,,You're the one who was in direct danger from In-Su, it would be really beneficial if you went to testify."
A trim man in a tailored suit sat in front of me with his hands resting on a stack of papers.
It had been a few days since that night and we were currently in our apartment where Prosecutor Geum caught me in the morning before my shift in the cafe, when I was getting ready.
I watched my palms and looked over every small wound that was there from the incident just to avoid the eyes staring at me for an answer.
,,Look, his father hired the best lawyers in the land and if justice is to win, we need to tell everything exactly as it was." He carried on.
,,Also... I heard that you were left with a scar. From In-Su."
I resisted the urge to touch the area on my upper arm, where sharp edge of the knife managed to damage my skin just before the police took care of the man holding it.
After I bloodied my friend's white t-shirt, a paramedic was immediately called to me, who after an initial assessment decided that it would need to be sewn up.
,,Alright." I nodded my head. ,,I'll go."
,,Excellent." A satisfied expression settled on his face.
I was wondering if the question I had wanted to ask since the beginning of this meeting would be the right thing to do
But in the end, I couldn't resist the curiosity.
,,What happened to the other two?"
Still with the same expression on his face, saying nothing at all, he looked away from the papers in front of him back to me.
,,The trials of the remaining two culprits concern me only peripherally and therefore I cannot provide you with relevant information, perhaps only dates and times." He answered me too professionally.
In the next few seconds, he reached his hand into the breast pocket of his jacket, from where the ringtone of his phone could be heard.
Then he stood up and walked to the back of the living room to the window, where he was still with the same expression and was handling something that could easily have been his five-year-old daughter's celebration, because he looked exactly like he wouldn't have lost that expression there either.
The time he spent on the phone, I was staring blankly into my cup of already cold tea.
,,Ehm." It sounded above me after a while.
When Mr. Geum had my attention again, his expression was even more stern than before.
,,I must say that there was quite a twist in the trial that was going on today. And, unfortunately, I will have to be the one to introduce you to the new circumstances."
His words at this point no longer evoked any strong emotions in me. Anything could have happened.
,,After a testimony in which your name was mentioned more times than I would have expected, the court ordered that you be taken into protective custody. There will certainly be a written decision about it sent to you."
My eyebrows drew together in a frown that settled on my face.
,,Who was the defendant in today's trial?"
,,The trial was of Mr. Nahm Su-Jin." He replied with an air of uncertainty about my reaction.
I can't say I was surprised by the answer, but I would also be lying if I confess that I did see it coming.
,,Anyways, I recommend that you pack up as quickly as possible and make your loved ones aware of it." Mr. Geum stood up from his chair.
,,Hold on, do I have to leave our apartment?" I asked stupidly and stood up from the table as well.
,,Of course, Miss Martin." I received one of his other blunt responses. ,,Expect a police escort to your temporary accommodation."
Yeah. Of course.
,,That's all from me for now so I'll take my leave. It was nice meeting you Miss Martin."
He gave me a very curt bow. After I returned the farewell gesture and escorted him to the door, I went back to living room.
For a long time I sat on the couch and contemplated what was to happen next. Is Su-Jin really so dangerous that the court decided to grant me protective custody?
The last few days have been like my dreams. I couldn't figure out if it really happened.
There are times when I can't recall moments that did take place just a short time ago. And how much I hoped it was all just a dream.
So that I don't have that scar on my arm. So that my parents don't have to worry about my safety. So that I can wake up tomorrow morning and go for a walk by Mr. Jee's side. So that the doctor does not die because of his courage.
It's likely that I don't fully get what's going on. Not even what did take place in my life recently.
I sluggishly went to my room, where a pink ball with a few dark spots on a small body was waiting for me in the middle of the bed.
As soon as I sat down on the bed next to him, my favourite sound that could exist came through the room. Laying down, I gently pressed my ear against his soft belly, so I could feel the vibrations and hear his purr clearly. My eyes closed and I relaxed my muscles for a few moments until the doorbell rang.
My heart raced.
I was overcome with paranoia and only after a few seconds did I force my body to cooperate.
Then there was a loud knock at the door only a few steps away from me. At that moment, I began to reconsider opening that door.
,,I'm such a faint-heart." I shook my head to myself and my fingers touched the doorknob.
I opened it sharply, perhaps believing that it would at least startle the person standing behind the door and it did.
