"Loralie is back??" Jihoon asked, stepping into the room.
Shane whipped around, holding his phone behind his back as if he was hiding evidence of a crime. Then Shane lifted his chin, recovering his composure. "My sister is none of your business."
"She is if she hurt my grandmother. Don't forget, she killed my father as well. This could be the solution we've been looking for; why wouldn't you tell me she's back?"
"It's complicated." Shane's lips pulled down at the corners.
"You said you'd help me."
"Telling you where Loralie is wouldn't be helping you."
Jihoon could tell there was something Shane wasn't saying, and it infuriated him that she was keeping secrets when his grandmother's life was at stake.
"What if she can tell us what she did to my grandmother?" Jihoon worked hard to keep his tone even, but there was still frustration in every syllable.
Shane shook his head fervently. "You can't blame my sister for your grandmother or your father."
Jihoon couldn't believe what he was hearing. The vehemence with which Shane defended his sister. Like Shane truly didn't think Loralie had done anything wrong. His father was gone his grandmother had lain in a coma for almost three months, and Shane still thought his sister was without blame.
"My grandmother and father were all we had. And your sister didn't care about that ."
This seemed to break something in Shane. His fists clenched tightly against his sides. Shane's face flushed. "Your grandma is not in the hospital because of my mother. She's old and mortal. Mortals die. It's what you do!"
Jihoon's vision became a haze. People say the colour of anger is red, but he was white. Pure whitewashing out the world and filling his mind until he thought he'd erupt in a burst of light.
"Of course you'd say that," he shouted. "You have no idea what it's like to have a family. Your parents are monsters who just care about breaking everyone's family for entertainment!"
He regretted the words as soon as they were free.
Shane's hand whipped out, cracking across his cheek.
he stormed out of the room and Jihoon didn't stop him.