The Unexpected Becomes the Expected

Story by LeeHwaYoung

"I promise," he had said. He thought I hadn't heard him, and I didn't let him think otherwise. What was I supposed to say or do or think after that statement was uttered anyway? I kept quiet, my mind fluttering between his words and the box of Young Yi's clues that laid lifelessly on my lap.

The trip back to the apartment remained like that. Quiet. Distant. I had noticed my body beginning to shake after Donghae had walked away from the car. It was only now that it began to calm down. Had I really been worried that my attackers returned? Or afraid that Donghae was going to be lost out there? Or that he would never return? But more importantly, why had I began to worry about him in the first place?

Nothing made sense anymore. I realized that as the car parked in front of our apartment complex. Another thing I realized is that I was weak and I was about to reopen and reexamine my relationship with Young Yi. I would have to become strong.

Like Donghae. The though tore into me before I realized I was thinking it. My immediate reaction was to see if that thought was true and my eyes wondered over to the driver. He was there, his eyes glaring into mine, his jaw set firm, his left hand on the wheel and his right on his lap. He seemed caught off guard but continued to stare at me, and he seemed strong and capable, like the the though that had seeped into me.

"We should go inside," Donghae muttered, pulling his keys from the ignition and exiting the car. A new sense washed over me. He seemed thoughtful and distracted at the moment. Had there really been nothing there at the park? Or had he said that so I wouldn't be frightened? Why did I care?

I followed his lead up to our shared aparartment, before taking my own path to my bed. It had only been a few hours, but it seemed like the whole day flew by. I felt weary yet I wasn't going to let that deter me from getting the answers I needed. I settled down on my bed, setting the box in front of me, hesitating