POMEGRANATES AND TULIPS: Book 2 (Jeon Wonwoo) EDITING

26 | Hidden Figures

It's been three days now, and I haven't heard from Wonwoo at all and it is starting to stir worry in me.

I step inside the convenience store, "Hello Lizzy how are you doing?" Mrs. Kim says. I smile at her, "Hello Mrs. Kim, I'm doing okay. I noticed that you had been busy these few days." I said walking over to the ramen section.

"With New Year's coming up business has been great," She says with a smile, I grab two packets of ramen, kimbap, a four-pack of banana milk, and a package of strawberries before walking over to the counter. "Just this," I said. Mrs. Kim smiles as she scans my items, "So how are things going with that sweet young man?" Mrs. Kim asks with a playful smirk. A nervous laugh escapes my lips as my gaze falls on the receipt in her hand. "Umm, I don't know I haven't heard from him for three days," I said taking the receipt.

Mrs. Kim hums, "Don't worry hun, he'll come around. That young man has his eyes on you." She says with a smile. I give her a small smile and laugh nervously, "I guess so, thank you Mrs. Kim have a lovely night." I said before walking out of her store.

A sigh escapes my lips as I stick the straw into the carton of banana milk, I stop in my tracks hearing a cat meowing in distress. I turned to see a grey cat across the stress circling a box, I furrowed my brows and looked both ways before dashing across. I slowed my pace and crouched down, I gasped lightly seeing two kittens shivering. "Aw you poor babies," I said removing my scarf, I unfolded it and placed the mama cat and her two kittens on the scarf before carefully wrapping them neatly in it. "Let's get you someplace warm," I said holding them close to my chest and walk towards the apartment complex.

I bite my bottom, I can't walk through the lobby pets are forbidden in the apartments. A sigh leaves my lips as I walk out to the back, "If I get caught...I'm willing to pay the fee rather than leaving you guys out in this cold." I whisper and unlock the back entrance door with the key every resident is given in case of being locked out. I rush up the stairs hoping no one catches me, the kittens meow lightly and weakly. I reached the fourth level checked to see if the hall was empty, and dashed to my apartment.

I stepped inside quickly closing the door behind me, I sighed in relief and got on my knees to unwrap the cat and her kittens from the scarf. I smile faintly as the gray mama stretches her limbs and licks her kittens, "I'll see if I have anything to give you and the kittens." I whisper and get up. I set the bag on the counter and pulled out the milk and strawberries. I grab a small bowl from the cupboard and grab the milk from the fridge pouring just enough for the cat and her babies. I walk carefully towards them and place the bowl down, I watch the mama and her babies rush to the bowl.

I push my glasses up and sigh, "What you were three doing out in this weather." I whispered. I walk into the kitchen and begin to make myself some ramen, I turn the TV on. The news forecasting the weather for this upcoming week, I bite my bottom lip and leave it. I wash my hands once more and rinse out the strawberries before grabbing the knife and dicing them. I grab the pitcher from the cupboard filling it half with ice and the rest with water, grabbing the raspberry tea bags from the cabinet I let the tea bags sit in a bowl of boiling hot water. 

I grab my phone and unlock it, no new messages at all. I sighed and went back to making the strawberry raspberry tea, I turned the stove off seeing the ramen was fully cooked. I grab a bowl and pour some ramen into it, I taste-test the tea only to add three tablespoons of sugar to finish it off.

I hear the mama and her babies meowing, I turn to see them sitting by the coffee table. I furrowed my brows, "You are very trained to be a stray cat," I said tilting my head as the gray cat waits patiently. I bite my bottom lip and put the pitcher into the fridge, I let out a small sigh. "The least I can do is you give your babies a warm bath. You guys are probably covered in who knows what." I said putting my bowl on the counter with my glass of tea, I walked down the hall. Entering the bathroom I prepare the tub with warm water, and the mama meows. I turn to see her waiting by the door, along with her kittens.

"After the bath, you guys can rest okay," I said as if they could understand me, I rolled the sleeves up of my shirt and picked up the mama. "You are too calm, you also don't have a collar which is odd," I said and gently placed her into the bath, she was indeed dirty. I bite my bottom lip and scrub the dirt off with water, "I don't have the right soap for you so water will just have to do." I said rubbing her head gently. The cat meowed and purred as I made sure no more dirty water was in sight, I grabbed the towel and carefully dried her. I turn the blow dryer on and begin to comb her fur with a brush I no longer use.

