Jaehwa's father was always known to be an awkward man, especially when it came to socializing. Even when it came to socializing with his own daughter, he always found it difficult to open up to her or provide comfort for her, and he always beat himself up for it. He wanted to be a good father, but how could he when he couldn't talk with his own child? His wife would berate himself for it, and of course he agreed. He loved his daughter, but he had trouble showing it. So when he and his wife brought home their youngest daughter, he vowed to himself to do better. He wasn't going to let this small child grow up thinking her father didn't care for her. She'd already have trouble knowing she was adopted; he didn't want her thinking any less of herself for things that weren't her fault.
So he spent most of his free time with little Jaeyeon, often holding her in his arms on the days he worked from home. He tried his best to show affection to Jaehwa, but his eldest daughter stuck close to her mother, knowing that her little sister needed their father's attention more than her. She did, of course, love her father, and she made sure to show him that, but she felt that Jaeyeon needed the full attention of their father. She saw in TV shows how lonely some adopted kids were, and she didn't want that for her sister. So, when their father was away at work or couldn't properly spend time with his children, Jaehwa took it upon herself to carry the baby or sit by her while their mother did housework. She quite liked having a little sister, and it helped that she was cute.
Jaeyeon grew up as a daddy's girl through and through, always waiting until he was home to tell some exciting story that happened at school. His office was full of drawings she'd made for him, and the once awkward man would always have something to say about his daughters. So he wasn't perfect, he sometimes got frustrated from work and snapped at his children or waved them off when he was tired and didn't want to play with them, but he tried his best to show them just how much he cared for them. He was the first Jaeyeon would go to if she was having a bad day. More than once she would come into her parents' bedroom and crawl into his lap, sniffling back tears as she told him some kids had made fun of her for her little stomach anomaly. He would gently rub her back and stroke her hair, whispering comforting words as she fell asleep in his arms. There was once a time he too was a bit terrified of her missing navel, but now he didn't even notice. It was such a minor thing, and it definitely wasn't something that should keep kids from befriending his sweet daughter.
As she grew older, Jaeyeon started to drift from her family, something that broke her father's heart. She spent more time away from home, and she didn't talk to them as much as she used to. And then came the day she told them she was going to go travel. She was thirteen. They had, of course, argued with her and told her she was just a child so how could she expect them to let her just go off and travel the world alone? Then she had looked them in the eyes and told them she was going with or without their permission. Her father had been taken aback by how ancient her eyes had seemed at that time. When had that happened? How had that happened? What had happened to his sweet little girl who used to run up yelling, 'Daddy!' whenever he came home? That was not the girl standing before him. He had promised himself he would do his best to raise his daughters. He'd already failed one; how could he fail the other? So he let Jaeyeon go, a decision he'd regretted ever since.
She had spent so long running from him, and he could only ask himself what had he done? Had he driven her away? She jumped at the chance to move away with Jaehwa and Minah, and he hadn't heard from her since. Jaehwa would occasionally call, but never once did Jaeyeon get on the line. He missed her. He wished he could find it in himself to call her, but after so long of her running, he was afraid she wouldn't want to talk to him. Maybe this was what he deserved. He hadn't done enough for his children, and this was his punishment. He just hoped they were doing okay.
And then he got the call. Jaeyeon had been involved in an animal attack—something that had happened months before!—and she wasn't doing well in school. Jaehwa told him the things he had been yearning to hear. Jaeyeon missed him. She wanted to come back home. So, when Minah and Jaehwa visited them in Korea, he packed a bag and flew back with them. He had to see his youngest daughter, see for himself how bad things were for her. And then, if she wanted, he would bring her back home. He would do his best again to raise her and love her. He'd make up for what he'd done wrong, whatever that was. He just wanted his children to be happy, and while Jaehwa was happy where she was, Jaeyeon wasn't. And he'd do anything to see her happy again. He had some small hope seeing him would be enough to bring a smile to her face, but he knew better than that. Still, he couldn't forget how her face lit up whenever he came home.
He'd be coming back after a long day at work, all those rude clients slowly stealing the energy from his bones, and all he could look forward to was relaxing on the sofa with his family as they watched TV together. He would wonder if Jaehwa and Jaeyeon finished their homework and what his wife had cooked for dinner that night. The door would squeak as he struggled to open it, and then, as he slipped off his shoes and hung up his coat, the sound of feet running around the corner would grab his attention. A smile would creep onto his face as Jaeyeon appeared before him, a huge grin immediately brightening his mood, and she would launch herself into his arms, already talking a mile a minute about her day. Jaehwa would come up a few moments later, throwing her arms around his leg and giggling when he exaggeratedly tried to shuffle into the kitchen to greet their mother.
It was nights like those that kept him going through his dull job and gave him hope that maybe he wasn't doing such a bad job raising his daughters. It was nights like those that gave him hope that maybe Jaeyeon didn't hate him, and that maybe there was a chance they could mend their strained relationship. Maybe she really did miss her father. He could only hope he could help her through this difficult time and that it wasn't too late for her to be happy again.
And when he saw her again for the first time in what seemed like years, his heart swelled when Jaeyeon launched herself at him, much like she had done when she was younger. She cried into his chest, telling him how much she missed him and how much she loved him, and, despite how much it pained him to see his daughter so hurt, he was happy. He was happy because he was finally seeing his daughter again, and he was happy because she wasn't angry. So he just held her and rubbed her back and whispered comforting words as she let out all the emotions she'd been holding in for so long.
She'd forgotten how nice it was to hug her father. She'd forgotten how safe he made her feel. She'd forgotten so much, but she remembered just how much he cared for her. She'd forgotten so much, but she remembered how calming it was when he was there. She'd forgotten so much, but she remembered what home was. And she remembered home was with her family, was with her father. She was finally home.
