Deluge - Drown

~Chapter 3 : Alone~

Growing up with my father was the most normal I've ever felt. No worries of being abandoned and alone, not with my father around me at least. But really every aspect of my life was fairly normal too. Rest assured i had many hick-ups in life, dealing with people teasing on me at school all because of my features and body image. Yet now that I've grown up, It's all seemed to be fairly quiet.

My friend Hyunjin that I've had almost exactly as long as I transferred to my new school after the family affairs, has really seemed to be my biggest comfort. Her presence was always just as serious as mine and yet we were still able to joke around and have fun just like any other teenagers. However one thing that I was utterly jealous of the most was her beauty. I'm pretty sure that everyone was jealous. Her large oval hazel eyes and her black poufy hair. I admit yes she was picked on for her skin colour at school too but we both managed to get through it together and become the hottest duo in school. Well that's what I had liked to tell myself at least.

"Eunbi remember the homework is due in two days. I'm sure you haven't forgotten anyways but at this rate god knows what's on your mind recently"

I shook my head to break myself from the depths of my mind and smiled delicately at Hyunjin.

"Yes yes, it's all ready done. No need to worry about my grades."

I turned to look at my house as we stood talking in front of it. I looked back, eyes filled with guilt as i had to say goodbye to her again for one more night before the new morning.

We both exchanged goodbyes and hugged one last time as I stood and stared at her as her small body vanished over the hillside and eventually I waddled back to the front door.

"Welcome home dad!"

My daily routine of welcoming my dad became a habit. It was fairly bad when he would be gone for the weekend visiting his parents and my body would still wait patiently for a response back from my dad, and yet it never came.

"Hi sweetheart, dinner's on the table"

I sloppily slid my tired feet out from my shoes and carelessly kicked them to one side as to not accidentally trip on them on the way back out the house. I quickly rushed over to the table smelling every aroma of fresh food on display, taking in the most air in my lungs possible before breathing out and hastily rushing over to my bedroom without a word. Without hesitation I threw my bag onto the floor and replaced my school uniform with my pink penguin pjs before striding to the table. I slid out a chair for myself as my dad was still rummaging for cutlery in the kitchen drawers, pulling out 2 glasses and some napkins.

"How's school been today?", as he placed one pair of chopsticks to my right and one for himself too.

"Nothing unusual"

My dad grinned and plopped down everything else he was holding. I looked up at him with confusion, tilting my head and raising my eyebrows.

"You can come to work with me again tomorrow if you'd like"

I gasped with excitement, my body rushed of joy. I stood up so fast my chair flung behind me with the force of my thighs, leaving a dent on the white walls. My dad shook from the sudden loud bang of the chair colliding with the wall and continued to laugh as I pranced around the living room couch. I haven't been with him at his work place since I was 12. I've spent most of my childhood living and sleeping on the couch inside the staff room as my dad tirelessly laid slumped over his desk typing away on the blaring computer screen. Every night that should've filled me with dread from being at such an unusual place should've felt strange and scary and yet knowing my father was there to always protect me, I always fell asleep just as sound as when life was really perfect.

Not even a year after my mother had left, my dad struggled paying the bills for the exceedingly large house, he worked overtime more than usual and it was almost impossible to ever see him. He worried about me growing up 'homeless', but even when I spent only a couple weeks sleeping and playing with dad's co-workers, it didn't seem so bad after all. Not soon later I realised that dad had sold the home to a much smaller and cosier one much closer to the countryside. This one felt more full and warm and now without half of the family it was the perfect size for me and dad to live peacefully forever. Time growing shorter and shorter to the moment of us moving in was fast approaching and I wouldn't say I was sad but it felt like I was losing a fair amount of my friends. Even if the walls were bleak and all the rooms were either filled with prison cells and computer desks I still though of it as my second home.

And now finally, after a long 6 years, I'm able to finally be reunited.

After using up all my energy on jumping and screaming I finally composed myself and sat my ass onto the chair, still feeling a sense of giddy as I was still unable to keep still.

"Thank you for the food", before I was finally able to stuff my mouth with beef and lettuce.

"I know you've been asking a lot BiBi but I really couldn't get you to come to work with just how busy everything has been"

I nodded, chewing down the food as fast as possible without choking on anything.

"I know dad, It's okay"

I smiled, as the table was slowly being devoured. And eventually only a couple bowls were left half full. The sun was finally down and night sky shined much brighter than any other day that year, listening onto the good news presented at the dining table. I calmed my nerves by taking a warm brisk shower, and finally throwing myself onto my warm silky sheets. And yet even with all the good news that my body was so exhilarated with, I still felt my body twist and turn from a nagging feeling, tugging on my thoughts. Before finally, my body jolted up.

"I didn't do my homework"