A Rose Between Thorns

Chapter 49: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

"Dad?"

I feel my heart sink in my chest as a familiar voice comes through my phone. One of the voices I was hoping to never hear again. His voice hasn't changed in the many years he's been gone, just as it has been fresh in my mind. Is that why I've been having flashbacks? Is he the one speaking to me in those dreams?

"Ah, so you remember me, my daughter. I'm glad to hear. I hope you're doing well?"

I can feel the familiar wave of fear coursing through my veins, pouring into my muscles as they begin to tense up. "How did you get my number?" I ask with a shaky voice, my hand holding the phone trembling beside my ear.

I hear footsteps fast approaching, and I look up to see all seven members looking at me worriedly. Of course, they probably felt my fear. There is no point in trying to hide it, so I merely hold a finger up to my lips, silently telling them to stay quiet. The only sound is my father's voice.

"I have my ways. I'll be honest, when I was released a little over a year ago, I didn't think it would be so hard to find you. After all, you're my only daughter. But enough about me, let's talk about you. I was expecting to find you studying hard at a university like your mother and I wanted. However... I find out you're actually in another country, making a fool of yourself on stage with all that Korean pop nonsense."

The boys gather around me, Jungkook wrapping me in his arms as I notice Jimin getting noticeably angrier. I look up at the mochi and shake my head, silently telling him to just calm down. The last thing I want is for them to waste their energy on my father.

"What do you want?" I ask coldly, feeling my hand tighten around the phone in my own anger and fear. The rest of the members silently watch the exchange, not one with a smile on their face.

"Ouch, that hurts my daughter. Am I not allowed to make a simple phone call? You grew up to be such a disrespectful child, I knew your mother could never raise you properly."

I can feel a growl coming up from my throat, surprising the men around me. Jungkook doesn't let go of me, but I can feel him flinch as my fear starts to turn quickly into more and more anger. "Do not speak of her that way," I snap at him through the phone.

"Do not talk back to me young lady! I'll say whatever I want, you'd best hold your tongue. Anyways, time for the reason I called. It's time for you to come home, my daughter. Enough of this fooling around with those childish girls you call soulmates. If they were real men, they'd go out and get a real job, like military service."

I nearly broke my phone in half at his comment. "Excuse me?" I raise my voice, the intense rage fueling the fire, my blood boiling at his words. "You have no right to call them that nor disrespect them. These MEN, my soulmates, are changing the world for the better, while you can't seem to do anything but spend all your money on drugs."

"Young lady, mind your mouth or I'll rip your tongue from it! You will not speak to your father that way!"

"YOU ARE NOT MY FATHER!" I nearly scream, and all of the boys save for Jungkook back away from me in shock. "You are nothing but a selfish coward who wastes his life getting high and trying to control others! So as far as I'm concerned, you can shove a stick up your ass, as if your head isn't far enough up there already and suck my nonexistent dick. Maybe while you're at it you'll be able to find all the fucks I give! Oh wait, there aren't any!"

I see Yoongi crack a smile while watching my retaliation. "Goodbye, sperm donor. Oh, and by the way, I'm changing my number."

I hang up the phone, leaving the rest of the boys speechless around me for a few moments. "Woah... Noona's scary.." Taehyung says, his voice barely audible. The adrenaline and rage that had been coursing through me now dissipate and turn into utter exhaustion, my knees buckling beneath me.