” he said, his voice steady. “Just a lot to take in, but I think I’ll get the hang of it.”
He could feel the weight of his words. They weren’t completely false, but they were a far cry from the reality he had just encountered. The pressure, the judgment, and the stark realities of the divide between students like him and the wealthy elite—they were things he couldn’t explain to his younger siblings, at least not yet. He didn’t want to burden them with his troubles. They were still innocent, still full of hope about the future.
“Hyung, do you think you’ll be able to help us out when you get rich?” Ji-sung asked with a grin, his eyes full of hope and admiration.
Kim’s smile faltered for just a second. His younger brother’s words were innocent, but they cut deep. They were looking to him for a better future, trusting him to make it happen. He couldn’t afford to let them down. His resolve hardened, and he nodded.
“Of course, I will,” Kim replied, his voice full of determination, though his heart felt heavy with the weight of their expectations.
Just then, their father, Kim Joon-seok, appeared in the room, his steady presence always a source of comfort. He told the kids to wait for dinner before they could continue asking questions. Kim followed them into the dining room, where his mother, Lee Mi-sook, had prepared a meal that was his favorite.
The sight of the meal, the warmth of the food, filled Kim with a sense of gratitude and guilt all at once. His mother had gone out of her way to prepare something special for him. He knew that this wasn’t just an ordinary meal—it was a celebration of his first day at university. The thought that they had likely spent more money than they could afford to make this meal for him made his heart ache.
“Eomma,” Kim said softly, looking up from his plate, “Why did you make this? You didn’t have to.”
Lee Mi-sook smiled warmly at him. “Today is special, Kim. You’ve taken the first step towards a brighter future. We wanted to celebrate that.”
Kim’s throat tightened. His eyes stung with unshed tears, and he quickly looked down at his plate to avoid showing his emotions. He knew they had used up what little money they had to make this meal. It was a small sacrifice, but to Kim, it meant the world. They believed in him, they trusted him to make something of himself, and now, more than ever, he couldn’t afford to fail.
“I’ll do whatever it takes,” he whispered under his breath, not sure if anyone heard. But it was a promise he had made to himself. No matter the struggles, no matter the price, he would not let his family down.