“Are you…still asleep?” Donghae questioned gently pushing her off him. He observed her face to see that her eyes were only slightly open. He got up to his feet pulling her up with him and made his way back to the car.

/////

Victoria’s eyes had finally opened from the blurry images she’d seen earlier. The first thing she saw was the night streets lit up and the glowing signs of restaurants and stores standing high into the sky. She then realized that they were on the highway back to Seoul. Victoria turned slightly to glance at Donghae and felt the car move back and forth unsteadily. What was with his driving? It took her a while to regain all her senses then realized that the car had a stench of alcohol.

“Stop,” Victoria demanded. When he didn’t Victoria turned to him, “Stop the car!”

When Donghae finally stopped the car Victoria unbuckled herself and pushed the door open walking to the driver’s side. Once she opened the door she stared at him.

“What?” he asked.

“What are you doing?” Victoria questioned roughly.

“Driving?” Donghae said.

Victoria stared at him hard, “Get out.”

“What? Why?” Donghae questioned.

Victoria reached over him and unbuckled his seatbelt, “There, get out.”

“What’s your problem?”

“Don’t act like you don’t know,” Victoria said matter-of-factly.

“You’re acting like…nothing happened…” Donghae stared at her.

Victoria just eyed him silently then waited for him to get out. Once he did she climbed into the car taking the wheel into her hands.

“Whoa! Hey!” Donghae shouted alarmed opening the door. “What are you doing?!”

“Driving.”

“Why?!”

Victoria stared at him for a long time again then finally said, “You…went drinking?”

Donghae stared at her then turned away.

“Are you stupid? Going drinking when you know you’ll be driving?” Victoria lectured. “If you aren’t getting in I’m going off without you.”

When Donghae got in Victoria stepped on the accelerator and drove off.

“You…” Donghae turned to her. “Do you feel better?”

Victoria ignored him, “Should I drop you off and take your car with me?”

“Just go to your place,” Donghae said turning away.

Victoria scowled at him and really did drive back to her place. She parked the car by the street and made her way toward her house. Slightly glancing back she saw Donghae following her with his head to the ground. She turned away when he lifted his head up to look at her. Once the door opened Melodix barked furiously. Before Victoria could make a run for her Donghae walked passed her and reappeared with Melodix in his arms with the leash on. She turned around as he walked pass her and before she could retort or say anything the front door opened and Donghae was out in the front yard with the dog. She stepped toward the doorway to see Melodix running around happily then turned away to get a glass of water in the kitchen.

After gulping down the cup of water Victoria tilted her head up to the ceiling and sighed then headed out. When she walked out of the kitchen Donghae was just making his way in with Melodix bounding freely behind him. Just what magic had he performed on her toy poodle to make her so obsessed with him?

Just as Victoria turned to make her way toward her room Donghae spoke up, “What high school did you go to?”

Wondering why he’d come up with such a question she turned around to see him holding her psychology textbook in hand flipping through the pages casually. Both of them were acting like nothing had happened earlier in the day…and Victoria sort of felt awkwardly comfortable that he didn’t speak about any of it to her.

“Sang High.” Victoria replied.

Donghae looked up from the book toward her, “Really? I went there too, how come I never saw you around?”

Why was he asking her about high school now? Victoria couldn’t help but feel suspicious about him again. All the questions…she didn’t want him to tell her that he had found out about her rehab stay in Hangzhou. What was with him, really.

“I didn’t hang around there much,” Victoria lied, “I went to China.”

“What for?”

“Why do you want to know?” Victoria defended.

Donghae shrugged, “I was just curious as a friend.”

Friend? Victoria wanted to laugh but Donghae changed the subject abruptly.

“When do you get your cast off?” he asked.

Victoria glanced down at her arm, “I don’t know.”

“Lets go tomorrow afternoon,” Donghae told, “I’ll come get you so wait for me.”

“I didn’t ask…” Victoria began.

“Don’t you resume your job next week?” Donghae asked. “It’ll be a lot easier if we go tomorrow.”

“But I don’t need you.”

Donghae just smiled at her, “I’m going to head back now.”

“Don’t crash on your way back,” Victoria warned sarcastically but she meant it.

/////

When Donghae stepped out he glanced back at her apartment then made his way to his car. After getting in he couldn’t help but turn back to take one last look at the house. Victoria would be ok, he knew it. When he turned away he noticed a black shadow slide from the tall trees to the back of the house. Immediately turning back Donghae got out of his car.

The moon was a bright silhouette against the dim ground. There was no noise in the area as if everyone and everything had been scared off. Donghae quietly crept into the shadows and made his way around back and searched around. No one was in sight. Was it just his imagination? Turning around Donghae trudged back to his car and drove off.

/////

It was too close. He should have been more careful. He hated how the investigator kept hanging around. Just how close was the investigator to ‘his’ Victoria? Lee Donghae was always entering her house like it was his own. He couldn’t keep watching anymore. Victoria was his and no one else’s. He’d have to get rid of him somehow…

/////

Donghae awoke early in the morning and was thinking through Il Chung and Sandy’s case. There was no lead anywhere. If only a miracle would appear and tell him who had murdered them. Donghae couldn’t do anything about the case until he’d spoken to Il Chung’s family and got the answers he needed. There was also Sandy’s parents that he wanted to meet. Or maybe he could go back and interview everyone at the Min Apartments and ask neighbors if they’d notice anything strange. Just as he was twirling his pencil between his fingers his phone rang.

“Lee Donghae.”

“Chief Kang,” his voice came, “I heard that you made an appointment to meet with Il Chung’s parents yesterday. How did it go?”

“Not well. I didn’t get anything because Mr. Il wasn’t in.”

“You were left with the two women, weren’t you?”

“I think they offended Victoria,” Donghae told.

“Sorry Donghae. I should have warned you before,” Chief Kang apologized.

“It’s fine. I’m planning to go back by myself next time.”

After hanging up Donghae glanced at the time then grabbed his keys. It was late in the afternoon and he decided he’d pick Victoria up then head to the hospital. Enjoying the slow drive to her place Donghae took all the time he had often coming to red lights. He decided that after getting her cast off he’d try to invite her for a late lunch if she hadn’t already eaten. It was only when he turned around the corner with a smile on his face that he felt an impact ram against the driver’s side of the car. It all seemed like a blur as he felt the car get pushed away and come to a rumbling stop.

/////

“What are you looking at?” Victoria questioned staring at Melodix who was staring up at her. “I should get you a haircut huh? You can barely see through that long hair of yours.”

Melodix stared silently up at her and Victoria turned to look at the clock. The TV was going on and on about the celebrity gossips but none of it caught her attention.

“What are you waiting for, Victoria?” she asked herself aloud. “You’re not really waiting for him to come are you?”

Turning away from the clock Victoria rested her cheek into the palm of her hand.

Half an hour later Victoria stepped out from a cab and glanced up at the large hospital which had housed her after her brakes accident. Thoughts of the IV drip entered her mind and she shuddered. Clearing Victoria walked in through the glass doors and headed to the counter. After talking to the receptionist Victoria turned around to hear someone call her name.

“Miss Song,” a man in a tan windbreaker stepped toward her.

Victoria turned away from the rows of chairs where she’d been looking for the person calling her name. When she turned around she met a man who looked very familiar.

“Chief Kang?” Victoria asked.

The man smiled warmly at her, “I heard about your accident but don’t worry, we’re still looking into it. How have you been doing?”

“Pretty well, but what are you doing here?”

“Oh…there’s been some bit of an accident,” Chief Kang replied.