Keeping my loin tight in his grasp, his other hand supported the back of my knees.
I only relished it until I found my ass on a cold bench, which forced me to wiggle uncomfortably.
,,What is it?" A hint of urgency in his voice rumbled in my ears as the pain subsided slightly.
I looked up at him, but through the hair strands caught in my lashes, I didn't have as much of a view of him as I would have liked.
,,Nothing important." I hummed.
His dark eyes examined me from under a frown in an expression that told me very well what he thought of my answer, even without words.
My brain was processing the fact that a several hours ago his body was under the strong influence of fever, and now he was kneeling in front of me without any significant signs of his condition yesterday.
Then his palm reached for my forehead.
But as I pulled away from his touch unthinkingly, he lowered it freely onto the wood of the bench.
His face remained expressionless, just observing me. As if he was trying to decode me.
Unfortunately, I didn't understand much of my own behavior neither.
My fingers twisted in an unpleasant feeling. I rather looked elsewhere.
Then I felt it.
At once I got up. Following a few blunt words, I hurried back to the cafe. My feet literally flew in the run I forced myself into.
I was startled, however, by heavy quick steps I heard. With a swift movement, my head turned to the side so that my jaw could drop a little lower when I saw Su-Jin as he was only a few feet behind me.
,,Why are you running?" I shouted, but didn't halt. He was actually following me!
No answer came from him, but instead he sped up.
,,Don't!" There was a bit of panic in my voice.
I really hoped there was no sign of what I felt was happening a few seconds ago. A very naive hope it was.
,,Stay put!" I cried out again.
,,Come on, Millie!" I heard him.
I almost bumped into a woman walking in front of me, but I managed to dodge to the side, where I had to instantly bend my head under the arm of a man who was phoning with someone and gesturing eagerly.
It wasn't my intention to stop. Not in the slightest.
I almost touched the handle on the cafe door with my hand, but in a few rapid moments a small disappointed whimper escaped my mouth as his fingers ultimately encircled my forearm.
Su-Jin turned me to face him, as breathless as I was with recognizable annoyance written on his face.
,,Are you literally running from me?"
His words left me staggered.
,,I'm actually running from something wholly different." I said in a slightly irate voice because the urgent need to get myself to the restroom and the cramps didn't help me much to feel comfortable either.
,,You got the chocolate, Mill? I need-"
I took advantage of the moment Aurora opened the door impatiently, and as her gaze met the Su-Jin's, I slipped in beside her.
A little later, I was standing at the sink, in my spare pants, the original ones were crouched under a stream of hot water, and I rubbed the dark stain.
There were already painkillers in my stomach that I expected at least a little relief from.
,,Mate, let me just take a brief break..." I walked around the corner to the main counter, where Aurora was already standing.
My palm was instinctively pressed to my abdomen, where then my friend's gaze rested for a moment and understanding flashed across her face.
I kept my eyes open only by force of will, which was also leisurely fading. I slowly made my way to the back, which was just for the staff, but my body managed to turn back in no time.
,, That chocolate and fruit ..." It came out of my lips in a devastated voice when I realized that what I had initially gone for had completely disappeared from my mind.
,,No worries, mate. Your boyfriend went for it." she winked at me and continued billing.
I blinked a few times in an effort to process information, but I wasn't able to formulate a reaction.
Instead, I noticed an empty spot behind the raised counter.
,,The little girl joined him." Aurora explained as soon as she looked in the same direction as me.
,,Go get some rest, Mill. The way you look isn't good." She walked over to me and used her fingers to tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear so she could look me in the face.
,,There aren't many people here today, I can handle it." She reassured me.
I don't know how she did it, but she noticed.
She saw the change that had taken place in me and that instead of relaxing, I wanted to show her how much I was not unnecessary.
And that's exactly why Aurora was the person I allowed to take a fraction of my heart. She didn't always stand by my side, not that. And she wasn't reliable at all.
Yet she knew me and was interested. Her answers would always be soulful, no matter what I said.
That's appreciated.
This was the reason I wanted to be here for her.
,,Aurora-"
,,Oh, there you are, sweetheart!" An uncomfortably familiar voice caught attention.
,,I've been looking for you for weeks, where have you been?" He spoke again, and Aurora grabbed my wrist.
,,Leave!" There was her voice that hid so much emotion.
Instead, he rested his palms on the counter that was the only thing separated him from us, and my expression literally hardened.
He completely ignored what she said.
,,I believe that even a sick mind like yours can understand this simple word." My diplomatic side rose to its feet and walked away at a wroth pace.
He leaned forward and a dreadful laugh came out of his mouth.
,,I'll wait until you stop getting involved in something no one needs you." He strained through gritted teeth.
My hands slammed a few inches opposite his when I took a similar position as he was.
,,Try waiting outside this area." I begged my stomach to withstand the pressure of disgust that hit my senses, so that I could face his immediate proximity with my head proudly raised.
However, I did not expect him to be the one to break this imaginary duel and go around the counter in a few short steps.
,,What about talking somewhere private together, sweetheart?" His grip on her wrist seemed more than iron.
I was certain that the expression that settled on Aurora's face was like a neon sign of the meaning of the paralysis she was in.
This time, however, I stayed in place with my mouth shut.
I knew she would want to do this on her own. She would like to stick up for herself.
,,Leave, Byeong-Ho." She kept her voice close to courage.
,, You dare too much." He leaned even closer to her.
,,You're talking about yourself." Was her answer.
My insides tightened over her response. Somehow I didn't like the choice of her words.
As soon as his hand rose in the air, I didn't believe it. He did not seem capable of doing it in public.
Maybe that's why I panicked and picked up the first thing nearby. A few seconds later, a cup shattered on his back, causing a sudden silence throughout the room, after which there was only the sound of glass falling on the floor.
My gaze was trapped on his shoulders, which slowly but surely began to shake.