My Dad Turns Out to be Eyes

87

"You're going?" ask Jessica.

"Yes,"

"Where are you going this time?" ask Jessica again.

Jessica looked at her father. It's been two weeks since Nathan went to the hospital. Robert finally managed to take his daughter away from Nathan after previously Jessica always refused if asked to go a little far from Nathan. Robert took her home and went back to live in Robert's house.

Nathan was discharged from the hospital, but he is still on sick leave. His ribs still hurt every time he moved. That makes it hard for Nathan to do anything, but Nathan can already handle it alone.

Robert had spent some time in this house with Jessica, keeping her daughter nearby and showing more views around the city of Jakarta. And Robert himself has requested a two-week leave and that has been granted by the organization.

"Dad, I asked you where are you going?" Jessica folded her hands in front of her chest.

"London" Robert replied to his daughter as he continued packing. "I have a mission there."

"What kind of mission?" Jessica raised her eyebrows, wondering with a curious look. He remained standing in the doorway, casually leaning against the wooden material while waiting for an answer from his father.

"One thing I'll tell you when I get back to work" replied Robert, taking some tie from the drawer. "Dad had thought that it would be better for you to return to Singapore and-"

"No," cut Jessica in a stern voice. He quickly shook his head. "I'm not going back to Singapore."

"Your mother kept calling, Jess," Robert reminded her. "You only have a few times to avoid it, but not forever."

Jessica's eyes went down to trace the white bandage on her feet. This time Jessica wore her shorts. He does that to keep himself cool in the warm summer air. 

Inevitably he thought that the burn was the main cause for his quarrel with his mother. If his leg was not burned then he would never have been hospitalized and his mother would never have come to visit him and he would not have argued with her.

"The last time I tried to call to talk to him. "said Jessica cut off, "she was nagging me instead. Yeah. John was behind her back then. And I also decided that I didn't want to be around him. No, if John's still there."

Robert sighed and rubbed the girl's blonde hair with his hands. She turned her head to the side as she finished packing and she saw Jessica biting her lower lip. 

Jessica's usual nervousness.

"Dad doesn't want you here alone" Robert told him, his voice deep. "Your mother's house will be the best place for you."

"Well, I don't agree" Jessica replied. "I'll be fine here. Anyway, I have to get used to being alone again, right? After all, mom and dad won't be there when I get back to Singapore."

"No, no, but you don't have a flatmate" Robert said. "Listen, I'm gonna have Nathan check you out there. Can you?"

"Nathan can't even take care of himself," Jessica replied cynically, she stepped into her father's room as she watched him drop one of his clothes onto the floor. He leaned over to pick it up and folded it neatly for his father. "I went to his house last night and he could barely get out of his chair."

"The boy won't last all day in the field" Robert grumbled to himself.

"Maybe not" Jessica stiffly agreed. "But I can always go to Nathan's. I doubt he'll mind."

"I'm going to sleep on the couch" Jessica said stiffly. "I'll be fine. You're not leaving too long, are you?"

Robert took a deep breath and shook his head. "dad hope not."

"Then everything will be fine" Jessica said, helping to close the zipper and handing it to her father. 

Robert grabbed and placed the bag over his shoulder, he then patted the black suit he was wearing, fixing the part that looked a little tangled.

She pushed Jessica's hair behind her ears as she smiled gently at him, trying to calm her daughter down.

"Go to Nathan's house before nightfall" she demanded from him. "You sent me a text message as soon as you got there."

"understand."

"I'll call you if I get a chance" Robert said.

Robert could see how worried Jessica was right now. He only wished he could tell the girl that he had no reason to worry.

"Dad won't meet Dimitri" whispered Robert and his eyes looked back at Jessica.

"How did you know?" he whispered, his voice quivering. "dad, he's even still out there, somewhere."

"And dad can handle it," Robert promised her, kissing her forehead as she moved to the door and Jessica was still staring at him.

"I think I'd prefer if you worked for the Ministry of Defense only, '" Jessica told her father and a slanted smile formed on her pale face. Robert looked back at Jessica.

"Sometimes I think I will too" Robert assured him. "Be a good son as long as father's gone."

"Dad," called Jessica, rushing out of the room as she stood by the front door. He folded his hands in front of his chest and bit his tongue. He did his best to think of something reasonable to say before he said anything to her.

Robert tilted his eyebrows, waiting patiently for his son's words. 

"Be careful." said Jessica and Robert replied with a smile and nodded.

"Dad will do his best. See you, Jessie."

"See you."

Jessica heard the door close, a 'click' sound from the key was heard as Jessica locked it. He rushed to the living room window and saw his father stepping on the street. He put his hand to the window sill as his forehead fell onto the cold glass.

Jessica couldn't help but think that her father was going after Dimitri. That he would definitely chase after the man who had caused them so much suffering. Jessica has been told that Dimitri has disappeared. He thought it would calm his heart. But no, Jessica will only feel calm if she knows that Dimitri will not be able to reappear forever.

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