Niki stood in the doorway, his arms tightly wrapped around his father, Taehyung, who was finally back after nearly two decades. The moment was surreal, like a scene from a dream, but Niki couldn't let his emotions show too much. His thoughts were spinning wildly. What was his father doing here, after all this time?"What are you doing here, Dad?" Niki's voice was laced with shock, barely masking his disbelief.Taehyung looked down at his son, momentarily confused by the bluntness, before breaking into a warm, affectionate smile. "I mean—what a surprise!" Niki added quickly, pulling him into a tight embrace, trying to make up for his initial shock.As the two reunited, Bora stood nearby, her heart pounding in her chest. She eyed Jimin, silently screaming for an explanation. Why hadn't he warned them?Jimin, ever the guilty puppy, offered an apologetic look. He could see the stress in her eyes, and it hurt him to know how much was weighing on her young shoulders."I need to talk to you," Bora hissed, pulling Jimin to the side while Taehyung and Niki exchanged stories and laughter.As soon as they were out of earshot, Bora exploded in a whisper-yell, her eyes wide with panic. "You should've told us! You should've warned us!"Jimin, taken aback, raised his hands in defense. "Bora, he called me this morning! I didn't know he was coming back. I swear!"Bora let out a frustrated sigh, running her fingers through her hair, overwhelmed by the weight of the situation. "Well, just so you know, I'm not letting him meet my dad. No way."Jimin's eyes widened with surprise, sensing how deeply Bora had thought about this. "Are you sure that's what you want?" he asked, his voice soft, careful. He saw how torn she was, how much she was struggling to protect something fragile.Bora nodded, but her voice faltered slightly. "Yes... because I don't want anyone to come between my family. We're happy. We've always been happy."Jimin wasn't convinced. He'd known Bora since she was a kid—he'd seen her around her parents, Jungkook and Nara. He had felt the undercurrent of tension, the unspoken sadness in Jungkook's eyes, something Bora might not have fully realized yet. "Are you sure all of you are happy?" he asked, his tone gentle but probing.Bora hesitated, the crack in her resolve showing. She glanced away, her voice quieter this time. "Y-yes... we are."Jimin placed a hand on her shoulder, his gaze steady and kind. "Look, Bora. I've known Taehyung for years. He's a good person, and I can guarantee you—he would never come between your family. He's not that kind of man. You're protecting something that isn't even threatened."Bora bit her lip, her mind racing. Maybe Jimin's right... But no. She couldn't take the risk. People change. Feelings resurface. Her family was too important to gamble with. "People change, Jimin uncle," she said softly, her voice tinged with sorrow. "Maybe he's not the same person anymore."Jimin sighed, knowing she wouldn't budge. "As you wish, Bora. But if they both decide to meet, you, or me, or anyone else—none of us can stop that. It's their choice, not ours."Bora felt a lump form in her throat, her chest tightening with anxiety. She didn't respond, just nodded weakly. "Whatever," she muttered, brushing past Jimin. "I'm going home. See you tomorrow, Niki!" she called from the door.Niki, hearing her voice, rushed to the doorway, confusion written on his face. "I won't be here tomorrow."Bora froze, her heart sinking to her stomach. She turned slowly, her voice barely audible. "What? You're leaving?""I have to go back, Bora. The summer's over," Niki explained, his voice filled with the finality of it.Bora's heart ached. She had known the day was coming, but hearing him say it out loud made it all too real. She blinked back tears, forcing a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Okay," she whispered before bolting out the door, her chest tightening as she ran home, desperate to escape the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside her.---Taehyung watched Bora run out, his gaze softening as he turned to Niki. He had always been good at reading people, especially his son. "She likes you, doesn't she?"Niki froze, his face flushing a deep red. "W-what? No! No, she doesn't," he stammered, his voice high-pitched with embarrassment.Taehyung chuckled knowingly. "Come on, don't lie to me. I can see it, son. And let me guess—you like her too, right?""Dad, no!" Niki groaned, cringing at the thought. He couldn't handle this conversation, especially not with his father who had just reappeared in his life after years of being away.Taehyung raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening. "Okay, okay, whatever you say," he teased, still not convinced. "Is she here for vacation too?"Niki nodded, trying to steer the conversation away from his very obvious crush on Bora. "Yeah, she lives in Seoul."A flicker of thought crossed Taehyung's face, and he looked at Niki thoughtfully. "Seoul, huh? What do you think—maybe you'd want to apply to Seoul University? It's a great school, after all."Niki's face lit up, excitement bubbling to the surface. "Are you serious? You'd let me apply there?" He could barely contain his joy. Seoul was where Bora lived, where her brother went to college. The possibilities seemed endless.Taehyung smiled, his heart warming at the sight of his son's enthusiasm. "Of course, I'm serious. Why not? It's tough being a single dad, but I guess I could handle being even cooler than I already am," he added with a playful wink, his sass dripping from every word.Niki burst out laughing, unable to contain himself. He threw his arms around his father in a spontaneous hug. "You're the coolest, Dad."Taehyung's smile softened as he held his son close, the weight of their reunion settling in his heart. He had missed so much—missed seeing Niki grow, missed being there for him. But now, he had a second chance. And he wasn't going to waste it.Niki pulled away, his face still beaming. "Can I apply to Bora's brother's college? I mean, she said she has high chances of getting in there too..." he whispered shyly, a hint of hope in his voice.Taehyung let out a laugh, ruffling Niki's hair. "Oh, loverboy, I see what's going on here. You've got it bad, don't you?"Niki blushed furiously. "Dad, stop!" he whined, trying to hide his embarrassment as his father tickled him.Taehyung's laughter filled the room, a sound that felt like home to Niki, a sound he had longed for during those lonely years.For a moment, in that shared laughter, everything felt right again. It was just the two of them—father and son—navigating the world together. And even though there were complications and uncertainties in the background, for now, they had each other.
