KYUNG EUNSOO
I shoved the phone into my pocket and kept walking. I walked with MinAh by my side and kept glancing around.
" Oppa.....what's going on? You have been acting weird since last night "
" Nothing. I can't explain right now"
" Just talk to me"
" There's nothing to talk about. You're going home with your friends after school right?"
" Yes"
" How many?"
" There are five of us. Why are you asking?"
" Nothing. Call me when you get to the shop or if anything happens after school okay?"
I waited for her to reply but she didn't. I grabbed her arm and pulled her towards me.
" Okay?"
" Okay"
...
We all sat quietly as the teacher handed out the exam sheets. It felt weird not having YoonHo and the guys sitting around me. It's really scary how much people can change and drop you when they no longer need you.
" You can't really trust anyone "
After the exam, I turned in my paper and picked my bag. I was walking towards the door, when YoonHo blocked my way.
" What the hell are you doing?"
" Relax.....I just want to talk"
" Well I have nothing to say to you so fuck off"
" Ya.....isn't that a bit harsh? I just want to talk "
" Harsh? I'm not even being harsh right now. What the fuck do you want?"
" Nothing...I just wanted to ask how your exam was"
" Cut the crap.....
The ringing of my phone suddenly cut me off. I took out my phone and walked away from him.
" Hello.... Taemin"
" I'm done"
" Okay. Send me the address and stay right there okay?"
" Okay"
" I'm on my way"
I hung up and put the phone back into my pocket. I turned over to YoonHo. I glared at him as he stood there staring at me. I buried my hand into my pocket, to stop myself from punching him and just walked past him. I hurriedly walked out of the class and into the hallway. I took out my phone and called Taemin's line but it wasn't going through. I ran out of the school and down the alley as my heart pounded in my chest. I had this lurking fear that something bad had happened to him. I increased my pace as fear and anxiety filled my mind. I got to his school and stood outside the gate, trying to catch my breath. I reached for my phone and dialed his number again but it was switched off. I began to panic as I walked around, looking for him. I was about going into the school, when I saw someone sitting inside the cafe beside the school. I took a few steps closer until I got a good look at his face.
I kept staring at him as I walked towards the cafe and pushed the door open. He got up from his chair when he saw me. I thought something happened to him.
I rushed over to him and pulled him to me. I held my hands around him as I hugged him. I felt him push against my chest but instead of letting go, I held unto him tighter. I pushed my fingers into his hair as the relief washed over me.
" I'm sorry I took so long "
I heard a few giggles and murmurs, and I suddenly realized what I was doing. I pulled out of the hug to face a very shocked Taemin.
" Uhmmm.....sorry. Hi"
" Hi"
" I told you not to move. Why didn't you pick up?"
" My battery died and my body was aching, so I came here to sit"
" Are you okay? What happened last night?"
" I'm going to be late for work. Let's talk while walking "
" Okay"
I watched him place his hand over his abdomen as he tried to stand up. I could tell he was struggling. Something tugged at my heart when I saw the pained expression on his face. I caused that to happen to him.
I walked over to him and helped him get up. I picked up his bag and helped him out of the restaurant. I noticed he was staring at me on several occasions as we walked. I let go of him and bent down in front him, with my back turned towards him.
" Get on"
" What?"
" I said get on"
" I'm fine "
" Don't be stubborn "
I sighed and waited. I felt him lean on me, so I steadied myself and held unto his legs before I got up. I smirked when I felt his hands rest awkwardly on my shoulders.
" What am I going to do if you fall off? Hold me "
He moved his hands and and placed them tightly around my neck.
" Ya.... I didn't say you should kill me"
He chuckled and loosened his hands around my neck. My phone suddenly started buzzing inside my shirt.
" Taemin.....can you grab my phone from my shirt pocket?"
He reached inside and pulled it out.
" It's MinAh"
" Oh...answer it"
He picked the call and placed it to my ear.
" Hello. Are you at the shop?"
" Yeah "
" And mum?"
" She is here "
" Okay. I'm on my way"
Taemin slipped the phone back into my pocket and rested his head on my shoulder.
" Did something happen to you yesterday?"
" Yeah. Some guy had been following me around for a while now and yesterday, he jumped me. He attacked me with a knife on my way home "
" That's where all the band aids on your face came from?"
" Yeah"
" Do you think it has something to do with your dad?"
