Somewhere in Time || A VKook Saga

[Forty-six]

The smell of bacon and eggs wafted throughout the house early the next morning as Eun-hye stood in the middle of the kitchen. She couldn't get much sleep so she came down and prepare everyone's breakfast. Her thoughts were consumed by her recent discovery, but there were more questions than answers in that small bit of knowledge.

Sounds of footsteps behind made Eun-hye turn back towards the kitchen's doorway.

"Good Morning, Uncle... I mean Dad," she greeted as she saw Jimin, his hair unruly and a yawn escaping his lips.

"Wow, you're up early," Jimin said as he glanced around. "Where's Alex?"

"Oh, he's out on a run," Eun-hye replied. "And Papa?"

"Still sleeping," Jimin quipped. "He usually wakes up late, that lazy bastard."

"You say that, but you love him," Eun-hye stated matter-of-factly.

"Unfortunately, yes," Jimin chuckled. "But I don't know if he does."

"Well, I'm sure he loves you," Eun-hye said, flipping over the bacon frying in the pan.

"He better!" Jimin responded, half-jokingly as he picked up the morning's paper and sat down on a stool.

Eun-hye looked at the man who seemed lost in thought. She wondered if it's a good time right now to ask him about her father.

"By the way," Eun-hye started, "about my father...."

"What about it?" Jimin queried without looking up from the newspaper.

Eun-hye turned off the stove and settled beside Jimin. "You have to tell me what happened between your family and mine."

Jimin looked up. "Eun-hye, I already told you..."

"No, I demand to know exactly why, if you want me to become your family."

"You need not understand the past to be part of our family, you realize that," Jimin said as he clasped Eun-hye's hand.

"Don't you think I deserve to know if it's not just a simple misunderstanding as you claim?"

"If you learn the truth, you'll be hurt. Everyone will suffer. I'm simply protecting you."

Eun-hye nearly slammed her fists on the table but she held back and took a deep breath.

"Dad, I know you mean well, but I'm not a child anymore. You do not have to shield me from the pain. I can take it. Why won't you let me?"

"You don't understand, Eun-hye," Jimin said, frustration in his voice. "It's not only you who will be hurt. I can't risk it for the sake of your curiosity."

"What? You think I'm doing this because I'm bored and nosy?"

"I....I didn't say that exactly," Jimin countered.

"You might as well have," Eun-hye retorted. "You're just like my father."

"I'm nothing like your father!" Jimin yelled, half-wishing that he was like Jung-kook, the love of Taehyung's life.