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Legs trembling, Yona slowly lowered herself into the hot bath she had drawn the moment she got home. A small amount of air escaped her lips when she had fully submerged her body in the hot liquid. Her muscles instantly released the tension that had been weighing her down all day while her soft white skin turned a harsh light pink. Lazily she started playing with the bubbles that accompanied her in the bath. A mix of vanilla and lavender swirled with the steam in the room, helping her find comfort in the small bathroom her and her father shared. Splashing her neck and her face she finally allowed herself to remember the events of the day. She couldn't grasp what had went wrong.
Closing her eyes she saw the day pass before her. It had been a great first day at school. It didn't go exactly the way she had hoped, with Hak and Soo-won acting strange, but making a new friend had made her happy. There was something about Zeno that made Yona admire him. She still couldn't get over how upbeat and optimistic he was. After school is when everything seemed to crumble in front of her eyes. She remembered the look on her fathers face as he was shoved into one of the police cars that surrounded her house. When they had reached the station she was instantly pulled away from Hak and taken to a room on the other side of the station. She had been invited to the detectives office personally. When she entered Lee Geuns' room she instantly noticed the twisted smile on the detectives face. He had asked standard questions about her father before his golden eyes turned a dark graying yellow. This was the point when he had mentioned her mother. Hearing her mothers name had brought back flashes of red mudding with white and a face that was cold and purple. On top of this being separated from people who she trusted she had shut down. The last thing she remembered was her chest tightening and a haze engulfed her mind. When she had snapped out of it she was crying and with Soo-won.
Hak had shown up a little after that and took her home. She didn't let him know what happened because she knew how much he worried about her. Sense he had been acting weird all day she didn't want to make him worry anymore. Hot tears stung her eyes and face as she started to cry. The hot water was now lukewarm and the bubbles had disappeared but she couldn't find the motivation to stand up. The bath helped relax her but there was a heaviness that had decided to make a home in her stomach. Lowering her face she made water bubbles appear from her mouth. Moving her water logged fingers to her face she heard the bathroom door open. She watched as Hak, avoiding eye contact, stepped into the room with a change of cloths.
"I brought you these," he said talking to the wall and putting the cloths by the sink.
"Thank you," she responded slowly.
"You've been in here for almost an hour. Are you okay?"
"Fine. I'm almost done."
"Okay good. Well I made dinner. I know you're probably not hungry but it doesn't hurt to try. You can't skip meals, it's not good for you.
"Alright," she nodded.
Sighing slightly Hak walked out of the bath room. She felt bad. He was just trying to help but nothing was reaching her. She heard everything he said but she hadn't really processed it. The one thing she did know was that she was grateful to have Hak. She hadn't mentioned Soo-won sense they got back. She felt tension between her two friends and it was killing her to see them that way. What could have happened in just a few short hours?
Finally deciding it was time to get out Yona grabbed her towel and quickly wrapped in around her body, shielding herself from the cold. Walking over to the pile of cloths she smiled a little. Hak had brought her favorite warm and fuzzy blue sweat pants and his over sized gray hoodie. He knew she loved his sweater. It was the perfect amount of bagginess and she was never cold in it. It was also comforting to know that he had used it. Slipping on the hoodie she breathed in his scent of cedar and sage. It smelt nice. Stopping herself Yona felt a deep blush forming at the top of her cheeks. She shook her head as she walked to the dining room. When she entered she noticed there was no food on the table. Hak walked up behind her.
"I think its okay to eat dinner in the living room today," he stated making her jump.
"You scared me," she yelled grabbing her heart for dramatic affect.
"Stop over exaggerating and come eat," he rolled his eyes gently grabbing her hand and leading her to the living room. His hands where warm. Compared to his hers felt like a chunk of ice floating in the middle of the sea. Letting go of his hand she went and sat on the couch.
"Here," he handed her the remote "pick something good this time."
She stuck her tongue out at him as he turned to get the food from the kitchen.
"I saw that," he yelled from the kitchen.
"You have eyes in the back of your head now?" she quipped.
"I never told you?" He mused his words setting down a bowl of soup in front of her.
"Wait? Does that mean you saw me in the bathroom? Hak you pervert" she continued to play with him.
"I guess I've been figured out huh?" he laughed.
They both ate their soup as they watched a reality show about men and women living together in a house in Tokyo.
"Do you really think that they are going to be able to stay together? I mean they don't even live close to each other," Hak asked taking a sip of soda.
"If they really love each other they will."
'They've known each other for three months. I don't have to much faith."
"Good thing it's not your relationship."
"True," he grunted. "Are you saying you believe in love?"
"Of course," she smiled her purple eyes lightening up. "I know you do too so don't act all tough."
"I never said I didn't believe in it but I do think that it can be cruel. I mean most of the love I've seen has been intercepted by other forces. It's hard to love someone and not have them love you back. But it's worse when you love them and they love someone else. It completely destroys that person perception on love."
