Locked Away

•3•

I never enjoyed lying to Hongbin. It's never been easy to act as though everything is okay when it isn't.

How could Eun Hee expect me to keep something like that from him? He needs to know.

Part of me is telling me to tell Hongbin but the other part objects. I don't know what the right thing to do is. I feel if I do one thing it will hurt someone.

I don't want to hurt anyone. I don't want Eun Hee to die. There is nothing I can do about any of it though and that really bugs me.

I sit on a park bench as I think of what I should do. I don't look up when someone sits beside me. I move closer to the edge of the bench to give whoever it is more room.

They don't say anything and neither do I.
"Sulking?" The soft voice asks. I look and am surprised to see Taekwoon sitting there.

"No. I've been given a very difficult choice and I don't know which is the right one" I tell him.

He nods as he listens and turns to look at the cars speeding down the road.
"You will figure it out. I'm sure."

"How are you after the other night?" I turn the attention onto him. He looks at me and smiles before quickly changing his expression but to normal.

"I'm fine. I moved into an apartment yesterday so I'm going well" he informs me.

"That's good" I admit. We just sit in silence for a while but it's a comfortable silence. It's comforting knowing that he is right next to me even though we aren't speaking.

"Listen, do you have a phone?" Taekwoon asks out of the blue. I look over at him and nod. He extends his hand and waits patiently for me to give it to him.

I pull it out of my pocket and log in before giving it to him. I see his fingers typing rapidly before he hands it back.

"We should talk more often" he states. I find myself smiling at the gesture.
"That we should" is all I say.

Suddenly my phone begins to ring. I look to see Hongbin's caller ID. "Sorry I have to take this" I apologise to Taekwoon before answering the call.

"Hongbin?"

"Hakyeon where are you?"

"I'm at a park, why?"

"Come home. Eun Hee has really good news!"

My stomach clenches at her name and I find that I want to tell him but the words won't come out.

"O-okay" is all I can muster.

"You okay?" His tone is filled with worry.

"I'll see you soon." I hang up before he has the chance to say anything else.

"I have to go Taekwoon. I'll text you" I look over to see the him looking at me with his normal expression. It's a cold look but I don't think he means it.

"Goodbye Hakyeon. I'll leave first" he stands and bows his head before walking off down the path.

I grip onto my phone tightly as I get off the bench and hail a taxi. It doesn't take long to get to the house.

I take several deep breaths before entering. I hear laughing coming from the kitchen. I walk in to see Eun Hee leaning against the bench while talking to Hongbin who is stirring a pot of ramen.

"Just in time Hakyeon!" Hongbin exclaims as he sees me. "Yes" I pull on one of my classic smiles.

I look at Eun Hee and she smiles back at me. She looks as happy as always but in the back of her eyes you can tell she is hurting.