Voiceless Cries

Chapter 9 : Laughter under the Rain

Upon reaching the gateway, Jiyeon halted. She motioned that she would have to turn left. Myungsoo nodded curtly, not knowing how else to respond to her waves, before turning to the opposite side. Just when he was about to start his journey home, his eyes caught a black BMW parked on the side of the road with his chauffeur by its side. What was he doing there? He told him not to pick him up today.

Exhaling in frustration, he walked up to him. His chauffeur managed a stiff bow before articulating his reason for being there.

“Your mother told me to fetch you—“

“I told you not to come. Can’t you understand?” Myungsoo cut him off, his voice curled in annoyance.  The man in front of him blinked at the words thrown on his face. He smacked his lips together and clasped his hands.

“You are to observe the meeting today. Your mother is expecting you to be there,” he repeated what he had been told. He pulled the handle and swung the door open. All his five fingers pointed into the interior of the car, gesturing Myungsoo to come in. He looked up, directly into his eyes.

“Get in,” the words rolled off his tongue smoothly, as if he had practiced them for years. His tone was edged in a sinister way, as if to tell him that he had no choice but to do as he was told. The grim expression he wore was to kill the spirit Myungsoo had to escape this time.

Myungsoo cursed mentally, knowing that the other party had won. His expression though, had remained indifferent; he did not want to let the chauffeur taste his triumph. He slipped into the car: he had no choice.

The door beside him slammed close. A moment later, he heard the door beside the driver’s seat open and close. The engine started and the car went into motion. His eyes were fixed on the window as they passed the bare trees.

A girl on the bus stop ensnared his attention. She was rummaging through her wallet, as if in search of something. Her luscious dark hair covered her fair cheeks. Her head perked up and she looked at him; directly into his pupils. Jiyeon. Could she see him? The window was darkened but her gaze was so strong, as if she could see right through the glass.

Once again he was lost in those orbs. Though he was helplessly drowned it was neither horror nor distress that he discerned. In fact he felt calm and safe. He did not know which part of her that had him swathed; that intrigued him. It was as if she had him securely wrapped around her fingers.

When the light turned green and the car started moving, he forced himself to break away their eye contact. He felt Jiyeon’s eyes trailing the black car as it surged out of her sight. He sighed. What did it take to be in Jiyeon’s place right now; to feel world around him, knowing that he had the freedom to explore it?

The car stopped at the driveway and the bellboy opened the door. He stepped out onto the red carpet, straightened his coat and walked on as the bellboy bowed and muttered greetings to him. Four men dressed in black coats awaited him. Upon seeing him, they all bowed with impeccable grace.

“We have been waiting for your arrival, young sir. Please,” One of them said as they rose, gesturing him to lead the group. Myungsoo did not cast a glance at the men, held his head high and continued walking, with the four men striding behind him through the double doors that wrote: Van Chantique* Hotel.

He was still wearing the school’s dark blue coat. Though he had only dressed moderately he still managed to yank all the attention towards him. There was something in the aura that he gave off that demanded respect. All the employees bowed in his direction; acknowledging his presence. He strode through the lobby with an impervious composure.