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halfwaytonever · 4 months ago

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They said,

"Sebastian is wasting his potential. He thinks life is just a game, but one day, he’ll realize responsibility isn’t a choice; it’s a duty." — Matthew Han, Sebastian's father.

"If Sebastian use half the effort into his thesis that he puts into avoiding it, he’d be top of his class." — Professor Choi, Sebastian's thesis supervisor.

"The customers love him. He’s got this easy charm and confidence, like he belongs everywhere but nowhere at the same time. But he never stays long enough to be permanent." — Lorraine Jung, Rustic Mist Cafe owner.

"Dude just showed up, learned our setlist in an hour, and played like he’d been with us for years. Then disappeared the next day. Absolute legend." — Jaehwan Kang, The GLEAM's vocalist.

"He climbs like he’s running from something. Maybe he is." — One of Sebastian's wall-climbing instructors.

"People say he’s running from responsibility. I say he’s running an endurance marathon against expectations, and honestly? Respect." — Kyle Han, Sebastian's half-brother.

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halfwaytonever · 4 months ago

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The unwritten chapter,

Sebastian Han was the kind of person who lived in moments, not milestones. He was a free-spirit, at least more than a half Walker International Institute knew of that. But that very freedom was hanging by a thread, tethered to an unfinished thesis that stood as the final barricade between him and the fate his father had written for him.

It was his fifth year in his Computer Science program, and he had long surpassed the typical time frame for graduation. Not because he lacked the ability—far from it. Sebastian was sharp, intuitive, and capable. But he knew the moment he walked across that stage, diploma in hand, his life would no longer be his own. Matthew Han, his father, had made it clear: once Sebastian graduated, he would take his rightful place in the family’s travel agency business, an empire built on precision, schedules, and responsibility—everything Sebastian wasn’t.

To delay the inevitable, he immersed himself in everything.. except his thesis. By day, he brewed coffee as a barista, perfecting latte art and chatting with strangers. Some afternoons, he’d teach high school students at an academic course, enjoying the simplicity of passing knowledge without pressure. When bands needed a last-minute guitarist, he was there, fingers dancing over strings like a second language. On a whim, he’d join pottery classes, sculpting misshapen bowls with a grin, or lose himself in a painting session where his mind could run as wild as his brushstrokes. He even found himself scaling walls at a rock climbing gym, because every ascent felt like escaping the weight of expectations. Oh, add some parties almost every weekend, too.

He was doing everything—everything except what would seal his fate.

But as months stretched into another year, whispers began circulating. His professors, his classmates, even his father—people started asking why. The unspoken pressure mounted. Then came the inevitable confrontation.

"You're wasting time, Sebastian," his father said one evening over dinner, his voice firm but laced with disappointment. "You've had your fun, but it's time to be responsible."

Sebastian looked at him. "And what if I don't want that?"

Matthew’s gaze sharpened. "You’re my son. This business will be yours one day."

"Kyle can have it."

All attentions then diverted to Kyle, his half-brother. He was younger by three years, inherited sharp senses of responsibility, although he was also a very much laid-back spirit just like Sebastian.

"We've talked about that," Matthew said in final, not fond of the latter idea.

And that was the moment Sebastian realized the real battle wasn’t against a looming, unfinished stuff he had in school or a future he didn’t want—it was against the idea that his choices didn’t matter.

Somewhere deep inside, he knew he had to make a decision. Would he finally graduate and walk the path laid before him? Or would he take control of his own destiny, even if it meant breaking away from the life his father had built for him?

The answer wasn’t clear yet, but one thing was—his life was still his. For now.

And he wasn’t ready to let it go.

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