" Yeah. The man that attacked me, said something about me accepting that my father was the murderer. They must be suspecting that he told me something about that night"
" Did your father tell you anything?"
" He did"
" What did he tell you?"
" Taemin I can trust you....right?"
" Yeah...ofcourse "
I took a deep breath and tightened grip on his legs.
" My dad saw the whole incident that night. I think that was why they decided to drop the case on him. Those people must be really powerful seeing as the found fake witnesses and evidence. The cops must also be on the side."
" But why?"
" I don't know. I couldn't get much information from my dad, but he mentioned an organization called Tiger Corp and a few names. Lee Kwangsoo, Cho Jihyun, Shin Mirae and Kang Yoonmin. Lee Kwangsoo is the man my father was arrested for but my father didn't kill him. My father said those people I mentioned, have a deep connection to that Tiger Corp stuff and that the men who killed Lee Kwangsoo might have something with the company as well"
I took a deep breath after pouring out everything I had been bottling up and waited for him to say something. After a while, he still didn't speak but he tightened his grip around me.
LEE TAEMIN
It took me a few seconds to digest that since it wasn't really new information. I suddenly felt guilty for approaching him selfishly and I felt sorry for his dad, which was paying the price for a crime he didn't commit. I leaned closer and tightened my grip around him.
" Don't worry Eunsoo. We'll handle this "
...
We walked the rest of the distance in the silence. When we got close to the shop, I asked him to put me down before we got any closer. I was going down when someone started clapping behind us.
" Eunsoo oppa....Taemin oppa what's going on? How come you two are here together?"
" Shut up and mind your business "
Eunsoo said and carefully dropped me. My ears and face were probably red right now. I kept my head bowed as I painfully and sluggishly walked towards the door of the restaurant. Eunsoo held my hands, led me towards the counter and sat me down.
" Are you sure you can work? You still haven't told me what happened to you"
" I can manage. That night, they broke into my house but I managed to escape. Thankfully, no else was home.I slept in a sauna after I escaped"
" I'm sorry. This is all my fault "
" Hey....It's not. I'm okay "
" Taemin oppa are you okay?"
Minah said as she walked over to me and placed her hand over my forehead gently.
" I'm fine"
Eunsoo's mum came out after a while and we just talked about random things. I tried not to show how hurt I was but Eunsoo didn't seem to be buying it.
" Mum....Taemin isn't really feeling well. I'll take him to the back to rest for a while "
Eunsoo said and got out of his chair. He grabbed my arm and pulled me into the back room. He locked the door and started moving towards me slowly. He kept coming close until I was backed up against the wall, with no where to go.
" Ya.....Eunsoo "
" Take off your shirt "
" What? Are you crazy?"
" Take it off. I want to see how bad your injuries are. You are not okay Taemin. Stop pretending "
" I'm fine. Don't worry about me"
" Stop being so stubborn. I can't stand the fact that you got hurt bebecause of me. Let me help "
" If you are doing this out of pity or just because you feel guilty, please stop. You don't have to"
" I'm doing this because I want to "
I felt really guilty when I heard the sincerity in his voice. It wasn't his fault. I wish I could tell him the truth but I can't do it now.
" It's not your fault Eunsoo "
I said while looking directly at him. He moved closer to me and trailed his finger on my shirt. He undid the first button and moved his hands lower, without breaking eye contact. He opened the shirt and pulled it off my shoulders.
There were three muscle patches on my abdomen and chest. There were also some band aids on my chest and arms. There were also muscle patches on my back as well. I looked up at Eunsoo and noticed his eyes go dark.
" Why didn't you go to the hospital if it was this bad?"
" It's not that serious "
He led me to sit on one of the chairs and started applying bruise cream on the bruises. He applied ice packs around my body and then reapplied the patches.
" Uhmmmm.....remember that police station where you uhmmmm....flared up at?"
" Yeah?"
" Well.....my uncle works there. Maybe he can help us with your dad. I'm not sure, but I think he's the one working that case "
" Oh wow....really? Thanks a lot "
" It's fine "
" When do we go?"
" I think we should lay low for now. How about we give it a week"
" A week?"
" Yeah"
" My dad's trial is in about two weeks. We have to hurry before it gets too late "
" If we move now, we might end up dead. We still have to figure out what this Tiger Corp really is "
" Fine. We'll do it your way"
" Cool. I'll find out what Tiger Corp is all about, while you figure out who those people your dad mentioned are "
" Sure"