"You are a pretty mama," I said she meowed, and I smiled as I finished drying her. I put her down and picked up the kittens, "You guys are so cute," I said and got them in the bathtub.

9:30PM

A laugh escapes my lips as the two kittens play with each other, I look at the mama as she sleeps soundly on the couch. "I wonder what kind of cruel person leaves you and your babies in the cold," I whisper as I pet her softly. The doorbell rings, and I get up quickly. I wasn't sure what to think besides feeling fear, I bit my bottom lip. I walk over to the door, "Lizbeth? It's me Soonyoung." I feel myself relax as I unlock the door. Soonyoung stands there with a smile but he notices my uneasiness. "I'm sorry I should've called you beforehand." He says pulling me into a tight hug, he steps inside the apartment and closes the door.

"H—You breaking the rules love?" He asked I looked at the kittens and mama cat. I smile and pull away from the hug, "I am but because I found them freezing in a box, I wasn't going to leave them there." I said crossing my arms. Soonyoung smiles and walks over to the cat and her babies, "Arent you the cutest things ever." He cooed. I smile and join him on the couch, "What if you get caught?" He asked. I shrugged, "I'll pay the fee," I said as the mama sits on my lap. Soonyoung chuckles, "Daebak, you sure love surprising me." He says. I rolled my eyes and chuckle, "Soonyoung you would've done the same," I said.

He laughs and smiles, "And you're right I would've. Just remember Mingyu's allergies." He says. I sigh, "Ugh I know, but I can't just take them to an animal shelter. Especially after happened." I said. Soonyoung sighed and nodded, "Yeah I know such a sad tragedy for those puppies." He says as the kittens play with the belt of his coat.

I look at Soonyoung, "Hey...have you heard from Wonwoo?" I asked. He looks at me with a sad smile and shakes his head, "No one has Lizzy, don't worry. He'll come around." He says. I sigh and pet the cat softly, "I'm just worried that's all." I said. Soonyoung chuckles, "It's obvious Lizzy, you like him." He says. I blush, "That's not-" Soonyoung laughs. "Lizzy it's okay, crush or not you like him. It's okay I won't say anything. Besides we're not in high school, I'm not going to gossip like a teenage girl." He says. I chuckle and roll my eyes, "You always do though." I said.

"I don't." He says as the kittens lay next to him and yawn, "Can you stay the night?" I ask. He smiles and nods, "You know I will," He says patting my knee. I sigh and rest my chin on the headrest of the couch, "It's been rough trying to act like everything is normal." I whisper. Soonyoung moves the kittens onto the other side of the couch, mama cat gets up and walks over to her babies. Soonyoung pulls me into his arms, "Dr. Lee says that I need to focus on my sleep habits but how can I? Dr. Hong says to work on eating habits but how? Detective Yoon wants me to ignore the creep as if that's going to work, Soonyoung ignoring the creep will only make matters worse." I cry.

Soonyoung rubs soothing circles on my back, "You've been through so much, and this is...this only makes me mad knowing there's a bastard making your life a living hell." He says. I sniffle, "It pisses Seungkwan off too, even Mingyu." Soonyoung says. I bite my bottom lip, I wipe my tears away. "You and Seungkwan are the only ones that know about my past though if Wonwoo and Mingyu were to find out or anyone else?." I cry, Soonyoung hushes me softly. "No one is going to find out, not even Wonwoo." He whispers as he wipes my tears away. I sigh and rest my head against his shoulder, "Detective Yoon might've found out though," I whisper. "Well, Jeonghan knows not to speak about a victim's past unless he's trying to get fired from his position," Soonyoung says. I let out a shaky breath.

10:40 PM

I rinse my mouth before shutting the lights off in the bathroom, Soonyoung helps me in bed. I let out a sigh as he lets me rest my head on his chest, his arms holding me close. "I wonder if Wonwoo would be jealous if he walked in and saw us like this." Soonyoung teases, and I smack his stomach lightly. "I'm joking." He says with a giggle, I smile faintly and wrap my arm around his torso. "I wonder too," I whisper,  I close my eyes and hope that sleep will catch up.

I wonder too.