𝑹𝑰𝑵𝑮𝑺𝑰𝑫𝑬 | 𝐊. 𝐆𝐖 - 𝐯𝐢. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐞

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In the time Geon-woo had known Byun Nari, she had been a cryptic sort of case he had tried to crack. She was wrapped in layers of deep turmoil and trouble; an armor of repellent and adversity concealed her breaking heart and bleeding soul. When he had first met her, he wanted nothing more than to understand her. What made her so special and why he couldn’t seem to get her off of his mind.

But as time progressed, her shell had begun to wither, and bits of her identity chipped at her guard, he was truly beginning to understand the severity of her conservncy. And while they had grown almost inseparable and the two of them opened up to each other, there was one mystery he couldn’t seem to unravel- her father.

Geon-woo did not understand the relationship between the eldest Byun and his first born. He did not understand why Nari never mentioned him in conversation or how adamant she was about never introducing him to her father. The only thing Geon-woo did know was that her father was a complicated and convoluted man.

He had remembered vaguely, months ago, when for the first and last time Nari had ever mentioned her father. The way she spoke about him with a bitter twang in her mouth and a heartbreaking longing in her eyes. He remembered the underlying resentment and the feeling of confoundment at the prospect of a father ever hating their child for something out of control. Or maybe, just maybe, he understood a little too well. It seemed him and Nari really were two sides of the same story.

It wasn’t until now, where he watched Nari whisk away and comfort her little brother, would he truly come to understand why Nari had kept him hidden from her father. Because had he known sooner, Kim Myeong-gil may not have been the only name written in red and underlined.

” Is he right?” Nam-gi muttered, sudden doubts and childlike uncertainty had Nari stilling in her step. Her already vexed shoulders grew more rigid as the innocent hurt and dexterity lilt in his voice brought her to her knees before him.

“No, no he isn’t” There was nothing like the feeling of damnation. That she had damned her family to eternal misfortune. Her mother would forever be just a vengeful memory, her father a spiteful old man and her brother condemned to a life of taunting and bullying. She had done that to them and yet, despite her efforts of rectifying it, it seemed she would never be able to fully restore her once precious family.

” You do have a mum” Nari inhaled sharply, holding onto her brother firmly who was looking at his sister with teary eyes and wobbly lips. ” She may not be here, in the flesh, but she’s always with you, in here” she tapped his heart ” and here” then his temple ” whenever you need her, she’ll be waiting for you, because you’re her son. And she’s your mum. That’s something that will never change and no stupid hateful kid can ever take that away from you” Nari told him sternly, her voice trembling but assertive. She blinked away her tears, gazing into eyes that replicated hers. The sky seemed to sparkle with reminisce and hope and love within her brown ones. 

” And dad will come around eventually. He loves you and, he’s just sad but he’ll get better. ” she tried to reason.” But you have me Nam-gi, you always have, and you always will. I’m, I’m not mum but, I’ll do anything for you. You’re my brother. So when you need me , I’m there. Don’t listen to Beom-seok and anyone who tells you otherwise. You hear me. You’re so much better than them. Don’t let them bring you down to their level. ” she wiped his tears with her own watery smile. ” I will make this all go away. And then we’ll go somewhere, with people who love us, and we’ll start over. We can go home. “

”You promise” he asked, and Nari nodded.

“I promise. Have a little faith in me yeah, I never steered you wrong” His smile made her feel invincible. 

This time round, she intended to keep this promise. 

“Miss Byun”

Nari smiled warmly at one of the caretakers, a woman whose hair had begun greying, Age had started chipping at her rather youthful face as she scuttled towards them.

Mrs Wang was her father’s lead caretaker; she had offered the young woman assurances of looking after him while she was away. She had also taken on the role of welcoming Ms Yoon into the orphanage and occasionally checked in on Nam-gi. Mrs Wang had been her saving grace in the orphanage.

“Mrs Wang” Nari greeted as the woman heaved a sigh of relief when she saw the young boy attached to his sister’s hip.

“Nam-gi” she exhaled before glancing at Nari. ” I tried calling you but it seemed the school got to you first. We tried getting in contact with your father but he wasn’t answering when the school phoned” the older woman said, dusting her hands rather nervously against her uniform.

