Defence

49

After the sudden phone call from Donghae she returned to her room. Sitting with a notepad in front of her she was unsure of what to write at first. She recalled that Donghae's mother wanted him to marry Victoria if it were possible. If she had told Donghae the truth that night, she was sure Donghae wouldn't let go. Now that she thought about it, he sort of took after his mother as well. His stubborn nature was hard to break through. But yet, Yoona was clear on the fact that Victoria didn't want to come back to them.

Would Victoria really tell her anything she wanted to know? Or was she just giving out a piece of candy for free?

- - - - -

That night instead of sleeping on the bed by the wall Taecyeon had fallen asleep uncomfortably with his head on the bed, his body creating an arch. Victoria lie there awake watching the closed curtains. She'd been unable to sleep since the lights had been turned off. Her mind was unsettled, she realized. Or maybe it was just a condition she couldn't correct, being cautious no matter where or when.

When a bird flew into the window she immediately turned her head wondering if someone had tried to get in. Yea, right. She had been placed on the fourth floor with no veranda. If someone were to come in, they'd have to come through the door.

Victoria eased her breathing and turned her head away from the window.

"Can't sleep?" Taecyeon asked looking at her with open eyes.

Victoria didn't respond. The only thing she wondered was how had it turned out like this?

"Want to hear a story?" he tried.

"No." she responded coldly.

"Do you feel pain somewhere?" he questioned.

"I'm fine."

Why did it have to be Taecyeon, who was held hostage by So Young? Why did that girl want to go to such lengths to just get her out? Why had she used him against her? No matter in what situation she couldn't allow him to die so simply just because of her. Why did they have to come searching for her at the terminal? If she'd gotten away she would have saved them from danger a long time ago. What would she do if Jung Min did something stupid? What if it were her family? What would happen if it were Donghae? How would she be able to explain any of it to them? It was so messed up.

Victoria's mind floated back to the present time when she felt a warm grip on her hand.

"Are you scared?" he asked with his head still lying on the bed.

It was different. His warmth, his hand felt different from when Donghae held her. It was a different kind of comfort.

"Is it sympathy?" she asked. "Why everyone came to the terminal? Why I was held back?"

"Do you keep wondering that?" he questioned. "It wasn't right for you to leave so suddenly. It was an act on impulse to look for you. You know what that means?"

She didn't say anything.

"There are many reasons why we searched for you," he explained, "whether it was out of worry or pity, does it really matter? What should matter is that we looked for you and found you."

The feelings of kindness were still hard to accept. Her heart really felt like a solid brick of ice. She was taken by a kind of surprise when he suddenly got up and kissed her forehead.

"Don't think about it. Go to sleep," he told sitting back down and lied his head down again, he never let go of her hand.

The doctor made a round of his visits the next day. Yoona stopped by for a while. Majority of the time she talked with Taecyeon. Victoria wondered why she tried so hard to be cheery around him. Even in the deafness of her heart she could read on Yoona's face that she liked Taecyeon. And Victoria had no problem with it. That night Taecyeon slept with his head on the hospital bed again.