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It had been such a long day. My body began to feel exhausted. My head grew heavier. I wanted to rest—I needed my father, who had always been my home.

Slowly, I pushed open the small gate of our house, revealing my father sitting there with a wide, comforting smile.

“You just got home?” he asked, immediately standing up when he saw me.

I nodded and pulled the corners of my lips into a small smile. I didn’t want to add to his exhaustion with worry. He had suffered enough already.

I closed the gate before stepping closer to him. “Why aren’t you inside?”

“I was waiting for my beautiful daughter.”

I looked at him, puzzled. “Suddenly? Not your naughty daughter?” I teased.

“You are naughty. But I can’t lie—you’re also beautiful.”

I chuckled softly. Honestly, it sounded a bit cheesy, but I couldn’t deny that this man was my remedy.

“What’s with you today, Dad? Why are you suddenly acting sweet?”

“Why? Am I not allowed to?”

Instead of answering, I walked past him and sat down on the wooden bench in our front yard. The night air was cool, the gentle breeze brushing against my face, trying to calm my troubled mind.

Not long after, my father joined me, sitting by my side. We sat in silence for a moment. I wanted to say so many things but didn’t know where to start. So instead, I chose to ask something lighter—about his past with my mother. Suddenly, I missed her so much.

“Dad,” I called softly. “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course,” he answered without hesitation.

“How did you meet Mom?”

He seemed surprised by my question but then smiled faintly. His eyes drifted, as if recalling the past.

“We first met at a small bookstore near campus,” he said. “I was looking for a reference book, and your mom… she was standing by the next shelf, engrossed in a classic novel.”

I listened intently. I had never really cared about their story before, but now I wanted to know. I wanted to keep every piece of their memory in my mind.

“Your mother wasn’t easy to approach,” he continued with a soft tone. “At first, she barely noticed my presence. But for some reason, I kept finding excuses to talk to her. Until one day, we kept running into each other at the same place… again and again, until she finally remembered my name.”

He let out a small laugh, but there was a hint of sadness in it. My chest tightened.

“She was stubborn, but she cared deeply,” he added. “And when she loved someone… she loved them with all her heart.”

I bit my lip, trying to hold back the emotions welling up inside me. “How does it feel… losing Mom?” I finally asked, my voice barely a whisper.

Dad fell silent for a while before answering, “Like losing a part of myself.”

I lowered my gaze, staring at my feet touching the ground. My heart felt heavy. I wanted to ask more, to hear more about Mom. But I also knew that every word he spoke must have been painful for him.

So, I just sat there quietly, letting the memories of my mother fill my mind.

Dad let out a slow sigh before changing the subject. “By the way, you look a little messy today. Your face seems troubled. Did something happen?”

I hesitated, debating whether to tell him everything. But in the end, I chose not to worry him. “I’m fine,” I replied, trying to sound convincing.

He looked at me for a moment, then nodded. “Alright… then try guessing my joke.”

I frowned. “A joke?”

He nodded confidently. “Listen carefully. Why can’t fish ever pass their exams?”

I stared at him blankly. “Why?”

“Because they always get hooked.”

Silence. I blinked a few times, trying to process the joke. That was… not funny at all. But before I could say anything, Dad shrugged.

“I know, I know. It’s not funny, right?” he chuckled.

I finally let out a small laugh—not because of the joke, but because of his resigned expression. “At least you’re aware,” I said.

“You know, being a father is tough. I have to try to look cool in front of my kid, but I never succeed,” he joked.

I shook my head, and for the first time today, I felt a little lighter. We made small talk about school, food, and little memories that weren’t all that important but were enough to make the atmosphere feel warm.

But then, the sound of footsteps came from the gate.

She arrived.

The smile on my face slowly faded, replaced by an indescribable feeling. Dad immediately stood up, giving her a warm smile before turning to me. “Let’s go inside,” he said.

I looked at them for a moment, then sighed. Without saying a word, I followed them into the house.

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Once I was in my room, silence immediately filled the space. Dad was no longer there. It was just me, alone, trapped in the quiet air.

I let myself fall onto the bed, allowing my body to sink into the softness—but not my mind. My eyes stared blankly at the dark ceiling, but the thoughts in my head kept spinning endlessly.

Hana.

I closed my eyes, hoping to forget everything for a moment. But no. The cold look in Hana’s eyes when we last met was too deeply imprinted in my mind.

I took a deep breath, gripping my phone with trembling fingers. With a sliver of hope, I tried calling her.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

No answer.

I swallowed hard, trying to suppress the rising panic in my chest. My fingers quickly opened the chat app, searching for her name. But when I clicked on our conversation, only one sentence stood out.

This account has blocked you.

The world seemed to stop spinning. Other than Dad, Hana was the only person I considered a part of me. I had been with her for so long, and I never expected something like this to happen between us.

I stared at my phone, as if hoping that if I looked at it long enough, the words would change. But they didn’t. Hana had truly blocked me.

The phone was still in my hand, but now it felt heavier than before. The glowing screen only reflected disappointment—Hana had completely shut me out.

I took a deep breath, trying to divert my thoughts elsewhere. But the more I tried to forget, the more my mind was filled with other questions.

Who had been watching me?

Who was cruel enough to take those photos and spread them?

The only name that came to mind was Hye Mi. But… was it really just her? I bit my lip, trying to recall every past event.

Do Hwan and I had met outside a few times, but I never felt like anyone was watching us. If Hye Mi was the culprit, how did she know every move I made so precisely? Did someone else help her?

An uneasy feeling crept over me.

If someone had truly been following me… then I was not safe at all.

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