===== Chapter 29 [ Part 2 ] =====

Sitting on the stool, you rock your legs on and forth as you sip on your iced coffee drink.

Honestly, there isn't ice anymore as it all melted, leaving all your drink almost bland to the taste. Even so, you don't make any complaints as this is, after all, your fault for making the poor drink wait.

Before you, your still sulking father takes his cup of coffee.

His displeasure is still very distinct on his features. It hasn't faded and only becoming more prominent as the time tick on, especially whenever you would accidentally kick his leg in the process of "amusing" yourself with the rocking of your legs.

It doesn't take long before he has enough with your crap.

"(N/N)," his deep dad voice calls you out.

"What?" you question, looking at him with those innocent eyes as if you didn't just kick him.

Actually it's not like you really intentionally did that; but since you're kinda in the mood to play around your currently cranky father, you can't help but behave in a very childish manner to him right now.

Your father sternly looks at you, but you simply stare back with a smile. With your gaze concentrated on him— never leaving— you slowly lower your mouth to your straw to sip in front of him with the loudest sucking sound you can muster.

"(Y/N)!"

He calls you again; this time in a snapping way.

His eyes, for a second, darting to the people around them, who does not seem to mind the embarrassing manner his daughter is making. They're too focus with their own little business to even pay attention to the father and daughter pair.

"Yes, Dad?" you reply after a little while of making those horrible noise.

Your grin is obviously meant to aggrevate him, which is definitely working.

He closes his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. He is trying to restrain himself from snapping at his annoying yet precious daughter. It's not like the first time you did this to him. It was almost rare, but there were times your vexing playfulness will slip out.

Most often, he'll tolerate it; but this time— he'll try doing something. At least, just an experiment. He feigns a sigh, tilting his face away from you.

"I should have not been generous with that thief. Now look at the mess he has done. My daughter's starting to become more disrespectful."

He gives you a side-glance, who look like you're about to protest from his absurb comment; but he doesn't even dare give an opportunity as he proceeds to complain towards the poor Alessio.

"I knew it. He's only a bad influence. Maybe I should just take back what I said..."

Your heart drops.

"What?! Dad! No! Don't!"

He raises a brow at you.

"What?"

Daniel slowly questions just as casually as you did to him earlier. He sips on his coffee, feigning ignoring to your pleading gaze. It doesn't take awhile before a grin eventually reveals on his lips; the desperation on your face instantly faltering as a glare replaces it.

Damn it. He's just playing with me too.

You pout.

"Geez, why are you so mean to Alessio, Dad? He's doing his best to gain your respects, yet you're still treating him dirty. My classmates are almost close to thinking that we broke up because we barely talk at school anymore; and here you were... saying that you'll take back the deal and let us break it off. What about his efforts?"

You sigh as you shake your head to yourself.

Your dad still dares to bicker back.

The grin stays on his face, and it now looks like it's mocking you. "Oh, you're talking back now. You weren't like that to your father before. It must be him. It must be him. He's really a bad influence."

"Dad!"

Your eyes starts to get a bit prickly.

"He's not a bad influence, I swear."

Suddenly, the atmostphere around you turns a bit gloomy. Sensing the sudden change of air, your father who had a grin on his face earlier finally drops the act.

He thoughtfully observes you while you lower your gaze from him to your half-filled drink. The conversation that you were both engaged in earlier fades into a fit of uncomfortable silence.

Despite the silence finally settling in, the prickly sensation you feel behind your eyes doesn't leave yet. It stings, but you don't dare to blink or rub your eyes in fear that the tears may suddenly gush down. You don't want to show it to your father. You don't want to show that you're affected too much by what he said.

Sure, he might not be serious with what he said.

But it still hurts.

Alessio has been really good and sweet to you. While he can be at times overprotective and antisocial, he's still a good boyfriend and friend.

Friend...

A bitter smile slips off your face as you recall the times you were still hanging out with your old friends. When that tragic scene didn't happen yet.

Of course, you haven't changed your thoughts about them. You still viewed them very important to you, but what about them? Do they return your feelings?

You had never made contact with Kielle after that day.

Peach meanwhile hated you.

And then Dante...

He never said anything, but you could get a hint from his actions that he is starting to dislike you.

Alessio is the only one who continued to stay by your side despite all those things that happened. Plus, his treatment towards you didn't worsen. It instead improved! And you can see from his actions that he's really genuine with his feelings for you.

"(Y/N)..."

You snap out of your thoughts. You see your dad holding his cup of coffee with his two large hands. He looks a bit guilty as he stares at you.

"I'm sorry... Please don't cry."

Huh?

At his words, you lift a hand to place it on your cheek. You immediately feel a wet sensation on your finger. You look at it; your brows, furrowed.

Before you can even process what's happened, your dad grabbed a tissue from the table and began dabbing your tears off your face.

"I'm sorry," he whispered again and again, "I'm sorry. You know it... me... I'm just being a petty person and only said those words out of spite and jealousy because you... my beautiful daughter... finally found someone that you might get to share your life with in the future."

"I'm scared that..."

"I'm scared that..." Daniel couldn't finish his words. Like his daughter, he was tearing up too but not for the same reasons.

Experiencing the pain of being abandoned several times, he was scared that the only one he has right now in this world would abandon him too. He knows that behaving like this is a bit too much for a supposed mature parent, but he just can't help it...

Fear makes him irrational.

You gaze back at your father for awhile, and then you nod. He doesn't have to finish his words; you know it. You understand it. Like him, you have experienced being left by someone important too.

His wife... your mother...

When she passed away, she left the both of you in this world with hearts terribly shattered. But you have your father, and he has you.

It was a terrible period; but since you have each others' supports, you guys managed to cope well with her death. So you understand why he's acting this way.

You are his only pillar of support.

If you were to leave, he might just collapse.

"Dad." You heave out a sigh.

"I'm sorry too."

Snatching several tissues on the table, you also begin to dab it on his terribly wet-stained face. "But you should know I love you the most in the world. Along with Mom, okay! So why would I do that?"

You try to laugh as if his fear was the most nonsense thing you came across. "Seriously.. Dad.. I would never leave you, okay. So stop crying now."

"Huhuhu..." he still continues to cry.

You shake your head, laughing. "Gosh, you look so ugly."

His gloomy expression fades as he gives you an evil eye. "Huh? What did you just say? Who are you calling me ugly. I think you're the ugly one. Look at that snot on your nose! Here; I'll wipe it for you!"

He squeezes your nose with the crumpled tissue before you can even scream out a protest.

In retaliation, you harshly squeeze his nose too with the poorly-looking over-used tissue in your hand.

"Geez, and you said earlier I'm beautiful."

You roll your eyes.

"You heard wrong!" Your dad denies, but he has a doting smile on his face.

You just roll your eyes again.

As you guys wipe each others' face off, the atmosphere surrounding you guys seem pleasant again. Both of you completely oblivious to the attention you have gained since the dramatic scene happened.

Those who have been observing cannot help but sigh in relief as the "argument" finally ceases. They are now cooing over the father-daughter moment, happy for the both of them settling their conflict