The Heroes We Weren't

Chapter 23 - Rick

"I've seen you around with Hyun-Soo." Miranda finally spoke up after a few minutes of a painfully awkward silence. "How do you know him?"

Just like how she didn't wish to speak of Rick, I didn't wish to speak of Hyun-Soo; yet he was the only one we had in common and the only subject we could use for a conversation, other than the weather – which we had already gone over a few times.

"He helps me." I blurted out, and surprised myself with my answer. It was true though, he had helped me, simply by just sticking around.

She nodded and placed her cup of tea on the table.

"He does that." She began. "Helps. He's a very good person."

Good. Noun – 'To which is morally right'.

Good. Adjective – 'To be desired or approved of'.

I fumbled with my phone. Mister Adjective was most likely expecting my call.

"And you?" I asked as I placed my phone on the table. "I understand he has helped you too?"

She smiled. She seemed a lot more relaxed now that I had ceased to ask her about Rick.

"You know the gamblers down town?" She was speaking of Sam and I knew it.

"Hyun-Soo knew I needed money for a lawyer so he used to gamble a lot. Sadly he lost everything, borrowed some from the owner of the hall, just to lose again." She lowered her eyes. "I got the money for my lawyer from my friend Joanne."

That would have explained both Hyun-Soo's debt to Sam and the fact that Miranda was known by the workers of the poker hall. Foolish boy, trying to help his friend out just to get himself into trouble.

"He also listens." She nodded. "He replies to my texts and calls, no matter the hour. He shows up when I need him to, and he tells me that I'm wrong when I need to hear it."

She moved to the edge of the seat again and fumbled with her fingernails.

"But, he doesn't understand Rick."

Before I had a chance to ask her, she shook her head to change the subject.

"I won't bother him as much now," she hurriedly said, "Hyun-Soo, I mean. My detective and Joanne will help me from now on. I wish for Hyun-Soo to focus his attention on you."

I choked on my tea and hit my hand against my chest before I placed the cup back on the table.

"He has needed a girlfriend." She smiled.

I violently gestured with my hand while shaking my head.

"Oh please," I coughed, "we're not like that."

"No?" She raised her eyebrows.

The knock on the door had her leave for the hallway and I hurriedly dried a tear or two away from the painful tea that now burned its way down my throat. As Miranda came back, she stopped by the doorway. So did he. The man who had come to her apartment.

Hyun-Soo didn't smile. Didn't greet me. He placed his hands in his pockets, lowered his eyes for a moment and bit his lip.

Uncomfortable. The two of us.

"Hi." I eventually said.

Hi. My last words to him had been 'I have nothing to say to you' yet there we were now, with a 'Hi'.

"Hey." He nodded, his eyes rested on me for a mere second before he stretched his back out and turned to Miranda.

She smiled.
"I'll leave you two to talk."