"Hak?"
He smiled and put his hand her head and leaned in close. "It's nothing you need to worry about. But just know that I will always be here," he whispered getting closer. "Anything you need and anytime. Please don't hesitate to call me or push me around. Alright?" He was inches from Yona's lips making the red hair beauty blush. He loved it when she blushed.
"I promise," she let out not noticing she was getting closer to Hak. Before anything could finish a loud and aggressive knock came from the front door.
"Damn," Hak hissed getting up to answer the door. Yona stared straight ahead. What was that all about? she thought to herself. Maybe I had something on my face? Maybe he's being sentimental sense all this is happening. Getting up she followed Hak. Making sure that he didn't notice her she watched from behind the hallway wall as he started talking to her other friend who had disappeared.
"What are you doing here," Hak growled at Soo-won.
"I came to make sure that Yona was okay. I didn't have the time to explain anything."
"You mean the part where you turned in her dad for something that he didn't do? Im sorry about your father, I really am, but you expect me to believe you after you accused him of killing his own wife?"
"Wha…at?" Soo-won stuttered. "I just told the detective what I believe happened."
"That's it? You believing that is betraying her and you know it. You know how she looks up to you," Hak spat out with bitterness.
"I didn't betray her," Soo-won's voice rose in defense. "My father was almost murdered. It also seems that you forgot some details that happened night."
"I think you've been brainwashed by your father. I don't want you seeing her right now. She's hurt and is trying to collect herself."
"Your not her father Hak." he said stepping into the house.
Crap! Yona thought hurrying back to the living room. Sitting back on the couch the haze started to run around her mind again. The heaviness in her stomach was accompanied by the feeling of her throat swelling. Soo-won thought her father was guilty? On top of that he turned him in? How? Why? Tears gathered in her eyes as she processed the information that she wasn't suppose to know.
"Yona," his voice still sounded like honey but now there was something unsettling about it. "Are you okay? I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner. I had some things to figure out down at the station. Please tell me you're okay."
"I'm fine," she slightly snapped. He didn't seem to notice.
"Thank goodness. I'm sorry about all of this."
"It's fine. I'm okay," she smiled watching Hak enter the room. She couldn't let him know what she had heard. Hak would be pissed if he found out she was eaves dropping on a conversation between the two of them. Crossing his arms Hak walked over the lazy chair and sat down.
"I have something to tell you," Soo-won gently grabbed her hand. She looked up at him tears filling her eyes. She knew this wasn't good. "Your father….. He's been murdered." Once the words left his lips she went numb. Of course this was just a joke that he was playing in her. It wasn't a very funny one and it was bad timing but still. She shook her head, "No," was all she said. She looked over at Hak whose face had turned white as a sheet.
"What are you talking about?" He asked leaning toward the only other two people in the room. His leg was shaking up and down and he held both hands tightly.
"Yona look at me," he moved her head so that her eyes met his. "Listen to me. The police found him in his cell." He took another deep breath. "He overdosed. Someone put poison in his water. Or so we think. The details are cloudy and I only just found out."
"Why are you telling her this? Why not an officer or someone who's actually on the case," Haks voice like gravel. "Why should we even believe you," his voice got louder as he suddenly stood up. "We can't even trust you. You really expect us to believe this?" He was shaking as the last words came out.
"Hak. You have to believe me and if you don't Lee Geun will be calling soon. I asked him for the favor of telling her. She needed to hear it from someone knows" he argued.
"No," it escaped from her lips again. "Everything's fine." She looked at Hak with desperate eyes as the phone rang.
"I bet that's him."
"I'll answer it," Hak answered the phone walking into the kitchen. "Hello…."
Before she knew what was happing Soo-won pulled her into a hug.
"I'm so sorry. This should have never happened. I didn't mean for this to happen."
Yonas eyes grew big and she felt the tears start up again with his comment. She shoved him away.
"It was you?" she lingered on the last word. "This is your fault."
I didn't want this to happen," he said a tear slipping down his face. Before she knew what she was doing she had slapped him across the face. Getting up she felt him grab her wrist.
"Yona…."
"No," she screamed as Hak came back in.
"What did you do to her?" He shuffled her behind him. "It's time that you left."
He nodded "I understand."
"No I don't think you do. Leave now. I don't want to see you again."
Hak ushered Soo-won out the door.
"Don't even try to talk to her," he warned his former friend slamming the door in his face.
"Hak?" Yona pleaded with her eyes.
"I'm sorry," he locked eyes with her. "He's gone."
"No. It's fine really," she told him. He reached for her but she pulled away. "I think I'm going to go to bed now. Goodnight," she walked up the stairs with a blank expression.
"I'll be here okay? I'm not leaving. Ever."
She nodded silently brushing away the hidden tear that rolled down her right cheek.