8 Years [ENGV]

#34

JISOO

My parents were never bad. They weren't too conservative, but they weren't exactly liberal either — and let's just say I was pretty spoiled by them, especially by my dad.

When I decided to join the entertainment industry, I didn't get much support. My dad had worked for an entertainment company a few years before I was born, and maybe because of that, he was afraid something bad would happen to me — he knew how cruel the industry could be.

It was the first time I saw him being so strict, showing no support for my choice and making it clear how much it bothered him. But over time, he got used to the idea and, indirectly, showed his support.

When Haeji 'died,' their support was essential. They were the ones who held me up and gave me strength to chase my dream. I felt like they wanted to show me they'd be there, holding my hands through the storm. With such a hectic life, our meetings and reunions became rare. After all, whenever we had breaks between shows and promotions, I preferred to be alone. As the years passed, I isolated myself even more — maybe faking smiles so often left me so drained I had no energy or will to see anyone. So, I only saw my parents and siblings during holidays.

Having them there at that moment made me happy — it meant they wanted to hear me out and support me. I felt safe, and honestly, that's all a child wants: to feel safe around their parents. The silence dragged, making the air feel heavy in my lungs. My parents seemed to be choosing their words carefully, unsure where to begin.

"We've thought a lot..." Dad began, looking at me while holding Mom's hand. "We heard everything in the media... about the girl... everything." He sighed. "We were insensitive when we asked you to forget about her, Jisoo."

"As a mother, I know how hard it is to try to forget a child, and I couldn't imagine how much you were suffering. Please, honey, forgive us." Mom's eyes welled up. "We wanted to be there at the trial, to meet her, but we didn't want to overwhelm you. Now that everything's over, we decided to come and apologize."

"And we also want to know more details." Dad added. "How could the girl be so neglected and practically abandoned in a boarding school?" I noticed Mom lightly squeezed Dad's hand.

"Are you ready to tell us everything that happened?" Mom asked seriously, looking into my eyes. I swallowed hard.

"We've seen all the news, but we want to hear the story from you. We can't trust everything in the media." Dad finished.

I knelt in front of them, ready to talk.

Letting it all out felt like lifting a massive weight off my shoulders. They listened attentively, asked a few questions, and were shocked by the absurdities I shared about the companies and Haeji's guardian, including the threats she used to make everything harder. When I finished, Dad came closer, knelt in front of me, and gently lifted my face. He wiped away a tear on my cheek with his thumb.

"We should've been more understanding, sweetheart." I swallowed hard. "As your father, I should've been by your side. You went through all this for years, and I thought everything was fine..." I closed my eyes, afraid I was dreaming again. "Forgive us, dear. If we had known, or if we had actually reached out when you called us, we could've done something."

I just threw myself into his arms. His embrace was tight, warm, and I couldn't remember the last time I felt this comforting sensation — Dad's bear hug.

"We want to ask for your forgiveness." Mom said, her eyes glistening as she stepped closer to us. "And we want to meet the father of your child, and our granddaughter too."

I gasped in relief. We laughed and hugged again, holding each other in a group embrace. Mom, now with a mischievous curious look, asked if the pregnancy rumors were true and whether my relationship with Haein was strong. I confirmed and apologized for them hearing it through the media instead of from me, but Mom just broke into another wave of tears with a joyful smile.