So Into U - f(x)

Verity

7:30 in the evening, Heegun decided to just eat dinner out with Aerin. He has been gone for weeks; he would go home on some days, but he would always leave before Aerin could even strike a conversation with him. Heegun was just too busy for the past few weeks that he could barely keep in touch with his only daughter, and even though she doesn’t complain nor speak with any contempt towards him, it still made him feel bad and guilty. Aerin has always been independent in the eyes of Heegun, but that doesn’t change the fact that he still needs to check up on his daughter; hence, he decided to have some bonding time with her.

“Everything looks exquisite,” Heegun spoke, breaking the silence inside the old American-inspired fast food restaurant that they went to. “But I’m just going to have the double cheeseburger, animal fries, and a diet pepsi.” Heegun told the waiter. He then looked over to Aerin who was seated right beside him with a probing look. “How about you, Rin? Just plain cheeseburger? I know you don’t like dressings and sauces.”

He still remembers. Nodding her head at Heegun with slightly wide eyes, Aerin then turned to the waiter and spoke. “Just take out the sauces, tomatoes, and pickles, and leave the lettuce and grilled onion,” She then took one last glance towards the menu board before closing it and giving it back to the waiter. “I’d like plain fries also and a chocolate smoothie.”

Giving Aerin one last smile, Heegun then turned back to the seat across from him and tilted his head with a raised brow. “And you?”

“Just the same as Aerin’s.”

This copycat, Aerin thought, rolling her eyes in disbelief as she saw the infamous fake smile of Dahee. The night was supposed to be so much fun; Aerin was already anticipating for some bonding time with her dad whom she haven’t met in a while. She was expecting that it would just be the two of them eating dinner, but then everything just had to be ruined with the presence of her dad’s phony lover, Dahee. She wasn’t even invited by Heegun, yet she just suddenly latched onto him like a leech.

It vexed Aerin so much, seeing his dad get fooled by the likes of such a con artist; however, she chose to just stay silent and put up with the tribulation that is Yoon Dahee. If she complained about the woman, Heegun would most definitely not like it, and she wouldn’t want to ruin the only time that they’d be able to spend with each other. Her dad being free was already a miracle; plus, her complaints were usually ignored anyway, so she didn’t bother speaking imprudently to them.

Upon confirming that everything they ordered was correct, Heegun then turned back to Aerin as soon as the waiter was out of sight. “Rin, I heard from Luhan that you went to the campfire festival of the local high school with him and Sehun last Friday,” Heegun stated, earning him the attention of both Aerin and Dahee as he continued to give his daughter a questioning look. “Is that true?”

Without thinking twice, Aerin immediately nodded. She wasn’t a kid anymore, so even if she didn’t ask permission from her dad, she knew that she wouldn’t get in trouble. “Yeah, Seongim-unni invited me,” Aerin said, now raising an eyebrow towards her dad who did the same. “You know, Luhan and Sehun’s cousin who is a teacher there…”

Pondering about the name for a moment, Heegun’s face eventually lightened up. “Oh, her! Yeah, she just came back from Seoul with Sehun recently, right?” He asked, putting on a smile. “She seems like a nice person.”

“She really is!” Aerin blurted out, surprising herself, Heegun, and Dahee. What the hell am I saying? It was a spur of the moment and she was just really absorbed in the conversation that she wasn’t able to control her words. “I mean, Seongim-unni’s really fun to be with; she’s really cool.” Aerin said after regaining her composure.

It wasn’t received negatively by Heegun though, Aerin’s sudden excitement. In fact, he quite liked it for the girl was usually calm and composed, and seeing her getting thrilled, it softened a part of him—the fatherly side of him. “Then maybe I should get to know her as well,” Heegun suggested. “She is a relative of the Ohs anyway.”

Hearing Heegun’s words, Dahee’s face contorted. She was displeased with the way she was being ignored by the two. Not to mention the mere fact that Heegun was talking about another woman in front of her, she was infuriated. Dahee didn’t harbour any romantic feelings for Heegun, she was so sure of that, but she wouldn’t allow another woman to enter his mind. She was the only one that Heegun’s supposed to take interest in, not even Aerin, and so she would reclaim her throne.

“You went to the festival without even asking permission from your dad nor me?” Dahee suddenly spoke, trying to keep her calm voice as she peered towards Aerin with a worried look.

The sight disgusted Aerin to bits, and even though she knew that Heegun could perfectly well see her, she made no attempt in hiding her sickened expression. “I know dad trusts me so I don’t need to ask permission from him, much less from you.” Aerin stated proudly. She then peered at Heegun to see if the man was dismayed. “Besides, I went with Luhan and Sehun.”

“Even so, you went out at night… with boys,” Dahee said, her worried countenance not faltering even one bit. “What if something happened to you—“

“So you’re saying that I went out with Luhan and Sehun just to fool around?” Aerin asked in utter disbelief, obviously sickened with the way the woman’s mind works. “Dad knows Luhan enough to entrust me to him and you know that,” Aerin glared at Dahee, not caring about the presence of her dad anymore. “I even trust Luhan and Sehun more than you, so don’t even think about acting like my mom ‘cause you’re not.”

Seeing Heegun’s eyebrows creasing slowly, Dahee decided to fasten it up by eyeing him with glassy eyes. “But I… I was just worried about you, Aerin…”

Much to the dismay of Aerin, Dahee’s petty act worked well for Heegun immediately shook his head disappointingly—one of which angered her more. “Aerin, Dahee’s right. Even though I allow you to go out, you should still notify me when you’re going to such events,” Heegun said in a calm tone, trying to make his voice less intimidating. “And speak with more respect towards her. Even if Dahee’s not your mom, she is still older than you and she’s just worried, so be nice.”

Although, the way Heegun scolded her wasn’t the least bit annoying, Aerin was still heated. She can see the point why her dad scolded her about not notifying him, but she just couldn’t comprehend why she should even pay any respect towards Dahee. Sure, she might be older, but her mind’s on par with a toddler. Not to mention the fact that she’s not even a family member, yet she meddles with their affairs, she really didn’t deserve any niceness coming from Aerin.

“Also, Dahee, you need not to worry about Aerin since I, myself, entrusted her to Luhan.” Albeit, Heegun speaking again made everything lighter. “Technically, he’s Aerin’s guardian when I’m not around so she can go out with him whenever she wants to; that goes to Sehun as well. I appreciate your concern though.”

Aerin saw Dahee’s face contorting into a mixture of incredulity and fake understanding—a sight that pleased her