Cold Hearts - Mark Tuan fanfic

16 - Problems

Two more days before you become a legal adult. Your friends are already talking about a party after class. 

"I don't really feel like it," you tell them while walking to the field to see Peniel. The cheerleaders are needed for a football game tonight and you have to tell him about it. 

"Why not? We always have a bash on your birthday." Sasha says.

"I just don't feel like partying."

"Hey, pretty," Peniel is already changed for practice and putting his shoes on. 

"Peniel, the girls and I are going to the football game tonight."

"What? I thought you're watching me practice today?"

"I'm a cheerleader. C'mon. Just pick me up after."

He's obviously pissed. "I'll cancel practice. I'll go with you." 

"No. Ugh...you've cancelled a lot of practices already. Besides, we're gonna have dinner at my place tonight, right?" You bat your eyelashes and give him your sweetest smile. 

"Ok." He pouts but smiles when you peck his lips. 

"Ugh..." you complain on your way to the school bus. "He's getting worse and worse everyday."

"He's just being a boyfriend, Elysa." Phoebe defends him. 

"I can't breathe anymore. Sometimes he would even wait for me to sleep before leaving the house." You slump on the seat at the front. 

After the game, Peniel is already waiting in his car near the football field. "Took you long enough," he scolds. "The game was over like fifteen minutes ago. What else did you do there?" 

"Peniel, please. I'm tired. I had to change and give the girls instructions." Here he goes again. 

He sees you starting to get pissed off. "I'm sorry." He takes your hand to his lips. 

"What's happening to you, Peniel? You've been too grumpy lately." 

"It's nothing. Just got a lot of things on my mind. I'm sorry."

"You know you can tell me, right?" You want to at least help him with whatever is bothering him. He's always been the one helping you. 

"Let's not just talk about it. Please, El." He lets go of your hand and starts the car. 

The drive to your house is silent. You see a black SUV parked up front. 

"Are you expecting somebody?" He asks. 

"No." You slowly get out of the car. 

"Honey." To your shock, your dad comes out of the front door. 

"What are you doing here?" You dodge his hug and step back. 

"Aren't you happy to see your dad free?" He puts his hands in his trouser pockets and beam proudly like nothing had ever happened. "And who is this fine looking young man with you?" He walks over to Peniel. 

"Good evening, sir," Peniel's expression is also of shock. "I'm Peniel Shin.

"Shin? You're Johnnie's boy?" Your dad puts his hand in his shoulder and look him from head to toe. 

"Yes, sir." 

"I heard your parents are getting a divorce."

What? Divorce? Is that why he's been acting strange lately? I should have known. He must be in so much pain right now.

"Uhm..." Peniel looks down at his feet and nods. 

"Let's go in. The table's set. And I'm hungry." Your dad gets in the door first. 

"I'm...I'm sorry." You tell Peniel. "I didn't know." 

His lips turn up on one side. 

"So. Are you two going out?" The old man asks over dinner. 

"Uhm," Peniel blushes, "Yes, sir."

"What happened to Mark?" He looks at you. Can he be more tactless? 

"Dad!" You almost yell, "can we not? What are you doing here anyway?" Your angry eyes look straight at him. 

"I came to see you." 

"For what?"

"You're my daughter. And don't you yell at me young lady." He raises his voice, too. 

"I...I think I need to go," Peniel stands up from his seat, sensing a fight coming. 

"NO." You hold on to his hand. "Dad, you should leave. This is my house now. I'll be free from you in two days. Just please leave me alone. I don't want you in my life anymore. You've already ruined it once."

"Elysa, honey," he gets closer to you but you take a step back. 

"NO!" You yell. "I don't even want to call you my dad anymore. I hate you. Just leave," you point at the door. 

He bows his head and his shoulders sag. Without saying another word, he leaves. 

You hunker at the table and prop your head with your elbows. Peniel's hand strokes your back as tears start streaming down your cheeks. 

"I'm sorry about that," you tell him. 

"Come here," he pulls you in his arms and you sob louder. 

"I'm sorry about your parents, too." You hug him back. 

As he waits for you to sleep, you ask him about what happened to his mom and dad. 

"My dad caught my mom with another guy. I think it's his fault, too. He's always not around. Always busy with his businesses. I guess mom got lonely." He takes your hand and plays with your fingers. Tears are visible on the brim of his eyes but you can see him fighting it back. 

"That's why I started protecting you even more. I want to be there for you all the time. I don't want to end up like my dad." He confesses. 

"Peniel." 

He thinks you'd leave him like what his mom did. You feel pity for him. You hug him closer and close your eyes. 

Although you want to stay by his side, your heart still belongs to someone else. 

Just as you're almost at the verge of sleeping, your phone goes off. Peniel reaches for it before you do. 

"That dimwit's still texting you?" His expression quickly changes. His brows furrow and he grits his teeth. 

'Good night, Elysa.' The message says. It's from Mark. 

"Ignore him, Peniel," you try your best to calm him. You pull his hand and put it around your waist. 

"I need to go," his arm pulls away and in just a second he's out the door. 

"Peniel," you shout after him. 

His car is already out the gate when you reach the front door. Ugh. What's he gonna do again?