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彡┆18

my father shifts slightly, adjusting the blankets. ''well,'' he says, his tone lighter now, like nothing even happened. ''i suppose we should get ready to leave.''

when we get home, my father wastes no time. the second we step through the door, he heads straight for his office, muttering something about checking his emails. of course. even after almost dying, business comes first.

i don't bother stopping him. instead, i head to my room, shutting the door behind me and leaning against it for a second.

my thoughts are a mess.

i should be relieved that my father is home, that he's stable. i should be thinking about what's next, about how i'll prepare for next year's games. but all i can think about is him. and i don't even know his name. i groan, running a hand through my hair. embarrassing.

my fingers linger over my phone, debating whether or not to call him. what would i even say? but before i can make a decision, my father calls for me from downstairs.

i straighten, taking a deep breath before heading down. when i step into his office, he's leaning back in his chair, his phone resting on the desk in front of him.

"i just got a call," he says, looking at me.
"from the frontman."

immediately, my heart skips a beat. but i keep my expression neutral. "oh?"

"we're allowed to come back next year," he continues, his voice unreadable.

i nod. "great." i turn, already planning to walk away before he can say anything else.

"how did you do it?"

i freeze for half a second before turning back around. "what?"

"how did you convince him?" he presses, narrowing his eyes slightly.

i exhale, keeping my voice calm. "i told you - i had a business meeting... well it was with him."

"good," he says. "because as a thank you, i invited him for dinner tonight."

"what?!" i say, eyes widening.

"hana will be sleeping at a friend's house, so it'll just be you, me, and him. oh, and bora too," he adds casually.

"bora?" i echo, blinking. "why is bora coming?"

"because i need someone with humor in case the conversation gets dull," he says, like it's the most obvious thing in the world.

i stare at him, horrified. "you invited him? to our house?"

"why not?" my father shrugs. "it's business, jia."

i open my mouth, then close it again, speechless. he's coming here. tonight.
i clear my throat, grasping for anything to say.

"how the hell is he supposed to eat with a mask on?"

my father smirks. "he can lift it while he eats!"

i stare at him for another second before turning on my heel and storming upstairs. what the fuck did i just get myself into?

the second i step into my room, i grab my phone and call bora. she picks up after the first ring.

''what's up, hotshot?'' she teases, but before she can say anything else, i explode.

''he's coming to dinner.''

''who?'' she asks.

i exhale sharply, pacing the length of my room. ''him.''

''oh my god.'' i can hear the smirk in her voice. ''you mean the guy?''

''yes, bora, that guy,'' i snap, running a hand through my hair. ''my dad just invited him for dinner as a way of saying thank you.''