『 POLISHED METAL 』 ⇢ Park Jimin

Chapter 22: Seized

•Eunjin's POV•

"Ji—!" I stopped halfway, seeing that it wasn't the person I was expecting. In fact, it was the person I least expected to appear.

"Why are you here," I questioned, "Dad?"

His usual grey suit immediately came to view as I peered at him. It's been years since I saw that suit. It's the same suit he always wore when he would go on business trips with mom when I was a child.

Then my gaze went towards his tie.

It was the same purple tie he was wearing when I told him and mom that I hated humans. I could never forget that day...that day when I learned the truth.

"Eunjin," A stern look was plastered on his face as he called out my name, "How have you been?"

"Dad," I sighed—spreading my arms out towards him, "Drop the act and just go for it."

"REALLY?!" He jumped into my arms, hugging me so tight that I could barely breathe, "PAPA BEAR MISSED YOU SO MUCH!!"

"Dad—I can't breathe—"

He always does that. Acting all serious and mature when inside he's actually less mature than a 12-year old. I barely saw him when I was a child but whenever I did, he would act even more childish than I was.

His immaturity makes me think of how he was able to run a very successful business that manages to become one of the most powerful companies worldwide.

"Oh, sorry, I guess I got carried away for a second there!" He chuckled, letting go of me before rubbing the back of his head.

I flashed a small smile, shaking my head, "Dad, you haven't changed one bit."

"Well, you've changed a lot. MY BABY BEAR ISN'T A BABY ANYMORE so now you're just...THE BEAR—kids grow up so fast, don't they?" He wiped away a fake tear.

"Dad—please, I'm already in my 20s, of course, I'm not a kid anymore."

I stepped aside to let him in, walking towards the kitchen to prepare some tea for him.

"So, why did you decide to suddenly drop by my house for the first time in 8 years?" I asked him nonchalantly, placing the tea on the tray and carrying it towards the dining table where my dad was seated.

"Oh, you know, just checking if anyone tried to harm my baby boo." He muttered, picking up the tea before looking around, "So, where's Mickey?"

I froze in my spot at his question.

Should I tell him about Jimin? Should I tell him I went to Seoul, tried to get over my fear and met a bunch of people who tried to help me?

"Uh, she's in...my room, dozing off." I lied.

Why would I lie?! It's not like Dad would hunt Jimin down and torture him for bringing me to Seoul without his consent—on second thought, he would.

"Oh, and her collar is broken." I grabbed Mickey's collar off the kitchen counter and showed it to my dad before stuffing it back into my pocket.

"We'll contact your uncle later to see if we can get it fixed." He uttered before clearing his throat, "Actually, Eunjin, the real reason why I came here is—"

Abruptly, dad jolted, freezing in his tracks before pulling something out from the back of his neck.

"Shoot, they followed me here." He spoke as he stared anxiously at the syringe he just pulled out from the back of his neck.

"Dad, what's that?"

"E-Eunjin...run, run away as far as you can from here."

"D-dad, why do you sound so scared—"