DADDY ISSUES || J.JK × Reader ✔

chapter 25 | Trauma

40 minutes later...

I go downstairs after being done with everything, now in my pink pajama pants, shirt, and crop top. I peek over the railing to check if my dad is in the living room and catch sight of him on the sofa, wearing a black pajama set. I smile but join him, silently.

I do not make any noise to surprise him as he's browsing on his phone, and once I'm at the end of the stairs, I make my way towards him and lean over the back of the sofa to wrap my arms around his neck.

"Hey," he locks his phone and turns towards me, so I plant a kiss on his cheek, before straightening up. He stands up, leaving his device on the coffee table, I follow him to the kitchen as planned but feel weird around him. I feel like something is going on with him but that he does not dare to talk about it.

"Are you okay?" I encircle his waist with my arms, asking for his attention that seems to be everywhere. "Yes, I missed you a lot," one of his arms hugs me back, but he takes the food out with his other hand, the left one. "I missed you too," I respond but fix my eyes on his fingers, noticing something unusual.

He doesn't wear his ring anymore, only the mark of it is left around his finger. "If you're tired you can tell me, all right? I'll cook for us," I make sure he is fine after those tough days he had to go through. "No, I want to cook with you, I'll sleep after eating."

"Will you sleep in your bed or the sofa?" I ask, wondering where I'm going to be now that he's back. I honestly do not want to be alone in my bedroom and not have him near. "I'll probably sleep on the sofa while watching TV."

"Ok, I'll stay with you," I tighten my clasp around his body, and he presses a kiss on top of my head. "You don't have to be scared anymore, I'm here."

•••

11 pm.

I keep my eyes on the TV but cannot let go of my dad's hand, holding it into both of mine, tracing his veins, passing my fingers over them. Wondering how he feels at this right moment as I assume that he must be tired, I look at him and fix my eyes on his features.

He looks exhausted, and this breaks my heart.

As he must have felt my gaze on him, he turns his head, and we both make eye contact. At first, he does not say anything, but after a few seconds, he smiles at me and strokes the back of my hand. "What's wrong?" he asks in a soothing voice.

I drop my look to his tough hand, but I lean towards him and rest my head on his arm. "I missed you a lot...I hope you're okay...that they didn't hurt you..." I say in a low voice, meaning my words, letting them out to not keep it to myself when I need him to hear them. He doesn't answer or react to it, making me fear that something is not all right, so I peek up at him to check what I caused, but he is already staring at me.

"I'm okay, honey," he claims, smiling. I do not break the eye contact to read the answer his hazelnut eyes give me, but he gulps down and glances away to only look at the TV. His free hand moves up to his face, and he holds his head, some of his fingers covering his mouth. With no need to take a closer look, I notice the glisten in his eyes, and my heart already shatters.

I do not stay like this, I go forth and put my arms around him. "Are you sure, papa?" I stare at him as I know for sure that he is trying to control his emotions and keep some things to himself. Not even a second later, he lowers his chin, hides his face in his hand, and he breaks down in front of me for the first time

I tear up instantly. "Daddy..." I do not have enough strength to stand the sight of him like this. I inch closer and hold him tight, but he wraps both of his arms around me and rests his head on mine. "I love you so much. I'm so sorry that you had to go through all this..." his shaky voice makes me cry even more heavily. "I love you too, and this is not your fault, don't say sorry."