Lunch went by quickly. After Yana reprimanded Luka a few more times, his restless and cheeky hands finally stopped wanting to assault her with his love. As they stepped out of the restaurant, Yana wanted to walk back to the car but Luka stopped her, saying, "Let's go for a walk, how about it?"
Once again, Luka stretched out his hand waiting for Yana to take it, this time, however, he was a bit shy and abashed. Yana raised her eyebrow before her she caught the street ahead of them.
"Not here," Yana softly said and pointed at the protests that have taken the city centre hostage again.
Luka, a bit disappointed, nodded but then beamed as he quickly opened the car door and waited for Yana to get in, then he sat on the driver's seat and spoke, "I know a great place. It's quiet and nice, you'll like it."
Without saying anything else he started the car and drove like an excited kid which made Yana slightly giggle. Luka heard the pleasant sound and was even more spurred on.
The handsome profile of his suddenly reminded Yana of Jin but compared to being with Jin who infuriated Yana, Yana felt calm and safe without being afraid to be lulled into sleep and rest peacefully.
With Luka slightly humming, Yana sitting next to him, she felt the incredible urge to pinch his cheeks and kiss his forehead, yet as soon as the thought made it into her mind, she was shocked and used all of her force to throw it out.
This was bad, she was totally being reeled in by Luka's pace. The more time she spent with him, the more she was in danger of being swept away by him.
Her heart felt suffocated and pained. Yana's eyes left Luka and calmed herself down. Today she was just going to enjoy her free day off, with Luka she was just going to have a neutral relationship. This was it. This was all there was to it.
Repeatedly etching these words into her brain, Yana realised they've already arrived. It was a quiet little place inside the city centre which looked like a garden with hanging flowers. It was magical and tranquil as if a spot from another world was teleported into this busy metropolitan city.
When Yana stepped into this square that took up 4 smaller streets, she couldn't help but feel awe, "How did you find this place?"
"Praise me and I tell you," very serious Luka said as he guided Yana to a bench.
With Luka acting like this, Yana was at a loss but she still said, "Good job. Happy now?"
"What if I say it's not enough?" suddenly Luka inched closer and slung his arm around Yana's back pulling her to him.
Caught off guard, Yana momentarily froze but then her eyes narrowed.
Noticing this, Luka immediately let go and returned to his previous spot, meekly mumbling, "Sorry…"
His puppy ears were lowering! Again, what happened to the old Luka to have him replaced with this new species? Yana once again felt an urge but this time it was to pat his head, but at the last second, she stopped herself, "As long as you know."
With Luka sulking and Yana restraining herself, the world around them was plunged into silence and for a while, they sat there peacefully, neither feeling awkward nor uncomfortable.
But then shouts appeared and one look towards the direction it came from, told them enough. The protests were making their rounds and have even reached here.
Anxious about being caught up in that and ruining their date, Luka stood up and took Yana's hand this time, "Let's go back."
Back to the car and go somewhere these annoying people wouldn't be.
Yana only silently nodded. The car wasn't too far from this place, however, they were a step too late and to get to the car, they needed to get through the crowd that was starting to thicken.
Luka held Yana's hand tighter and once they stepped out of the magical garden back into the vibrant city, all budding feelings were left behind. Before them were masses of people who shouted, held up signs, walking around without any care for anyone.
Their only goal was to create chaos and be heard. By who? It has been a while since Yana was in the middle of the protest. The protests that were between the flower shop and her apartment have gradually shifted away.
But when she saw it up close again, Yana wondered that by now, more than a month since the protest started, if the people still cared about the original purpose of the protest or if they were just doing it because they were used to it, didn't want to do anything else or even joined without knowing it.
Yana was right that the protest has long lost its meaning. The fall of the economy still didn't have too much of an impact currently, many people continued to go about their daily lives but the effects of it were slowly creeping in with mostly the lower class noticing it.
The much-feared inflation was only rising bit by bit, however, the news has stopped reporting this matter. It was all a very clever strategy. Since the people were afraid and against the government's decision and with the government not coming out, people thought the government wasn't doing anything but what they did do was to halt all media exposure about the crisis.
So that the people would stop noticing the slight ripples that threatened to form into a tsunami to drown everyone when it was already too late.
But what about those that have lost their jobs? Those lower-class people who could barely afford normal food anymore? They were trying to survive, yet it wasn't them who joined the protests. They were too desperate to make a living than to join a pointless, time wasting situation like this.
This protest and the current situation was the perfect example. The protest has lost its meaning and was no longer directed against the government. Did the current crises have an effect on people? Did anyone actually notice anything? No, it all came very subtly and hidden, it flowed in like invisible gas corroding, poisoning bones until nothing but flesh was left.
Yana was also a fool and only now did she open her eyes again. This was dangerous but in the end, she alone couldn't do anything. Roy said not to worry but wasn't it already too late?