forty three

"you've had me wrapped around your finger." -little girl, tim mcgraw.

——

misun sat on the couch in her apartment, jihoon beside her, while her mom moved around in the kitchen making tea. the smell of jasmine filled the air.

"this is nice," jihoon said quietly, watching misun smile at her mom.

"yeah," she murmured. "it's been a while since we all just... hung out."

suddenly, the front door opened. misun's head snapped up. her eyes widened as soon as they landed on the door.

"dad!" she yelled, jumping off the couch and running toward him. she threw herself into his arms, hugging him so tightly she could barely breathe.

"misun, my baby!" he said, voice cracking with happiness. he hugged her back just as fiercely, lifting her slightly off the ground.

her mom appeared in the doorway, tears in her eyes. she rushed over and hugged him too. "you're finally back," she whispered.

it was a reunion full of laughter, tears, and relief. misun buried her face in her father's chest, tears of happiness streaming down her cheeks.

jihoon stood off to the side, smiling softly at the family warmth, when he suddenly felt a cold weight on him—her dad had turned and was staring straight at him.

"aren't you the one who broke my daughter's heart?" her dad's voice was low, sharp, carrying that strict edge misun knew all too well.

"dad!" misun started, stepping forward, but jihoon gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

"please, let me handle this," he said softly, calm but firm. "i deserve it."

"hell yeah you do." her dad's eyes never left jihoon. "i want to hear the truth. why should i even trust you?"

jihoon swallowed, then spoke earnestly. "sir... i've never stopped loving your daughter. these past months, i've been working hard, so i could gain her trust, to show her that i love her, and that i'll never hurt her again."

her dad's gaze was steady, unflinching. misun felt her chest tighten.

"i need to talk to you... alone," her dad finally said. he nodded at jihoon, his tone leaving no room for argument.

jihoon followed her dad as misun looked at them nervously.

misun bit her lip, glancing at her mom. "i'm so scared... what if he does something? what if he yells at him? what if he—"

her mom placed a hand on hers, squeezing gently. "he won't hurt him, misun. your dad is strict, i guess, but he's just protective. he wants to know he can trust jihoon. breathe. everything will be fine."

misun nodded, still worried, and they watched as jihoon followed her dad into another room. the door closed behind them.

inside the room, her dad crossed his arms, pacing slightly before stopping in front of jihoon. "so... you're the one who left my daughter hanging for months? no, sorry, years. so you could make music?"

jihoon met his gaze calmly. "sir, i know i made mistakes. i hurt her in the past. and i regret every moment. but i've never stopped loving her. and i'll do whatever it takes to make it right, to prove i'm worthy of her trust."

her dad's eyes narrowed. "you really think words are enough?"

"no, sir," jihoon said firmly. "i know they're not. that's why i've been working hard, making sure i'm someone she can rely on. i want her to feel safe with me... and i'll keep proving it every day."

her dad's face softened slightly, but he was still guarded. "this isn't a game, jihoon. i don't forgive you, and i don't trust you. not even a little bit. but if she already forgave you, if she's happy, i won't do anything that upset her."

jihoon looked at him nervously, waiting for him to continue.

"but i swear," her dad lowered his voice. "hurt her one more time, and i'm going to end your career. understand?"

"i understand," jihoon said without hesitation.

her dad studied him for a long moment, then nodded once. "alright... i'm watching you. but you're under my watch now."

"thank you, sir," jihoon said quietly, relief washing over him.