The Hidden Treasure

~45~

Hyejin finally stepped out of her office.  She looked in the small mirror on the wall and was horrified to see her red and swollen eyes and face.  She had to pull herself together.  Thankfully, no customers had come in. 

She walked around the shop trying to distract herself with any meaningless task she could come up with.  She glanced towards the door and saw the open sign facing her.  A few fresh tears quickly fell from her eyes as she realized Namjoon must have changed the sign on his way out.  He must have known she would be a mess for a while and would need some time alone. She smiled through her tears at his last act of compassion towards her. 

She closed the blinds to the shop and gathered her things.  She would be better off at home.  Maybe a good drama, some ice cream, and a tear-filled chat with Megan would do the trick for her. 

She slung her bag across her chest and stepped out into the brisk evening air.

* * *

A pair of blood shot eyes watched as Hyejin left the shop.  The eyes slowly rolled back to the front of the shop.  The darkly clothed person pulled out their phone and typed in a text message quickly.  They sat back on their heels and giggled.  

* * *

Hyejin opened the door to her apartment and walked into the cozy smallness of it. It may be tiny but it was home and that was all that mattered.  She glanced at the picture of her parents on the kitchen counter.  She picked it up and gave their faces a small kiss.  She knew it was silly but it made her feel like they were still with her.  Not dead in some grave somewhere. 

She pulled out some frozen meal out of the freezer and laid it on the counter.  As she began to read the directions for cooking, her doorbell rang and she walked over to the door, looking through the peep hole before opening it.

"Auntie!  I'm so glad to see you!"  Hyejin wrapped her beloved adopted aunt in her arms and squeezed her tightly.   Her hug was pitifully returned.

"I hear you can't even manage to take care of yourself when I'm not there," said her aunt coolly.

Hyejin stepped back and gave her aunt a confused look.  Surely Jinyoung didn't go sharing her problems with Auntie Jinjoo.

"I forbid you to speak to that boy again.  He's nothing but trouble.  Just look at his hair.  It screams rebellion.  Your parents would never have agreed to you seeing that kind of man."  Jinjoo shoved past Hyejin and into the apartment.

Hyejin's eyes followed her and she slowly shut the door.  "I'm glad to see you're feeling better," she said happily, trying to change the subject.

"That won't work.  Stick to the original topic, young lady.  Jinyoung told me everything.  Sasaengs?  In your shop?  What is this world coming to?"  Jinjoo fiddled with her fingers as she paced the length of the apartment. 

"I don't want to stick to the original topic, Auntie.  I'm sorry but it's not something I want to talk about.  Jinyoung had no place telling you those things."

"He couldn't help but tell me.  He showed up at home so angry.   I saw him in the hallway on my way back from the market.  He just boiled over with details."

"Market?  I thought you were still sick?  Why would you go out if you're sick?  Which begs to explain how you're here as well?"  Hyejin was deeply confused right now.  She'd had a long, tiring day and this was not helping whatsoever. 

"Ah...I meant..." Jinjoo stopped speaking for a moment.  "You're the one on trial here, young lady!  Not me."

"Have you been lying to me?  Auntie, if you didn't like working in the shop you could have just told me."