Thoughts Discreet

Brace The Moon

"heya, how was work!" That's my dad, all energetic and cheerful like a toddler waiting for his mother to get home, at the dead of the night. He trampled out of the kitchen with his favourite spatula in hand, waving it in a happy gesture.

"Dad, I still have work, can I get my dinner in my room?" I try to look as pitiable as possible so he would agree to bring my food up to my room. A request he would never adhere to unless in specific situations. Either my facial expression worked or I looked genuinely stressed," in a few minutes dear, but freshen up first. " he nodded, skipping back into the kitchen.

For a man of his age he is insanely energetic every time I see him, even at the end of the day. I huff, dragging myself and my laptop bag along to my room upstairs. The calming aroma of lavender essence still remains in the room as I inhale deeply getting all the air in as I can. Lavender essentially helps with falling asleep and I have come to love it's fragrance everytime I step into the room after a stressed day like this one.

Wasting no time I hop into the shower mindlessly stripping myself to meet the warm liquid quickly. The water runs down smoothly easing out every muscle, slowly I lower the heat to a mild cooling so I can feel refreshed to an extent to start on the report again.

"Lock your doors sweetheart." I jump at my dad's muffled voice as I grip the plastic curtains in a reflex. I realise I have left the door to the bathroom wide open with only the translucent curtains between my naked self and any prying sight outside. I can feel the deep red taking over my face as I turn off the cool water and grab a bathrobe to cover myself. Out I step with water trickling down my legs as I tiptoe to lock the door to my room.

In no time I'm in my military green cargo and a simple white t-shirt, setting my bowl for the tasty dinner my dad has made. Have I mentioned he is a stepfather, he took me in after my mom's death and took up the role of a father for the sake of an eleven year old. But he is more than just a father, we share a friendship that I enjoy more than anything. Coming back to the stir fried chicken and rice he made, I take my time to savour every bite and sulk in the warm taste of every ingredient mixed into the making. That with grandma's preserved kimchi is the best dinner I could ever ask for.

With everything inside my stomach I lean back into the headboard with my phone in hand to receive a few texts but soon drift into a deep sleep in no time. After what felt like hours I woke up to the clicking of cutlery to see my dad taking away the bowls I had left by the side stand. I realise I have been sweating and the pillow was soaked in it by now. I wipe my mouth in habit and look at dad with half open eyes.

"wanna get a drink?" It's half past midnight and this is what I meant when I say I love my father more as a friend. I smile nodding at the thought of cold beer running down my throat. Having fallen asleep in my cargo I don't make a move to change and simply wash my face and take one of my sling bags.

"Wait at the car, I'll get the keys in a minute." He yells from inside the kitchen as I walk out of the house.

Inside the car the window is down and I lean out a bit just enough for the chilly breeze to caress my cheeks; a simple french tune plays making the ride a peaceful one with only the purring of the engine and the tinkling beat emphasising the silence. I slightly close my eyes to the calmness as if time were slowed.

After what felt like hours the car came to a stop at probably a highway of soughts, judging from the side railings and the dark sky flowing beyond. Dad picked the two freezing bottles from behind, which I have no idea we had stopped to buy. But I leave it to him and step out, immediately hit by the evening chillness. It was colder compared to our apartment and i cupped my hands blowing into it in an attempt to warm my hands. The surrounding had nothing attractive, just an empty highway bridge, stretching along both directions and the wide expanse of Seoul city below it. The street lights and signals were just specks of glistening yellow from here and a car or two passed by from time to time. Right above was the oblivion of blue sprinkled with sparkling stars like tiny glitter dust. To say it was beautiful would be an understatement, it was the best yet.

I feel my dad walk up to my side handing me the cold bottle, taking it, I gulp down the liquid, tasting the stinging fermented essence of barley. I could feel it flow through my throat easing down a few nerves and bringing a wave of sickening dullness. I let the coldness work it's magic with my head, a slight pain from the sudden drop in temperature.

"So..." I tried deciphering the tone of his words, to figure out if it was of curiosity or an attempt to make conversation. "What wa-"

"Thanks- " I cut him off blindly, to find him lightly surprised at my sudden gratitude.
"It's not Thanksgiving is it?" I chuckle with him joining in without being able to hold in his mirth at the lame joke.

"THANK YOU SO MUCH," I scream right beside my dad, making him flinch at the echo returning in the dark night.

" I LOVE MY DAD." I shout again, my voice hoarse from the cold liquid and shouting.

"more importantly, I LOVE MYSELF." I emphasise the note on self love smiling wide at my dad who was giggling beside, at my dramatic actions. I stumbled around to the car, trying to get up on the bonnet, with the bottle of liquor in one hand and my unbalanced footing making me dance,it might have looked pretty dangerous, that my dad dashed to the side clutching onto my hand for support.
With my hand held tightly in his I take another step forward to the head and settle down at the edge of the car's top, my legs dangling down by the window frame.

Placing the glass aside I lean back on my arm. Looking up it felt like looking into oblivion. For the abyss of space and air distributed with a bounty amount of stars burning and sparkling like specks of light. The sky could take our sight far and wide for it knew no bounds it was free to expand and limit. To explore and discover within it the strength, a light and darkness it held. It was to say ethereal how the horizon blemished by the thin streaks of pink and orange now showing the return of dawn.

Time flew as I forgot all about dad and internalised the remaining alcohol and drowned in the pool of purple enchantment. I sat back up on the top looking down at my dad calling, "we need to leave if you want to finish that report, Yuna Chan."

"As you say, Seokjin San." I giggle at the honourifics and jump down to settle in the passenger seat. Back home, with a fresh mind I was ready to tackle the report that my boss so desperately yearned for. Forgive my exaggerations. An hour and a half it was filed and packed so was I in my formals kissing my dad a goodbye to yet another day at work.

Hopefully the night sky doesn't forget the pair of us.

WRITTEN : XX - APRIL - 2022

POSTED IN IG (my account @thx_kims69) : 2 - MARCH - 2022

Yes some of my one shots have been posted on my insta u can read em there too!

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