/////

After the daily routine checkup from the nurse Victoria had specifically asked her to close the door after she left. The thought about someone stalking her didn’t seem right, but Donghae could be correct. But who? Who would want to keep their eye on her 24/7?

/////

Song Philip turned away from the computer screen and glanced at his phone. It’s been days since he’d last seen her and he was beginning to wonder why she wasn’t calling him. She usually kept her word and would have called him but he’d heard nothing about her since. Picking up his phone he dialed her number and waited for her to answer but only the automated voice machine answered him. Disappointed he hung up and promised he’d try again later.

/////

Donghae had gone around to all the floral shops in Seoul asking the employees and managers inside if they’d received any orders for a bouquet of roses. At one shop he’d received the answer that a man had made a call from the a telephone booth and had said he’d deliver the note to be sent with the flowers. Donghae ran out of luck when one of the young employee had said everyone had gone out and she was the only in the store when the tall man had walked in. She’d described him as thin but he’d worn a hood over his head and the shadow the hood overcastted on his face made it hard for her to make out his face because of their height difference. That man hadn’t left behind his name and had paid by cash making it even more difficult to find out his identity.

By the time he’d grabbed dinner from a store the sky was beginning to darken. Without even deciding on it he stepped on the accelerator and was on his way toward the hospital. He found Victoria reading the book he’d brought her when he walked in through the door. The nurse had told him that she’d been paranoid about the door being closed.

“How are you?” he questioned as he sat down on the chair beside the bed.

She set the book down, “Do I look well?”

He smiled then said, “One of the daisy floral shops downtown said they received a call from a man at a telephone booth. Do you remember anyone tall you’ve known before?”

“Everyone’s tall.”

Donghae sighed a bit wondering why she made it so hard, “Ok. Here’s what I have for you after speaking to the chief. He assumes the person who messed with your brakes and the person who sent the flowers are the same and he could possibly be stalking you.”

Victoria stared at him without expression.

“Do you remember doing anything that could have angered anyone?”

“Why are you assuming it’s a ‘he’?” Victoria questioned.

“Most people who stalk women are men,” Donghae stated.

“I don’t have any enemies,” Victoria said solidly.

“Answer my question Victoria,” he urged. “Have you done anything that could have angered any men around you?”

“I don’t know what you mean by ‘anything’,” Victoria said.

Donghae felt impatient with her for once, “Maybe he’d been keeping an eye on your apartment, but I’m just assuming ok? Have you allowed anyone to enter your home while you were in?”

Victoria remained silent for half a minute and when footsteps walked pass the door she spoke up, “I have.”

“Who?”

“Song Philip and Kim Heechul.”

“Kim Heechul?” Donghae repeated surprised.

“Why? Is there something wrong?” asked Victoria as if mocking him.

“Nothing,” Donghae replied erasing his curiosities. “I’ll lock the door for you when I leave, but I have one more thing to say to you. The doctor says you can be released from the hospital the day after tomorrow, but I want you to wait for me.”

“Why?” Victoria sounded irritated again.

“There are some people who want to meet with you,” Donghae said. “And I assume that since you have no vehicle to drive around you’ll have to rely on the taxis until you can get your car. Anyway, I’ll be here early in the morning.”

When Donghae walked out after the closing the door he stopped by the stairs and turned back to look at the room hoping that Victoria hadn’t contacted anyone about the accident. For some odd reason he felt there was more than just his reason that he worried someone might try to hurt her again.

“Kim Heechul,” he said to himself, “I can’t believe you actually looked for her.”

/////

Victoria listened for the click of the door and sat back in the bed. Sometimes he made it seem as if he were really concerned, at other times he made it seem as if he was just nosing around, sometimes he seemed like he wanted to get her angry, and it was beginning to confuse her about what he actually did for his job. Follow people around? Victoria felt like laughing but the laugh never came.

“What is it you want?” Victoria asked aloud.

/////

Kim Heechul stared at the camera before him biting on his thumb. He wondered if Donghae had given her any trouble and if she’d taken his words into consideration. He really didn’t want Donghae to be hanging around her interrogating her. Maybe he should go check on her again…but his schedule was already booked full and he wouldn’t have the time to go to Seoul to check on her.

The phone rang a second later.

“Photographer Kim Heechul.”

“It’s me, Chief Kang.”

“Oh, yes chief.”

“I’m done looking through your photos. Do you want to come pick them up tomorrow?”

“I have an assignment tomorrow. What about the day after? If you aren’t at your office I’ll stop by your home,” Heechul suggested. “I’ve been wanting to look at that pool of yours.”

Chief Kang’s chuckle was heard from the other side of the phone as if he was proud at the mention of his pool, “Yes, come over. Donghae will be there too. Maybe we can have a cookout or something.” he laughed again.

“Sure thing.” with that Heechul hung up.

Always Donghae, Lee Donghae.

“You make me more curious about you each time,” Heechul said rubbing his chin with his thumb.

/////

Song Philip tried calling again when the sky had darkened. Everything in his apartment remained silent and still as he tried again and again to reach her. Unsuccessful he sat down frustrated. Why wasn’t she answering? Why would she turn her phone off? An overwhelming feeling of uneasiness overcame him. He needed to go see her again, but it was late and she was probably sleeping. Maybe he should find out where she’d been transferred, but that would also have to wait until tomorrow morning. He reluctantly went to sleep that night.

/////

Victoria awoke early in the morning when the nurse stepped into her room with the doctor walking behind her.

“Good morning,” the doctor said then looked around as if expecting to see someone, “I heard your boyfriend has been staying with you. You must be glad to have some company.”

Deciding it’d be rude to correct him Victoria just smiled. He took her arm and gently pressed the cast before she let out a shout of pain.

“I heard you’re a professor at the University. How’s that coming along?” he asked.

“I haven’t been able to do anything since I’m cooped up here, but my friend has offered to start my first week of classes for me,” Victoria replied.

“That’s good. You should get some rest before returning to work. Ok,” the doctor said getting up. “You seem good and healthy.”

Victoria watched as the nurse followed him out and returned minutes later with a tray of food. In Ji walked in a moment later with a basket of fruits and some flowers. She, too, looked around the room as if expecting someone to be there. Victoria followed her gaze silently. Where was Donghae that morning?

/////

Melodix jumped around in the dog park excitedly as she chased the other small dogs in the park. Donghae sat at the picnic table and watched as the toy poodle enjoyed herself. During the time that Victoria had been in the hospital he was glad that he’d had the time to play around with Melodix. He’d always wanted a dog when he was younger but his parents had thought it was too big a responsibility for him then after their deaths he’d forgotten all about wanting one. Now, he decided it wouldn’t be at all too bad to adopt one. Maybe, just maybe if he had a dog it would keep Melodix company.

Donghae didn’t take Melodix back until late in the afternoon. He knew he was spoiling the dog but he felt it did her no harm to buy her a few more toys. He finally left Victoria’s house and found her in the hospital room still reading ‘The Thief Lord’.

“Did the doctor see you today?” he asked as if expecting her to answer.

Victoria set her book down and looked at him. “Is there anything else you want today?”

Donghae sat down, “I’m sure you’re as bored as I am.”

“Let me ask you,” she said, “what exactly is your intention for being here?”