Desire | jjk. *ON HOLD*

49

During the whole bus ride, I was trying to force my mind into coming up with a good excuse that will be able to explain to my father where I was and why I wasn't answering my phone.

But nothing. My mind was unable to formulate any kind of lie or excuse; and in a way, that made me feel a bit better. Destiny was forcing me to tell my father what was really going on. That I couldn't hold it in anymore. That things just had to come out.

I put the key in the keyhole with carefulness and I open the door, looking around. The light isn't on, but I can see my fathers silhouette in the kitchen. His head is in his hands and his eyes are closed.

"Dad..." I mumble embarrassed.

"No." He interrupts me with an authoritative tone. "Don't bother lying to me."

I put the keys in a container and I pull out a seat to sit down next to him. I get a bit closer to him, but he lifts a hand to make me stop. That gesture that lets me know to not get closer, and to stay where I'm at.

"When we're you planning on telling me that you broke up with Taehyung?" He asks lifting his gaze.

His brown eyes find mine. His factions are tense. He's very angry, probably the angriest I've ever seen him be.

"I... broke up with him a while ago." I whisper.

"Stop lying to me, damn it!"

I bite my lip with so much force that I think I'm hurting myself. A single tear slides down my cheek and I sniff.

"I gave you your space, Areum... and this is how you repay me? By lying to me? I knew something was going on with you, but I didn't want to push. I never imagined that you were sneaking out during late hours to go to god knows where." He rubs his hands through his face. "What did I do wrong? I trusted you! I thought you were old enough to make your own decisions and not put yourself in danger."

"You didn't do anything wrong." I answer in between sniffs. "I'm sorry, I didn't-"

"You didn't what? Lie to my face? I'm your father! What the hell were you thinking when you lied to me? What if something happened to you?!..." He bites his lip. "If anything happened to you, I would've never forgave myself."

He stays silent for a few seconds and then he looks at me.

"When your mother died, I promised that I would protect you." He sighs with tiredness. "I told myself that I would protect you with my life and... why did you lie to me? Why didn't you tell me that you were going to parties with your friends? I would've let you go if you asked!"

"I'm sorry, I'm really sorry..." I say scooting closer to him. "I suppose... I was blinded by love."

"Love?" His eyes open with surprise. "Love?! Sleeping with a man you don't even know is love?!"

I feel a burst of pain hit my chest.

"I do know him, dad..."

"When I came across Taehyung on the street the other day, I greeted him, and he said "don't you know that Areum and I broke up?"... you made me look like a fool because I had no idea. He told me that... you cheated on him?"

I shake my head.

"No... well, things weren't like that."

"Oh my god..." He buries his head in his hands. "What did I do wrong? What did I do?"

"Dad, I'm dating someone else... and I lied because I knew you wouldn't approve."

"Don't make this seem like if it's my fault. You lied to me, you lied to my face... and I was feeling guilty and worried because I wasn't spending enough time with you... I'm an idiot."