Family ties(2)

Si Yoon walked home feeling depressed. Her fears were heightened by the chat she had with her father during their short conversation on the phone, which was still fresh in her mind. She made an effort to ignore it by concentrating on her walk's routine, but the discomfort persisted.

Si Yoon's apartment was a far cry from Woo Hyun's world of luxury. The modest yet tidy space was an indication of her orderly way of living. After her mother's death, she had been living alone; the only thing that disturbed her well-kept order was her father's infrequent but often upsetting visits.

The smell of home was not very comforting when she finally got to her flat. Feeling the burden of her obligations crushing down on her, she sighed and dumped her suitcase beside the door. Just as she was taking off her shoes, she heard a knock on the door.

When she opened it and saw her dad, Kang Soo, standing there, her heart fell. His hair was unkempt, and he had a desperate look in his bloodshot eyes. Si Yoon was all too familiar with this look.

"Appa," she said, trying to hide her dismay behind a fake smile. "What pulls you here?"

Without awaiting an invitation, Kang Soo hurriedly and restlessly entered. "Si Yoon, I need money," he stated plainly, with an urgency in his voice. "I'm in trouble."

When Si Yoon saw him, her heart hurt. Her mother's passing had caused tension in their relationship. The guy in front of her had become a shell of the father she had known in the past, his spirit crushed by debt and bad choices. Unbeknownst to Si Yoon, his betrayal of Woo Hyun's enterprise was merely the most recent in a long string of desperate actions.

The words, "Appa, I don't have any money to give you," came out in a frustrated voice. "You know things are tight for me too."

Desperation mixed with fury twisted Kang Soo's face. "Your father is in need! You must be supporting me when I'm in need."

Si Yoon bit back a sharp retort, recalling the other times he had approached her with identical demands, leaving her feeling even more depleted and discouraged. With a hushed voice, she added, "I'm struggling to get by too." "You can't keep running here and expecting me to fix things."

A brief moment of softness appeared in her father's eyes, revealing a glimpse of the man he once was. He mumbled, "I'm sorry, Si Yoon." "I just... I do not know another place to turn."

Si Yoon sighed, her determination waning. Still, he was her father in spite of all this. She handed him the little cash she had after reaching inside her bag and removing her wallet. "This is all I can give you right now."

With shaking palms, Kang Soo accepted the money, his appreciation overpowered by the embarrassment of his circumstances. He said, his voice almost audible above a whisper, "Thank you." "I swear, I'll pay you back."

Si Yoon nodded, understanding that his words held no weight. Her heart was heavy with the realization that their relationship might never work out as she saw him turn to go. Since her mother's passing, their distance from one another had only gotten worse; his visits were a sobering reminder of the life they had lost and the man he had become.

Si Yoon collapsed onto the sofa as the door shut behind him, her feelings a jumbled mix of grief, annoyance, and powerlessness. She was already uneasy after meeting Woo Hyun, and her desperation has grown as a result of her father's visit.

She took a quick look at her phone and debated whether to call someone for help, but eventually decided against it. She had to carry this weight on her own, and she always would. Si Yoon felt the burden of her father's obligations hanging over her, but she knew she had to find a way to get by.

She was just getting ready for bed when her cell phone rang late into the night. She was surprised by the unexpected sound and took a quick look at the screen, which showed an unknown number.

Her voice was hesitant as she said, "Hello?"

The voice on the other end said gravely, "Is this Kang Si Yoon?"

With an unexplained sense of dread, Si Yoon answered, "Yes, it's me."

This is General Hospital Seoul. Unfortunately, I have to share some awful news. It was earlier tonight that Kang Soo, your father, arrived. Strolling along the roadway, he was struck by a vehicle. He did not survive the accident, I regret to tell you."

Under her feet, Si Yoon sensed the earth shift. with white knuckles, she held onto the edge of the kitchen counter. "What?" She stumbled, unable to fully comprehend the situation. "How... How did this happen?" she asked.

He seems to have been drunk when he strayed onto the road. Gently, the speaker continued, 'The driver couldn't stop in time. "You should come to the hospital to identify him and take care of the necessary arrangements."

Si Yoon nodded numbly and hung up. She had a disconnected sensation, as though she were floating over her own body. She swiftly packed her belongings and hurried out of the apartment, feeling as though shock and bewilderment had enveloped her like a smothering blanket.

It was a blur during the hospital ride. She kept thinking about their last conversation—she remembered the grief in his voice, the desperation in his gaze. Everything seemed brutally real when she arrived at the hospital because of the sterile surroundings and the solemn looks on the faces of the workers.

She was escorted to a tiny, poorly lighted room by a nurse. Her father was covered in a white sheet and lying on the cold metal table. Stepping closer, her heart thumping in her chest, Si Yoon steeled herself. His face was visible when the nurse carefully peeled back the sheet.

With a sense of hollow emptiness, Si Yoon looked down at her father's lifeless form. The once-protective man lay motionless and silent, a victim of his own fall from grace. She experienced neither intense sadness nor tears. Just a profound, dull fatigue.

Si Yoon set about planning the funeral after finishing the hospital formalities. In a gloom, the following few days went by. She went through them methodically, setting up the funeral, getting in touch with family, and taking care of the paperwork.

The funeral was a modest, private event. Her father's old friends and a couple of distant relatives were in attendance. Si Yoon stood apart from the whole scene as she listened to the subdued whispers of condolences at the graveside. The consoling and sympathetic words passed over her, barely making an impression since these were the same people who would gossip behind her back instead of lending a helping hand.

Si Yoon felt that this was the last time she would see the newly turned ground as the ceremony came to an end. Her father was dead, and with him went a piece of her painful and loving history. Her only emotion was a deep, wearying relief that the turbulent chapter was done rather thn shame or regret.

The gloomy daytime atmosphere was reflected in the cloudy sky. With preparedness for the hardships that were ahead, Si Yoon turned away from the grave. Si yoon felt she had to keep going even if her world was still filled with debt, uncertainty, and shadows. She was left with no other option.