Spades & Hearts

The Jack

The bell jiggled as the door was opened and a cheerful "welcome" from the cashier greeted him.

"Oh! Lay oppa!" The young girl behind the cashier counter grinned and waved her hand.

Taking a basket, Yixing smiled and waved back before proceeding to the beverage aisle in the convenience store. He immediately took several bottles of milk putting them in the basket. He could already imagine the smiles on the children's faces once he gave them one bottle each later.

He was glad that Chanyeol had let him officially work full-time next week. That way, he could use these weekends to visit the children hospital he had been volunteering in. It was somewhat saddening to him that he wouldn't be able to do some volunteering anymore once next week started. But his best friend needed him at the moment. Though he had told Chanyeol not to worry too much over his wife, he could understand where his friend was coming from.

"Going to meet the kids again?" The cashier asked as she put the bottles in a plastic bag.

"Mm." Yixing nodded with a smile. "Oh! How's your grandma?"

"She's fine now. Been resting for a few days. Really thank you, Oppa! If it weren't for your help-," she suddenly paused shuddering at a grave thought that crossed her mind. "I really don't want to think about it." She looked at him again with a grin. "Thank you, Oppa! Really! Thank you!"

"Don't mention it." Yixing extended a hand to ruffle the girl's hair.

To be of help to someone always made him feel alive. No matter how strong someone is, no one could live alone. Every human needs a hand of help at some point in life, he believed. And it satisfied him to be that hand in someone's life.

Just as Yixing was driving to the hospital, his phone rang flashing Chanyeol's name. Tapping on the hands-free device clinging on his ear, he greeted his friend, "Hey! What's up? Missing me already?" He chuckled.

He was expecting Chanyeol to reply with his own joke but instead was met with Chanyeol's panicked voice. "Lay, Suzy went to the park!"

Frowning in confusion as to why it was such a big deal, Yixing blurted, "So? She probably just wants to go for a morning jog, right?" Yixing sighed with a little chuckle, "Chanyeol, what did I tell you about controlling your wife-"

"She's driving there alone!" Chanyeol cut off. "She shouldn't be alone, Lay! What if someone try to kidnap her again?"

Taken aback by his friend's outburst, Yixing tried to calm him down. "Alright. Okay. I get it. Sorry. Then why don't you follow her?"

He could hear a sigh from the other end. "She would be mad if I do so. She warned me to leave her alone before she left." Another sigh escaped Chanyeol's lips, before he spoke again, this time calmer. "Lay, I know it's your day off, but can you check on her? I can't relax knowing she's alone and prone to danger."

"Wouldn't she get mad too then if she knows I'm following her?"

"You don't have to let her know you're there. She knows it's your day off anyway."

Yixing glanced at the plastic bag full of milk bottles on the seat beside him. Though he still thought his friend was over-reacting, yet hearing the desperation and worry in his voice, he realized it might really be such a big deal for Chanyeol. Suzy was not just some girl to Chanyeol anyway. She was his wife, and now he needed his help.

Briefly closing his eyes, he nodded, "Alright. I'll go there. Which park?"

Arriving at the park he had been told of, Yixing found a spot to park his car. He first strolled around looking for his friend's wife. The park was a vast one and people of all ages were there either with their own groups or by themselves. It was the weekend after all. Families picked their own spots to have a picnic. Parents laughed watching their children played, one or two elderly couples were enjoying their own time walking or sitting on a bench, and some others were just doing their own thing. Some biked with their friends, some did so alone, some were just taking pictures, others jogged around the park with their friends or by themselves. Yixing spotted Suzy to be one of the lone joggers.