Chapter 2

Enrique stood outside in the cold waiting for Dok Mi. he glanced at his watch. It had been nearly ten minutes since he'd told her to come downstairs. It wasn't like her to keep him waiting, but maybe she was still getting ready. When he'd seen her, she had just gotten out of the shower. It wasn't entirely implausible for her to be taking a little longer. But still…

Enrique silently cursed himself. He really should have given her some more warning. Coming back unexpectedly once was sweet, but he wouldn't be surprised if she was annoyed this time. Dok Mi was still very introverted and needed time to prepare herself for going out. That constantly contrasted with his spontaneous nature. Enrique normally took that into careful consideration, but he had wanted to see her the second he returned to Korea and everything had been too hectic to call her.

He had just woken up that morning and decided that he could not stay in Spain a day longer. He had been taking his time fixing the game so he wouldn't have to come back anytime soon, but he gave up and gave it the quick fix that might not work. Thankfully, it had and he had been on a plane within the hour.

He looked at his watch again. It had been nearly 15 minutes now. This was definitely not like her. Just as he was pulling out his phone, someone walked out of the building. He felt his lips pull up into a smile; bit it wasn't his Dok Mi that came out. It was Jin Rak.

"Enrique?" Jin Rak said when he saw him, "What are you doing here?"

"Waiting for Dok Mi"

"You mean she hasn't been out yet?" Jin Rak said, "I saw her leave her apartment"

"No," Enrique replied, "How long ago was that?"

"I dunno, maybe ten 15 minutes"

Enrique started to worry. Even if she'd taken the stairs, it shouldn't take her fifteen minutes to walk down. Something must have happened.

"Go back upstairs and look for her," Enrique said as he pulled out his phone. Jin Rak looked like he was going to argue, then he thought better of it and left. Enrique dialed Dok Mi's number.

It rung once, twice, three- hello, you've reached Go Dok Mi. I'm not available right now but- he hung up and dialed again. By the third ring he was running into the building. She would have at least picked up if she was alright. She often ignored his calls when she was upset, but she wouldn't stand him up.

He ran up to the elevator and started pressing the button repeatedly. It seemed like an eternity before the doors actually opened. When they opened again on Dok Mi's floor, he saw Jin Rak in front of her door, knocking vigorously. Enrique ran the final yards until he was standing next to him.

Oh Jin Rak jumped back startled.

"Has she not opened the door?" Enrique asked

"No, she hadn't even said anything. What're you-"

Enrique gently pushed Jin Rak aside and hit the door with his fist, "Ahjumma!" he yelled, "Ahjumma, at least say something!" he hit the door again and again, but no noise came from inside. He noticed a small trickle of blood coming from his knuckle, "Go get the landlord" he said quietly. He sounded much calmer than he felt. He felt a storm growing inside. He felt it every time he started to worry about Dok Mi.

"Opening her door without permission seems a little rude don't you think?" Jin Rak said

"I called her 4 timed as I was running up here. She never picked up." He said, tears threatening to spill, "So if you'd please go get the landlord to open the door"

Oh Jin Rak stood still for a moment before running back to the elevator away. Enrique watched him until the doors shut before he turned back to apartment 402.

"Ahjumma," he said his voice barely above a whisper, "Please, Ahjumma. If you can hear me. Say something." A single tear rolled down his cheek, "Open the door, Dok Mi. and let me know that you're alright."

He was met with only silence

When Jin Rak came back up with the landlord, he saw Enrique sitting with his back against the door. There was a small pool of blood that had been steadily dripping from his knuckles and there were marks on the door from where he had been pounding. There weren't many times when Jin Rak pitied the man who'd stolen Dok Mi from him, but this was one of those times.

Enrique's hand was still above his head, knocking on the door softly. He looked empty inside except for the small spark of worry and terror. He looked like Dok Mi had in the beginning, before she had fallen in love with Enrique.

Jin Rak walked up with the landlord in tow. He gently patted Enrique on the shoulder, "move" he said, not unkindly. Enrique looked like a zombie as he stood up.

"I'm sure she's alright" Jin Rak said. But he knew it was a lie

"Yeah," Enrique lied back, "She's probably still getting dressed"

Enrique braced himself for what he might see inside, but when he opened the door, there was no one there, "Ahjumma!" he called, "Are you in here?"

No one spoke back. He and Jin Rak explored the apartment for 5 minutes before deciding she wasn't here.

"But if she's not in here and we never saw her leave the apartment-" Jin Rak began to say before they were interrupted by a blood curdling scream.