JAE
I know something's wrong the second I step inside.
The house is too loud.
Not noise—pressure. The kind that sits in your chest and makes your spine lock.
Jessica's shoes are by the door, crooked. She never leaves them like that.
I don't call out.
I follow the sound instead.
My father's voice cuts through the hallway, sharp and impatient.
"Look at me when I'm talking to you."
My hands curl into fists.
I round the corner and see them in the living room.
Jessica stands near the wall, shoulders hunched, fingers digging into the seams of her hoodie. Her eyes are fixed on the carpet.
She's rocking—small, fast, trying to regulate.
My father looms over her.
Too close.
"You don't get to ignore me," he snaps. "I asked you a question."
She doesn't answer.
She can't.
Her breathing is shallow now. Too fast. I see it immediately—the way her chest stutters, the way her jaw tightens like she's bracing for impact.
"Stop" I say.
My voice is calm. Even.
He turns slowly, irritation flashing across his face.
"Stay out of this."
"You're standing too close," I say.
He scoffs. "I'm her father."
"You're scaring her."
Jessica flinches at his raised voice. Her hands come up to her ears. She squeezes her eyes shut.
That's it.
I cross the room in three steps and put myself between them.
"Back up."
My father laughs, sharp and humorless. "Or what?"
He reaches around me, pointing at Jessica. "She needs to learn—"
I shove him.
Not hard enough to throw him across the room.
Hard enough to move him away from her.
He stumbles back a step, more shocked than hurt.
Jessica gasps.
I turn to her immediately.
"Hey," I say, softer now. "You're okay. Look at me."
She doesn't.
"That's fine," I add quickly. "You don't have to. Just breathe with me."
I hold up my hand, palm open. A grounding cue.
"In. Out. Slow."
She mirrors me, shakily.
Behind me, my father explodes.
"What the hell is wrong with you?"
I straighten, keeping my body angled toward Jessica, blocking his view.
"You don't yell at her," I say. Low. Dangerous. "Ever."
"She's being difficult," he snaps.
"She's overwhelmed," I correct. "Because you're acting like an asshole."
That does it.
His face darkens. He steps forward.
"You think you're in charge now?"
I don't move.
"You touch her again," I say quietly, "and I won't stop at pushing you."
The room goes still.
Jessica's breathing starts to slow.
My father stares at me like he's deciding whether to swing.
Then he sneers. "You're teaching her to be weak."
I laugh.
It slips out before I can stop it. Cold. Bitter.
"You don't know the first thing about strength."
His jaw tightens.
For a second, I think he might actually hit me.
Instead, he turns and storms off, the door slamming hard enough to rattle the windows.
Silence.
I kneel in front of Jessica immediately.
"Hey," I say again, gentler. "It's okay."
Her eyes flicker up to mine for half a second.
Enough.
"You did good," I tell her. "You didn't do anything wrong."
She nods once. Small.
I offer her my headphones.
She takes them without a word, slipping them on like armor.
Her shoulders slowly relax.
I sit there with her until her rocking stops.
Until her breathing evens out.
Until the house feels quiet again.
Later, when she's safe in her room, door locked, routine restored, I stand alone in the hallway.
My hands are still shaking.
I think about Laura.
About her voice last night. The way she trusts me without knowing why.
And I swear—right here, in the wreckage of this house—
I will never let that kind of fear touch her again.
Not ever.
***
LAURA
The park smells like grass and fallen leaves. Shadows stretch long across the paths. It's quiet, except for the occasional crunch of leaves underfoot.
Jae texted me this morning. Asked if Sofia and I wanted to meet him here. For the girls.
Sofia is already running ahead, arms flailing like she's trying to fly.
"Wait!" I call, jogging after her.
"I'm fine!" she yells over her shoulder. "I'm scouting!"
Jessica walks beside Jae, moving slowly, watching the ground, the trees, the space between us.
She doesn't look nervous. Just… careful.
Jae leads us to a bench near the biggest tree. He sits first, pats the spot beside him. I sit, shoulder brushing his.
Not much, but enough that it feels… anchored.
"You okay?" he asks quietly.
"I didn't sleep much," I admit.
"Me neither," he says, voice low and steady. Like last night never left.
I glance at him. "You rested at least?"
"I rested," he says. Firm, calm.
Sofia flops onto the grass in front of us. "I talk a lot. I warn you."
Jessica tilts her head. "That's fine."
Sofia beams. "Good. We can be friends!"
Jessica shrugs. "Okay."
Jae shifts, brushing his shoulder lightly against mine. Quiet. Grounding
Sofia squints. "Wait… your name is Jessica?"
"Yes," Jessica says.
"But… that's not Korean," Sofia says.
Jessica shrugs. "My mom picked it. She liked it. It's easy to say."
Sofia tilts her head. "Oh… okay. I guess that makes sense."
I glance at Jae. He smirks faintly, letting it play out.
"You always this good with her?" I whisper.
"She's straightforward," he says. "I let her be. That's all."
"Like last night?" I murmur.
"Yes," he says, thumb brushing mine ever so slightly. Not accidental.
I exhale. "I noticed."
Sofia suddenly jumps up. "Do you like swings?"
"No," Jessica says.
"Why not?"
"They move too fast. I can't stop them."
Sofia nods slowly. "Fair."
I glance at Jae. He lets out a quiet laugh, soft, almost a smile.
Sofia crouches. "Do you want to play tag?"
"No," Jessica says.
"Why not?"
"I can't run fast. I don't like being caught."
Sofia throws her hands up. "Well, I like to be caught!"
Jessica tilts her head, studying her. "You like being caught?"
Sofia nods enthusiastically. "Yeah! It's fun!"
Jessica frowns, but then shrugs. "That is… acceptable. I will play once."
Sofia bounces a little on her hands. "I like her."
I laugh softly.
Jae chuckles beside me, quiet, easy, like he's sharing it with me alone.