Rivals Since Birth // Ppotoz (tripleS)

Take 22

Yooyeon's POV

The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in warm streaks of pink and orange. I leaned back in my chair, a small smile tugging at my lips as my thoughts drifted. The house was quiet, save for the faint hum of the clock ticking on my desk. I sat at my chair, chewing on the end of my pen, trying to focus on the numbers sprawled across my laptop screen.

Then, the sudden buzz of my phone snapped me out of it, the caller ID dragging my mood down instantly. I sighed heavily, already dreading what was coming. The screen flashed: Dad.

The phone rang as I stared at my homework and sighed before answering, "Hi, Dad."

He didn't waste time with pleasantries. "Did you hear about Chaewon? The Yoon's daughter? That girl got a part-time job. Unbelievable. What kind of parent allows that? Her father's been struggling for years, and now the daughter's picking up the slack? Pathetic."

I clenched my jaw. "It's not my business dad—"

There he goes again. Always going on about them like he's obsessed.  Sometimes he doesn't call me to check in on me, he just calls to talk shit about their family. I'm going to go crazy.

"It is my business if you're associating with people like her. I saw you that day with Seoyeon you know. Your University director, my old friend, said you two were talking sometimes."

'What, did you ask?'

'Of course I did. That kid's always copying you and everything. I was furious that she was in the same Uni as you. I would never let you stoop that low, Yooyeon. What's next? Are you going to follow her example? You have no idea how fast this could drag you down."

His words were cutting and filled with disdain. "She's bad news, just like her family. Don't embarrass yourself by getting too close."

I didn't respond. I couldn't. His voice was all knives, stabbing at my thoughts, until the image of Seoyeon felt blurry and unfairly coloured.

"Yooyeon? Are you even listening to me?" my father's sharp tone cut through my spiraling thoughts.

"Yes, I'm listening," I said stiffly, gripping the phone tighter.

"I just don't want you ending up like her," he continued, his voice dripping with disdain. "Do you think someone like Seoyeon can amount to anything? She's been like this since she was still in your middle school. It's embarrassing, Yooyeon. You have potential, real potential, and you're better than that."

I nodded mutely, though he couldn't see me. Every word he spoke felt heavier than the last. It wasn't like her choices affected me. But somehow, his words twisted something in my chest, making it harder to breathe.

"And remember," he said, his tone hardening, "you are a reflection of this family. If I hear you're spending any time with her—"

I cut the line off. I just can't hear any more from him.

The line clicked dead, but the words lingered. I set my phone down, staring at the screen like it had betrayed me. My father had always hated Seoyeon and her family, but this felt... different. More personal.