Pay With Your Heart

508 A Great Dad.

“Aren’t you going with them? Your parents are leaving already.” Eun-sun pointed her chin to Ni-Na’s parents, who were saying their goodbyes to her parents.

Ni-Na shook her head in response. “I want to stay with you a little bit more.”

“But didn’t you say you’re supposed to leave for school tomorrow? It would be best if you were getting ready. You don’t have to stay here with me. Your brother is here, and my sister too.” Eun-sun reached for her face and struck her cheek as she fondly smiled at her. “You should go, Ni-Na.” She persuaded her, but Ni-Na stubbornly shook her head.

“I want to stay too. I’m your sister too, remember? And school doesn’t resume till two weeks.”

“Really? Then why were you in such a hurry?” Eun-sun puckered her brows in confusion. She had thought Ni-Na wanting to return to school had to do with school resuming.

Ni-Na bit her lips as she pondered on what response to give. She couldn’t tell her that the reason behind her urgent return to school had to do with Kang In-Ha and what had happened between them in City-A.

She certainly couldn’t do that, especially not in front of Dan-Han. He’d kill her after Killing In-Ha.

She surreptitiously peeked at him, and she saw him intensely staring at her as if eagerly waiting for her response.

Ni-Na shifted her gaze to Eun-sun. “I thought it wise to resume early so I can prepare well before the semester begins. This is my final semester, so I have to put my best into it. Brother Dan-Han had given me a target, and I have to achieve it, or else I won’t get a seat at the company.”

.....

“Really?” Eun-sun asked with surprise, swiftly turning her head toward Dan-Han, who was sternly looking at Ni-Na.

“You make it sound like I’m punishing you.” He commented dryly.

“And aren’t you punishing her?” Eun-sun queried, arching a brow at Dan-Han.

She remembered having a conversation with Ni-Na about Dan-Han’s demand for a high grade, which Ni-Na had deemed unachievable given her current grade, and was somewhat scared to inform Dan-Han about it.

Dan-Han narrowed his eyes at Eun-sun. “Do you want to know how I was groomed into being the patriarch of the family?” He questioned, while Eun-sun maintained a calm stare at him, silently urging him to continue if he was willing to share, but of course, he wasn’t.

His childhood was one thing he rarely spoke about and had her curious about it, but Dan-Han was too taciturn about it. She could imagine how tough it must have been for him, as he must have missed out on what other kids his age did for fun.

He must have started learning how to run a business from a very tender age to be the impeccable businessman he was today, and as much as she loved him for who he was, she hoped he wouldn’t raise their child in such a manner.

Dan-Han paid a wicked glare at her before turning to Ni-Na. “Are you having a hard time in school?” He calmly questioned, even though he already had the answer.

Ni-Na shook her head. “No.” She replied.

“Good.” He nodded. “Then you don’t get to complain.”

“And why shouldn’t she?” Eun-sun questioned, feeling grateful for the distracting conversation she could involve herself in before she was left all alone.

“Well, firstly, because I allowed her the opportunity to do whatever she wanted, but she chose this. She chose the company, and if that is truly what she wants, then she can’t start complaining to you because that’s only going to make you question how I’m going to raise our child, and believe me, I won’t have it.” He firmly declared.

“Really? And why is that?” Eun-sun prodded, arching a brow at him.

“Because Eun-Sun, it’s too early to start thinking about all that. There’s enough for us to worry about at the moment, and something we’d do in the nearest future shouldn’t make the list of our worries right now. And how best to raise our child is something we’ll both figure out together. So please, let’s not do it now.” He told her, and though Eun-sun had something to say, she stopped herself.

She had a feeling Dan-Han was being evasive on the topic because he was scared. He was nervous about being a father, and he was terrified about the kind he’d become.

She knew him well, and she knew whenever he tried to be overly tough and stern, he was just scared.

She reached for his hand and placed it on her stomach. “You’ll be a great dad, Dan-Han. The very best.” She told him and leaned her head on his shoulders.

Dan-Han felt the warmth of her stomach on his palm, and he couldn’t help but imagine his baby growing daily and giving them a large baby bump.

He held Eun-sun closer so she lay comfortably before raising his gaze to Ni-Na.

“I’ll ask Chang-wok to book another flight for you whenever you’re ready to leave. You can stay with her.” He said, and Ni-Na smiled. Her smile fought back the mist that had been gathering in her eyes.

She loved the love Dan-Han and Eun-sun had for each other and how they conquered all their problems with it. It was just so beautiful.

“Thank you.” She said, and Dan-Han nodded.

“And Ni-Na, there’s really no pressure. Don’t push yourself too hard. You’re allowed to make mistakes, and whenever you do, know you can always come to me.”

“I know.” She said with a nod. She had always known she could come to Dan-Han for anything and everything. Dan-Han had been more like a father, brother, and mentor to her than a cousin.

She wouldn’t be wrong to say she loved him more than her brother, who was currently in the same hospital, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to see him as their conversation would only end in a fight.

Ni-Na was still yet to make up her mind to go to see Ji-Tae when someone knocked on the door and stepped in, but the moment he did, her heart stopped.

She instinctively stayed her gaze on him and his on her. What was he—

“In-Ha,” Eun-sun excitedly called, her voice snapping Ni-Na back to reality.

Ni-Na blinked and lowered her eyes from him while his lips instantly held up a smile. He sauntered into the room with a bouquet for her.

“Hey, tigress.” He smilingly greeted her, and Eun-sun quickly pulled away from Dan-Han’s hold and sat up on the bed with a smile of her own.

“Are those for me?” She asked, pointing to the flowers, and In-Ha nodded and handed them over.

“Yes, they’re for you.”

“Thank you.” She smiled, taking a soft whiff of the flowers before setting them aside.

“President Lee,” In-Ha called, but Dan-Han irritably hissed.

“You’re too noisy.” He said and closed his eyes while In-Ha amusedly chuckled.

In-Ha couldn’t help but shift his eyes to Ni-Na, and the moment their eyes met, she rose to her feet.

“Unnie, I’ll grab something from the cafeteria across the road. I’ll be back soon.” She said, and Eun-sun nodded.

In-Ha’s lips parted to say something, but he stopped himself. He watched as she picked up her purse and walked out of the room.

Eun-sun puckered her brows as she observed In-Ha’s awkward gaze on Ni-Na. She had also observed Ni-Na not speaking to or bantering with him like she used to.

“What? Are you guys fighting? What did you do to her, Kang In-Ha?” Eun-sun demanded, snapping In-Ha’s attention back to her.

In-Ha realized himself and sighed. “Nothing we can’t talk about.” He said with a half smile.

He gulped when Dan-Han opened his eyes and stayed them on him. He didn’t say a word, but his eyes spoke volumes making In-Ha swallow.

“You don’t have to give me that look. I’ll apologize to her.” He rambled out.

“Don’t just apologize, In-Ha. Stay away from my sister. Or do I have to remind you of your age difference too? Stop bullying her.” He warned, and In-Ha almost chuckled.

He doubted if Dan-Han knew his little sister was the one who bullied others and not the other way round. But right now, what was going on between them wasn’t a case of being or not being bullied.

He had messed up, and he needed a chance to fix things. A chance to make things right with her.

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