Sun-kissed

Chapter 35

Youngbae grinned as he ducked his head slightly and entered the van, sliding the door behind him.  "Head to YG please," he instructed the driver, buckling in.  He was feeling oddly light hearted for the first time in several weeks.  Neh, he was feeling pretty good about himself right about now.  He turned to Amina, his smile slowly fading away when he saw the look on her face.

She had taken her sunshades off and even in the dimly lit van, he could tell that she was furious at him.  Her eyes shot fire and the color on her cheeks was high.

"Mwuh?" he asked innocently, swallowing hard.

"T-tell me I'm hearing things," Amina's voice shook with emotion.  "You did not just tell that person that I'm your girlfriend!"

Youngbae looked away, cringing slightly at her reprimand. Why did she have to sound so appalled? "What if I did?" He said defiantly, his eyebrows rising above his sunglasses.

She gave him a look of disbelief. "D-do you realize what you've done?  What if someone recognizes me and puts two-and-two together?  I can't believe you just did that!" 

He pressed his lips firmly together and crossed his arms over his chest. He could feel himself becoming more and more closed up the longer he listened to her talk.  He tried to block out the rest of her tirade.

Amina's lips trembled as she continued. "My parents... David's parents... what if they found out?  H-how can you be so careless?"

She stared at his profile, recognizing the stubborn set of his chin.  He wasn't going to even explain himself.  She shook her head at him as angry tears started to roll down her cheeks.  She wiped them away and stared outside the passenger window. 

God, why did he have to do that? she thought to herself. Not only was it about to mess up her life, but did he also have to be so reckless with his own?  Did he not even realize the death sentence he just put on himself?  Once word spread... She sniffed back more tears and took in a shaky breath. 

Youngbae glanced over at Amina, hearing her soft cries.  He fisted his hands to keep from reaching out to her. 

They sat in silence for the rest of the ride back to YG headquarters.

Once the driver pulled to a stop inside the parking garage, Youngbae opened the van door and hopped out, heading straight towards the front lobby doors.  Amina looked at Youngbae's retreating back, his purposeful strides eating up the pavement.  The driver came around towards the open sliding door, his hand waiting to assist her out.

"Can you drive me home?" Amina quietly asked, her eyes still watery.

The man swallowed hard and looked scared for a moment.  He hoped she wouldn't cry any further.  He already endured her quiet sobs all the way back and felt awkward even speaking to her.  The driver glanced towards the building and inwardly sighed in relief when he found Youngbae walking back towards them.  He bowed and apologetically replied, "I'm sorry mam... I don't think he'll let me."

Amina looked past the driver and noticed Youngbae heading back, a pair of keys rolling inside the palm of his hand.  He reached the van door.  "Get out," Youngbae demanded, his head jerking slightly at her.

"I'm not going anywhere with you."

The van driver bowed to Youngbae and left the two alone.  He counted his lucky stars as he walked away.  There was nothing worse to him than dealing with a woman's tears.

"You can't sit there all day," retorted Youngbae. 

She didn't move.

"Aish!" Youngbae exclaimed.  "Do I have to come in there and drag you out?"  He placed a foot inside the van and stopped the moment she left the seat, brushing past him on her way out.  He slammed the van door closed and turned around, watching her walk out of the parking garage.  He walked after her and pulled on her arm to stop.