𝑩𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒆 𝒂̂𝒎𝒆 | 𝑺𝒂𝒊𝒅𝒂

19

She felt the usual nervousness and a heavy feeling piling up in the pit of her stomach whenever she's gone to see her father. The feeling clenching her throat so she can't say a word, Dahyun let another sigh escaped her lips as soon as she went inside the house. This is the first time she went here after a couple of years, but nothing really changes...just the fact that her mother wasn't there to welcome her, the thought almost held her feet against the ground to stop her from walking.

"Welcome back Dahyun-ssi" The familiar face of the Head Maid, that also became the caretaker of the Mansion after both Dahyun and her father went away, greeted her with a bow and Dahyun reciprocated with such.

"Father?" She quietly asked, not actually wanting to go ahead or would even care to look to the woman.

"Your father is waiting for you in the dining hall." She gestured to the path and Dahyun walked straight to it, swallowing whole as she roamed her eyes around.

It was kept clean, the only thing they can do in favor of her mother's wish, and that is to always keep the house neat. The familiar white walls surrounding her, every corner had a memory, even if Dahyun couldn't remember half of it. She remembered being scolded by her father when she ran around the halls because he doesn't want any noise around, and Dahyun remembered her mother always being by her side whenever that happens. Dahyun wish that until now she was.

She turned left and saw the back of her father's figure sitting on the chair at the end of the table as the Head Maid announced her arrival. Mr. Kim did not even bother to look at her so Dahyun went in front of him, just beside her usual chair, to give him a bow. "I'm sorry if you waited long, sir." She spoke, loud enough for him to hear.

"Take a seat." His usual deep and cold voice resonates in Dahyun's mind as she obliged, hand rested in her lap as if it would help to ease the feeling or at least for it to subside.

Mr. Kim looked to the Head Maid and she instantly bowed a little before disappearing somewhere in the kitchen. His gaze went to Dahyun and she felt uneasiness washed through her all of a sudden, her mind filled with various thoughts as nervousness kicked in once again. She couldn't even get any peace of mind whenever her father's around and Dahyun think that it's funny. "Dahyun," he started, "how have you been?" He asked as if he did not see her a couple of weeks ago. Her father inviting her over for lunch only to ask how the hell is she doing? That's new, but Dahyun knew that he never invited her over just to talk nonsense, Dahyun's sure there's much more than that...at least about how the hell is the company doing or something?

"I've been great, sir. I've been busy with the company..." enough that I couldn't even get some time for myself that I had to skip schedules to do so, she wanted to add that, but Dahyun thinks that it'll look like she was blaming her father for putting her up with this. And she also thinks that he might know about how she literally skipped one whole day only to eat street food with Sana. But she thinks that it was all worth it because she was kissed in the cheeks.

The thought made a sudden warm feeling engulf her, and a tinge of pink started creeping on her cheeks.

"That's great, that's just what I wanted you to do anyway. Be focused on our business." Part of her wanted to scoff, tell her father "Oh, please give me a fucking break!" And that she wouldn't care if he shouted at her for saying such bold words. But the other part wanted to respect him and nod politely at his words. Dahyun picked the latter.

It went at least five more seconds for the Head Maid, along with the other maids and butlers, to arrive with the food--Dahyun still remember how it goes. No talking unless she was asked by her father. And that's what she did.

They ate in silence, only the maids to move when they both needed something else in their plate. Dahyun only fiddle with her food, she doesn't have the appetite for today and would be very much glad if she could go back to her own house now.