Criminal Love

12. Movie Date

After the incomplete kiss, a couple of awkward days went by where neither Yue nor Dylan knew exactly how to behave around one another. However, the strange feeling soon passed, and things seem to have settled again.

The bond that has been created between them is too strong to let anything interfere with what appears to be a force of nature.

Their souls long to be together, no matter the activity. The pull they experience is beyond physical attraction. There is truly a sense of friendship and belonging that unites them. It's as though nothing could separate them anymore, not even their stubbornness.

At the office

Yue is looking sad today. She received a call from her parents early in the morning and that disturbed her. Her sister had warned her the day before, but the call was enough to startle Yue and ruin her mood for a whole day.

Across the desk, Dylan observes Yue with a lump in his throat. He knows her parents called her because she hung up as soon as he opened the door to her apartment in the morning, but she hasn't talked about it. All day she has had a blank look on her face. What did they say to her? Why do they upset her like that?

Of course, Dylan understands how parents can destroy a child's life, his father is a breathing example of it. He urged Dylan to become a criminal, and he did. Still, how can normal parents do that?

Anyway, Yue turned out to be a remarkable woman. She is strong, independent, reliable, kind... She is amazing. Whatever happened to her, cannot be that bad, can it?

Dylan has left 3 origami on Yue's desk trying to cheer her up, one after the other -a rose, a butterfly and a fish- and nothing, no bright smile, merely a little curve of gratitude on her lips.

It truly frustrates Dylan when he cannot make her smile. That's his primary mission: to make Yue happy. He tried to ask her what is happening with her family, but she didn't want to talk about it, which makes him sad and confused.

In the office, everyone is busy investigating the robbery at Taylor's mansion. Apparently, The Russian is the author of the fake painting, but the order came from someone else, and that person will most likely be at the 4th of July party, which is why it is imperative that Dylan and Yue go to the Keys and find a way to be invited to the celebration.

That trip will be a nice distraction.

◇◇◇

On the ride back home, Dylan keeps staring at Yue with puppy eyes. He cannot bear to see his best friend this gloomy; it is heartbreaking. Something must be done.

"Shen Yue, why won't you tell me what is going on? We tell each other everything, don't we?"

When the visions around you
Bring tears to your eyes
And all that surrounds you
Are secrets and lies
I'll be your strength
I'll give you hope
Keeping your faith when it's gone
The one you should call
Was standing there all along

Yue sighs. If only he knew all the secrets that she keeps. Would he still be so nice to her if he knew she had a husband hidden somewhere? There is so much weighing on her heart that she wouldn't know what to say or where to start.

Staring at her with a helpless expression, Dylan realizes it might be hard for Yue to talk right now, perhaps her feelings are overwhelming. How can he make things better? Maybe there is something he can do for her.

"Let's go to the movies! You pick!" he exclaims, hoping his enthusiasm will be contagious.

"Huh?" Yue did not expect that at all. Is it a good idea? It's been ages since she went to the movies... College, maybe?