Regret
BrainYuri widened her eyes, "Seriously?"
Jessica blushed and looked away, nodding. Yuri giggled and hugged Jessica's waist, "Don't worry, Sica! I love it too!"
"So you left Jessica and her mother?" Mrs. Kwon clarified.
Mr. Jung nodded as he looked at the ground, ashamed.
"Where was Krystal?" Mr. Kwon asked.
Mr. Jung looked up, "Who?"
"Krystal, Jessica's younger sister."
Mr. Jung widened her eyes, so his other daughter's name was Krystal. "She was still in her mother's stomach at the time."
Mrs. Kwon crossed her arms, "So, you're telling me you left a pregnant mother with her daughter?"
Mr. Jung nodded sadly again, "I was young and stupid back then."
Mrs. Kwon scoffed, "You still are stupid.." she muttered under her breath. Mr. Kwon caught it and chuckled.
The parents all looked at the entrance to the kitchen where Krystal, Yuri, and Jessica walked in. Jessica widened her eyes, seeing her father, "He's still here?" she mumbled to herself as she held Krystal's hand.
Krystal looked up at Jessica and pointed to Mr. Jung, "Jessica, who's that?"
Jessica widened her eyes in panic as she looked at Mrs. Kwon for help. Mrs. Kwon stepped up, "He's my friend, Krys. Say hi."
Instead of saying 'Hi', Krystal turned shy as she hid behind Jessica's leg. Jessica smiled softly and patted Krystal's head.
Mr. Jung watched the interaction between his two daughters. He can see how much Jessica cared for Krystal. He couldn't believe that he is seeing his daughters again.
He even got teary eyed.
Jessica looked up and immediately regretted as she saw her father's distant eyes that were brimmed with tears. She herself was starting to tear up, remembering the memories of her father.
Yuri, who noticed Jessica was teary eyed, patted her back and leaned in to whisper, "Don't cry again, Sica."
Jessica nodded, trying her best to be tough, especially since Krystal was there. Mr. Jung tried his hardest to make eye contact with Jessica, to somehow tell her that he was incredibly sorry for ever leaving their family. But, Jessica was staring at the ground, avoiding eye contact with her father.
Krystal tugged on Jessica's shirt, Jessica averted her gaze to Krystal. Krystal frowned, "Jessica, why are you crying?" she asked as she looked up. Jessica smiled and wiped the tears, "No, I'm not crying, Krys."
Krystal pouted, "Don't lie to me, Jessica."
Mr. Jung watched his daughters. He regretted ever leaving them. He regretted not being able to watch his daughters grow up into what they already were. Beautiful girls.
"I'm sorry."
Everyone turned their eyes to Mr. Jung.
"I'm sorry. To all of you." He said gently as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"I'm sorry to Yuri. I didn't mean to hit you with my car. I was foolish. I was only thinking of myself. And I am sorry to Mr. and Mrs. Kwon, I was scared to face the consequences of my actions."
Then, Mr. Jung turned to his daughters, "But, I am mostly sorry to Krystal and Jessica."
Krystal furrowed her little eyebrows.
"I regret leaving your mother, because I also left you girls, my daughters."
Krystal was surprised, but she kept quiet.
"I regret not being able to see Krystal grow up. I regret not being the fatherly figure in her life that she needed."
Mr. Jung sighed.
"I regret not being able to be there for Jessica to scare off the monsters under her bed."
Jessica couldn't help but smile at the memory of her ordering her dad to check under her bed for 'monsters'.
"I also regret not being able to scare off all of your boyfriends." Mr. Jung joked.
Yuri clenched her teeth but kept quiet.
"I've made bad decisions in the past. Really bad decisions. But.. if you let me, I would like to start over with all of you, including my daughters."
Everyone looked at each other in silence, sharing thoughts through gazes. Mr. Jung's hands began to sweat from nervousness.
Jessica sniffed and ran to her father. Mr. Jung stood up and hugged his daughter's small body. Jessica cried into her father's chest. Mr. Jung let out a few tears of his own. He already knew the answer.
He was forgiven.
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