Chances °(2yeon)°

Second Chance

Eomma:
4:51pm:
Dad is awake.

As soon as Jeongyeon saw the message, she froze. Finally, his dad is awake. Sungyeon saw the expression on Jeongyeon's face and she asked what was it.

"It's dad. He's awake."

"Oh." Sungyeon looked back at the grave.

"Unnie..."

"Go."

"What?"

"I said go." The older sister held Jeongyeon's gaze. "They need you."

Jeongyeon knew that her sister blamed herself for what happened to his dad. If only she reported her husband's behavior at the start, their father wouldn't have to see his eldest daughter's broken face and faded smile inside the police station. It wouldn't have triggered their father's condition, Jeongyeon could've studied still.

But Jeongyeon knew better. If only her mother didn't act rashly to impress her fake friends, if only she hadn't arranged the marriage.... if only...

Jeongyeon clenched her teeth and said her goodbyes to her sister and that she'll be back. Sungyeon said they should take the car since she doesn't have any plans of going home until night.

SungJae drove at his best that day. He overheard the sisters' conversation and concluded just how important the text message is. He avoided every route that have possible traffic and went to shortcut routes. All while Jungyeon was staring blankly outside the window.

In less than 20 minutes, they reached the hospital and Jungyeon walked fast leaving SungJae half-running behind. He was panting a little bit when he pushed the button inside the lift.

They both rounded a corner and they soon reached the room and Jeongyeon opened it without hesitation. In the hospital bed were his father, exchanging small talks with her mother who was sitting beside him, holding his hand.

"Jeongie."

Jeongyeon held back her tears as she heard her father's voice. It was so long since she last heard it.

"Appa."

She slowly walked towards her father. She felt the need to tell him everything, everything that happened, but it wasn't the right time. She bet her father didn't even know that Sungyeon was under therapy right now.

Her father hugged Jeongie. Tight. Jeongyeon did just as much. It has been years since they last hugged.

"You're awake." Jeongyeon said, still not fully believing yet.

"Actually, I was awake since the other day. But I requested your mom to not say anything yet. I can't talk properly last day and it'll be a waste if you come here and I can't talk yet." His father beamed.

"Your mother also told me everything that happened." His father's expressioned became sad after that and he looked down, dissapointed about it.

Jeongyeon sent glares at her mother's direction. She didn't thought her mother could be so insensitive. She unknowingly clenched her fist.

"Appa, you shouldn't worry about this. Please focus on getting better." She pleaded.

"I know. But I can't help it. I'll be sure to worry about other things later but I have a lot of questions Jeongie. If you don't mind."

Jeongyeon knew her father will ask about her sister, the business, the mansion and of course, her. Her father was always like this, a very good father and also a fine businessman. Even if she doesn't like it, it looks like she'll have to make reports to her father now.

"Well, the business is fine if that's what you ask. I have cut ties with the Parks after what happened. Our expansion suffered a great loss soon after and the company in general. Our stocks plummeted and majority of the investors pulled out and to avoid further damage, I have to close some chains in Busan and Mujin. There was even talks to appoint a new CEO but it was abolished after I came... "

Her father seemed to be holding his breath as his expression went tensed, but even so, Jeongyeon decided to be honest. He deserves to know what happened to his empire in his absence.

"I have gathered all the files, audits, minutes of meetings and I also reviewed the contracts starting the day of your absence. I also liquidated the assets from the closed chains and focused the funds on our center chains and I also payed our debt because of that. I contacted foreign investors in which Uncle Leeteuk handled and they invested to some of our chains. I have also held meetings twice to follow-up and we have managed to boost the sales by a significant amount. But there is still a lot to be done." She finished.

"I-I see." His father was impressed. Jeongyeon did a whole lot better than he imagined - and she did it singlehandedly. Raising the revenue even by a small amount means a lot, specially for a company that is bound to bankcrupcy.

"How... How about Sungyeon?"

"She's fine Appa. She isn't that silent anymore and she responds well to her therapy. She now paces the whole house as well as taking care of the garden. We... We even visited Mika."

Jeongyeon's mother started to tear up while his father sighed. These people, they saw the child even for a brief moment. Despair is evident on their faces.

"How about you, Jeongie. How are you?"

Jeongyeon looked at her father who is expecting an answer. Jeongyeon blinked a few times.

How is she? It seemed like a foreign question to her ears. What can she say? Tired? No, you can never get tired with family. Sad? Conflicted? But then she never had any thing happened directly to her. Come to think of it, she doesn't even know what to say.

"I'm... fine." She just said.

"Good." His father stated. Silence followed afterwards.

"Unnie said I should get back to school. Not that it interest me, of course. She just said it's the right thing to do."

Jeongyeon blurted out of nowhere. She also thought about it during their way here and it seems like her sister has a point. Though she can't see it yet.

"But school has already started and then there's still a lot to be done at the compa--"

"Don't worry about it. You have done more than enough." Her father butted in. "Tell Leeteuk to give me three months to recover, and I'll start to get financial reports by then. I'll arrange a school for you. You should go back to school, princess."

Right then and there. Jeongie decided to give it a chance. It'll be a great breather. A new space.

Finally.

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[K]ae 💜