,,My God, Martin!" In front of me stood a tall man in all his glory with his hand pressed to the place where the heart is.
And the next moment I found myself in his arms with my cheek pressed against his chest.
,,Hi." Was my initial reaction as my arms slowly wrapped around his torso and my eyes closed again in relief.
Warmth radiated from his body, but the leather jacket he was wearing transferred the cold to me, creating a contrast and a kind of balance between it all.
,,A police escort may arrive at any time..."
Even if he understood my mumbling, you couldn't tell because he didn't move an inch.
,,I'm not going to ask if you're alright, okay?" After some time I heard his voice above me while I was pulling away from him.
A reassuring expression adorned his face, as I lifted my head to look into it.
,,Come on, I'll help you pack."
Having closed the door behind us, I followed him further into the apartment.
,,How do you know?"
Of course, his answer was simple and true.
,,That's easy. I was there, in court." He announced as if it was the most logical and simple thing he could say, but it was the exact opposite. It was a piece of the puzzle that didn't fit into the solved part for me yet.
Having a hard time solving it was very frustrating for me. My hope was to resolve it all.
,,Aren't you going to bombard me with a lot of questions?" Romeo's voice rang out.
,,Hm?" I looked up at him again after he snapped me out of my thoughts. ,,Yeah, actually. I was just about to."
,,Go on then." Lightly, he laughed.
,,Why were you there?" I walked over to the kitchen counter, from which I took two cups and poured pre-prepared tea into them.
,,In order to stand by a friend of mine."
His answer caught me as I handed him the hot cup and he accepted it with a nod.
After his words, however, I no longer felt like continuing my questions.
,,Yeah, packing is a good idea." It finally came out after a short pause, while I slowly made my way to my room followed by Romeo.
Was I too random?
,,Are you no longer interested in hearing it all?"
,,I'm not." It was an easy answer for me... somehow. I didn't want to risk anything that wouldn't allow me to sleep at night.
Then there was silence. By pulling out my suitcase, I redirected my attention to the question of how many days I would be packing for. I was one of those people who have a problem with the general rules of the airport regarding the maximum weight of luggage, even if it's just for the weekend. If I have to endure a week away, two suitcases are the minimum, which is often-
,,I am glad you're fine now."
I turned to where his voice was coming from.
,,Okay, Martin. I may not be the person you want to confide in, but I'm really curious about one thing." He was looking at me expectantly.
I turned again to the suitcase, into which I began to put several pants. I became curious too.
,,Can you pass me the sweaters from the third shelf from the top, please?" It wasn't what I meant to say, but what I actually said.
,,Right. So, the matter is..." He started handing me pieces of clothing one by one. ,,... Su-Jin only needed one thing to sit quietly in court and let his lawyer finally talk." Even though I did not respond to his previous statement, he continued.
,,And what was that?" My question rang out in the silent room, while I was still bending over the clothes folded into smaller piles.
,,He needed a promise of your safety." He finished and I felt like my ribcage was tightening around my heart.
,,So you're saying that wherever they're taking me, I'm not going there because of him?" My gaze returned to his face as I sat on the bed.
,,What? Not. Of course not!" Surprise and a frown crossed his face. ,,What makes you think such a thing?"
In the wake of his question, I remembered the frightened and tearful looks of people who experienced something they wished they could erase forever.
My reaction to his words was unsure.
It took me a moment to realize that my fingertips were again touching the longitudinal bulging skin on my arm.
His gaze focused there for a brief moment, then the tense muscles in his face relaxed a little.
However, I discovered that at this moment even Romeo could not find the right words. At one point he opened his mouth as if he was about to find them, but then he closed it again.
Rather, he went to another shelf that had some t-shirts and started handing them to me.
Several different feelings were raging inside me in an attempt to gain dominance. I realized that I wanted to know everything that the man standing across from me knew. I have been thinking about it for quite some time, whether it would be good or rather the opposite.
I held the thick knit fabric of my white sweater between my fingers and ruffled it.
At that moment I regretted not going there this morning. Because, no matter how much I denied it, it occurred to me more than once. Maybe I should have heard it all right there in court.
To keep my hands busy, I started folding more clothes again, but that didn't apply to my mind.
Since I did not want to leave this part of my life unresolved, I came to a conclusion.
And when I wanted to explain my current situation to Romeo, he overtook me.
,,Listen, now you'll be together in one place for who knows how long. Let him explain it all to you."