Chapter 21
You Said Remember Me II
/ / / / /
Finally crawling out of bed she pulled open her door and glanced out into the dim hallway. It wasn’t a spectacular long hallway enshrined by engraved walls hanging with portraits of masterpieces like those in drams or movies. Instead it was a short shabby hallway with nothing brilliant in particular. It was just a short hallway with the stairs leading to the first floor to her left.
The light was seeping out from the bottom of Eunhyuk’s bedroom door. He was still awake. Feeling like she was in the mood to chat and catch up with him she started down the hallway and knocked on his door. A second later she could hear him moving inside and unlock the door. When it opened she saw that he’d changed into the pajamas Yuri had given him.
“You’re not asleep?” he first asked.
Victoria pressed her lips together and smiled shaking her head.
“Can I come in?” Victoria wondered.
“Hasn’t Donghae told you that it’s not right for you to enter someone else’s bedroom after you got married?”
“Your words have to relevance to them,” she shook his words off, “I’ve been in your room countless times anyway.”
Victoria pushed him aside and stepped in glancing around. It was another room identical to hers.
“What?” he asked. “Are you bored of your room so you wanted to see how better mine is?”
“Perhaps,” Victoria walked over toward the window and glanced down at the sidewalk.
“Lets go see a doctor tomorrow,” Eunhyuk sat down at the corner of the bed.
Victoria turned around to look at him surprised by his sudden suggestion.
“We need to see how you’re doing first,” Eunhyuk went on without waiting for her to say anything, “I’m going to go search for an apartment in the morning. Then after we find Donghae, we’ll head back.”
It sounded like a plan but something about it sounded empty to Victoria.
“Hae,” Eunhyuk started, “would be jumping with joy if he knew.”
There was a hint of sadness in his tone.
“He should have been the first to know,” Eunhyuk finished.
Victoria pressed her lips together and walked toward him. Sitting down beside him and clasping her hands in front of her she gave a loud sigh.
“But he’ll know for sure when we find him,” Victoria said as if to assure him and herself. “It’s a good thing he didn’t find out before, because if he did, you can only imagine how many baby things he would have already bought.” Victoria became silent. “And if he knew, he’d be even more stressed and worried.”
They were silent.
“I’m glad you came, Eunhyuk. I really am.”
/ / / / /
The early city was already brewing with traffic. Lost within the loud beeping of car horns and light chatter Donghae found himself gazing around the crowd for any sign of their two perpetrators. Still feeling nervous and outwitted from yesterday’s chase he kept close to Kikwang who seemed to know the streets of the city pretty well. It made him wonder how often the young boy had been going about.
Kikwang had pulled Nana to his side even if she’d stubbornly refused to stand by him. In the end he had her on a tight leash, right next to him. Again, Donghae wondered how close the two really were.
He hadn’t slept all night, but even before the clock had struck 7, Kikwang had awoken. After forcing the sleepy Nana awake they were off.
“It’s not early in the morning that’s the safest, but it’s in the morning where you can find better people to blend in with,” was what Kikwang had said before checking out.
The immense crowd on the street took Donghae by surprise. He hadn’t expected to see so many of them out and about already. Was something going on? A certain holiday of some sort? The thought became less important when they started across the street.
Before Nana had awoken, Donghae had explained to Kikwang his plan of going to Incheon to meet up with Eunhyuk who would then take him to Chief Kang. Kikwang who seemed to understand his intention behind his move agreed to take him to Incheon then from there he’d take Nana with him. The rest would be up to Donghae. Possibly even the murder case of Im Junsu would be handed to him.
They got on the first train that would take them to Pyeongtaek late in the morning.
/ / / / /
When Eunhyuk entered the kitchen that morning he found that he was the last one there. Victoria, Changmin, and Yuri were already moving about.
Changmin was yawning loudly as he reached up to grab some plates from the shelf, “I’m so tired. I wished it was winter so I don’t have to go out to the zoo.”
“If you’re feeling lazy you should just return home,” Yuri answered, “it’d be even better if I had the whole house to myself.”
“You? I can only imagine what a mess you’d make without me here,” Changmin waved her words away.
“You?” Yuri repeated. “I don’t need you. Do you hear him, Victoria? Have you seen him do any chores around the house the days you were here?”
Yuri suddenly turned to see Eunhyuk standing by the doorway and immediately straightened her posture.
“Ah…you’re awake?” she greeted.
Changmin and Victoria’s attention swerved over to him. When Eunhyuk turned in Yuri’s direction he noticed that Changmin quickly looked away and silently walked over to the table with the plates he’d been reaching for. For a moment, Eunhyuk wondered if he’d made him nervous.
“Did you sleep well?” Yuri continued.
“I slept fine,” Eunhyuk responded.
“You can take a seat first, breakfast is almost ready.” Yuri turned her attention back to her cooking.
Eunhyuk took a seat by Victoria.
“You look tired,” she commented.
“I’m not used to waking up this early. I usually sleep in till 9 or so,” Eunhyuk couldn’t help but yawn again.
Changmin set down a plate in front of him before quickly disappearing off to Yuri’s side.
“Lazy,” Victoria commented again before Yuri and Changmin’s bickering caught their attention.
