Chapter 41
You Said Remember Me II
/ / / / /
Nana returned to an empty kitchen and found that Yuri had saved her a portion from dinner. Feeling a little hungry she took the plate and stepped out back. Sitting down she crossed her legs and stared up at the sky.
“Junsu, Im Junsu,” Nana talked aloud, “where are you? Did you get lost on your way up to meet mom and dad? Is it dark where you are? It’s…really dark over here.”
She stuffed the food into aggressively before pausing. Nana came to the point where she had to force herself to chew the food and pushed it down .
“I’m sorry,” she suddenly sobbed, “I haven’t seen you off formally. I haven’t even collected your body from the quarters. I didn’t say goodbye before you left…”
Tears spilled one after another. Nana grabbed the spoon and stuffed with the rest of the food messily. Some of the rice dropped down her shirt onto her lap as she began bawling.
“Oppa, I’ll come back to mourn for you when I get to those killers, I promise…” Nana cried, “oppa…you have to be happy where you are. You have to tell mom and dad I miss them.”
Nana threw an arm up to wipe her tears helplessly.
“Oppa…why’d you leave? Come back to me…I’m so lonely, oppa,” dragging her knees up to her chest she covered her face with both her hands and felt her body shake from her loud cries.
/ / / / /
Eunhyuk locked the door behind him and slipped his shoes off neatly placing him beside the door. He found Nana’s shoes sitting near the corner and placed his next to hers. Walking in he discovered that the light in the kitchen was on and wondered if Yuri had left it on for him. As he walked into the kitchen to turn it off, he heard someone talking.
Turning around he discovered no one, but that was before he noticed that the glass door had been left a slit open. Quietly walking toward it he recognized Nana’s voice speaking and wondered who she was talking to. He figured out a second later that she was talking to herself. Was she hoping to comfort herself that way?
He found it a bit amusing as a smile slid across his face at how silly she seemed. However, that was before he realized that she was crying. Moving his head to the side a little so he could peek outside he found her sitting on the deck alone.
When he reached his room he sat down on the bed. A lot of things were different from what he’d imagined. What was he supposed to do now?
/ / / / /
Donghae lie on the bed with Victoria’s head slightly on his arm.
“How many weeks are you?” he asked.
“About 4.”
Donghae smiled and her hair, “When do we find out if it’s a boy or girl?”
“At 12 weeks, I supposed,” she answered. “Aren’t you too much in a hurry to find out?”
“I want a boy,” he ignored her.
Victoria laughed, “I know.”
He smiled and leaned against her.
/ / / / /
When Yuri woke up the next morning she found a note lying on Nana’s pillow.
Victoria was first to wake and she wasn’t surprised. Yuri was about halfway done with breakfast that morning and by 7:30 everyone else seemed to be awake and in the kitchen waiting to eat.
“Where’s Nana?” Changmin asked looking around.
“She went out for a walk,” Yuri replied without looking up.
“Oh…really?” Changmin said gently placing the plates onto the counter.
Yuri turned away from him hoping that he wouldn’t make any stupid joke about Eunhyuk that morning. She had still yet bring herself to face Eunhyuk.
The door opened and Nana walked in cheerily. Yuri turned to look up when she arrived in the kitchen and wondered where she’d actually gone.
“Breakfast is almost ready,” Yuri smiled.
Nana nodded.
“I was thinking you wouldn’t make it back in time,” Changmin commented, “did you eat the portion we saved for you last night?”
Yuri turned to glance at Changmin’s bright face then turned to look at Eunhyuk who seemed out of it.
“Where’d you go?” Yuri asked stealing Nana’s attention. “You look kind of pale this morning.”
“Oh…” was all Nana said.
“Have a seat,” Donghae invited pulling out a chair for her.
They finished breakfast in a casual manner that morning and Victoria had promised to do the dishes forcing Yuri to head up and get dressed. When she headed down the stairs she found the others sprawled all over the place.
“I’ll be back,” Yuri told walking toward the door.
Unlocking her car reached for the handle of the car door the front door opened. She turned to see Eunhyuk look around before spotting her. Her heart suddenly rushed madly and she was kind of afraid to hear what he’d have to say.
“Uh…I…” Eunhyuk started. “I just wanted to let you know, I’m not heading home anymore.”
Relief flooded through her.
“I’m glad to hear that.” she couldn’t help but smile.
/ / / / /
Changmin motionlessly slipped on his shoes wondering what Eunhyuk needed to say to Yuri. He didn’t want to step out and meet the two outside. Heaving a quiet sigh he slowly reached for the doorknob and took a step outside. Maybe he’ll wait until Eunhyuk came back in or until Yuri drove off.
When the closed door behind him opened he swiveled around surprised to see Nana standing there.
“Oh….hey,” Changmin greeted.
Nana looked at him with an awkward smile, “Can I ask you to do a favor for me?”
“Sure, what is it?”
Nana held out her hand he saw a few dollar bills.
“I think I’m getting a cold, could you buy me some medicine on your way back?” she asked.
She looked much younger and innocent asking him that and he couldn’t help but smile.
“Nah, leave it to me,” Changmin said. “I’ll get you something. Where’d you go this morning?”
Nana shrugged, “I just walked around. Thanks a lot.”
He laughed a little, “Ok, go on in.”
Once the door closed and he turned around he saw Eunhyuk and Yuri looking over. Maybe he ought to drive off right away.
/ / / / /
“Head on in, I better get going,” Yuri told before getting into her car.
