Chapter 52
You Said Remember Me II
/ / / / /
Nana kicked at the floor when she walked into Yuri’s room. Sitting down on the bed she sighed before laying down with her legs dangling down the side of the bed. Staring up at the ceiling she recalled being pulled into the fitting room. She’d seriously tried pulling her hand free and she was sure Eunhyuk had been the one who hadn’t let go. Her pulse quickened when she recalled what had happened next. His breath had been bouncing off her face, her lips…
“No, no,” she shook her head and shot up.
Getting up and walking to the window she could hear an engine roar outside. Changmin was probably back from work. Should she go greet him?
Nana hesitated and at the end she just remained by the window.
That evening when Yuri returned she didn’t seem to talk much. Nana couldn’t help but wonder if Yuri was perhaps silently angry with her and Changmin. Glancing over at Changmin who was sitting restlessly at the table she couldn’t help but feel that he was looking out for Yuri more than he was for her.
What would that make her in this position?
She watched as Changmin got up to voluntarily get the plates and utensils for dinner. Honestly, she didn’t know what to say to him or anyone. When Nana turned away she caught Eunhyuk’s eyes as he entered the kitchen and quickly averted them.
/ / / / /
“How was work?” Victoria the faucet to help wash the dishes in it.
“The usual,” Yuri replied without turning around to look at her.
“What’s the usual?” Victoria asked.
“Ah…just papers and so on,” Yuri went on.
Victoria was quiet for a few seconds before turning around to watch Yuri, “Are you ok?”
“Yea.”
“I hope that there won’t be a barrier growing between any of us,” Victoria told, “so, if you feel like relieving your stress we can talk. You’ve helped me with quite a few things already, I’d like to repay you the favor.”
Victoria spun around with a jump when a plate fell onto the counter and saw Changmin glancing at them surprised himself.
“Sorry,” he apologized.
Victoria smiled in reply and turned to see that Yuri hadn’t budged an inch from her spot.
/ / / / /
Donghae glanced up from his plate and eyed the others around the table. No one was speaking at all. It was very unusual. Every other time they ate together, there would at least be some bickering or small chatter.
Clearing his throat he started, “So, how was work today you two?”
“Good.” both Yuri and Changmin replied together before pausing then going back to what they were doing.
Feeling shunned off from their answers Donghae went on, “I wish I was still at work. At least you two have something to do. I feel like such a leech around here.”
Victoria nudged him from the side. He turned to glance at her with a frown before she stuffed some of the food into his mouth. Chewing the food with a scrunched up face he slightly pinched Victoria’s arm. In return she slapped his hand away before someone scooted their chair back.
“I’m going to take Nana out for a drive,” Changmin told.
Donghae turned to look at them and caught the surprised expression on Nana’s face before she got up. As they walked out he turned to glance at the others suddenly aware of the weird atmosphere that had formed.
After dinner Victoria pulled him up the stairs after her and finally stopped when they reached their room. Donghae watched as Victoria shut the door before walking back over to him.
“What?” he asked with a shrug. “Did I do something wrong?”
“No.” she replied.
“Then what are you doing?” he frowned before crossing his arms. “Oh-ho, you want to do ‘that’, don’t you?”
Victoria slapped the finger he was pointing at her.
“Ah!” he shouted in pain.
“You embarrass me so much,” Victoria muttered before going on, “but anyway, did you get what was going on down there? You need to know how to talk less.”
“What?” he asked as if offended before snorting at her. “I don’t even know what was going on, but are they fighting? It felt like they’re fighting.”
“It seems like Yuri’s upset with Changmin,” Victoria put a hand up to her chin, “I can’t seem to figure out why though.”
“Really? Then this is their problem,” Donghae pointed out.
“I know, but there must be something we could help with,” Victoria said, “I asked Eunhyuk about what you suggested.”
“What did I suggest?”
“That he and Yuri probably have something going on.”
“I said that?”
“Yes.”
“Then I guess I must have said that.”
Victoria rolled her eyes at him before continuing, “He says it’s nothing, but then I asked about Nana and he also said it was nothing. I felt it.”
Donghae cocked an eyebrow.
“Eunhyuk was lying,” Victoria summed it up, “I think those four are having their own affair.”
“Isn’t that interesting?” Donghae cooed.
“Not with all this trouble brewing at the moment,” Victoria reminded, “Eunhyuk and Nana are in trouble, remember? Changmin’s job requires outside work and they could be watching him without anyone being aware. Yuri’s a cop which means less danger for her, but it doesn’t mean she’s not in danger as well. With these personal problems, they’re less likely to worry about their own safety. Don’t you think so?”
“I think,” Donghae said, “you should just worry about yourself. It’s not like they’re kids. They can manage on their own.”
Tenderly smiling he took a step toward her and slipped an arm around her.
“With us here watching them from behind, I’m sure nothing can go wrong,” Donghae patted her back.
/ / / / /
Nana lazily stared out of the side window. She wasn’t even curious about they were going. The day’s event buzzed through her mind and she felt her gaze travel down to the hand Eunhyuk had taken a hold of earlier.
“Sorry,” Changmin apologized.
Nana turned to look at him.
“You’re full, right? If you’re not I can treat you to some food,” he offered.
“No, I’m good,” she answered.
He reached a hand out and ruffled her hair playfully. Fixing her hair with her hand she stole a glance at him through the corner of her eyes.
