Clash of Colors

Never Before Things

Namjoo stared at him.

Uncle Jaejin.

A father.

Head of the household.

A warm husband.

As time passed, she didn't know what to think of him, how to see him. A protective husband? A cold father? A man with purpose, doing what he thought was best for his family? Was that a kind of love? Did that make him coldhearted and mean?

For keeping her here pressed into Chunhei's spot, refusing to let her go. Dictating her every move. Limiting her free will, even though he knew she wasn't not his daughter.

"Nothing," Namjoo lied. "Nothing. I was just...thirsty."

"The kitchen is that way," he told.

"I just saw that the book was open," Namjoo excused. Closing the book, she hurriedly passed him. Heading into the kitchen she poured herself a glass of water. Watching discreetly how he glanced in her direction before returning down the hallway. So, he had indeed been waiting for her to come down. Waiting to see if she would head out to meet Sehun maybe.

Namjoo gripped onto the glass of water.

That night she lay in bed for a very long time. Wide awake and listening to Hyunjae's footsteps as he returned home. Turning, she stared at the window in her room.

The family had taken Hyejoo when she had been in the accident. How had it happened? Why?

Now that she knew part of it, what was she supposed to do with the information?

When Namjoo awoke again the sun was out. Blinding her immediately. Shifting away from it she sleepily moaned before waking at the knock on the door. Brushing her hair out of her face she pushed herself up. Stumbling tiredly toward the door unsure when she had fallen asleep last night.

"What are you doing?" Aunt Youngja was on the other side appearing fresh faced and ecstatic. "Hurry up and get ready."

"What?" Namjoo croaked.

"Your aunt wants to have breakfast with us today." Excitement blurred through her face. "Get dressed and come down. Your father and I are waiting for you."

"Who?" Namjoo blinked more awake now.

Aunt Youngja pushed her down the hall toward the bathroom without answering. Namjoo instinctively rinsed her face, brushed her teeth still dazed. Biting down on the bristles of her toothbrush she stared at herself in the mirror.

Breakfast at her aunt's... Her aunt would mean Sehun's mother.

Wide awake Namjoo sped back to the room. Rummaging through her closet for something pretty to wear. Dashing over to her vanity to pat on some quick makeup and rushed downstairs where Uncle Jaejin and Aunt Youngja were waiting. Doing all this so fast without thinking. She landed on the bottom stop smiling too widely. Looking too thrilled for a simple breakfast.

When Uncle Jaejin's stoic eyes landed on her Namjoo finally caught herself. Reminding herself not too be too happy, even if she was about to die inside from exhilaration. His eyes traced her glamorous outfit. She had overdone it.

With a gruff he spun around opening the door to head outside. Sucking in a breath Namjoo wanted to slap herself.

The drive to Sehun's was explicitly quiet. Namjoo could not utter a word.

"What kind of occasion calls for breakfast together?" Uncle Jaejin murmured from behind the wheel. "This is ridiculous."

"Don't say that, honey," Aunt Youngja said. "It's nice that the family gets together once in a while. You're home all the time. Getting out for some fresh air and meeting friends is so nice."