President | Kim Minji X Female Reader

Moments

Since the party primarily catered to rich, older attendees, Y/N and her friends opted for their own impromptu gathering upstairs in one of the family rooms. Wonyoung managed to sneak some alcohol from the bar, and they played music through the room's speakers.

As they danced and laughed, time swiftly slipped away, carried on the rhythm of their shared crazy stories.

"Girls, selfie!" Yuna screamed.

Y/N had lost count of how many pictures they had taken, but they were looking so hot that it was an absolute must.

After what seemed like only seconds to Y/N, she received a text from her dad asking to meet in the backyard. She reluctantly departed from her friends and made her way to meet the man. It had been bugging her the whole night, wondering what he wanted to talk about.

Guess she was about to find soon enough. 

In the dimly lit backyard, Howard stood as Y/N approached, the soft glow of the garden lights casting a gentle ambiance. He greeted her with a warm smile, "Hey there, kiddo. How's everything going?"

Y/N sighed, her curiosity mingled with a hint of apprehension. "It's been alright, Dad. Is everything okay?"

"Yes, everything is alright." Howard's eyes softened as he took a moment to gauge his daughter's mood. "I spoke with your therapist."

Her eyes narrowed, a mixture of surprise and irritation crossing her face. "You did? Why? Trying to invade my privacy again?"

He quickly raised his hands in a placating manner. "Hey, hey, easy there. I didn't pry into any private stuff. I just wanted to make sure you're doing okay. The therapist didn't share any details, just assured me that you're making progress."

Y/N's tension began to ease as her father continued, "I care about you, Y/N. I just want to make sure you're in a good place. I know I haven't been the best dad for a long time, but I'm also trying, okay?" 

Y/N simply nodded her head, uncertain of what to say. The truth lingered in the air— they had been close when she was young, but after her mother left, they drifted apart as her father submerged himself in work. The distance between them had grown, and now, in the subdued glow of the garden lights, it felt like the weight of those years pressed upon them.

Howard, sensing the need for a more private conversation, gently guided Y/N toward a secluded bench, far from the noise and the people. The air felt fresher, and the distant hum of the party became a mere background melody.

Seated side by side, Howard began, "You know, kid, there are things I haven't shared with you. I guess it's time I do." 

Y/N listened intently, unspoken history hanging in the air.

"I was so deeply in love with Sarah since college," he started, a nostalgic glimmer in his eyes. "Some people told me she wasn't good for me, but I only saw the good in her. Then she started changing so much, or maybe she was just showing her true colors, and it hurt me. But I ignored it because she was still by my side. I was a fool; I should have stopped everything when I noticed how much of a bad mother she was to you."

Howard took a deep breath, carrying regret in his words.

"And finally when that thing happened, it broke me," he continued. "My only escape was work; it kept my thoughts from wandering to her. But I didn't realize how much I had left you alone during that time. I'm so sorry for everything, Y/N."

A single tear fell from Y/N's eye as she absorbed her father's words. The flood of memories from her unhappy childhood, her early rebellious breakouts, and all the times she blamed her parents, mostly Sarah but Howard too, rushed through her mind. Now that he was finally saying sorry, she didn't know what to feel. She just nodded her head, caught in the whirlwind of emotions that seemed to echo in the silence of the dimly lit backyard.