/ / / / /
“Are you tired from the day’s work?” Eunhyuk asked while watching her scrub the stove clean.
“A little.”
“Sorry, if I troubled you with the case that suddenly popped up,” Eunhyuk said.
“I’m not really worried about that,” Yuri admitted before turning to him, “do you want to go have a drink with me? There’s a soju tent nearby.”
/ / / / /
Changmin had parked the car somewhere by a park. The few streetlights around provided just the right amount of light for Nana to view the slides and swings on the playground ahead of her. She would have gone out to go play, but it was dark and she was feeling energy-less.
“Yuri and I used to go play at the park a lot when we were kids,” Changmin told. “Our parents would often take us out and then leave us to have their own chats. Those days are hard to find, even in my memory.”
Nana slightly looked at him before turning back to stare at the playground.
“Changmin,” she called, “do you like Yuri?”
He was silent. Nana waited a long while for his answer, but he never answered.
“How are you going to compensate me, if I end up having feelings for you?” Nana questioned.
“Who knows,” he replied turning to her, “maybe I’ll have feelings for you too. Then we’ll date some more and get married.”
Nana wasn’t sure if it was a joke full of sarcasm or if he meant it.
/ / / / /
Eunhyuk watched as Yuri chugged down her fourth shot of the night. She placed the glass onto the table with a slam before taking a sigh. They were quiet for an awfully long time.
The tent was full that night. Many others were accompanied by friends who were laughing loudly and horsing around as people in their youth would. Others sitting alone were quiet, some on their phones, or others just enjoying a small meal by themselves. The ahjumma was busy behind her counter. The red apron wrapped around her had been dirtied with a week’s worth of food and just for a long while, Eunhyuk stared at the large pot sitting on the stove with steam floating into the air.
A man screamed for an order of chicken feet and Eunhyuk turned when a car honked its horn loudly from the street. That was before a group walked into the tent and walked out after muttering that the tent was full.
It felt like one of those restless nights where no one wanted to do anything nor wanted to return home; as if staying up all night had been a norm all their lives.
“Eunhyuk,” Yuri finally started, “why did you stay? What’s the reason that made you stay?”
He glanced at her while slowly spinning his glass around. Returning his gaze back to his glass he searched through his memory.
“I don’t believe that you stayed because of what I said,” Yuri told, “because I said all that on impulse, I don’t even know if I meant it.”
Nothing appeared in his mind, but something flickered at the back of his head.
“Did you stay for Victoria and Donghae?” Yuri asked. “but they’re so capable, you probably feel like they don’t need you around. Of course, they’re so happy right now.”
“Is it important?” Eunhyuk wondered. “Is it important why I stayed?”
A small smile crossed Yuri’s lips, “I guess not. I’m just full of curiosity, or perhaps I’m hoping you didn’t stay because of what I’m thinking.”
Eunhyuk looked up at her.
Yuri ran a hand over her face as if embarrassed of what she was going to say next, “You aren’t so bad, there’s something that’s very nice about you, and I think that’s what gets me going. I’m confused, though. Why when I feel this way, do I feel more worried for Changmin?”
He watched as she poured herself another shot before taking it in.
“I feel a bit jealous when he takes Nana and just goes off,” Yuri spewed, “I mean…I don’t hate her or anything…but she has so much trouble around her, and she seems to have so many issues…I don’t want Changmin to personally involve himself with her. When he said he wanted to protect her, he had to be kidding me, right? Right?”
Yuri laughed a little crazily.
“Why do I care so much about that scumbag?” Yuri seemingly questioned herself.
“It just runs into her,” Eunhyuk spoke up at last, “trouble…just runs into Nana. She doesn’t drag it in purposely.”
Yuri glanced at him, the bags under her eyes suddenly became more visible. Eunhyuk looked away almost embarrassed of what he’d said.
“And so?” Yuri said.
“She’s just lonely, more lonely than we think, because of that, whoever approaches her first…she can’t bring herself to reject,” Eunhyuk tried, “Nana’s just vulnerable.”
Yuri slightly turned away with a small laugh.
“Then I should be ashamed for thinking like that,” Yuri mumbled. “Right?”
“We just don’t understand what’s running through her mind,” Eunhyuk went on, “because we’ve never lost anyone dear to us before.”
“How do you know?”
Eunhyuk finally met Yuri’s eyes and hesitated for a second. “Victoria was the same. Nana’s brother’s life was taken by the hands of someone else. The grief suffered from that kind of act is slightly different. The pain edges on...especially because Nana doesn't have a family anymore. Like Victoria.”
“Is that so?” Yuri mumbled. “I’m wondering why…you seem to be the one protecting her when Lee Donghae should.”
“I’m not…” Eunhyuk denied really quickly before stopping.
Yuri glanced at him, “Why deny being the good person?”
He watched Yuri leave the table and walk out of the tent. For a long time Eunhyuk listened to the chatter around him quietly.
“Because she’s always getting hurt, physically if not mentally, and if you just watch the bruises form on her body, you’ll perhaps feel guilty,” a voice whispered inside.
That thought at the back of his mind flickered again and his memory was brought back to the night when he’d returned home to find her secretly crying out back. Nana had been calling out to her brother. It had been so painstakingly sad to see.
***And so...Yuri finds out why Eunhyuk stayed.
***Will Changmin end up compensating Nana later in the story?
***And HaeToria might just end up as matchmakers! They're gonna be a great help to these four!
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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