Chapter 17: Unspoken Words

The drive back from the Lee family estate was marked by a heavy silence. The tension from YN's confrontation with her father still hung in the air, a storm of unspoken words and unresolved emotions. YN stared out the window, her mind replaying the encounter over and over, while Seokjin kept glancing at her, concerned but unsure of what to say.

As they entered the city, the familiar skyline coming into view, Seokjin finally broke the silence. "YN, do you want to talk about what happened back there?"

YN sighed, the weight of her father's expectations still pressing down on her. "I don't know, Seokjin. I feel like I did the right thing by standing up to him, but at the same time, I can't shake this feeling that I've let him down."

Seokjin reached over and gently squeezed her hand, his voice soft but firm. "You did what you needed to do, YN. Standing up for yourself isn't about letting anyone down; it's about making sure your voice is heard."

She looked at him, her eyes reflecting the turmoil inside her."I just… I wish things were different. I wish he could see that I'm not just his daughter, but a person with my own dreams and desires."

"He'll come around," Seokjin said, trying to reassure her. "It might take some time, but he loves you, YN. He just has his own way of showing it."

YN appreciated Seokjin's attempt to console her, but deep down, she wasn't sure if her father would ever truly understand her. The conversation had only scratched the surface of the deeper issues that had been building up for years.

When they arrived back at YN's apartment, Seokjin walked her to the door, as he always did. This time, though, there was a lingering tension between them, a sense that something had shifted in their relationship.

"Seokjin," YN began, her voice hesitant, "I want you to know that your support means everything to me. I don't know how I would've gotten through today without you."

Seokjin smiled, but there was something deeper in his gaze, something that YN hadn't fully noticed before. "You don't have to thank me, YN. I'll always be here for you, no matter what."

For a moment, they stood there, the silence between them heavy with unspoken feelings. YN could feel her heart beating faster, the connection between them stronger than ever. But before she could say anything more, Seokjin broke the moment with a light chuckle.

"Well, I guess this is the part where I make a dad joke to lighten the mood, huh?" he said, grinning. "But I don't want to ruin the serious vibes we've got going on."

YN laughed, the tension easing slightly as she shook her head. "You really do have a talent for that, Seokjin."

"It's a gift and a curse," he replied, his grin widening. "But seriously, if you need anything at all you know where to find me."

With that, he turned to leave, but before he could take a step, YN reached out and grabbed his arm. "Seokjin… wait."

He turned back to her, his expression softening. "Yeah?"

YN hesitated for a moment, then stepped closer, her heart pounding in her chest. "I just… I need to know that you're not going anywhere. That you're going to be here, with me, no matter what happens."

Seokjin's eyes locked onto hers, the sincerity in his voice unmistakable. "YN, I'm not going anywhere. I'm here for you, and I'm not leaving."

The words hung in the air between them, a promise that carried more weight than either of them fully realised. YN felt a warmth spread through her chest, a sense of security that she hadn't felt in a long time.

"Thank you, Seokjin," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

He smiled, his gaze lingering on her for just a moment longer before he finally turned to leave. As YN watched him go, she couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between them, something that was just beginning to reveal itself.

And for the first time in a long while, she felt a flicker of hope, a sense that maybe, just maybe, she wasn't as alone as she had once thought.

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