Nari’s brows upturned. ” Why would they get in contact with my father? “

Mrs Wang paused, her eyes betraying her curiosity when she noticed the confused look settle on Nari’s face. Her heart did a sudden flip while her words stuttered on her tongue. ” You do know right?” the woman asked.

“Know what. Where is my father?” Nari asked, her tone suddenly slipping into demands.

“Miss Byun” Mrs Wang spluttered; her tone torn. ” Your father isn’t at the orphanage. I thought you knew this. He told us you were aware. That it was your idea to return home”

Her blood turned ice in her veins, a feeling of anger and dread dumped frigid water on her dazed body as she tried to understand what Mrs Wang’s words were implying. Her lips parted, her brain whirring and her grip on her bother slackened as she tried to make sense of it all.

“What?” Nari croaked and Mrs Wang sucked in a soft breath in realisation. Her eyes softened at her distress.

” Your father left this morning. He told us you knew already and that was why we shouldn’t bother you. He didn’t think it necessary to stay any longer. I’m sorry, we thought you knew” her words were ringing in Nari’s ears as she blinked at Mrs Wang’s swaying figure.

Nari didn’t realise she had taken a step back until a steady hand placed itself onto her shoulder for stability. Nari inhaled sharply, her vision returning while Geon-woo glanced down at her, concerned with his hands secured around her dizzy frame.

“Nari” his voice was worried and low just for her ears, but Nari’s head was thrown headfirst into the possibilities of what would become of her father, especially now that he was out of their protection.

“Do you know where he went?” Nari asked desperately and her hand held onto Geon-woo to ground herself.

“I’m not sure, he didn’t say” Mrs Wang said, her tone apologetic and Nari felt her heart sink to her knees. “But” Mrs Wang interrupted. ” He may go where everyone usually does in times like this.”

“Seoul” Nari dawned. Her father went back to their apartment.

“Nari” Geon-woo called when he noticed the look in her eyes. He knew that look. Nari was going back to Seoul. His worry seemed to tenfold, especially knowing Kim Myeong-gil was probably still on the prowl for them if he already didn’t think they dead. If they were to return and Smile Capital spotted them, then everything they had been through, all their training and their plan would be thrown out the widow if they were caught It was a massive risk returning, but the look on Nari’s face told him she would return no matter what he or any of them said. She needed to bring her father back.

It seemed Byun In-su made it his life mission to ruin hers. 

“I need to go back” Nari whispered. A flicker of fear returned to her eyes. Geon-woo knew a part of Nari was not ready to return. He had watched her relish in the quiet of the countryside. He watched her spark slowly return over the months and she had become happier. He knew the unwanted emotions that lurked in the city, the pain and grief that awaited her outside of the country. Geon-woo understood that if she had been given the opportunity, Nari probably would have never returned back to Seoul.

It seemed once again- her father had to bring her down once more.

” I know” he told her. “But you’re not going alone.”

Panic had come and gone in her eyes, and she went to take a step out of his hold but Geon-woo was insistent. His hands didn’t waiver from her arms, despite how she shook as if bringing him along would be suicide.

Nari did not want him anywhere near her father nor the excuse of a house she lived in. She did not want him to see what lurked beneath the shadows. She did not want him to pity her. She knew upon her return, getting her father back would be no easy feat. She did not want Geon-woo to witness that side of her, the side only her father could bring out in her. She did not want him to see her wounds.

“Geon-woo stay here. With Nam-gi and the others. Don’t- I can’t ” she stammered.

“Nari” he said. “I’m not letting you do this on your own”

“You don’t understand. He’s – you can’t see me like that. That place is nothing like you know. It’s awful and I want to shield you from that. I don’t want you looking at me differently. Please just stay here. For me.” she begged but he was not having it.

“Let me understand ” he urged. ” I promised I would never leave your side again. I won’t let you do this alone either. And, I’ll never look at you differently Nari. Nothing would ever change the way I feel about you, not this, not that place, and especially not your father.” 

Nari may have been stubborn, but Geon-woo put her to shame. She took one look in his eyes, unrelenting and firm in his decision and Nari knew there was nothing she could say that would get him to listen once he made his mind up. 

So with a defeated breath, she barely coaxed a nod and Geon-woo felt a smile befit his handsome features. 

It seemed they were returning to Seoul a little earlier than planned. 

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