"Timeless Encounters"

Shadows of Worry

As the days turned into weeks, Minji began to notice a change in her father’s behavior. Taehyung had always been hardworking and dedicated, but lately, he seemed more distant, his smile less frequent. Each evening, he would return home later than usual, his face etched with exhaustion and worry.

Minji would wait for him by the door, hoping to catch a glimpse of the warmth she once knew. But as Taehyung entered, she noticed a heaviness in his eyes that sent a chill through her. The laughter that used to fill their home was replaced by an uneasy silence. She felt the shift, a growing tension that wrapped around their family like a dark cloud.

One night, after a particularly long day in the fields, Taehyung returned home later than ever. Minji had already prepared dinner, setting the table with care. Jiyoon had fallen asleep, her head resting on a pile of toys. As Taehyung stepped inside, Minji watched him closely, searching for the familiar warmth in his gaze.

“Appa, you’re home,” she said softly, trying to infuse some cheer into the atmosphere.

“Yeah,” he replied curtly, his tone lacking the usual affection. He dropped his tools by the door and moved to the table, his shoulders tense.

Minji served him a bowl of rice and soup, her heart aching at the sight of him. “I made your favorite,” she offered, hoping to bring a smile to his face.

Taehyung took a few bites but didn’t respond. Instead, he stared out the window, lost in thought. Minji felt a pang of frustration mixed with worry. “Is everything okay, Appa?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

He turned to her, a flash of irritation crossing his face. “I’m fine, Minji. Just tired,” he snapped, and the harshness in his tone made her flinch.

Minji recoiled, the words cutting deeper than she expected. “I just wanted to help,” she murmured, feeling tears prick at her eyes.

Taehyung softened slightly, but the anger still lingered beneath the surface. “I know, I’m sorry,” he said, his voice lower now. “It’s just... it’s been hard lately.”

She nodded, sensing that the weight on his shoulders was more than just exhaustion. As he finished his meal, the silence stretched between them, thick and uncomfortable.

That night, after tucking Jiyoon into bed, Minji lay awake, unable to shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. She couldn’t help but think about their family’s financial struggles. The whispers of the village about their debts echoed in her mind, and she worried for her father.

Days passed, and Taehyung continued to return late. Minji overheard hushed conversations between him and a stranger, a man whose sharp voice sliced through the air like a knife. “You need to pay up, Taehyung. You’re running out of time,” the man warned one evening, his tone menacing.

Minji’s heart raced as she listened from the shadows. The tension in her father’s voice was palpable, and it made her stomach churn. “I’m doing my best,” Taehyung replied, desperation creeping in. “I’ll pay you as soon as I can.”

The man scoffed. “Your best isn’t enough. I expect full payment by next week, or there will be consequences.”

Minji’s breath caught in her throat as the man left, the door slamming behind him. She stepped out of the shadows, her heart pounding. “Appa, what’s going on?” she asked, her voice trembling.

Taehyung turned to her, a mix of frustration and sorrow in his eyes. “It’s nothing for you to worry about,” he said sharply, but she could see the cracks in his facade.

“It’s not nothing! You’re always angry, and you’re coming home late!” Minji pleaded, her voice breaking. “Please, just talk to me.”

Taehyung ran a hand through his hair, sighing deeply. “I’m trying to keep this family together, Minji. I don’t want you to carry this burden.”

“But I already feel it!” she cried, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I want to help! I want to understand!”

He looked at her, the weight of his worries reflected in his eyes. “I’ve borrowed money to keep us afloat. I’m struggling to repay it, and the lender is becoming impatient,” he admitted, his voice heavy with shame.

Minji felt the world tilt beneath her. “Is that why you’re so angry? Because of the money?”

Taehyung nodded, looking defeated. “Yes. I thought I could manage it, but I was wrong. I’m sorry for taking my stress out on you.”

Minji stepped closer, feeling a surge of determination. “We can figure this out together. I can help with the chores, and maybe we can sell some things we don’t need.”

He shook his head gently. “You shouldn’t have to worry about these things. You’re still a child.”

“But I want to be there for you, Appa! We’re a family,” she insisted, her heart pounding with resolve.

Taehyung’s expression hardened, frustration boiling over. “I said it’s not your concern, Minji!” His voice raised, cutting through the air like a knife.

Minji recoiled, hurt flashing across her face. “Why can’t you just talk to me? I’m not a child anymore!”

“Then act like it! You don’t understand the pressure I’m under!” he snapped back, the anger in his voice a reflection of his mounting stress.

The room fell silent, and for a moment, the only sound was the distant chirping of crickets outside. Minji’s heart sank, feeling the rift between them widen.

“Maybe if you actually listened to me instead of shutting me out, we could find a solution together,” she said, her voice trembling.

Taehyung’s jaw tightened, the frustration boiling over. “I don’t need your help! I’m trying to protect you from this mess!”

“Protect me? By pushing me away?” Minji shouted, her voice breaking. “I just want to understand!”

In a sudden rush of anger, Taehyung grabbed his coat and stormed toward the door. “I can’t deal with this right now,” he growled, his voice heavy with frustration.

“Appa, wait!” Minji called, desperation filling her tone. “Where are you going?”

He paused at the door, looking back at her, his expression torn between anger and pain. “I need to clear my head,” he said, before stepping outside and slamming the door behind him.

Minji stood frozen in place, her heart racing as she processed what had just happened. Tears streamed down her cheeks, the weight of their unresolved conflict hanging heavy in the air. She felt a deep ache in her chest, the fear that their family was unraveling more than she could bear.

As night enveloped their home, Minji sank to the floor, feeling the emptiness settle around her. She wanted nothing more than to reach her father, to mend the rift that had formed between them. But the anger in his eyes had frightened her, leaving her unsure of how to bridge the gap.

The world outside grew silent, and all she could do was hope that Taehyung would return, that they could face their struggles together, just as they had always done. But as the shadows deepened, she feared that the distance between them was greater than she had ever imagined.

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