Haru Haru - Big Bang

Broken

Once the last guest was out, Aerin went back inside the house and was met by a dining table full of neatly-wrapped paper bags and gifts. They differed in color; some were blue, some were pink, but all in all, despite being a fan of pastel and neutral tones, Aerin loved the rainbow-like mass. It made her forget the fact that the next day would officially be the end of summer.

It was only 4 in the afternoon. There wasn’t a lot of cleaning to be done since most of the guests were kind enough to clean up their used, disposable utensils, so Aerin decided to rest first while opening up each and every gift that she had received. She wasn’t very expectant, but naturally, being the birthday celebrant, she was rather excited. Looks like I have a lot of beautiful gift wraps to tear up.

Reaching for the first box, Aerin peeked at the tag first. Seeing the giver’s name, Aerin’s eyebrows creased. It’s from Luhan. Out of all the gifts she chose first, she chose his. She didn't know why, but she was still bothered by their last conversation. She didn’t want to know what the present was; she was surely going to be nonchalant about it. Scanning the item, it was wrapped in a simple silver paper decorated with shining stars. It was definitely her cup of tea.

Unwrapping the box and setting the tag aside, the stool beside her suddenly moved. Looking up, Aerin was met with Heegun’s smile. It wasn’t always that they were in the same place together, but it certainly didn’t make Aerin any less comfortable. Usually, she’d be annoyed if someone watched her every move—just like what her father was currently doing—but this time, she didn’t feel any of that. Rather, she felt at ease, knowing that Heegun kept his promise of staying with her for her birthday.

However, the serene and cosy atmosphere was interrupted when  Heegun started speaking. “Aerin, I know that you like Sehun, but,” Heegun gave Aerin a hesitant look. “Does it really have to be him?”

Aerin stopped moving and gave Heegun a confused look. “Dad, what are you…” she trailed off, her voice barely audible as she tried hard to keep her growing anger contained. “What are you trying to say?”

Heegun sighed. “I know that I approved of him as your boyfriend and that he’s Han and Sena's son, but now that I think about it, I’ve heard of quite a few rumours about Sehun and they aren’t really good.” Hearing his reason, Aerin started fuming inside and her face contorted. Nevertheless, Heegun didn’t stop. “I’ve heard that he’s pretty careless and doesn’t take things--much less girls--seriously. For all we know, he might only be playing with you.”

And something inside of Aerin finally snapped, all of her self control and patience gone.

“Why don’t you just date Luhan again? At least I know that he won’t hurt you.”

Aerin’s fists curled into balls as she gritted her teeth, gazing at her father with every bit of contempt and disappointment that she had held for over the past eleven years. Being mad would be an understatement. She was absolutely infuriated.

How could he speak just like that? How could he think of Sehun just like that when he didn’t even know him? How could he easily judge Sehun when he, himself, refused to see the truth? 

“Let me ask you then, Dad,” Aerin spoke curtly, throwing away the barrier that had kept all of her feelings hidden and intact. “Does it really have to be Dahee?”

Aerin had enough of Heegun’s hypocrisy. She had enough of her father’s fickleness, opting to believe his treacherous girlfriend's lies rather than to trust his daughter who had tried to make him see the truth. Aerin couldn’t even believe that he had the guts to suddenly act like her father when all these years, he had refused to listen to her. Throughout the eleven years that they had been together every summer, he had refused to understand her. Heegun never cared for her.

Heegun was too quick to judge Sehun, the only person who had made Aerin feel as though she was the most precious in the world, when he, who was the person who was supposed to make her feel that way, never even tried.

“Why don’t you try dating Seongim-unnie? At least I know that she’s