RIGHT HERE | Jung Wooyoung

ELEVEN

3RD PERSON

As the doorbell was heard, everyone took a deep breath, and Haewon went to open the door. San squeezed Yuqi's hand to relax her, as she was ready to either burst out crying or throw hands.

As the door opened, everyone's eyes widened in surprise. Standing at the entrance was a tall figure, his shoulders slightly hunched, the years etched on his face in lines and wrinkles.

This was their father, Choi Jonghan, looking uncertain but hopeful.

San stood up to greet him first, his body tense. "Dad?" he said hesitantly.

As they all stood face to face, Yuqi's build-up emotions burst out like a volcano. Her eyes welled up with tears and she began yelling, her voice filled with a mix of anger and sadness. "You monster! Where were you? How could you just abandon us like that? Do you know how much you hurt all of us?"

The sudden outburst took aback San, but he quickly stepped in, putting a firm grip on Yuqi's shoulders to hold her back from lunging forward. She struggled against his grip, her body trembling with a mixture of rage and despair.

"Kids I-" Jonghan tried to explain, but no explanation came out of his mouth. His head was empty, like their hearts when he appeared in their lives again.

As Yuqi continued to struggle against San's grasp, her body was exhausted from the emotional outburst. Slowly, her efforts weakened until she slumped against him, her body becoming weightless. The tears streamed down her face as her eyes closed, and her head fell limply against San's chest. The overwhelming emotions had taken a toll, causing her to pass out in her brother's arms.

Everyone stood frozen for a moment as they watched Yuqi's unconscious body in San's arms. Haewon's eyes filled with worry and a hint of anger towards their father, while San held onto his sister protectively, his gaze flickering between his father and Yuqi.

It was a heavy silence, broken only by the sound of Yuqi's soft breathing as she lay motionless.

Haewon turned to their father, her voice strained. "Look what you've done," she hissed, her eyes filled with anger and disappointment.

"This is exactly why I didn't tell them you were alive. They've spent years struggling because of you, questioning their worth and wondering what they did wrong for you to leave. And now, seeing you here has sent Yuqi into a state like this."

Jonghan looked shaken, his face contorting as if stabbed by guilt. He took a small step forward and opened his mouth to speak, but San cut him off with a cold glare. "Don't," he said firmly. "You've caused enough damage already. We don't need to hear any excuses or apologies right now. She needs to rest. We will talk later."

With a solemn nod, San carried his sister to her room, gently laying her on her bed and covering her with a soft blanket.

Her face appeared peaceful in her sleep, unaware of the chaotic emotions that had just unfolded.

Haewon was still downstairs. She told their father to enter the house and sit on the couch. She let out a bitter sigh and sat down as well.

Jonghan took a deep breath and looked down. "Haewon look. I'm... Sorry for everything. I know how hard it was for you guys to grow up like this. You had to take care of them while you were also just a kid."

Haewon scoffed and crossed her arms. "Yeah, for sure. You don't know how much pain I felt. For two years straight I was asked every single fucking day, 'Where is mom?', 'Where is dad?' You don't know how hard it was for me, and for them as well."

Jonghan sat silently, his eyes downcast. His shoulders slumped even further as he absorbed Haewon's words. After a moment of tense silence, he finally spoke.

"I know I can never fully understand what you went through," he admitted, his voice filled with remorse. "I can't take back the years I wasn't there. I can't undo what has been done."

Haewon's gaze didn't waver. Her eyes were filled with a mix of anger and pain that had built up over the years. "You're right," she said coldly.

"You can't change the past. You can't take back the years we spent wondering where you were and what we did to deserve to be abandoned."

Jonghan's face contorted, the weight of her words cutting deep. He opened his mouth to speak, to explain, but Haewon didn't let him.

"Spare me the excuses and apologies," she snapped. "You don't get to come back into our lives and think everything will be fine just because you show up and say 'I'm sorry'."

Jonghan winced, the truth of her words hitting him hard. He had hoped for forgiveness, but he knew deep down that it was a long shot.

"I've messed up," he admitted, his voice hoarse. "I know that. I've been a terrible father. I've failed all of you."

Haewon rolled her eyes and got up, wanting to end the conversation already.

"You know what? You're right. You didn't just fail as a father; you also failed as a human being. If I knew that Yuqi was searching for you, I would have stopped her immediately. You don't deserve to know us anymore."

She sighed, looking around as San came from upstairs. "I think it's time for you to leave. We don't want you here anymore."

Jonghan nods, knowing that his begging won't work anymore. He got up and made his way to the door, looking back for a moment again.

"I'm sorry, and I will always be..." He mumbled before opening the door and making his way to his car.

Haewon felt a wave of relief through her body as their father left. San placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"We should forget about this meeting. It's not worth our pain and tears." San spoke, his voice soft and comforting.

The oldest nodded and thought about it. He was right. They should wash it off and pretend nothing happened.

San looked at his phone, seeing a lot of messages from Wooyoung.

pookier 3<: san?

pookier 3<: is everything alright?

pookier 3<: im worried

pookier 3<: i will be waiting for you to come back

pookier 3<: just tell me if anything happens, im here

my pookie >3: everything is

my pookie >3: alright, lets say

pookier 3<: ???

pookier 3<: what is that supposed to mean?

my pookie >3: nothing... i will be back soon, i just have to make sure that yuqi is alright

pookier 3<: ????

pookier 3<: what happened to yuqi?

my pookie >3: i will tell you everything when i get to your place

pookier 3<: :(

***

Hi guys!! I'm sorry if this chapter seems rushed or weird. I had no ideas and wanted to give up like 4 or 5 times already. Tomorrow or on Tuesday I will start, in the end, a book with chats and images (oneshots) with ateez and stray kids. 2 chapters will be posted in between the chapters in this book. Hope you will read it and like it as well as you did with my other book! I really appreciate it <3 Have a nice day/night!