88. I'd Hate To Be You

"Whatever you two fought over, get over it."

"Don't I get a say in an argument? It's our first fight..."

"Lies. You two have fought plenty of times. You just weren't aware of it yet."

"He makes me anxious all the time and whenever I offer to help he becomes upset. What I'm I supposed to do then? He makes me feel useless like he doesn't need me. What must I do then apart from wish to tie us together...or create an opportunity for him to need me? I hate that he so independent..."

"You loose." Dad Joss said plainly and Stan looked at him confused, unable to comprehend his father's statement. "You lost the fight the moment you thought this was about you."

"Of course it's not about me neither is it about him. It's about both of us..."

"Nope." Dad Joss shook his head casually as he comfortably brewed himself a cup of coffee. "It will always be about Yeon. If he can piss you off this way, then you've met your match. You two are trully fated indeed."

Stan was sitting opposite his dad at the kitchen counter, a glass of water next to him which he hadn't taken a sip of. He'd been on the same spot for hours, pondering over his argument with Yeon two weeks ago, frustrated from the silent treatment Yeon had been giving him. What tipped him off the most was Yeon kicking him out of his room despite his objections to the point of Yeon using his scent on him, weakening him in the knees until he had no choice but to submit.

"You don't even know what we fought about to begin with. Why are you taking his side?"

"Fix it Stannie, for the sake of your dad. You're beginning to worry my dear partner and that makes me unhappy." Lifting his cup to take a sip, he stared at Stan from the rim of it briefly, then put the cup back on it's saucer. "I think it's time we had a one on one talk considering how long your misunderstanding has lasted. A week is long enough especially when you two have only been properly dating like what- two months now?"

"Hey! It's been nine months!" Stan exclaimed.

"Since the incident yes, dating....nope. Yeon only accepted you after you woke up and I have proof of that" Dad Joss retorted, taking his phone off the kitchen counter and shaking it mid air. "It's right here when he ran in your arms so lovingly. Quite dramatic if you ask me. I can send you the video considering how full of romanticism you are."

Stan frowned, his eyes dropping to look at the glass of water next to him. As much as he hated admitting it, he knew his father to be right. The last couple of weeks had been blissful between him and Yeon. If it weren't for the constant misfortunes that kept befalling his fated's family, their times spent together would have been magical.

"I just like him a lot....why can't he see that I'm only being concerned for him and our future?"

"What did you do? I know for a fact Yeon wouldn't hold a grudge this long unless you did something completely stupid to warrant him giving you a silent treatment." Smiling, dad Joss reached once more for his cup and gave a mischievous look at his son, waiting patiently for his reply.

Annoyed by his father's staring, Stan shrugged his shoulders and asked. "What?"

"I'm thinking of how I don't know what you're going to say, but I bet you deserved a beating form Yeon. Specilatively, you're probably rushing him into something he may not agree with, you hardly give him time to breathe, you snore in your sleep or you bit him in his sleep...maybe... That's all I have for now."

"The truth is... it's...a little embarrassing..." Stan admitted.

"As you wish. I won't force you." Dad Joss took a sip of his coffee and pulled out a chair, sitting opposite his son.

They stayed silent for a while, Stan watching his father take his time with his drink, as if he was doing it intentionally to buy time.

"What are you doing?" Stan asked, unable to endure the torture of listening to his father slurping his already assumed cold beverage.

"Have you ever noticed how fresh the morning breeze feels on your skin? I'd never have remembered why your father loves staying here if Yeon hadn't constantly reminded me of it every morning whenever I drive him to your uncle's lab."

"I want to drive Yeon tomorrow..."

"He will beat the shit out of you and cuss you out, if he doesn't choke you with one of his scents." Dad Joss completed his statement and laughed, further irritating his son. "I see his face whenever he sets eyes on you these days. You might not notice but we pairs can smell his angry scent... well, just as much as you can perceive him or feel him." Shaking his head, he added while lifting his cup once more for another slurp. "That is a special advantage pairs have over you arrogant fated mates. You lot are easy to read like an open book, constantly giving away your scent and letting innocent people know how you feel just like you are now. Presently Stannie, the scent you have now perceives as sad, but I'm guessing it's just your desperate need for Yeon's attention."

"I messed up." Stan surrendered, unable to take his father's teasing any longer. "I did something silly which led to a big argument between Yeon and I but it's the things he said to me that made me upset. I've reached out and apologized plenty of times but he wouldn't have it. Everyday, I would knock at his door for us to talk and he rejects me. Even after giving him enough time to cool down, he is still mad at me. I've never seen him this upset before."

"You loose."

"Why do you keep saying that?" Stan asked, feeling frustrated.

