Unfortunately, I Need You

6

It was the weekend, and for the first time in a while, Jungwon had a rare day off to truly relax. His team was finally wrapping up their final project phases, giving them a few well-earned breaks.

He stretched out lazily on his bed, scrolling through a live stream of his friends' friendly soccer match back in Korea. They were giving it their all, but it was obvious they couldn’t quite match Heeseung’s team yet. Watching them struggle, Jungwon smirked, mentally noting how much more training they needed if they wanted to close that skill gap.

Just as he was engrossed in the game, his phone buzzed with an unexpected call from his father, Yongsik.

Jungwon’s relationship with his father wasn’t like it used to be. Their father-san connection isn't great. Since his mother’s death, there had been a subtle but undeniable wall between them, a tension that neither of them could quite shake. Even though both wanted to bridge it, neither of them knew how to dismantle what grief had built.

Jungwon answered, masking the unease with practiced warmth. "Hey, Dad. How are you?" The words felt mechanical, like a line from a script he’d rehearsed over and over.

Yongsik’s voice came through with a hint of cheerfulness. "Good! Have you been eating well?" It was a typical question, one that somehow always managed to mask deeper concerns.

“Just the usual. Nothing too fancy, nothing too little. Don’t worry,” Jungwon assured him.

They chatted about everyday things for a few minutes, but Jungwon could sense an unusual weight in his father’s tone, like he was holding back something important.

After a brief pause, Jungwon decided to go straight to the point. "Do you have something you want to tell me, Dad? You sound… different.”

Yongsik chuckled nervously, as though surprised his son had caught on. "Right, I do. Do you remember the friend I mentioned to you? The surgeon in Japan?"

Jungwon hummed thoughtfully. This friend was someone he’d heard about a few times—a renowned Japanese surgeon his father had known from university. They’d kept a close friendship over the years, with Jungwon occasionally overhearing their conversations on the phone, proving their close bonds. 

Despite the long-standing connection, their families had never formally met, and Jungwon knew little more about the man than his profession and nationality. Not even his name was in Jungwon's knowledge.

"He, uh, just found out you’re in Japan too," Yongsik continued, his tone tentative. "Apparently, he recognized you at some university charity event."

Jungwon frowned. "Wait, how did he even know about the event? It was pretty private—just students and staff."

“Didn’t that famous idol, Sana, attend?” Yongsik replied, his voice a mix of amusement and logic. "With her there, nothing stays private. People would have known about any event she attended."

Jungwon sighed. Her name, again. His recent encounters with Sana hadn’t exactly left the best impression. While the world saw her as a glamorous celebrity, he found her rather unpredictable and, frankly, a bit infuriating. “Yeah… right,” He muttered, rolling his eyes at the thought of her.

“So, back to what I was saying,” Yongsik continued, his voice growing serious again, “My friend actually wants to meet you. I should’ve told you sooner, but we’ve arranged a small meeting. Nothing formal, just casual.”

Jungwon blinked in surprise. He hadn’t anticipated being asked to meet his father’s friend, especially on such short notice. But he couldn’t deny the underlying plea in his father’s tone—a subtle wish for him to accept, maybe to bring some joy back to their strained relationship.