Detour

13

Haein

"I will drive." She announced the moment we reached Namwon's Best parking lot. She gave me a sharp look when I tried to negotiate.

It's been an hour after we escaped that close call we had, that chasing around stint with the car burglars which looked like an organized syndicate using teens to do the dirty jobs for them. It was the first time she spoke again after that intimate moment we had on the alley.

If you can even call forehead kiss intimate, then count it in. I mentally chant to myself it was not a kiss but just a skin contact to rest my lip on her forehead to fix that unsettling feeling I had. The moment we stepped inside that small space that suffocated all the air in me and tested every string of control I had on my body, every inch of me had never been okay being that too close to her. My heart beats violently every second count that we stayed standing so damn close, that I almost believe my heart stopped beating and I can only hear her heartbeat.

You don't like her Haein. Repeat until you believe.

But maybe just like her, my body did not cooperate well. Why would I coil my arm on her body and pushed her closer to mine. Maybe if there is some space between us that would allow her to kick me on my balls, she would have done that. But she did not, even she already got the opportunity.

"Not going to the hospital for treatment, not reporting the incident to Namwon police, not using the gun to protect us, not arresting criminals but instead running around as if we are culprits, the list goes long and long Jung. You don't know how mad I am right now."

She's always mad at me anyways I am not even surprised.

"I just don't want you on further trouble Kim." I replied.

"How the hell is protecting yourself become a trouble now?" She yelled at me, anger so obvious she did not even need to state. "I told you not all times following your goddamn rule book would save you. Can't you even hear yourself? That was just pure dumb."

I rested the back of my head against the headrest, closing my eyes as if I am hearing music instead of her voice.

"You have the audacity to look so calm and relax while giving me nearly a heart attack?" She yelled again and it made her more furious when I smiled because she stepped on the accelerator harder.

By the way, she's a very good driver.

"What's funny? You can still smile despite---

"You sounded like a nagging wife. I like it. Rant more."

I am not wearing my seatbelt, so my body almost threw out of the dashboard when it was the break she stepped hard, causing the car a forceful halt. My head tilted sideways to see her fuming face. If my mind is not on haze, I think I am imagining she's actually puffing fire and not air.

"See, you are not even wearing your seatbelt. Where's your lawbook now?" Scolding me again, making me smile.

"You are starting to sound like me Kim. I'm loving it that it was you reminding me to follow the law."

Her elbows rested on the steering wheel, her left hand massaging her head like I am causing her an terrific headache and my focus went to her forehead where my kiss landed earlier. I think I smiled again.

"I can't understand you." It was no longer an angry tone, but more of a questioning and frustrating one.

I faced her full form as I shifted myself from the passenger seat, giving her the answer she needed. "I am serious when I said you could lose your job with one more violation. I pulled up your records from the record section and you had a lot of warnings and complaints. The next sanction indicated in there is suspension or dismissal. I won't want that to happen to you."