Taeyong walked into the dim light hallway for the second time that day. The patters of his footsteps reverberated throughout the tranquil, calming atmosphere. Trying to calm his rapid racing heart by looking at the many various pieces and sorts of art works from all different civilizations, time periods, and countries that he had grown to know and love by heart. His mother had contacted him a few hours ago while he was playing pool with his friends— and he was about to win that shit, by the way, if it wasn't for his beloved old momma who called and demanded him to see her then and there and Taeyong had a horrible feeling that he would not like the chat they were about to have. He knew his mother was up to something, and it was making him uneasy—fucking nervous and he doesn't like a bit of this.

As he stood in front of his mother's study's massive door in his family's museum, Taeyong breathed nervously straightening his tie as he fixed his posture before knocking on the door hesitantly. From the opposite side of the room, his mother's voice echoed out, "Come in."

Taeyong took hold of the brass doorknob and swung the door open. His mother sat at a large antique desk, rummaging through papers. It never ceases to astonish Taeyong how she can command such a presence for such a little woman. She was at ease behind the manly desk and had avoided being swallowed up by it.

He crept inside silently and closed the door gently behind him. His mother looked up and stared at him with her piercing brown eyes as soon as the door closed. Taeyong took a deep breath and swallowed. This was going to be a disaster.

"Mom?" Taeyong asked uneasily as he stood by the doorway.

"Tae, take a seat. I have some matters that I wanted to discuss with you." his mother answered as she stacked the papers on her desk and put them away.

Taeyong took a seat at his mother's desk as he looked around his dear old mother's office.

His mother had this air about her that made people sit up and take notice of her, demanding attention. She wasn't a terrible mother, mind you. Actually, she was the polar opposite. Though she sometimes managed to initimidate Taeyong to death with her piercing and calm icy aura, Taeyong still loved his mother dearly.

While managing a business empire as a single mother, she had actually raised Taeyong well. His father was a womanizer who continued to pursue women throughout his marriage and not so surprisingly an alcoholic and addict too which happened to caused his death 5 years ago.

His mother, on the other hand, was undeterred by a scumbag husband; she was strong—willed and bold, and she had taken over the business that his disappointment of a father had failed to grow.

Despite all of her responsibilities and meetings related to the family—owned museum, she had been a great loving mother. Taeyong had always appreciated and respected his mother's viewpoints and beliefs.

"How are you Taeyong?" his mother asked him as she put down her glasses and leaned over her desk to take a good look at her son.

"Fine as always, you know me." Taeyong answered.

"You've known how the business here works, right?" his mother asked, raising her eyebrows.

Taeyong's mother placed him to work at the museum as soon as he graduated from university, and he has been learning and familiarizing himself with the business that would eventually become his own since then.

"Of course, mom." Taeyong replied confidently.

"I've been thinking lately." his mother leaned back and rested herself against her chair as she continued to scrutinize him.

"And I think it's time for me to finally pass on the museum to you."

Taeyong felt his heart stop and breathed in relief as he finally processed the words. Taeyong in fact knew the museum very well, he would always come to the museum every time he was bored and explore it when he was young. He knew the museum like the back of his hands. That would be easy, Taeyong thought.

"But." his mother added sharply as the temperature on the room immediately dropped to a hundred degrees and Taeyong could feel his hands sweating. What more could she possibly wanna talk about?

"Seeing how your lifestyle currently is right now, and none of it has changed since the recent years, you are unfortunately still not mature enough. I expected better Taeyong."

"Mom—" he started to speak up but his mother interrupted him.

"Lee Taeyong, when are you going to mature and finally man up? I believe I've already told you so many goddamn times that women aren't toys that are to be played and just thrown later."

Taeyong went silent. Being the gifted child he apparently not only got his father's talents in art but unfortunately inherited his father's adoration and the art of making love for women too. His mother added on, "So before I gave over the museum to you I want to see you settle down as a real and responsible man in all aspects— which obviously includes, an immediate stop to your womanizing ways." She said in a condescending tone especially at the latter part that made Taeyong flinch.

Taeyong's mother stared him in the eyes and after a whole minute of agonizing silence, she said the words that would change his life forever.

"Get married taeyong, or the museum will not be yours.”

For a couple of minutes Taeyong stared at his mother inconceivably. His mind was refusing to comprehend what his mother had just said.

"You’re not going to disown me, are you?" Taeyong spoke in hushed tones. His beat was erratic in the heart and his breathing was faint and laborious. It can't be done to him by his mother. His whole life was the museum. It was something he was destined to do. He'd been going to be lost without it.

His mother let out a sigh. "Taeyong, I'm not going to abandon you. I'm simply stating that I believe you should first settle your own affairs before taking on such a large responsibility as the museum." she clarified

"And you think getting married will help me fix my life?" Taeyong was taken aback as inquired incredulously.

His mother gave him a frown. "Well you’re not planning to stay single forever are you?"

It was silent.