“I said go sit down! Look! Aish!!! You’re making oil splatter all over the place!” Yuri scolded. “Shim Changmin!”
Changmin retreated to the table a second later and sat down quietly on the chair farthest from Eunhyuk. Yuri joined them a second later.
“I’m going to be heading out soon, what are the two of you going to do later?” Yuri wondered.
“I’m going to go search for some apartments, see if there is anything available,” Eunhyuk answered.
“About your husband, I’m going to see if I can trace where the phone call came from,” Yuri promised, “I can’t do anything about the gang since I don’t have any clues on them, but I’ll try my best to look something up.”
“Thanks,” Victoria said.
“I’ll set the security on so when you leave just lock the door and make sure to close it all the way,” Yuri explained.
Yuri left after forcing Changmin to do the dishes and right after he finished the dishes he headed straight out without much of a goodbye. Once the door closed Eunhyuk turned to Victoria.
“Lets go to the hospital.”
“What? Why?”
“Get you checked up and just to make sure everything’s ok,” Eunhyuk suggested, “just in case, you know.”
/ / / / /
“Congratulations,” the doctor in the white lab suit sitting behind his dark brown desk said very cheerily. “Your fetus is coming a long very well. You’re both very healthy. Is this your first child?”
His face looked saggy underneath his circular lenses. He had very broad facial structures, but at least he didn’t carry the old grandpa look like the old men in Disney movies. He looked neat and even the few graying hair on his head seemed to be combed in a very organized manner.
“Yes,” Victoria replied.
“Would you like me to go over some health guidelines and suggest some exercises for you?” he asked. “You can invite your husband inside, it’ll be better for the two of you if he comes in as well.”
The words clogged in Victoria’s mind quite surprised at his mild suggestion.
“He’s a friend of mine,” Victoria awkwardly explained.
The doctor seemed flustered and embarrassed at her answer and pushed his glasses up the rim of his nose.
“You didn’t come with your husband?”
“He’s…” Victoria darted her eyes elsewhere, “not available right now.”
“Then make sure to come back with him soon,” the doctor smiled. “You can go now.”
Eunhyuk anxiously hurried over from where he’d been standing and asked, “So?”
“It’s all good, don’t worry,” Victoria assured.
He gave out a sigh of relief.
“What?” she asked. “Were you worried that I wasn’t taking care of myself? I told you I’m fine.”
“I know you,” he said as they walked out, “you say one thing but you do another.”
“No, I don’t. That’s Donghae,” Victoria corrected him.
He shook his head, “Come on, I just called the landlady. She says we can go in and check out the available apartments she has in her area.”
Just half an hour later Victoria found herself walking through the apartment as Eunhyuk’s voice and the landlady’s echoed loudly from the living room which was closest to the front door. Victoria ran her hand against the fine faded white walls and glanced up at the shelves atop the counters and sink in the kitchen. It was a small place since it was an apartment after all. The apartment had been built, meant for a young couple. If only Donghae were there.
Victoria turned around to the voices of Eunhyuk and the landlady. Heading out of the kitchen she turned down the small hallway in between the living room and the kitchen heading for the bedroom she’d looked at earlier. There were two, actually, but there was one that had certainly caught Victoria’s attention. It wasn’t big, or anything strange out of the ordinary, but Victoria just liked it.
The bedroom had a small closet and a twin sized bed placed against the wall. A small white, but long drawer sat on the ground beside the bed. It was really empty. It gave her feelings of nostalgia, but it wasn’t anything of the bad sort. Flicking on the light, Victoria took a step into the room and turned her head to look around. It really felt, for a moment, that the world was spinning around her. This room was a replicate of the one she’d had when she first moved to Seoul.
“You done?” Eunhyuk’s voice broke her thoughts of flying memories.
Victoria turned around with a smile, “I should ask if you’re done.”
“I got things sorted out,” Eunhyuk answered, “we can move in by next week.”
Victoria walked out of the apartment with him wondering where they were headed next.
“It’s already late into the afternoon, lets grab something to eat,” Eunhyuk suggested, “and…lets go shopping for some clothes too.”
“Shopping?” Victoria repeated. “I don’t have any money with me, Eunhyuk.”
“Don’t worry, just pay me back later.”
/ / / / /
The station was bustling with women, men, children, and what seemed like an extra large crowd welcoming them. As they started for the front of the terminal, Donghae couldn’t help but turn to look at a woman carrying her one year old son in one hand while balancing their luggage with the other.
A second later he found his eyes gazing elsewhere before catching up to Kikwang and Nana who were awkwardly silent with each other.
***Sorry, I should have made it clearer earlier. No, Yuri and Eunhyuk do not know each other. Yuri was only hesitating to say "Good night" to Eunhyuk because he was a guest in her house and because they aren't close friends whatsoever. Simple explanation.
***I completed the Defence One Shot Series this morning and oh boy! I forgot how empty that story left me feeling. The awful kind of empty and I don't think I'm going to go back there again. Honestly, it's got to be one of the worst and saddest things I've ever created. Anyhow, back to writing YSRMII.
spring semester ends this friday and i'm off for summer break :D i'll get back on track with YSRMII
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