The Reve - Part 2

Chapter 3: Umpah Umpah

« Umpah, umpah, umpah, umpah. Keep the rhythm. »

Alone in her apartment, Hyori felt incredibly lonely. She headed into her bedroom and rolled herself inside her covers, wanting someone to hold her instead of the bedsheets. She had been crying until she fell asleep, only woken up by her ringing phone. Weak and unfocused, she rushed out of her bedroom to retrieve the device she had left in the dining room, thinking Megumi was the one calling her.

Her phone's screen had read 'Dad' and she remembered not having called him after her examination. The middle-aged man had called her the first time to wish her a happy birthday, on the first of July, the week of her end-of-period examination. They talked for a bit and he asked her to call him afterwards to plan an outing. She didn't call him on Friday and forgot to do so after leaving the commission's accommodations.

"Good morning." Voiced Hyori with a small voice.

"Is there anything wrong? You sound unwell." She could hear worry in his voice.

"I don't know...I don't...I'm alone." Tears were running down her face while the emotion stifled her voice.

"You are not alone, sweetheart. I'm right here." Reassured her Father. "Are you in your apartment?"

Hyori nodded before answering "Yes."

"I'm coming. Stay on the phone, okay? Stay with me. Let's breathe together." Guided the man.

Hyori heard shuffling and keys jiggling while she breathed as instructed. She heard him close a door and start an engine.

"Are you still with me?"

She answered "Yes." as she was sniffling.

"I'm on my way. I will arrive in ten minutes. You stay on the phone, alright?"

Another small "Yes." fell from the girl's lips.

After a while, she heard her Father close another door. Less than a minute later, her bell rang. She stood from the chair and rushed to the interphone to let him in. Soon enough, he was at her unlocked door. He entered the apartment and closed the door behind him. The middle-aged man opened his arms for the crying girl. Her head was resting on his shoulders, centimetres above his heartbeats. One heavy hand was petting her hair while the other held her close to ground the agitated maiden. After she calmed down, the man suggested sitting down.

They walked inside the kitchen and he served two glasses of water from the fountain. Drinking the beverage had felt good to Hyori's strained throat. They were sitting, almost facing each other, when she put her empty glass on the table.

"What happened?" Prompted her Father.

"I had a fight with my little sister." Murmured the girl. "She's not exactly my sister. I met her inside the pension and we bonded. She's now under the commission's custody. I told her about you and she got upset. She doesn't want to see me anymore."

"Is that what she said?"

"Yes." Hyori nodded. "She told me to leave. She said I was... She said that..."

Memories of the scene saddened Hyori as Megumi's words were drowning her thoughts. She was aware the younger one had aimed to hurt her with her words. She wanted to be the bigger person but she felt betrayed by what she heard.

"You don't have to live that moment again." Said the man as he took her hand in his. "I can see that it hurts you. It's okay if you don't want to go into the details."

Hyori's eyes travelled to meet her Father's earnest ones. At this moment, she believed the man truly was her Father. She had a vague appreciation of the Fatherhood concept, not having experienced it much. Yet, what she felt for the man was the closest she had felt for her Mother. It was different but similar in how she felt important and loved just because she existed.