/////

Heechul was greeted by Chief Kang at the front doorway.

“I’m glad you’re here. Donghae just got here too.”

“I noticed.” Heechul said. He’d recognized Donghae’s car from across the street as he walked toward the house.

“Come in. I have your pictures for you.”

/////

Victoria stared into Donghae’s face wondering why he was suddenly tongue tied.

“I think you’re the one who has become the suspicious one this time around,” Victoria pointed out. “You really have no reason to keep coming back for me in the hospital, but yet you did. I didn’t need you to be concerned about me. What is the reason? Do I really have a stalker? Or did you make that up? Why aren’t you answering? Tell me, why did you find me in Seoul? How much do you know about my personal life?!”

Donghae took a step forward, “I…”

Victoria stepped back as he did so and fell into the water. She kicked and reached her arms out in the pool but only felt herself fall in deeper.  

“I can’t swim!” she managed to yell through her lungs before falling back below the surface.

Donghae stared into the water wide eyed as her arms flung up and down creating large ripples to spread throughout the enclosed body of water. He wasn’t that good at swimming either and could recall he’d almost failed swimming gym classes back in school. His eyes searched about the water and as Victoria fell in deeper he suddenly leapt clumsily into the water creating a loud splash. As he uselessly paddled his feet up and down in the water he found himself moving toward her successfully. When he finally grabbed her he swam toward the stairs that led into the pool and hoisted himself along with Victoria up. Sitting he panted exhausted and finally recalled why he hadn’t wanted to swim after class ever again. Victoria coughed water up onto his shoulder before he looked at her. They were so close Victoria could literally almost hear both their hearts pound through the silence that rung in the air. His eyes searched her face and their eyes met before he felt himself gulp down the water in his throat. The arm clinging onto his shoulder assured him that he’d survived the swim.

“Victoria!” a voice called.

They both turned to see the chief and Heechul standing there with eyes wide opened. Victoria pushed Donghae away and he felt himself land on the ground as she stood up quickly.

“What happened?” Chief Kang asked hurrying over, Kim Heechul following suit.

“Are you ok?” Heechul asked worried.

Victoria nodded and pushed her wet bangs to the side. “I should go.”

Donghae hurried up to his feet and nodded at the chief before following Victoria out the front door. He caught her just before she stepped off the curb.

“Just wait,” he called.

She turned to him with a small glare.

“You can’t get into a taxi like that,” he lied.

Victoria found herself standing behind him as he unlocked the door to the house. He hadn’t explained to her where they were…yet. Once he stepped into the home a male voice said, “Donghae! You’re back!”

Victoria frowned and froze in her spot. Where exactly had he brought her this time?

“Come on,” he urged her.

Victoria followed him in and saw a man past his 30’s standing between the living room and the stairs curiously staring at them.

“You brought a friend?”

“Uncle, this is Victoria Song. We had an accident so I stopped by,” Donghae explained.

“Uh…yes. Hi Miss Song,” he greeted awkwardly.

Victoria nodded toward him and wasn’t sure whether she should feel angry that Donghae had managed to drag her to his home or thankful that she would be able to get a change of clothes.

“Yes, go upstairs and get changed before you catch a cold,” his uncle urged them.

Victoria nodded uncertainly and walked up the stairs after him. The whole floor was carpeted and the small, short hallway to the left led to two rooms. Donghae only opened the guest room for her and she walked in glancing at the queen sized bed before her with the desk and chair beside it.

“Wait here.” he said then walked away and came back after a minute and a half or so. He came back with a shirt and a sweatpants in hand. “These are from when I was younger. Sorry that we don’t have any female clothes in our home, but these should fit you.”

Victoria took the clothes from him with a small thanks and watched as he closed the door after him. He really confused her, she decided before taking a look at the clothes he’d handed her. After changing she found that the clothes almost fit. She had to roll up the sleeves of the shirt she was wearing and the sweatpants was a little long so she also rolled up the bottom of it.

She finally took a look around her. A large white walk-in closet stood behind her and the room was plain empty. She ran her hands over the sheet of the bed before she glanced at the desk next to it wondering if someone had used the room before. There was a knock on the door and she heard, “Can I come in?”

“Uh…yea.”

The door opened and Donghae reappeared, “You can hand me your wet clothes. I’m going to throw them into the dryer.”

Victoria turned to the chair where she’d placed her clothes to dry, grabbed them, and handed them to him. He disappeared again but returned two minutes later when she’d sat down on the bed examining the cast on her right arm.

“Is it ok?” Donghae asked walking into the room.

“Fine.” she replied.

She watched as he sat down on the chair and silence overcame them again.

“You wanted to know why I kept coming back to the hospital,” Donghae said leaning forward to rest his chin on his arms. “I don’t know the answer to it.”

Victoria watched him.

“About your life, I didn’t mean to intrude on anything so I’m sorry if I anger you by finding out what I did.” Donghae apologized. “I only know that you lost your parents then were taken in by your aunt and lost her too. And I also know of the boyfriend you lost. That’s all, I promise I don’t know anything else.”

Victoria lowered her gaze to the blanket feeling thankful that he’d told her…at least she felt glad that that was all he knew.

“But I’m curious,” Donghae said stealing a glance at her, “about your boyfriend. Could you tell me a bit about him? I don’t know his name.”

Victoria decided it wouldn’t hurt to tell him some, “Han In Seol. His name’s Han In Seol. I met him in my first year of University and since then I’ve known him as a person who likes to laugh, read, joke around, and he was kind and accepting. The only person who stayed to keep me company and made life worthwhile but…he died five months ago.”

Donghae glanced at her face and listened as her voice trailed on with deep feelings attached to her eyes when she talked about him. He turned away feeling some sort of feeling close to envy grow within him.

“I lost my parents, too, when I was 12,” Donghae told breaking the moment of peace that had appeared between them, “they were murdered in the home I grew up in Seoul.”

Before anything else appeared in her mind she wondered why he was telling her this.

“So I know how you feel, the loneliness you feel, I understand it.” Donghae said.

After the same moment of silence passed through them Donghae asked, “Do you want to meet up with Eunhyuk before going back to Seoul?”

/////

Heechul had spun around after Donghae had whisked pass him. He wanted to go after them but recalled that Chief Kang was still standing there.

“You didn’t tell me Victoria came along,” Heechul told.

“Ah…well…” the chief went. “I didn’t know she was coming either but they seem like good friends don’t they?”  

Heechul wanted to ask the chief if he was joking but chose not to.

“How’s the case coming along?” Heechul asked deciding it would be a better idea to change to subject.

“Ah…well, I’m not sure since Donghae moved to Seoul.”

“He moved to Seoul? Why?”

“Yes, he’s planning to continue the investigation there. At first I didn’t know if it was such a good idea but I think he’s made a wise decision this time around.” Chief Kang said. “Looks like the wheel just spun around.”

“What do you mean?”

“Seems like someone is out to hurt Victoria, so I’m assuming Donghae wants to keep an eye out for her.”