The Divine Fury // Divine Fury Sequel Fanfiction

15 Part 2

Yong-Hoo

Quickly he selected a record and put it on, then he followed her to the kitchen. As expected she refused any help but he simply snatched the things from her, ignoring her ranting. He heated up the food in the microwave and carried the hot plates to the table, which Soo-Jin had cleared. Together they sat on the fluffy cushions on the floor and went at the food, while "Hotel California" played in the background.

"Did you make this?", Yong- Hoo asked, while stuffing more food into his mouth.

Soo-Jin, whose mouth was full, nodded.

"It tastes delicious. You're a really good cook."

"Thanks", she mumbled and for some reason her cheeks turned pink. She lowered her head and more strands of hair loosened from the knot she had tied it in. He watched her repeatedly trying to fix it, but her bandaged hands were too clumsy for the flimsy task.

Curtly he got up. "Let me do it." Before she could reject, he kneeled behind her and carefully freed her hair. Then he divided it into three parts and gently braided them down. Her body felt stiff under his touch and when he moved back to his seat he saw that her face was glowing bright red. It was the first time he saw her this bashful, and it crossed his mind that she looked kind of cute.

She kept her gaze fixed at her plate, while she let her fingers trace over the pattern in her hair. "Where did you learn that?"

He resumed eating to keep his hands busy, which were tingling for some reason. "I grew up with my grandmother, and she thought it important for me to know such things."

"I like that idea. Why did you grow up with her, were your parents working?"

He gulped. He hated this part. The part where he told his story and was suddenly looked upon differently. Poor, orphaned boy. But nonetheless he felt like telling her. He told her about his mother and that his dad had passed away, although he didn't tell her how that had intertwined him with the supernatural world. When he looked up her eyes did not show pity or sorrow. They were compassionate and clear and curious. He remembered that she had told him how much she hated it when people looked at her differently because of her disease. She understood, and that made him feel some sense of relief.

"What was your dad like?"

Without realizing it he seeked comfort in the touch of the warm, heavy metal that hung down his chest. Lulled in the soundtrack of his childhood he told Soo-Jin about his father, describing the memories that he could see like visions in front of his inner eye. When he was able to see Soo-Jin's face again, she was teary, but smiling. They sat like this and exchanged moments of happiness from days, that to both of them felt like out af a different lifetime.

He had completely lost track of time, when he realized the music wasn't playing anymore. Their eyes were locked onto each other and the silence was filled by their hearts, which were beating in unison. It felt like rain that cooled down a summer night- delicate and calming, but at the same time electrifying.

It was Soo-Jin who broke the spell. She got up and started clearing the empty dishes and bowls. Yong-Hoo did the same and followed her into the kitchen, where they placed everything in the sink. He grabbed the sponge and turned on the tap without asking, because he knew that if he did, she was probably going to kick him out. Her hand rashly turned the tap off, stopping the water.

"What are you doing?", she asked, not moving her hand.

"The dishes. That's the least I can do for the meal."

"You're my guest, I'm not going to let you do my housework."

"You can't do it with your bandaged hands."

"I can wear rubber gloves."

He held back a sigh. "You shouldn't do it with your injured hands. Now let me do this." He opened the tap determinately and began washing the dishes. He could literally feel her displease and he rolled his eyes. "Just sit down for God's sake."

She mumbled something he could not understand, but stepped back, defeated. "Fine. But I'll be looking at your behind the whole time."

Jesus, this girl. But he didn't dare turn to give her a scolding look because it's effect would have been very much debased by how red his face had become. "Just... pick out some music", he said, trying to shake the feeling of her gaze on his body.

"Already at it", he heard Soo-Jin say from the other side of the room, and she appeared next to him just seconds later.

He listened attentively, waiting for the crackling sounds to end and the music to begin. The following tones seemed strangely familiar. He turned to her when he recognized the old trot song. Soo-Jin was grinning mischieviously and he laughed out loud. She picked up the dish brush and used it as a fake microphone. He pressed his lips together tightly and only tapped along with his foot. He was a terrible singer and she surely would tease him about it. But his reluctance faded when she started singing - she did not hit a single note. So at the chorus, he joined. Wherever his brain had stored that dusty information, he was able to recall the lyrics with ease. They turned the song into a duet, taking turns in tormenting the poor dish brush-microphone with their harmonious unmelodiousness. They poured all their emotions into the finale and ended in a dramatic manner, that was worthy of a standing ovation. For a second there was silence, just their heavy breathing, and while the next track started, both of them broke into laughter. It took some time until they had calmed down. 

"We should formally apologize to your neighbors", he said while folding the dishcloth.

"Yeah, probably", Soo-Jin giggled. Her eyes were glowing with excitement and the smile she gave him was nothing he had seen on her before. Nothing he had seen on anyone before, it crossed his mind.

"I haven't seen you laugh like this before. It suits you."

Her eyes widened and she coughed awkwardly. She lowered her gaze to the bracelet around her wrist and her fingers caressed the colorful beads. "Don't get me wrong", she took a deep breath, "I'm glad we are not on daggers drawn with each other anymore, but when you say things like that- when you are like that, it makes me feel uncomfortable..."

Her vulnerability was nearly palpable. Her words moved something in him too, but instead of backing out, like he usually did, he did not close off. "Why?"

It took her a moment to answer. She was still fondly looking at her bracelet, but Yong-Hoo noticed that her shoulders had dropped a little too low. "I guess I forgot how it feels like to be so carefree with someone. Or how it is when someone takes care of me."

A sharp pain shot through his chest, paired with anger. This wasn't right. She shouldn't have to go through this. But he focused back on her. "Maybe you should stop pushing others away."

She raised an eyebrow at him, finally looking up. The smile that had lightened up her face was gone. Still, she had this fierce sparkle in her eyes. "Great advice, coming from you." She jokingly nudged him with her elbow. "But really, since when are you like this?"

"Like what?"

"So... attentive? Thoughtful?"

"Hey", he crossed his arms, a little offended, "I am all those things!"

"Alright, but not this openly and straightforwardly."

"Maybe you are rubbing off..." He looked her in the eyes and she did not look away. There it was again, this strange intensity between them.

"Is that the only effect I have on you?", she said slowly.

No. You turn everything upside down. And I like it. He held back those words, afraid of their meaning. But it was as if his silence spilled them anyway. He watched the spark in her eyes ignite and automatically, naturally, he was drawn closer to her. She stepped forward too, closing the distance between them as if the space was magnetic. His heart was racing and he wanted nothing more than to feel if her's was beating at the same pace. His body moved on it's own when he rose his hand and leaned in...