Chapter 13：A Talk With Dad (1/2)

[Music Recommendation: ”In Silence” by Janet Suhh (It's Okay Not To Be Okay OST)-available in Youtube or Spotify] ~ Please listen to it in a loop while you read this part to experience the utmost beauty of this chapter T_T ~

My dad's sullen eyes tried to smile for me. But he couldn't fool me. I knew he was forcing himself to smile.

”Senara,” he called my name like any loving father would. I wasn't sure if I wanted to hear him call me that way or I'd rather have him be stern with me. ”How's school today?”

”Normal,” I replied, shrugging. ”How's business?”

Bullseye. His eyes instantly reverted back to being sullen. My guess about it related to our family business was right. Having memories of my past life was really helpful.

Dad sighed deeply before answering me, ”There's a few problems right now, to be honest. But don't worry, it will be over soon. All businesses face it's own challenges.”

”Have you found a solution already?” I reverted quickly. I wanted to know if he already met those scammers.

”Actually…,” he said, then paused as if deliberating if he should tell me about it or not. He had always been open about a lot of things but if he thought it was something not fit for my age yet, he wouldn't tell me no matter how hard I pressed him.

'I need him to confide in me and think I'm mature enough to handle it' was what I thought at that moment. So I told him…

”I may only be 15 right now, but you should know that I'm really smart. You never know, maybe I have an idea how to fix your problem.” I tried to talk big.

It was perfect. My tone was confident, too. I looked at him in the eyes as I spoke.

”You always told us never to underestimate the capabilities of the youth of today. Because they are the hope of our country. But… how will we become the hope of the country if our parents kept us safe from the harsh reality of the world? Making us live in some self-made fantasy or idealism?”

Dad looked surprised. He probably didn't expect such deep words from a teenager.

”I need to know the truth about the world and how it works, dad. I'm not a kid anymore, and everyday, I grow older and wiser. I think it's time to prepare me for what's really out there.”

To be honest, I wasn't sure if what I was saying would really convince him to open up with me. Half of me, just really wanted to tell him those words. Because in my past life, when I started working at the age of 16, life slapped me hard with it's reality. How many times I wished that my parents told me about it sooner than having to experience it myself, and scar me for the rest of my life, making me unable to trust anyone completely.

Yes, life wasn't some fairytale filled with sunshines and daisies. If anything, it would be best compared to sailing in the sea. Some days would be peaceful, but some days would be a storm. Some days you would be fooled by the sun, and some days, comforted by the rain. And it would be solely up to you to sail against them.

Dad lowered his eyes and sighed deeply.

”Right. You're no longer a child,” he murmured, trying to let the truth sink in to him. ”In that case, sure, let me tell you the truth.”

I exhaled, relieved that he decided to believe in me.