Sunkissed Serendipity

Chapter 62

Isla

I pack the last bits of my clothes for the trip in my overnight bag and look around to see what I was missing. After grabbing my makeup bag from the bathroom, I look for my charger. Once everything is in my backpack and in a bigger bag, I set off downstairs. I settle my things by the door before heading into the kitchen. Grabbing a few snacks and a drink, I take them to the living room.

After I'm done eating breakfast, I shoot off a text to Julian. He said that he was already on his way earlier, but I know that he tends to lie just so I can rush to get ready. Too bad for him. I took my time, and this time I proved myself right. I was just about to call him when I hear footsteps pad into the room.

"Isla," my dad says, walking around to look at me. I look up at him, giving him a smile as I say, "Hi, dad. I thought you'd already be at work."

"Late start for the day," he says, but I take notice of how he was dressed to go anyway. He glances at my bags by the door and then raises an eyebrow. "Where are you going?"

"Just on a day trip with my friend," I say, watching as his eyebrows pull together even more. I didn't know what else to add, and I didn't know if I should add that I was going on a trip with my boyfriend. With the way he was looking at me, I didn't know if that would be a safe bet. I was looking to get out of the house with no arguments whatsoever.

My dad hums and then says, "Your mom knows?"

I didn't know why I was scared of being in this predicament. My dad usually left my mom to know of my whereabouts, and honesty left her to look after me. I mean, he didn't even bother with me, so I knew I should have been safe. Giving a nod, I say, "Yeah, we talked about it last week."

"Give her a text today just so she knows," he says, and I keep my mouth shut so as not to blurt Anyang out. I loved my dad, but the fact that he couldn't be bothered to let my mom know himself didn't sit well with me. But I wasn't here to talk about things that could escalate, so I nodded. Picking up my phone, I say, "Okay, I got it."

My dad nods, and then I watch as he studies me for a bit. I wondered if it was because he wanted to say something to me or if he was just checking if I was okay. He used to talk to me more often when I was younger, but I guess once you get older, time and everything else take that away. That and the fact that I'm older and he assumes my mom was the one who could only understand me. I missed my dad on some levels, even though he was right in front of me. I guess I missed the old version of him—the version that would come up to me after a long day at work and ask me about my day. He hasn't done that ever since I was in middle school.

His eyes return to my own as he says, "Well, have fun."

"I will," I say, and with a nod, he heads to leave. So that was all it was. He didn't care to ask me things or catch up; he just simply had to say something to get out of here. As he walks away, I turn around my shoulder to look at him. My dad is a sure man, well reserved, and respected. He walked in that sense, even at home. He used to be more carefree at home with my mom, but I guess that died down. I wonder if that's how life was supposed to be. If you were supposed to lose sight of all your happiness, just because you've had it for a long time.

But no, happiness shouldn't be taken for granted.

"When are you coming back?" my dad shouts back, surprising me honestly. I open my mouth to answer, but then there are knocks on the door. I head to open the door, and Julian is out there, smiling brightly at me. "Hi," he says, leaning in to kiss me on the lips. I kiss him back before he pulls away and grabs at the bags I set on the floor. I let him do that, and as he stepped back outside, I made sure I had everything.