Eunhyuk watched as she started to back out of the driveway and started back toward the house. Changmin finally started walking toward his car and they passed each other quietly.
Pausing halfway to the door Eunhyuk turned around to see Changmin board his car. What he and Nana talked about just earlier? Walking in through the door he heard Victoria talking from the dining room.
“Do you want to help me make some kimbap?” Victoria asked.
“I’m not very good with cooking,” Nana replied hesitantly.
“I’ll teach you,” Victoria offered, “there’s not much to do around here so I have to get my hands on something.”
As the two headed toward the kitchen Eunhyuk glanced at Donghae who was lazily leaning back into the couch.
“Oh Eunhyuk,” Donghae called.
Eunhyuk walked around the couch and sat down next to him.
“Have you called your uncle?” Eunhyuk asked.
“Yes, I did get in contact with him,” Donghae replied, “I forgot all about Chief Kang. Do you know if he’s alright?”
“He was lying in bed the last time I saw him,” Eunhyuk told.
“Was he hurt real bad?” Donghae questioned curious.
For some reason he sounded like a little boy.
“No,” Eunhyuk shook his head, “he was with that criminal photographer and I bet they’re still together.”
“Heechul? Really?!”
“We’ll probably meet them in a few weeks’ time,” Eunhyuk assured.
“Tsh…” Donghae smirked, “well of course. Chief Kang will be looking for me after all.”
/ / / / /
“Is the site under investigation?” Yuri asked the cop in front of her.
“Yes, it’s currently closed off right now,” he replied.
“Have they discovered anything new? There were only two statements from witnesses,” Yuri tapped at the manila folder in her arm, “have you guys found any more witnesses to testify?”
“A passerby said that she saw two people run from the site, but we don’t know where they could have disappeared to,” the cop explained.
“Are they suspects or possible victims in this case? Have you clarified that?” Yuri pressed on.
“We don’t know where to classify them as of right now,” he said, “there wasn’t anyone around that area that time of day. As you see, that area is currently an unpopular area where even teenagers don’t frequent…”
“I’m not looking for information about the area,” Yuri stated heavily, “I want to know whether those escapees are suspects or victims. Were they possibly being harassed by this man that died?”
“Sherriff Kwon…”
“This man is a person who drinks day in and day out,” Yuri began, “yet why did he die? Did he wrong some people or was he currently picked on? Have you or anyone else figured this out?”
“I’m sorry.”
Yuri heaved a sigh.
“Perhaps the Chief will have something in for you,” the cop hoped, “as for now we can only label those two suspects until proven guilty.”
“Yes, yes,” Yuri waved him off before finally stepping into her office.
Putting the folder onto her desk she wondered who those two escapees were. If maybe she could obtain some videos from the cameras around the area she’d be able to search for the two.
/ / / / /
It’d been a long while since she’d set her hands busy at work. She hadn’t been able to cook properly ever since the week Donghae had supposedly died.
Evenly spreading out the rice onto the dried seaweed she glanced up at Nana to find her quietly working away. She seemed to be doing surprisingly well.
“I thought you said you weren’t good at making food,” Victoria teased.
“I’m not…really…”
Victoria smiled, “Do you have any friends? Do they know you’re here?”
Nana downcast her eyes solemnly, “Only a few.”
“You’re better than me,” Victoria told, “I barely had any.”
Nana finally looked at her.
“Don’t hold yourself back if you want to know or do something,” Victoria advised, “it’ll make it easier for us to accommodate to you. You’re often so quiet.”
“I know.”
“Coping alone is difficult,” Victoria said, “I was alone when my family members died. It’s not fair if you have to go through it the same way, if you want to talk, let me know.”
“I’m sorry, I want to go up and rest a little,” Nana told before leaving the table and starting up the stairs.
Victoria turned to watch her go and wondered if she’d said anything that made her unhappy.
/ / / / /
Nana plopped down onto the bed and crawled under the blanket folding her legs up to her chest. Not only was her head starting to spin but she was starting to shiver from the cold. It’d been a while since she’d fallen sick, maybe she’d take advantage of it and rest up some.
/ / / / /
Changmin returned a little later than usual. He walked in to find Victoria, Donghae, and Eunhyuk in the living room watching the TV. Nana was no where in sight.
“Did Nana go out?” Changmin asked.
They turned to look at him.
“Ooh! Kimbap!” he reached over and grabbed a few.
“I saved you and Yuri some more in the kitchen,” Victoria told.
“Thanks!”
He noticed Eunhyuk eyeing the bag he had with him.
“Nana’s probably upstairs,” Victoria answered his question.
Changmin smiled and walked up the stairs. Turning to his left he started toward Yuri’s room at the end of the hallway and poked his head in to find Nana lying down.
Walking into the room he called, “Nana?”
She seemed to hear him as her eyes opened and turned to look at him.
Sitting up she glanced at the bag he had in hand, “Is that the medicine I asked for?”
“Are you ok?”
Nana nodded. Changmin frowned. She really was as pale as Yuri had said that morning. Reaching a hand out he felt her forehead.
“You’re burning up,” Changmin told. “Did you eat anything for lunch?”
“No, I’m fine,” Nana told, “can you just get me a glass of water?”
She reached out for the medicine in the bag but he pulled his hand back.
“I’ll get you something to eat,” Changmin said, “then I’ll let you have the medicine. Ok?”
Nana half snorted at him.
“I’ll be back.” he promised before starting back down the stairs.
***More Nana and Changmin next!
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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