The Hater 3: Hated to Love You (The Hater Trilogy #3) [SPG]

14 [Part 1] | Hello, Stalker

“AISH, SILHEO!” Serim scowled inside of his dad’s office. His dad just looked at him with disbelief and frustration not just in his eyes, but on his whole face. “How many times do I have to reject your offer, dad? I told you I don’t want. I hate the idea. Let me live like a normal adult, can you?”

“You can still live a normal life’s adult, Serim. The only difference is that you will lead the mafia gang while you are living your life.” Cloud tried to be as convincing as he can, but with his son, he really can’t do anything to convince Serim. “I am asking you this favor because you are my only son, Serim. Don’t make me do something crucial just to make you lead the gang, okay?”

“Ah, basta, ayoko. I will not lead your gang. Better find someone who will take the spot because I will never occupy your seat,” Serim uttered, without being moved by his own father’s threats. “Why do you always push me to do something that I don’t want, dad? Just so you can remember, I am your son and not your puppet.”

Cloud heaved a deep sigh. “When did I ever treat you like a puppet then?” The father’s question made them both look at each other with flame in each eyes. “Ever since your mother left, I gave you everything that you want just to make you satisfy with the life you are living, Serim. I bought you things that you ask me, wala akong reklamo habang binibili ang mga ‘yon sa ‘yo. Also, take note that everything you have, came from our gang businesses. You can’t live with that, to be honest. Occupying the seat once I have retired is the best thing you can do to owe your gratitude to this gang who raised you. I hope you got my point.”

Serim rolled his eyes, not believing everything that Cloud has uttered. “I will not be going to lie, this gang actually raised me. It gave me everything I need and I want, usually the physical things. But… you know what this gang never gave me? Your attention. Kinulang ako sa atensiyon ng magulang, dad. Mom died at an early age and you focused your attention to your beloved gang. I thought this gang gave me everything I need, but it grabbed the very thing I need instead, which is your attention.” Cloud remained silent upon hearing those words Serim uttered. “Yes, I’m thankful that this gang existed but I have more grudge to it than gratitude. Kaya, hindi ako mauupo bilang leader ng gang. Aside from every reason I just uttered, it is still an illicit business. I won’t let something dirty to touch my name.”

The father tried to lay his hand on his son’s shoulder but the son avoided the act. “Still, you can’t deny the fact that the consequence of me not focusing my attention to you is the gang’s success…”

“That’s not the point, dad,” Serim replied and looked at Cloud with pale, fuming eyes. “Sino ba talaga ang mas importante sa ‘yo; ‘yong gang o ako? You always utter and praise your gang’s name as if it is your real son. I never… never really hear you praise me for doing something I love and something I excel to. You talk good things to me whenever I do something that you told me to do so… but it was not enough for me. I know you’re trying, dad, but I feel that something is missing.”

“You’re not the only one that is struggling right now, Serim.” Cloud’s eyes were filled with sorrow as his tears started to flow from his eyes down to his cheeks. “I also did struggle when your mom left. I never know how to take care of a kid back then, so I let a nanny to take care of you. Kung alam mo lang kung gaano ko tiniis ang pagod at gutom para lang may makain tayo. While everybody turned their back against me, there is this gang who accepted me without hesitation. That is the reason why I can’t take my back to this gang as this is the one who accepted me for what I am.”

After that statement of Cloud, they were both covered with silence. It seems like these two are reflecting on what they told with each other. It was a couple of minutes of silence before it was broken by Serim who was deeply thinking. “Let’s just halt this talk up to this, dad. Kapag nag-uusap tayong tungkol dito, napupunta lang kung saan. I’ll leave already.”

Serim stood up and grabbed his bag before started walking through the doorway. Cloud stopped him from walking when Serim heard his father clear its throat. “Son, I’ll stop until here for now in convincing you to become the inheritor of my seat…” Cloud paused in the middle of his talk and took time first before continuing. “Hajiman, don’t think that I’ll stop here. You are my son and I will not let someone take the seat that I think is for you.”

Serim gulped and slightly nodded. “I’ll go.”

It took at least half a minute before Serim went out of the room and left the door hanging. Upon securing that Serim has already left the room, Cloud grabbed a piece of tissue which he used in wiping his tears. He smirked as he rolled his eyes before shaking his head because of disappointment and disbelief. “That son of a b***h, he really thought he’s that worthy of my time that he always leaves me hanging.” It was as if the Cloud inside is a different Cloud from a couple of minutes ago. He grabbed his phone and entered a number. “Ya, saekkiya!” he uttered when the one from the other line answered the call. “Serim has just left the room. Make sure to always follow him wherever he goes. Anything that he does, report it to me. Don’t fail me or you’re doomed.”

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Serim chose to walk his way to his condominium while lighting his cigarette. “Why won’t he just give up on thinking that I’ll actually grab his offer?” He is talking about his father. He put the bottom part of the lighted cigarette between his lips and started using it. Tinanggal niya rin kaagad ito at inilabas ang hanging hinigop mula sa sigarilyo. “I know where my hardheadedness genes came from now.”

He stopped as he placed his sight to his left without moving his head. “Someone is following me for sure.” He was just cool despite of that idea. Serim dropped the lighted cigarette and stepped on it to stop the flame. He put his hands inside the pocket of his jacket as he started to walk while swaying, as if teasing that someone who was following him. “If that’s how you want to play, then game.”

Serim turned right and hid behind the wall of the dark, creepy street. The one who was following him from a distance, started to run and followed where Serim turned. “Where did he go?” Serim can hear him talking while passing by where he is hiding. He was just laughing at how he thinks the stalker’s face would be.

He walked out of the street, smiling naughtily. “You jerk!” he called that someone. It eventually turned its gaze at him and showed his covered face. Serim raised his hand like a kid who was playing some kind of games. “You jerk, why are you following me? Are you my fan? Do you like me, huh?”

“Stop playing games,” maikling sambit ng stalker na naghahabol sa kaniya. “I’ll chase you and get you.”

“Go on, as if you can.” Serim put his hands on both his side, walking while teasing the stalker. It is not just his charm that he has long legs indeed, but it is also a perk in times of danger like this. “Run after me if you dare!”

He started running furiously as the man initiated the run. With Serim’s long legs, his distance from the guy started to become bigger. He was just all smiling while running from the unknown stalker; not minding the danger it might bring. His adrenaline rush started to burst as he energetically ran from the stalker.

It was as if they are the main lead and the stalker of an action movie. When he felt that the stalker suddenly became slower, he also paused running and laughed his ass out. “Damn it, why is he this fast?” The stalker’s complaint is not that low volume that Serim is able to hear it.

“Hey, you’re too boring, man. You’re not that fast, how can you become a good stalker?” Teasing, the stalker gripped on the knife that he was holding. Serim just laughed on the thought. “You’ll not hurt me, right? You will be doomed once you hurt me. I’m still wondering what made dad to get you as my stalker when you’re this useless. You can’t even get me. Do you want me to seminar you?”

The stalker started to walk slowly through his way. “Stop blabbering. How can you be so sure that it was your dad commanded me to follow you?”

Serim went silent afterwards, acted like he was thinking real hard. “I just know…” he uttered before leaning forward and started breathing. “It’s not the first time that my dad made someone stalk me, though. By the way, you’re the fastest among all. Unlucky you, I am still faster.”

Napatikhim na lang ang taong umaaligd sa kaniiya bago nagsalita. “There’s no sense in denying as it is already have been announced. Yeah, I’m that one person your dad ordered to follow you, Serim.”