Kelly was worried, worried about everything. She had everything packed up, she double-checked her boxes and even set up multiple alarms to keep her on track.
Sure, she was going to college, and yes, she would live alone and have new experiences, but the biggest thing on her mind was leaving her dad all alone. Her college was states away from home, and her excitement was pushed down with worry for her father.
Carrying another box, Kelly made her way downstairs. She saw her dad sitting on the couch, scrolling on his phone, unconcerned like it was just another normal day.
Kelly had the urge to yell at him for not paying attention to her, his only daughter, who was freaking moving away? And he’s just acting like she’s going out for a few hours??
“Oh, Kelly? You’re already ready to head out?”
Oh, so now he decided to take his eyes off his phone.
“Yes, Dad, if you haven’t noticed, this is the last box I needed to get in the car.” Kelly walked while eyeing her dad suspiciously. “You seem very, very calm about everything, almost like you want me out of the house..”
“What?! Kelly! That’s not what I meant-” Jing Hui cried, trying to catch up to his daughter. He stumbled a bit before reaching Kelly, his face filled with worry.
Placing the last box in the car, Kelly turned to face her dad.
“Then why are you acting so carefree? You got that smile on your face like you can’t wait for me to get out of here,” Kelly exclaimed, confused and irritated at her dad’s behavior.
Silence.
Then a sob came out.
Tears were coming out of Jing Hui’s eyes as he tried to hide his weeping.
“Hold on, W-what are you crying for, Dad? Uh, did I do something wrong..uh want a hug..?” Kelly awkwardly embraced her dad.
Kelly was sure she didn’t do anything to hurt her dad to make him cry this much.
“Y-your all grown up, my little baby, she’s all grown up..and starting a new chapter without me! I didn’t want you to see me crying as your last memory before c-college” Jing Hui awkwardly embraced his daughter, sobbing into her shoulder.
“Dad..ew, stop it..we’re like in the middle of the street. I still wonder why Mom decided to marry you,” Kelly groaned stiffly, patting her dad’s back, not used to comforting people.
A few seconds later, Kelly also started crying, her dad’s sobs affecting her too well.
“I’m going to m-miss you so much dad, I don’t know what’s going to happen, and w-what if I go into the wrong path? I’m afraid of losing you-W-what if I never come back-“Kelly hugged her father tightly as if he would disappear if she let go.
“H-hey too tight, loosen up Kelly-can’t breath and cry at the same time” Jing Hui patted Kelly to get her to let go. “And you’ll just find t-trust me, god, your mom was right about me being a man-child..crying right in front of my daughter.”.
And so, they stood there hugging each other. One of Kelly’s alarms rang from the car, but she couldn’t care less. She just wanted to bask in her father’s love for a little longer before their paths split.
“Yahui..” Jing Hui opened his eyes to glance at Kelly. “Kelly really grew up way too fast.”
Sure, she was going to college, and yes, she would live alone and have new experiences, but the biggest thing on her mind was leaving her dad all alone. Her college was states away from home, and her excitement was pushed down with worry for her father.
Carrying another box, Kelly made her way downstairs. She saw her dad sitting on the couch, scrolling on his phone, unconcerned like it was just another normal day.
Kelly had the urge to yell at him for not paying attention to her, his only daughter, who was freaking moving away? And he’s just acting like she’s going out for a few hours??
“Oh, Kelly? You’re already ready to head out?”
Oh, so now he decided to take his eyes off his phone.
“Yes, Dad, if you haven’t noticed, this is the last box I needed to get in the car.” Kelly walked while eyeing her dad suspiciously. “You seem very, very calm about everything, almost like you want me out of the house..”
“What?! Kelly! That’s not what I meant-” Jing Hui cried, trying to catch up to his daughter. He stumbled a bit before reaching Kelly, his face filled with worry.
Placing the last box in the car, Kelly turned to face her dad.
“Then why are you acting so carefree? You got that smile on your face like you can’t wait for me to get out of here,” Kelly exclaimed, confused and irritated at her dad’s behavior.
Silence.
Then a sob came out.
Tears were coming out of Jing Hui’s eyes as he tried to hide his weeping.
“Hold on, W-what are you crying for, Dad? Uh, did I do something wrong..uh want a hug..?” Kelly awkwardly embraced her dad.
Kelly was sure she didn’t do anything to hurt her dad to make him cry this much.
“Y-your all grown up, my little baby, she’s all grown up..and starting a new chapter without me! I didn’t want you to see me crying as your last memory before c-college” Jing Hui awkwardly embraced his daughter, sobbing into her shoulder.
“Dad..ew, stop it..we’re like in the middle of the street. I still wonder why Mom decided to marry you,” Kelly groaned stiffly, patting her dad’s back, not used to comforting people.
A few seconds later, Kelly also started crying, her dad’s sobs affecting her too well.
“I’m going to m-miss you so much dad, I don’t know what’s going to happen, and w-what if I go into the wrong path? I’m afraid of losing you-W-what if I never come back-“Kelly hugged her father tightly as if he would disappear if she let go.
“H-hey too tight, loosen up Kelly-can’t breath and cry at the same time” Jing Hui patted Kelly to get her to let go. “And you’ll just find t-trust me, god, your mom was right about me being a man-child..crying right in front of my daughter.”.
And so, they stood there hugging each other. One of Kelly’s alarms rang from the car, but she couldn’t care less. She just wanted to bask in her father’s love for a little longer before their paths split.
“Yahui..” Jing Hui opened his eyes to glance at Kelly. “Kelly really grew up way too fast.”
