บท 22: Chapter 22. What the Father Says

Their father placed a reassuring hand on his wife's shoulder, his expression gentle but resolute. "Jasmine, my dear, I understand your concerns, but we must trust our children. If Rachel truly wants to pursue singing, who are we to stand in her way?"

Jasmine's eyes widened, and her voice tinged with exasperation. "But Rachel should be a doctor or a lawyer! That's what we expected of her."

David leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful look on his face. "Well, she doesn't seem to want that, does she? Why would we spend thousands of dollars on something she has no passion for?"

Jasmine's brow furrowed, her anxiety palpable. "And what if she fails? What then?"

David chuckled, a reassuring smile spreading across his face. "Then we're here, just like Jonathan or Sophia said to you. We're here to be with her; if she fails, then we send her to law school or medical school. Easy, right?" He laughs. He wanted his children to be as successful as him and his wife, but they're not in South Korea anymore. There are numerous opportunities for success in America, and they have the financial means to pursue them.

"Yeobo!" Jasmine opened her mouth to protest, but David raised a hand, silencing her.

"Now, now, don't pull that 'yeobo' card on me. The children will be just fine. Sophia is at the top of her class, and Jonathan is set to attend Cornell Medical School with honors. If Rachel wants to be a singer, then so be it. She'll have two wealthy older siblings to support her, or we can even marry her off to someone rich." He laughed heartily at the idea, which seemed amusing to him.

Jasmine's expression darkened; her voice shrill. "You're not taking this seriously!"

David's gaze softened, and he reached out to grasp his wife's hand. "I am, my dear. It's not like we're the ones paying for her studies, right? Harper is the one covering the expenses. We can just have her marry Harper later. That girl seems to know how to use her brain and live a life." He smiled while giving it some thought.

Jasmine's eyes widened, and her voice filled with disbelief. "Harper Wilson is a female!"

David shrugged, unfazed by the revelation. "So? As long as she can make our baby happy, I don't see anything wrong with that. I just want Rachel to be happy."

Jasmine's face contorted with horror. "You want your daughter to be a lesbian?"

David's expression remained calm and collected. "I want her to be happy, Jasmine. And if that means letting her go to Seoul or marrying a woman, then so be it."

Jasmine's voice rose in pitch, her determination unwavering. "I will not give her anything! I'm not going to support her!"

David sighed, his gaze unwavering. "It's all been set in stone already, my dear. Sophia and Jonathan will help her until she's settled, and Harper will pay for her school fees. Rachel is truly loved, and she's going to be successful, you'll see." He paused, his expression softening. "Let her find her way, Jas. Sophia and Jonathan are already following our wishes."

Jasmine's shoulders slumped, her voice tinged with resignation. "You're going to regret this."

David reached out and pulled his wife into a warm embrace. "Perhaps, but I'd rather regret letting her chase her dreams than forcing her to live a life she doesn't want."

Harper stared at the numbers on her savings account, watching as the balance continued to steadily decline. The money she had painstakingly accumulated over the years through countless part-time jobs and the occasional side gig of doing others' homework was finally being put to good use.

She had once envisioned using this hard-earned cash to fund her escape—a chance to disappear to a distant land where her father could never find her. The idea of starting anew, away from the oppressive shadow of her family, had been a dream that had kept her going through the darkest of times.

But then everything changed. Harper had found the courage to open up to her older sister, Dylan, and pour out the painful truth of her circumstances. To her surprise, Dylan had not only listened with compassion but had also insisted that Harper continue her studies in Germany, anywhere in Germany, in a country where Dylan has spent years living and working in Germany.

That conversation had been a pivotal moment, a turning point that had set Harper on a new course. Rather than fleeing, she had dedicated the rest of her high school years to immersing herself in the German language and culture, knowing that it would make the transition to Heidelberg University that much smoother.

Now, as she watched the numbers in her account dwindle, Harper couldn't help but feel a sense of purpose and determination. This money, which she had once seen as her ticket to escape, was now being used to secure Rachel's future. She's not feeling any regrets about wiring the money to the school's account.

When she remembers how Rachel sounded after she wired the money and called her, everything was for the right reasons. Dylan helped her, and she just paid it forward for the kindness she received from her sister. Her fluency in German, developed over countless hours of study, paved the way for a plethora of possibilities. Getting a job in Heidelberg, a city known for its active intellectual and cultural life, appeared more reachable than it had ever been.

Harper couldn't help but chuckle as Jonathan and Sophia continued to pester her about sending money to Rachel. "You two just need to let me handle this," she said, sounding lighterhearted than the days before.

"Harper, come on, you've already done so much," Jonathan insisted, his voice filled with concern. "You should be using that money for yourself, not bankrolling Rachel's dreams."

Sophia agreed in unison; she sat next to Jonathan so Harper could hear her voice through the phone. "Jonathan's right. You've already sacrificed so much to get her this opportunity. Let us take care of the rest."

Harper's words turn softly to the siblings; they can hear her laugh, which really sounds melodious in their ears. "Guys, seriously, it's no big deal. I still have plenty saved up to cover her school fees for next year." She leaned back in her chair, answering the two siblings banter in her ears. "Besides, if Rachel ends up becoming a popular singer, you know I'm going to be her number one fan. I'll be getting front-row seats to all her concerts!"

Jonathan and Sophia exchanged a bemused look, shaking their heads in exasperation. "And what about us?" Jonathan asked, "Where are we going to sit?"

Harper let out a laugh, feeling it was the right time to tease the siblings. "Oh, you two can fight it out for the second row. I'm sure Rachel will hook you up with some good seats, even if you're not her number one fan."

Sophia chuckled. Harper has come back to be the nice, kind, and bubbly Harper; she knows her in the airport, not the cold and always annoyed Harper. "You're impossible, Harper. But I have to admit, I do kind of want front-row seats to Rachel's concerts one day."

"Fight me." Harper laughs, and they close their phone calls. Last month was a hard time for her, but she tried to accept the truth and let herself be more at ease with herself.