About 10 minutes later Donghae found himself walking into his kitchen to fetch a cup of water and hurried back to find Victoria sitting like a lifeless person on the couch.

“Drink some water,” Donghae told taking her hand trying to get her to take a hold of the cup.

“Just set it on the table,” she said quietly.

Donghae did as told and took a seat beside her. “Chief Kang tried calling me but I left my phone behind, I’m sorry I couldn’t get here sooner.”

Victoria kept her head turned away and didn’t reply. He watched her for a while longer then finally got up getting the cue that she wouldn’t talk to him just yet.

After a short shower he walked back out to find that Victoria had fallen asleep. He returned to his room and dug in his closet for a blanket. Even if he woke her up to sleep in the guest room he was sure that she’d just slap him. Walking back out he turned off the light and covered her with the blanket lifting her legs up onto the couch.

/////

She hadn’t returned home and to think he’d stood guard watching for her all night. Where else did she have to go? Frustration filled him. And after the deed he’d done today too. He was expecting so much to see her. If he found out that she was with someone, that person would be next.

/////

Victoria awoke when the light dawned upon her. Opening her eyes to reality she really wished she could immediately return to dreamland and sink into a bed of feathers. Sitting up she glanced around the familiar home before noticing the loud noise coming from the kitchen. Everything from last night came running back to her and she felt as if she were on a treadmill running away from it all. How she wished everyone were still alive and that she was still in Incheon.

“What are you doing?” Victoria asked walking into the kitchen to find Donghae frying some eggs.

“You’re up? Was I too loud?” he asked.

Looking away from him Victoria took a seat at the kitchen table, “I haven’t seen a guy cook in a long time. Is your food edible?”

“What would I be cooking for if I couldn’t even do this?” Donghae asked. “If you lived here everyday I’d cook every morning.”

“Psh,” Victoria turned away from him then back.

“Did you have a good night? I knew you’d get angry if I tried to get you off the couch so I just left you there,” he explained.

“It’s good you know me to that extent,” Victoria commented.

He smiled back at her, “Do you want some coffee?”

“It’s a Sunday, forget it.”

“If you say so.” After a few minutes he placed a couple of plates on the table. “Breakfast entrée served!”

Victoria frowned at him. “I guess this looks eatable.”

“It may not look perfect, but it does taste good,” Donghae told.

Victoria took a bite then nodded, “Anyway, thanks for last night.”

Donghae smiled, “I have a few things to talk to you about, but work comes first.”

“If you can make me happy then I’ll tell you what I can,” Victoria replied stealing a glance at him. “I know I wasn’t in my right mind last night.”

“You sure weren’t, the chief even said he couldn’t understand what you were saying,” Donghae told. “I guess I am the best at mediating with you.”

“And you’re proud?”

“Better proud than not.” Donghae looked at her then joked. “I’ll brag about the psychology professor, Victoria Song, who spent the night at my house.”

“You wanna die?”

“Are you jinxing me?”

Victoria’s expression immediately changed.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean that.”

“I know, you don’t need to be so sensitive around me.”

Donghae looked away wondering if she would actually tell him how she felt. “Sometimes I think you don’t even need to say a word because I already know how you feel. We really are some friends.”

Victoria made a face then said, “So what?”

“You haven’t really thought about what I said, huh?” he asked.

Victoria glanced at him, “I thought you said work comes first. And if you can cheer me up today, I’ll really consider it and tell you whatever you want to know.”

“Really? You’re not lying?” he had become excited.

She just continued on with her breakfast in a cool manner ignoring him, but she actually saw the smile that didn’t come off his face. Why had she suddenly driven there last night and waited in the cold for three hours? Maybe for the comfort he would give her without even being asked, because there was no one she had. Was she really coming to depend on this investigator?

“Should we take your car or mine?” Donghae asked when they got outside.

“Yours, of course.” Victoria replied walking around his car to the passenger side.

Victoria first followed Donghae into the arcade and she even felt surprised with herself when she spent more than half the afternoon in there. Before leaving Victoria found a photo booth where she took some money from him to take some pictures. After hiding in the arcade for so long they went to the movies and she found herself purposely fighting over the large popcorn he’d bought when they just arrived. They finally had lunch after the movies, the first day Victoria ever felt like she’d had a decent day in Seoul.

It was unusually warm when they left the restaurant. After leaving his car by the street they took a walk around the shops then to the park.

“Out of 10 how would you rate today?” he asked.

“5?”

“What?!”

She couldn’t help but laugh, “9.5, not bad, right?”

The smile of satisfaction took over his face, “I’m never bad.”

“So then I’ll keep my end of the bargain,” Victoria said walking toward a bench.

She still hated the thought because the image of In Ji’s body…never left her mind. It was still clear and fresh…even worse than when she’d found Il Chung and Sandy. The fear haunted her and she didn’t want to have the time to think about it.

“She said she had a Chinese boyfriend and she wanted to make a dish for him, so she wanted me to help,” Victoria recalled, “she said she’d been seeing him for a month. All I remember is I went there, knocked, called for her, when she didn’t answer I found the door unlocked…” Victoria gulped. “Just like how I found the door to Il Chung and Sandy’s apartment…”

She turned to look at Donghae for assurance as if she wasn’t quite sure she was telling the right story. He nodded in encouragement and Victoria had no choice but to continue.  

“The DVDs she said she was going to watch with him after dinner were on the table and I looked around but she wasn’t in sight. So then I noticed the empty bowl burning on the stove…then…then…when I walked forward she was there…on the ground.” Victoria clenched her teeth together.

“Do you know who her boyfriend was?”

Victoria shook her head then suddenly remembered the most vivid detail that had been there when she’d entered the room. Red roses. She turned to Donghae with a worried expression on her face.

“And there were red roses on the table,” she said almost in a whisper. “It may just be me being paranoid but they looked exactly like the ones I’ve been receiving. Take a look at it…please.”

“I will,” he promised.

When he turned to look at her Victoria immediately said, “Don’t ask me anymore. I don’t know anymore.”

“Ok,” he said gently, “I won’t. Just leave the rest to me.”

Victoria turned away feeling a sudden nervousness all of a sudden. Or was it the fear of losing someone again?

“I promised to take your feelings into consideration,” Victoria said, “but it’ll take some time. And because I feel weak right now, if you give me your hand I might take it without considering your heart just because I need it. I was thinking about why I waited for you yesterday feeling so desperate…it’s only because I knew you’d give me what I needed without a second thought. In other words, I’m literally using you.” Victoria turned to him. “It’s because you always speak to me like I’m the only one that exists. So, if by chance you get hurt later don’t put the blame on me.”

“Are you saying I’m finally making you fall for me?” he joked.

***You get what Victoria is telling him, right? ^^