𝖱𝖾𝖻𝖾𝗅 𝖧𝖾𝖺𝗋𝗍, 𝖣𝗂𝖺𝗆𝗈𝗇𝖽 𝖲𝗈𝗎𝗅

ᶜʰᵃᵖᵗᵉʳ ²²: ᴸᵉᵗᵗᵉʳˢ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵀʳᵘᵗʰˢ

Heeseung sat at his desk, a blank piece of paper before him, his heart pounding. He took a deep breath, trying to find the right words to express the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside him. He knew he had to reach out to Irene's father, Mr. Kim. It was time to explain everything—the love he felt for Irene, how much she meant to him, and the truth behind the accusations that had shattered their lives.

Dear Mr. Kim, he began, his handwriting shaky but determined.

I know this letter may come as a surprise, but I felt it was necessary to share my feelings with you. I love Irene deeply. She is not just a friend to me; she is my everything. I never intended to hurt her or your family. The truth is, I would do anything to make things right and earn your trust. I understand why you feel the way you do, but I promise that I care for Irene more than I can put into words...

As he poured his heart out onto the paper, he felt a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, this letter could bridge the gap between him and Mr. Kim.

Meanwhile, at Irene's house, the atmosphere was tense but hopeful. Jay and Wonyoung stood at the door, greeted by a surprised Mr. Kim. He looked at them, shock evident on his face. "What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice a mixture of confusion and curiosity.

"Mr. Kim, we need to talk," Jay said, his tone serious. "It's about Heeseung and Irene."

Mr. Kim's brows furrowed as he let them in. "What do you mean?"

"Listen," Wonyoung interjected, stepping forward. "We need to clarify the situation. The accusations against Heeseung were false. It was Karina who stirred up the trouble, not us. Heeseung and Irene love each other."

Mr. Kim's expression shifted, uncertainty creeping into his demeanor. "I... I don't understand. Why would Karina do that?"

"Because she was jealous," Jay replied, keeping his gaze steady. "She manipulated everything to break them apart. We're here to make you understand that Heeseung isn't the enemy. He's just a kid who cares for your daughter."

The room fell silent as Mr. Kim absorbed their words. Slowly, the weight of guilt began to crush him. "I framed Heeseung in front of Irene... so she would hate him and leave him," he admitted, his voice trembling. "I thought she didn't need him, that Jeongin was a better choice."

Wonyoung's heart ached for him. "But why wouldn't you listen to her? Why not give Heeseung a chance?"

"I was scared," Mr. Kim confessed, his eyes brimming with regret. "I thought I was protecting her from getting hurt by someone like Heeseung."

Jay spoke up, a mix of compassion and frustration in his tone. "But that doesn't excuse what you did. Jeongin fought Heeseung, and that only escalated everything."

"I know, I know!" Mr. Kim cried, his composure breaking. "I was wrong. I see that now. I just wanted to protect my daughter."

Wonyoung stepped forward, her voice softening. "We miss Irene so much. She's hurting, and so is Heeseung. They need each other."

Mr. Kim took a deep breath, realizing the gravity of his actions. "I need to make this right. I need to talk to Heeseung."

Jay smiled, relief flooding through him. "That's all we ask. If not for you or for Heeseung, then for Irene. She deserves to be happy."

Wonyoung stepped closer to Mr. Kim, enveloping him in a comforting hug. "It'll be okay. We're all here for each other," she assured him, her voice steady and warm.

Mr. Kim pulled away, gratitude shining in his eyes. "Thank you, both of you. I appreciate you coming here to tell me the truth."

Jay nodded, determination in his voice. "I experienced something similar with my my mother hating wonyoung. I didn't want wonyoung or me to be alone in our pain, and neither should you let Irene and Heeseung be alone."

As they left, Mr. Kim felt a new resolve settling in his heart. He was ready to confront his mistakes and make amends. For Irene's sake, he would do whatever it took to bring her back to the happiness she deserved.