𝔹𝕝𝕒𝕔𝕜 ℂ𝕠𝕗𝕗𝕖𝕖 II ʜᴡᴀɴɢ ʜʏᴜɴᴊɪɴ

7

April, Sunday [7:42am]

I awoke to the sound of my bedroom door clicking closed. Fluttering my eyes open, I quickly glanced in the direction of the sound, hearing footsteps disappear to the other end of the hallway.

Shit, I thought, shooting up from my pillow, immediately wincing at the sudden shot of pain across my forehead at the movement. I quickly scanned my room for any signs that I'd been out the night before, and my eyes settled on Su-Jin's gray top slung across the floor.

Holy shit, I thought, staring blankly at it. I am so fucking dead.
I wiped my eyes and felt my heart sink when brown streaks of makeup came off onto my hand.

I sat in bed for 15 minutes that felt like 15 hours, my mind racing to figure out an excuse for the shirt that was clearly not mine, and the freshly smeared makeup on my sleeping face.

Once I felt satisfied, I slowly arose from my bed. My head pulsated, and I felt a searing pain shoot from both my temples. I desperately rummaged through my nightstand, trying to find any kind of painkiller that would dampen the electricity in my brain.

After taking two pills, pulling on my robe, and carefully making my way to the door, I finally decided to face my demons.

On my way to the bathroom, I heard rummaging from the kitchen downstairs. I couldn't immediately rush down there to confront him, that'd be too suspicious. I decided to carry on with my morning routine naturally and wait until he asked about it.

I splashed ice cold water on my face and tried my hardest to scrub the flat, tired, feeling from my eyes. My mind shot through my memories from the night before, against my will.

"Just give me some time to make it up to you, okay?"

My heart lept in my chest, a chill overtaking me. I stared at my dripping face in the mirror, taking in the apprehensive smile smeared across it.
Why am I so damn excited to see him again?

The sound of a pan clanking from below broke my moment of elation, and I felt it drain from my body like liquid. Quickly inhaling, I prepared myself.
You've got this Chaewon. Nothing will happen.

I slowly made my way downstairs, feeling my stomach knot from hunger and anxiety. I clutched the edge of my robe nervously as I came to the bottom of the stairs.

The sight of my father, dressed in his formal work outfit, busying himself in the kitchen. I couldn't help but grow suspicious. Why was he in the kitchen, let alone cooking this early in the morning? Shouldn't he be at work now?

As if on cue, he spun around, his face eerily pleasant. A lump formed in my throat as I choked out my greeting.
"Morning," I said casually, making my way over to the coffee machine.

"Good morning Chaewon," he said, smiling sweetly. I fought the urge to sneer in disgust at his fake display of kindness. If I were any younger I'd have bought into it immediately, but I've seen this pattern too many times to fall for it again. I beelined to the coffee machine, hoping to find something to busy my sweating hands.
"I was going to make you breakfast, but I got a bit carried away with it, so some of it is a bit burnt," he smiled sheepishly, and I nearly felt a crack in my resolve.

Stop. It isn't real.

"Oh no worries, I'll probably go out to study again with some friends," I avoided eye contact, focusing on the coffee grounds I was shoveling into the filter. "I'll get breakfast out when I go."

I felt a hand firmly take the coffee grounds from my own, holding it. I desperately forced myself to not immediately pull away.
"I'm worried about you, Chae," my father said lowly, the previously sweet tone slowly beginning to dissipate.
"Why are you sneaking out of the house?"