Chapter 5

He turned around and walked off with his coffee mug, disappearing into the kitchen before I could ask him anything.

I lowered my gaze to my plate, trying to hide my face, almost wishing I could bury myself in it along with the embarrassment crawling up my neck.

A few moments later, my dad stepped out of his room, looking like he had just woken up.

"You woke up early today" he mumbled, dropping down beside me.

"What a lovely way to say good morning." I shot back, matching his tone.

He poured himself a glass of water without replying.

That was unusual.

I glanced at him again, this time more carefully and that’s when I noticed it. His tired face. His swollen eyes. The kind that only came from a sleepless night.

"What happened to you?" I asked, my voice softer now, laced with concern.

Yeah we tease each other. We fight. A lot.

But we care too.

He’s the only family I have.

It’s not like he’s ever been a textbook father. He’s irresponsible, careless at times but he never demanded that I become the perfect daughter either.

Maybe that’s why we work.

Or maybe it’s because there’s no one else left for either of us.

My mom didn’t just leave him.

She left me too.

Not once did she bring up my custody during their divorce. Not once did she ask for me.

And my dad?

He never brought it up either.

It was like a silent agreement between them one that decided my life without ever asking me.

Our relationship is complicated. Messy.

But honest.

So when he goes quiet like this...... when he acts different......

I notice.

I worry.

He glanced at me briefly before looking down at his phone, for the third time since he walked in.

Just then, Mr. Kim approached while carrying a plate of toast and a cup of coffee.

He placed it in front of my dad, his eyes lingering on his face for a second longer than usual.

“Is everything alright?” he asked carefully, flicking a glance at me as if unsure whether this was something he should bring up in front of me.

The moment my dad met his eyes, he smiled.

That smile.

The one he uses when he’s hiding something.

And I know it far too well.

“I feel like I’m going to become lazier if you keep serving me like this,” my dad said casually, brushing it off.

Mr. Kim didn’t push.

“I told you, it’s fine. What you’ve done for me..... I can never repay it,” he replied, a quiet sincerity in his voice.

I frowned as my gaze shifting between them.

What was that supposed to mean?

But before I could ask, my dad waved his hand dismissively, taking a bite of his toast.

“Ahh..... forget about it. You’re like my younger brother. I didn’t do anything expecting you to pay me back someday.”

Younger brother?

I blinked, even more confused now.

They kept talking like this, like there was a whole story I wasn’t allowed to hear.

And honestly?

It was starting to annoy me.

My dad finally looked at me, noticing my expression.

“Iris,” he called, a hint of amusement in his voice, “do you know who suggested your name?”

I frowned.

How would I know? And honestly, I never cared enough to ask.

But then I noticed Mr. Kim smiling.

Slowly.

Like he already knew what was coming.

I looked back at my dad, confused.

“It was Jackson.”

My eyes widened.

Jackson?

Mr. Kim?

Out of all the possibilities, that had never crossed my mind.

He named me?

I looked at him, then back at my dad, still trying to process it.

“He was only ten or eleven when you were born,” my dad continued. “But the moment he saw you, he decided your name, Iris.”

My heart skipped.

No.

It didn’t skip.

It slammed against my ribs like it was trying to break free.

I turned to Mr. Kim, and he was already looking at me, watching every flicker of my reaction like it mattered.

My face must’ve been a mess, shock, confusion, disbelief all tangled together because he spoke softly.

“It’s true.”

His deep, husky voice sent a strange warmth curling in my stomach it was soft, fluttering, dangerous.

I felt butterflies all over my stomach.

And guilt followed right after.

Because how could I feel this way about someone like him?

Someone so.... good. So pure.

If I opened my mouth right then I was sure I’d say something stupid.

So instead, I narrowed my eyes at my dad.

“Didn’t you say Mr. Kim is your childhood friend?” I asked. “Since when does childhood start in your twenties?”

Mr. Kim laughed.

Actually laughed.

And for some reason, a strange sense of pride bloomed in my chest. It was the first time I saw him laughing thay way.

“I was basically a child in my twenties,” my dad replied, trying and failing not to laugh.

I let it go after that.

But my mind didn’t.

Mr. Kim is only about eleven years older than me…

That means he must’ve been really young when he became a father.

Nineteen? Twenty?

No wonder he got dumped.

The thought came so easily, yet it didn’t sit right.

How did he manage it?

Raising Ryan all by himself at that age?

Why did he even get married so early?

I wanted to ask.

But I couldn’t.

It felt like crossing a line I wasn’t invited to cross.

“You know,” my dad continued, breaking into my thoughts, “I’ve known Jackson since he was born. He was my neighbor. Always stuck to me like glue.”

Mr. Kim smiled faintly, sipping his coffee.

“i used to drop him at school for years. We ate together. Played together......”

I frowned, staring at my dad.

“Weren’t you embarrassed? Hanging out with a four or five year old in your twenties?”

My dad immediately pointed at Mr. Kim.

“He was the one who wouldn’t leave me alone. If I tried to get rid of him, he’d cry and your grandma would scold me for being irresponsible.”

I didn't expect Mr. Kim would turn out to be clingy one.

I felt a flicker of embarrassment.

Was this..... too much?

Too personal?

I glanced at Mr. Kim.

But he didn’t look uncomfortable.

If anything, he looked.... happy.

Like those memories meant something to him. As if he was remembering his good old days.

I quickly stood up.

“I’ll just... uh... Wash this,” I muttered, grabbing my plate and mug before escaping into the kitchen.

Anything to stop my dad from saying something even more awkward.

I was wiping my hands when I suddenly felt a presence behind me.

“You’ll ruin your nails if you keep washing dishes like that.”

His voice.

Low.

Close.

Too close.

My heart jumped violently in my chest.

I swallowed, forcing myself to stay calm.

He...... He noticed my nails?

Someone it made me want to take care of my nails even more.

I'll get my nails done next week ---

Wait----

Why did that matter so much ?

“It’s fine,” I replied, avoiding his eyes. “You cooked for us. The least I can do is wash my own dishes.”

He leaned against the counter, arms folded across his chest. I was wiping my hands when my eyes fell on him.

I made the mistake of looking at him.

And everything slowed down.

He was staring directly at me.

Not casually.

Not accidentally.

Intently.

“Iris,” he said softly, “you’re very considerate.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks instantly.

I smiled, unsure of what to say. I glanced up at him again.

And that’s when I saw it.

He smirked.

SMIRK.

A teasing and knowing smirk.

“Ryan is right,” he added.

“Pink suits you.”

Six words.

Six simple, harmless words.

And yet....

I felt like my knees might actually give out. I was about to actually fall on my knees.

He let out a quiet scoff before turning and walking away, leaving me frozen in place.

Alone.

With one question echoing in my mind.

What did that mean?

Pink suits you?

I frowned, replaying his words as I made my way to my room.

What does he mean?

My room?

Was he talking about my room?

But the moment I stepped inside and my eyes landed in the mirror.

Everything clicked.

My face.

My entire face was flushed pink.

Oh.

Oh no.

“Fuck.....”

He saw me blushing over his compliment.

To be continued