Her Knight In Dark

Chapter Eight

After crossing paths with Patrick, Aiden didn't linger. Exiting the club, he spotted the blonde boy by his car.

'Jihan!' Aiden called out.

'Hey, Aiden,' replied the golden-haired Jihan, approaching him.

'When did you return from Russia?'

'Just last week. What brings you here? I saw you enter the club, so I waited outside,' Jihan explained.

'I had some things to take care of, never mind. What have you been up to?' Aiden inquired.

'Not much, just helping out my dad with his business.'

'Care to grab a drink together?' Aiden proposed.

'Not today, maybe some other time. I have to go now,' Jihan declined, giving Aiden a pat on the back before getting into his car.

'Goodbye,' Aiden waved with a smile, reciprocated by Jihan as he drove off.

Jihan and Aiden had been close friends since college. They spent three years studying together before Jihan moved to Russia for further studies. Today marked their long-awaited reunion after three years.

Last night, Aiden returned home around 1 A.M and promptly fell asleep from exhaustion, completely oblivious to Jiyoo's arrival.

The next morning, Jiyoo entered Aiden's room to find him peacefully sleeping after selling all the horses.

Looking displeased, she rested her hands on her hips and pouted.

Sitting on the floor with her chin on the edge of the bed, Aiden suddenly woke up and was shocked to see Jiyoo there.

'Jiyoo!' he exclaimed, sitting up abruptly.

Surprised by her unexpected presence, he asked, 'What are you doing here? When did you come back?'

Jiyoo sighed and sat on the bed, 'I came back yesterday, but you weren't home.'

'Why didn't you tell me earlier? I could have sent guards,' Aiden responded, getting a black t-shirt from his cupboard as he got off the bed.

Jiyoo retorted, 'Oh, come on bro, can't you ask something normal like how I am? I'm not an ambassador in need of bodyguards all the time.

"Hey sis, how are you doing?" Aiden inquired, towering over Jiyoo.

Upon standing up, Jiyoo confessed, 'I've really missed you.'

Aiden warmly smiled at her overwhelming admission and enveloped Jiyoo in a tight hug, making her appear miniature in his arms.

Breaking the hug, Jiyoo asked, 'Do you have any plans today?'

Aiden hesitated, knowing his response wouldn't meet Jiyoo's expectations, which he despised.

Despite his reluctance, he replied, 'Yeah, I have some important things to take care of, so...'

Aiden couldn't finish his sentence as he observed the disappointment on Jiyoo's face.

Feeling guilty for not bringing a smile to his sister's face, Aiden was surprised to see Jiyoo suddenly brighten up, realizing that her sadness was weighing on him.

'You should prioritize the work first, I'll start setting up my room before you guys get back,' Jiyoo said confidently.

'Are you sure?' Aiden questioned.

'Absolutely,' Jiyoo replied with assurance.

'You must be running late, go get ready, we'll catch up over breakfast.'

With that, Jiyoo exited the room.

Aiden couldn't help but feel proud of how his sister had matured. With a smile on his face, he headed to the bathroom with a towel in hand.

He never imagined Jiyoo would grow up to be so responsible. It felt like they had missed out on witnessing her transformation into a mature individual.

He had seen her height and age change, but somehow, they missed the transition to maturity.

*****

It was a warm and lovely day after days of rain. The sky was blue, and the sun shone bright.

Haeun stood in front of a graveyard's entrance with her stick in hand.

On her way to the office, she had asked Aiden to bring her to this particular cemetery ground.

Aiden scanned the yard in confusion.

'Why are we here, may I ask?' Aiden questioned.

'Can you search for my parents' cemetery, Mr. Park Jihyun and Mrs. Park Nara?'

'Your parents? Okay,' Aiden whispered.

When he held Haeun's wrist and pulled her hand near his wrist, he put her hand on his wrist.

Aiden did this for the second time, while Haeun smiled secretly.

'Hold on to my wrist.'

Haeun did as she was told. Then Aiden started to walk slowly, keeping an eye on Haeun.

'When did you last come here?' The question slipped out of Aiden's mouth.

'The day I left for the UK, I visited my parents,' Haeun said.

Aiden felt guilty for asking such a question; he knew his father had failed to save her parents.

Aiden trailed his eyes through each and every tombstone. When Aiden spotted Haeun's parents' tombstones one after another under a tree's shelter.

It was a lilac tree, which worked like an umbrella for Mr. and Mrs. Park.

The tree had flowers and provided flowers for Haeun's parents' tombstones.

When Aiden stopped walking and declared, 'we're here.'

As he gently grabbed Haeun's hand to make her stand in front of her parents' graves.

'You can sit here,' Aiden advised.

So Haeun folded her cane and sat on the grass. Emotions rushed through her veins; she felt the presence of her mother and father.

She believed they were always there with her.

She filled her lungs with air, closing her eyes. Her lungs filled with the sweet scent of the flowers.

While Aiden stood behind Haeun and watched her.

Time passed like water, but Haeun didn't move or utter a single word. She stayed there on the ground like that, closing her eyes.

Despite standing there under the heating sunlight for Haeun, Aiden didn't feel annoyed.

Instead, he watched her hair blowing open again and again due to the wind. It somehow mesmerized Aiden.

She looked captivating with those messy hair.

From time to time, whenever the wind blew, the tree showered them with flowers, as if it was blessing them.