Giggling, his father responded. "Because you still think this is about you despite denying it. Apologizing isn't always enough especially when you do it emptyhanded. In the first place, you never admitted you were wrong. You only say you're sorry since you want you two to go back to how things were. Even so, how you choose to handle your disagreement will determine whether you two will come out of it stronger or weaker. Take for one your dad and I. If I had been wiser then, I would have done better and recognized he was in a far much worse shape than I was. We were both right but I was more focused on mending our relationship than his recovery post having you. I'm surprised he endured my selfish nature for years until he gave up and left with you when you were barely five. It was only when I felt his absence that I began to reflect on our life...on my relationship with him much in-depth. Perhaps it was necessary for us to spend time apart and having my brother Jiwon constantly showing off how lovey dovey he is with his wife made me reflect on my actions and I realized, I can't live without my Robin.

By the time I'd decided to admit my ignorance, your father had moved on, focusing entirely on raising you and was a workaholic. He didn't have room for anyone else. If it weren't for my brother taking care of you from time to time, I doubt Robin would even create time for himself.

My only regret is my brother filled your heads with so much romantism that even to date, I can't separate Robin and you from it. You have no idea how much I've had to spend just to please your father by buying unnecessary gifts. However, they make him happy and that makes me happy too..."

"I'm here sulking over my situation with Yeon and you're showing off, turning this talk into you and dad." Shaking his head, Stan stood up. "You are just like uncle. I can never take having a discussion with you seriously."

"You knotted him didn't you?" Dad Joss declared with a straight face, then proceeded to slurp his coffee comfortably. "Yummy. I like it more when it's lookwarm as such."

"How...how did you know?" Stan stuttered looking surprised.

"You take your dad and I as fools Stannie. We've been in this game for years. I guessed that you knotted him while your dad said it was your loud mouth probably being jealous over Yeon spending more time with your uncle. So, which is it? There is nice bet to it and I hope to win this time."

"So you were pulling my leg earlier, pretending not to know... You two seem to be enjoying our arguments..."

"Don't mind us." Dad Joss chuckled. "Did I win or not?"

"I...did knot him..." Stan glanced away. "A couple of times..." Returning back to his previous sitting position, he insisted. "Tell me how you knew."

"I drive Yeon everyday to my brother! Do you think I wouldn't notice his constant fidgeting on the passanger seat? In fact, I'm betting your uncle must know of this!" Dad Joss exclaimed excitedly and Stan frowned at his reaction.

"Why do you seem happy about this?"

"It is obvious you did that to make Yeon pregnant considering how possesive you are of him. Besides, you have no idea how much money I betted against your father."

"Did you want a child from us that much?"

"Of course not! I hear babies cry all the time at the clinic! It's Robin that wants a baby from both of you..." Stopping briefly as if in deep thoughtful, dad Joss added. "I see now that I'm still the one at a loss eventually. If Yeon does end up pregnant, I'd hardly have time with Ribin. He is always in hospital and if he comes home after Yeon delivers, he'll definately hoag time with the infant and I'd be left lonely... I smell trickery. He must have intentionally made me bet on you knotting Yeon purposely, diverting my attention from his delayed big win."

Stan said sarcastically. "Well, aren't you the possesive one. You're so needy dad..."

"I'm going to end up alone and desperate because of you!" Dad Joss ended accusingly.

"See, this is why I never share my problems with you both. Dad always takes anyone's side as long as I'm involved and you on the other hand focuses only on yourself! You're the worst of you two, always sounding just like uncle!"

"Hey! I'm not the one with an angry fated here, you are! I'm doing my best to help you out but you can't stop complaining..."

"This is pointless..." Stan stood up once more looking exasperated. "I should have known to solve my own problems instead of relying on you when you're exactly like uncle..."

"Take him on a nature walk!" Dad Joss exclaimed and smiled at how Stan stopped midway to sit back down. "Yeon enjoys outdoors and while at it, buy him some ice cream. He'd listen to you after that. You can't just offer an apology empty handed. You have to create an environment that makes your lover feel safe to accept your apology. He won't forgive you just because he believes you won't mess up again. He will forgive because he pities you for making extra effort in asking for forgiveness and I'd take pity frogiveness anyday. Robin can be quite frightening..."

"This is not about you dad.... but you're right." Stan slowly formed a broad smile. "Why didn't I think of this before?"

"I am disappointed I had to be the one to tell you this when you practically have all the answers post him impinting on you."

Ignoring his father's remark, Stan asked. "Do you think that will be enough though? I did do more than just knot him..."

"What else did you do you heartless monster?"

"I induced his heat purposely and knotted him three times...after he forgave me the first and second time."

"Then rent out an entire park for the nature walk. And while you're at it, make that a lifetime supply of ice cream... Oh wait! Get you a magic lamp too. You'll definitely need to make three wishes to undo the three knotting."

"What the..?"

"I know, it's impossible." Slurping the remainder of his already cold beverage, dad Joss added with a smile. "Good luck Stannie. I'd hate to be you."