7 Compassion

Krei's father closed the envelope first and sat next to Krei.

"Krei... I know we (Krei's parents) had hurt you for a long time since we know you're gifted, Krei. And for years we felt punished for our reaction at the time. It makes our distance as a family.

We'd love to talk to you, Krei. Apologize and do something more… Family,"

At that time Krei's heart was devastated to hear how sad it was to see her Dad express his feelings.

"And the reason I helped you get into the academy, is because I was worried. I know my daughter is very smart, but because of what I did before, you have to sacrifice a lot of things. I don't want that to keep happening. I want you to spread your wings, Krei." said Krei's father.

Heard her father say it all. Krei couldn't help but cry and hugged her father.

"I'm sorry for everything that I've done to both of you. I'm doing all this because I don't want to look any different in your eyes. I didn't know that my way would make us go further apart." she said.

"It's okay. We understand. We're also in the wrong because we knew something similar had happened before." said her father patted her back.

Krei heard clearly what his father had to say.

"What do you mean?" asked Krei with curiosity.

Krei's father putting a face that he had to explain something. "Have you ever seen pictures of me with a man who looks like dad?" he said.

"Yes, I have. The one in the living room, right?" from his change of tone, Krei starting to get that her father is trying to explain without telling the whole story.

"That's right. He is my one and only brother. He was once involved with the ISA. He was a very talented journalist. I was so proud of him at the time." he smiled.

Krei is confused by her father's choice of words. He used the word "involved" rather than "recruited". Krei feels something strange but her father's follow-up story makes her not think about it.

"But, after the spread of news of the existence of ISA 10 years ago, he disappeared out of nowhere and since then I couldn't find him." her father recounted with a very sad look.

Krei can feel her father's longing for a brother and she hugs him once more.

Then her father took off Krei's arms and said,

"This is the reason I want the best for you Krei. I want you to at least experience a normal life where you go to school with gifted people, just like you. We would want to see you smile." Stroking Krei's cheeks.

Trying to understand her father's feelings, Krei also rethinks her decision. At first, she thought not to leave, and now she has a new reason.

Then Krei looked at him and said, "Dad, I've probably misjudged you all this time. I think you guys are ordinary people who are too scared if I show this talent to the world. But, the reason you've been silent all along isn't because of that, but you know that there's nothing I'm going to get while I'm here. You're waiting for someone who's gonna help like those two guests today." Krei said.

Her father smiled. Earlier, he hears Jae Ho's words about Krei's gift and surprised to hear firsthand about his own daughter's conscience.

"But something is not right," her father said.

Krei is confused by what her father said. From the sound she heard from her father, it's impossible for him to say the wrong thing.

"There is one thing you at least learn at the moment and that you have to remember at any time. That's the affection of us, your family, Krei." Krei's father said.