That's it?
A faint gasp escaped her lips as she delicately flipped through the remaining pages. She fell in utter disbelief to find nothing more inscribed on the pages. Her mother dropped a cliff-hanger as if it was some real novel. Where is the ending?!
Aggravated by the empty pages, Deiji let out a grunting scream. As satisfied as she may be with the new found understanding of her mother, she yearned for more. She couldn't be completely happy without the answer to her everlasting lingering question - Who is her father?
As she traced her fingers over the final sentences, she reread how that was their last meeting. Then how can Chenle be her father?
No! No! No! No!
Aggressively ripping through the pages, she held the cover tightly in her grip.
This can't be it!
"There has to be more!" she growled out in pure vex. From the side, Sungchan flinched at her unforeseen reaction that burst out of nowhere. "Are you ok?" he dragged out cautiously.
Letting out a frustrated scream, her hands involuntarily reached up to grasp her hair as if trying to pull out the source of her irritation. With an exasperated sigh, she slumped further into the couch.
"It's done" , she declared, leaving the boy in utter confusion. He wandered his sight around to find her holding the diary loosely in her palm. Eye's slightly dilating, he raised a brow. "You're mum's diary? You finished it" he questioned, sensing a mix of emotions in the air..
Emotionless, she nodded. "Isn't that supposed to be good? Don't you have all the answers now" he pressed out a monotone. Opening her orbs to his harsh tone, Deiji sat up straight and gazed at the boy oddly. "What's with you?"
"Nothing"
It wasn't nothing. He looked pissed. Tutting her head, she sent a knowing gaze that screamed you're not fooling me. Groaning out, he ran his hand through his hair. He knew that she wouldn't shut up until he told her. Reluctantly, he gave in.
"I don't get it," he blurted out. Inhaling, he clasped his arms tightly together and stared down at the ground. "This whole trip seemed to be a complete mystery to me. You were the brains of it. You knew where we were going and you planned everything we were going to do. But in the end I learned that you had a goal behind it all. . . to learn about your family. And as happy as I am for you I just don't understand why you bought me along?" blinking slowly, Deiji realised how selfish she really was.
It made her question whether this was how he felt since the beginning yet he held on this long. Fiddling with her dyed hair, she looked away ashamed. "I'm sorry" eyes dilated, sungchan snapped his head towards her. She wasn't always the type to admit to her wrongdoing. "This was supposed to be a trip where we relax and have fun. But I made it all about myself."
Sighing he shook his head. "No, I'm ok with that but it's just I wish you had told me" he reassures and places a hand over knee. Slowly looking over to him, she couldn't help but feel guilty. "Truth is, I could've come here all by myself . . but it wouldn't have been the same"
Furrowing his brows he tilted his head. "It would've been less fun and meaningless to me. Having you beside me is something I treasure and . . ." pausing, she bit her bottom lip. "And?" the boy leaned closer wanting her to finish.
"And you're the only person I ever want to share something with. After finding who my father is, I would like you to know first. Sharing something that means so much to me with you beside me means a lot and would make it that more special so that's why . . . that's why I asked you to come with me"
Sungchan's heart skipped a beat. Her heartfelt words touched him so delicately. His features soothed down and he had a large urge to pull her into his embrace. Reaching out his hands he was about to wrap them around her, but, before they even got closer to Deiji, he retracted himself away.
A flood of memories that they shared behind the curtains hit him hard. The feeling of rejection down casted his emotions away to feel like nothing. Sungchan began to believe that perhaps she doesn't reciprocate his feelings the way he wished she did. She only ever saw him as a friend and he did not want to ruin their friendship but now there were high chances that it was too late.
Pressing his lips tightly against each other he turned his body towards her. He had to apologise for his actions. "I wanted to-"
"Sorry I took forever" a voice interrupted the boy. Kun entered with some snacks and drinks for the kids. Peeking through the corner of her eye, she looked at Sungchan for a second before looking away. She knew what he wanted to say but it wasn't the time. Deiji wasn't ready to hear him out. She didn't want to admit it but she was slightly glad that Kun entered in at that exact moment.
Placing the plates of biscuits down he looked at the two. "Hmmm, what happened between the two of you?" the older man questioned. "Nothing," Deiji spat out a bit too fast. Narrowing his eyes, he let out a knowing smirk and nodded. However, he did not need much of an explanation just by looking at Sungchan's reddened face.
Not wanting to delve into their personal business, Kun changed the subject. Diverting his sole attention to the girl, he tilted his head to the side eyeing her every feature. "You take after your father more than your mother"
Ears perking up, emotions uprising. Deiji instantly leaned forward with eager eyes. "So my father is . ."' she slowly spoke out. Observing her clueless expression, Kun's jaw slightly dropped. Baffled, he furrowed his brows momentarily before relaxing them..
"I guess your mother didn't ever tell you who he was"
Just like she promised - He thought to himself.
Sending a disappointed nod, Deiji huffed out some air. "That was the main reason I came here. Because my mum hasn't said anything about my father all these years." uncomfortable, he seated back and pursed his lips. "It's something you should hear from your mother. Not me"
"Please," Deiji begged. "I came all the way here just to learn more about him." scratching his head, Kun licked his bottom lip in thought. "How old are you again?"
"18"
18 and she still hasn't said a word. What is Joo ri thinking?
Looking at the younger girl, Kun felt lost. He wasn't sure what to do but he hated to send her back. Chenle's daughter came all the way to him, he couldn't send her back. Groaning, he ran his hand over his face. "Fine"
With a gleeful smile, Deiji excitedly bounced her legs patiently waiting for him to answer. "You're father's name is -"
"Chenle"
Shooting his sight up, Kun connected his orbs with hers. "So it really is him?" she questioned. "I wasn't entirely sure but I had a hunch," she calmly said. However, as thrilled she was to learn who her dad really was, Deiji couldn't help but notice this itching sensation in her heart.
She hadn't taken it to account that seriously before but now, she couldn't ignore it. The fact that her father really was a criminal. Wouldn't that make her the daughter of a murderer? It scared her to believe that it was true and she began to come up with theories as to why that may be the reason her mother never told her about him.
But Deiji has the right to know. And now she does yet doesn't know how to feel about it. She only knows him through the pages of her mothers diary and her mothers feelings but she never met the man. Nonetheless, Deiji still felt this warmth in her heart thinking about him.. Afterall, he was the same man that changed her mother and showered her with love. How can she be afraid and hate him?
"How?" Kun asked. Looking back at him she sent a small smile. Turning to the side, she placed the diary on the table. "It's mums" she filled him in. "I learnt about her relationship with Chenle through her diary but she only ever wrote till the part she left after being given the antidote"
Flicking his sight between the younger girl to the boy who was taking a bite of the biscuit. He noticed how Sungchan was totally out of it. Kun could tell that Sungchan was still frightened of him.
She must've not told him anything
Sighing, Kun grabbed his phone out and scrolled through before flipping it over to Deiji. "This is a photo of him" gently, taking it out of his grasp, Deiji looked down at the photo of her mother beside Chenle with a small baby in his hands. "I met him," she breathed out. Tears filled her eyes yet she couldn't stop but grin widely.
"I actually met him," she laughed. But her joy didn't last long and faltered away. She wanted to know more. Why isn't he with her now and where is he? When can she meet him? "I don't understand . . . they said goodbye, so how?"
Exhaling, Kun leaned back on his chair.
"Some goodbyes aren't always the last"