Okay, I answered that, told him I'd figure it out, and told him I cared about her. But the conversation kept going, and what I didn't realise at the time was that somewhere along the way, he'd already made up his mind. He thought I was just some arrogant kid chasing Seyoung for physical reasons. Like I didn't care about her for who she is.
At first, I didn't catch on. But then the tone shifted.
He started throwing shade, subtle at first, then not so subtle. Called me a "rich, arrogant brat." Said I was just playing around. Kept going on and on like he was trying to break me down or something.
Now normally... I don't let people talk to me like that. Ever. But I told myself, He's just being protective. He's thinking about his daughter's future. Let it go.
If it had been anyone else, I would've knocked them flat and made them beg for mercy. But I kept my cool. For her.
But man, he really worked his way under my skin by the end. And I snapped. Just a little. Let out some of the stuff I was thinking. Called him a piece of garbage. An asshole. I mean, nothing crazy. It was actually pretty tame, considering.
Still, Seyoung lost it. She snapped at me like I'd punched her dad or something. I didn't even get to explain. She just launched into this half-hour lecture like I was the one completely in the wrong. I didn't argue, I just stood there. Let her rant. My legs were numb from standing, my head was throbbing, and I just.. couldn't anymore.
So I gave her space. Let her cool off.
And now, here I am, back at her house, standing in this damn elevator, trying to keep it together.
One apology. That's it. Just apologise to her dad.
Nothing more.
The elevator doors slid open on the fourth floor with a soft chime. Jinhwan and Seyoung stepped out together into a quiet, narrow corridor. Only four apartment doors lined the floor, two on each side, evenly spaced, all painted in the same dull beige with small brass number plates.
Seyoung turned left, her footsteps light against the slightly scuffed wooden floor. After a few steps, she stopped in front of a door with a small sticker of a smiling cartoon bear next to the bell. She pressed the button without hesitation. Jinhwan stood beside her, trying to keep his face neutral, his hands stuffed into his pockets.
A few seconds passed before the door opened with a soft creak.
A man stood in the doorway, her father. He wore a plain yellow t-shirt and loose track pants, his hair slightly messy, like he hadn't cared to comb it after a long day. His eyes landed on Jinhwan almost immediately, but he didn't say a word. No smile. No nod. Just that unreadable, heavy stare.
Seyoung walked past him without pause, slipping off her shoes in the small entrance space and stepping inside. Jinhwan followed her silently, bowing his head a little in greeting as he stepped through the doorway.
The apartment smelled faintly of soy sauce and something fried, maybe leftover dinner. It was clean, lived-in, and comfortably plain. The living room opened up just a few steps from the entrance. A small beige sofa sat along the left wall, its cushions slightly sagging but neatly arranged. A low wooden table sat in front of it, with a half-finished puzzle spread across its surface. The TV across from the sofa was still on, volume low, playing some old drama no one seemed to be watching.
Family photos hung above the sofa—one of Seyoung and her siblings in matching pyjamas, another of the whole family at some park. The floor was smooth laminate, and a patterned rug rested beneath the coffee table, faded a little from years of use. A standing fan hummed quietly in the corner, pushing around the warm summer air.
It wasn't big. It wasn't fancy. But it felt.. warm. Like people actually lived here. Like home.
Jinhwan glanced around subtly, his heart ticking a little faster as he prepared for what came next.
Jinhwan sat down on one end of the sofa, his posture a little stiff, eyes drifting around the living room. It was quiet now, peaceful, almost too peaceful. Seyoung had gone to her room to freshen up and change out of her school uniform. Her father hadn't returned to the living room, but the sound of the front door shutting made it clear, he had stepped out. Maybe to cool his head. Maybe to avoid him.
Jinhwan let out a slow breath, unsure whether to be relieved or more anxious.
Then, a small voice floated into the room, soft and sweet like the start of a lullaby.
"Oh, hello, oppa."
He turned toward the sound and found a little girl walking toward him. She looked about seven years old, with a short bob of silky hair and golden eyes that glimmered just like Seyoung's. Her smile was innocent and pure, the kind of smile that didn't know anything about grudges or past mistakes.
Before he could respond, another voice chimed in from the hallway, this one full of energy.
"Hello, hyung!"
A boy appeared next, the same age as the girl, clearly her twin. The resemblance to Seyoung was undeniable, those golden eyes again, full of curiosity and spark. He charged toward Jinhwan with all the enthusiasm of a kid who had no idea what the word 'hesitation' even meant.
"Whoa, hey, careful," Jinhwan said, laughing a little as he caught the boy mid jump and gently set him down beside him.
The girl climbed onto his lap like it was her personal throne, settling in comfortably. Jinhwan glanced between the two of them, a soft smile spreading across his face despite himself.
"Hey, little ones," he said warmly. "So what are you two doing? You look like you're running on full energy."
The girl giggled and reached up, running her tiny fingers through his hair as if styling it to her taste. The boy, not one to be left behind, crawled onto his back like a monkey claiming a tree.
In a matter of seconds, Jinhwan was completely captured.
But he didn't resist. He just sat there, still and calm, letting them do whatever they pleased. A soft chuckle escaped his lips as he looked down at the little girl in his lap and felt the boy wriggling on his shoulders.
For a brief moment.. all that tension from earlier melted away. Like it never existed.
[Episode 20 End]