Liability (VSOO)[18+]

The Distance

At the crack of dawn, the piercing sound of an alarm jolted her awake. With groggy eyes, she fumbled to silence the obnoxious beeping clock perched on her nightstand. In her half-awake state, she accidentally knocked it off, causing it to crash onto the floor.

"Ugh...shut up!"

Desperate for a few more minutes of sleep, she whined and buried herself under the cozy duvet cover on her spacious bed. Suddenly, a gentle knock echoed through her door.

"Dad?" she called out, her voice filled with anticipation. Her eyes sparkled with joy as her father stepped into the room. She had missed him dearly during his three-month absence.

"Daddy!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement. Jinhee's smile stretched from ear to ear as he approached his daughter's bed.

"Hello, my love!"

"I've been counting down the days to see you again!" Jinhee confessed, gently stroking her cheek. He settled himself on the edge of her bed, and she reciprocated his smile, leaning in for a tight embrace. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she nestled her head against his chest.

"I've been longing for your presence, yearning for the day you would finally arrive," she confessed, her voice tinged with impatience.

"Why does it always feel like an eternity before you return home?" she asked, her gaze fixed upon his face.

"I understand that your job demands your attention, but I can't comprehend why Mom and I can't join you in the city," she pleaded, her voice filled with longing. Jinhee looked at her with affectionate eyes.

"Sweetheart, we've discussed this countless times," he sighed.

"I don't want you and your Mom to come to Forkland. It's not a safe place for you," he reassured her. Jinhee held her hands tightly in his lap. Disappointment etched across her face, she reluctantly nodded.

"I understand... but... can you at least promise me that you'll visit more often?" she implored.

"I don't want to only see you four times a year... it's just too sad, Dad," she said, embracing him tightly. Jinhee smiled warmly and gently stroked her back.

"I'll do my best to come more frequently, my dear... but I can't guarantee it will happen soon," he admitted.

"I still have a lot of work in the city that makes it challenging to visit more often. But I promise, I'll try," Jinhee responded.

After exchanging pleasantries in Jisoo's room, they encountered Soohyang, Jisoo's mother, in the kitchen busily preparing breakfast for the family.

"Mom!"

"Good morning! You seem unusually happy today... I wonder why?" Jisoo exclaimed, her face beaming with a wide smile. She always found joy in witnessing her mother's happiness whenever her father returned home. Their unique way of loving each other had always fascinated her. Despite the limited time they had together, her mother endured it all because of her deep love for him. Jisoo vividly remembered a conversation she had with her mother on one occasion.

"Waiting is a true testament of love. Anyone can say 'I love you,' but not everyone can stay and prove it to you."

Soohyang, taken aback by her daughter's words, accidentally dropped a spoon onto the kitchen floor. Blushing, she fanned herself with her left hand.

"Oh my goodness..." Soohyang muttered to herself, noticing the mess she had made. Jinhee swiftly wrapped his arm around his wife's waist and guided her to the side.

"Don't worry, I'll clean it up... It's fine!" Jinhee reassured his wife, bending down to pick up the spilled food. Soohyang smiled tenderly at him, ready to assist, but he gently stopped her.