EPT
Afterward, they went to find a place to drink. It seemed it was time for the more serious discussions to take place… everyone knew it would be an extremely long time before such a rare meeting would take place again.
They found a random hole in the wall place that was thankfully, not swarming with boisterous, drunken people. Conversation started out casually at first but after an hour and two bottles of soju, the mood changed.
By way of discussion, it became apparent the son was feeling an immense amount of pressure. He was at a crossroads of becoming an adult, a real adult - he was feeling the various pressures and problems that came with looming before him - a growing burden was taking home in his chest that was beginning to suffocate him before it even began. It was a kind of pain that gnawed him raw at night and stayed lurking around during the day - something he couldn’t talk about with anyone, because no one would understand. It was too complicated, too convoluted…
The son was extremely smart and headstrong - but this had proven to be a downside many a times because he felt no one could understand, no one could help him. But he barely had to say much more before the father began untying those knots, comforting him. In the precious way only fathers can, calm wisdom and words of genuine understanding and encouragement were dished out in a way that the son had desperately wanted, needed for such a long time now. And in that vulnerable moment, this boy began to cry, because he felt that huge rock in his chest finally begin to subside. “Why are you worrying and thinking so much? You’re so young… you’ll be okay”. Such simple, simple words hit home so hard.
As the daughter watched this fragile moment take place, she joined him in his tears. How long had he struggled like this? How long had he been needing this solace?
It all seemed so bittersweet.
It was late, and they wrapped things up. They walked for a little bit before the father caught a cab for the two of them, gently pushing them in before he closed the door. As the cab began to pull away, she turned around, waving fervently at him. It was so late - it must have been around 2 am by that point but she could have sworn she saw her father’s eyes glistening under the street lamp. Just as the cab finally turned a corner, she heard him yell out with a beautiful smile -
“I love you”
Excuse the emoness of my entries... I just needed a place to get this out.
