𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐄𝐂𝐓 ⟡ 박성훈

020

"What's wrong with me?" Dae paced back and forth in Eunji's bedroom as Hayun and Eunji watched their best friend freak out.

"I've never seen you like this before" Hayun remarked, resting her hand on her palm.

"Why am I like this right now?" Dae exasperating, "why am I so upset over something that doesn't even involve me and they aren't even dating anyways so why am I worrying—"

Dae rambled until Eunji cut her off.

"You're in love, Dae." Eunji laughed.

".. you think so?" Dae paused.

"That's the only reasonable explanation" Hayun added, "You got jealous when you saw Sunhee wrap her arms around Sunghoon's arm, and how she added 'yet' when you asked if they were dating."

"I... I like Sunghoon?" Dae muttered to herself.

"Fucking hell Eunji your brother scared the shit out of me when he opened the door" Yoon bursted into Eunji's bedroom, with a bag full of convenience store snacks— classic Yoon.

"Did he have a face mask on?" Eunji asked, and Yoon nodded, "yeah I think I need to each him how to put one of those on properly."

"Anyways, what did I miss?" Yoon asked, sitting on Eunji's bed with Hayun and Eunji.

"I like Sunghoon!" Dae repeated, coming out of her trance.

"Woah, slow down. Did we skip a few chapters?" Yoon's jaw dropped.

"It kind of makes sense though" Hayun said, after thinking about it, "Both of their parents are really strict, to get them the perfect image."

"You're right" Eunji replied, taking out a bag of chips from the snack pile.

"What do I do?" Dae huffed, sitting down.

"Ask him out?" Yoon shrugged, she's never had any romantic feelings for anyone before.

"No, don't do that" Eunji immediately stepped in, "you have to wait for him to ask you out"

"Right" Dae nodded.

-

"Dad is coming back today" Dae's mom said as they drove to the dance studio.

"How long is he staying for?" Dae asked.

"A week, then he flys out to Japan."

Until the age of 8, Dae's dad was always present in her life.

He would never miss a performance if his life depended on it.

//

"We're so proud of you for getting this promotion, dear!" Dae's mom beamed a smile

The family of three sat in a 5 star restaurant, Dae was 7— her parents were making plans for her 8th birthday party.

"It's going to be a lot more work, though" Her dad furrowed his eyebrows as he looked at Dae, "I worry I won't be able to see you and Dae as much as I do now."

"No matter what, we'll always stay the same— right?"

Her mom eventually quit her job to become a house wife instead.

The house was quieter.

Everything was fit into place like a puzzle in the house.

It began with a visit home once every few weeks.

Then every month.

Every couple months.

Once a year.

"Is Dad gonna be home on my birthday?"

"Is Dad gonna be home for Christmas?"

Since that promotion, her dad never spent a single birthday or Christmas with them.

Her mom changed into someone that 7 year old Dae wouldn't even recognise.

She became cold, strict, and strived for Dae to do her best at all times.

To become the perfect daughter she always envisioned.

//

"He's.. gonna be home on my birthday then?" Dae's eyes lit up.

"No, he's flying out to Japan the night before."

"I see."