Learning Again

Five

I left work then held my bag strap tighter, beginning my walk home. As I walked, I looked around Seoul at night and had to admit it was really pretty.

"Hey, pretty girl!" I heard and walked just a little faster then ducked my head, trying to ignore the voices calling after me.

"Come on, girl! Don't be so mean!"

"Talk to us!"

"MADDIE!" I heard and lifted my head, my eyes widening as Woo Young and Seong Hwa came over, both hugging my shoulders and the guys backing off.

"You walking home?" Woo Young asked and I nodded, frowning as I saw his clothes. It looked like he'd gone out, maybe to a show or something.

"Yeah, I just finished work."

"Let us walk you home." Seong Hwa said and I looked at him then smiled softly.

"Min Gi will be mad if we left you to walk home alone after that." Woo Young said and I nodded.

"Okay, thank you." I smiled and let them walk me to my apartment. As I unlocked my door, I got a text then smiled as I saw it was Min Gi.

Min Gi: Seong Hwa texted me. Are you okay?

"You texted him?" I asked Seong Hwa and Woo Young lightly elbowed his friend as the mentioned guy stared.

"To let him know you were okay!" He said and I grinned.

"Thank you!" I said and waved to them, walking into my apartment and calling Min Gi.

"Maddie?" He immediately answered, but I laughed and shut the door behind me.

"I'm alright, Min Gi, your friends protected me." I said and leaned down to pull my shoes off.

"Good, I'm glad. Why didn't you tell me you were getting off? I'd have come to get you." He said, but I shook my head and went further into the house, going to my kitchen.

"You don't need to worry about me, Min Gi. Really, I got home fine-"

"Because my friends saved you!" He said and I turned, my words dying in my throat as I saw who was standing at my window.

"Maddie, are you there?" Min Gi asked, but I licked my lips and stepped back as he turned towards me.

'"Hi, Maddie."'

"Maddie, who was that? Was that a man?" Min Gi asked, but I shook my head and slowly lowered my phone.

"'How are you here, dad?!"' I asked and he smiled.

"'You wouldn't answer my calls-"'

"'Because you tried to kill me!"' I yelled and shook my head, hearing Min Gi yelling my name from my phone.

"'Hang up the phone, Madison."' Dad said and I acted like I did, setting the phone on the counter. Like hell I'd give my dad the chance to say shit without a witness.

"'How do you know where I live?"' I asked and he smirked.

"'It's very easy for a concerned father to find his daughter. The police were very kind in helping me find you."' He said and I shook my head, backing into the counter and gripping it.

"'You can't be here!"' I whispered, whining as he came over and got in my face.

"'No, I can, Madison. See, you're still my daughter, and I plan on finishing what I started!"'

"'Dad, please, just go!"' I cried, looking up at him.

"'Go!"' I begged and knew Min Gi was yelling my name. I don't know how, but I knew.

Min Gi's POV
"Maddie, answer me!" I yelled as I ran from my room, sliding on the ground as I got to the living room. I nearly fell over in my rush to get to the door, the guys turning to me, but I froze with one shoe on as Maddie screamed.

"MIN GI!" She screamed, my anger flaring.

"Mingi, what's wrong?" I heard Hong Joong call, but I got my other shoe on and grabbed my house keys, running from the house.

"MINGI!" I heard Yeo Sang yell, though I ran between Seong Hwa and Woo Young as I ran from the house.

"Where are you going?!" I heard Woo Young call, but soon heard them behind me as I ran for Maddie's apartment.

"'YOU FUCKING BITCH! THINKING YOU CAN LOCK ME AWAY!"' I heard the man yell in English and I mentally thanked San for teaching me to understand English. I could understand it, just not speak it that well.

"Call the police!" I told my friends as I ran, but I hung up the phone and ran faster, getting to her building. As I got there, I ran up the five flights of stairs then got to her apartment.

"Maddie!" I yelled, banging on her door, but I heard silence behind the wood.

"Min Gi, what's wrong?!" Jong Ho asked as he held his phone to his ear, but I looked at him.

"Her dad is in there and he's supposed to be in prison! She said he was hurting her, and he-" I stopped as I heard a scream then I growled, kicking the door in.

"Maddie?!" I yelled, looking at the bathroom door to my right. I opened the door then saw a man holding Maddie's head in the water of the tub.

"HEY!" I screamed and ran over, grabbing his shirt and yanking him off her. I heard her behind me coughing, the water moving as she came out of it, but I punched the man's face over and over.

"MINGI, ENOUGH!" Hong Joong yelled then I let the man go, turning to Maddie. As I saw her, I saw a bruise forming on her eye, her hair was soaked, the top of her shirt was wet, and she was crying.

"Madison!" I went over and kneeled, hugging her close as sirens sounded outside, getting closer. She sobbed as she gripped my shirt, the man coughing as he held his face, but I looked down at Maddie and saw her crying.

"Maddie?!" She looked up at me then lurched, turning and throwing up on the ground as cops flooded the apartment.