Defence

30

- - - - -

Yoona watched through the large side window as Taecyeon ran along the sidewalk. Once he saw her he happily waved toward her. Yoona waved back.

She had called him to meet with her at a small café. If she were to interrogate him without him knowing it was best to do it at a remote location where few customers happened to visit the café.

The door opened with a chime created by the ornaments hanging above the door. He walked pass the long wooden counter and sat down before her at the square table at the back corner of the room next to the large windows. A dim light shone from above encasing their faces in dancing shadows.

"Did you eat yet?" he asked.

"Already did, you?"

"Me too." he replied with a smile. "What's the reason for calling me out?"

Yoona glanced at the second cup of coffee she was having that morning, "I wanted to talk about Victoria."

Taecyeon's happy smile disappeared. "Victoria?"

Yoona nodded. "Donghae said you should know her better than he does. Do you?"

Taecyeon wondered what he'd just gotten into. How should he explain himself? Should he go with the lies Victoria had told him to tell? That she was just his cousin? But Yoona was a Sherriff. Imagine what kind of a position it'd put him in.

"Why?" Taecyeon skipped around the question. "Are you curious about her?"

"It's important." Yoona vaguely answered.

Taecyeon found himself at a loss.

"Be honest with me." Yoona told calmly. "Please."

He stared at her then lowered his eyes. "I don't know her well. Now that I think of it, I don't even know her background. It's the truth."

"How...did you meet her?"

"You're confusing me." Taecyeon told.

"Just answer me. I need to know." Yoona was insistent.

"Can I know why this is important?" Taecyeon asked worried.

Yoona couldn't be sure. He was ignoring her. What if he was one of those men who'd been with her during those 14 years?

"Are your parents really abroad? Do you really live apart from them?" Yoona asked. "You really don't know Victoria?"

He stared at her long and hard. "That's the truth." Taecyeon paused. "Look Yoona, I don't know what is wrong but if you want to know more about Victoria, shouldn't you ask her yourself?"

Taecyeon left immediately after he'd handed Yoona Victoria's number. Yoona stared at it for the longest time as if staring at it would force the person, herself, to come to her.

- - - - -

Taecyeon left the café heavily confused. Not only had Yoona doubted him about being a regular citizen but she'd sounded ever so desperate about learning more of Victoria. Was there something going on between the ladies? Something that was more than just Donghae?

Now that Yoona had sparked the curiosity in him, he wanted to know. Who Victoria actually was, why had she been running that night, where her family was, and what she actually did for a living. Why had she seemed so distant and clueless about some things everyone knew of. He wanted to know the answers now.

When he got home he found the apartment empty. Absolutely no life existed inside. He searched the rooms, found her clothes, but her bag was gone. Taecyeon then recalled how angry she'd gotten when he mentioned her bag. Had there been something inside that she didn't want him to know of? He turned around and ran down to the gym. Of course there was no one in there.