Finding Hope.

Chapter 2

Chapter Two.

Looking behind me, I made sure Siwon was far off before I started to curse in pain.

“THIS HURTS!” I yelped as I hopped around on my good foot. I had no idea where I was going to stay tonight. It was already turning dark. I couldn't afford to go to a doctor, and I can definitely not go back home where my father is waiting to beat me some more. Sighing, I slumped onto one of the benches and gazed around the empty park.

“I can sleep here tonight.” I said aloud to myself.

God, I'm becoming a crazy homeless person already. I unzipped my backpack and took out a blanket. The wooden bench creaked under my weight as I shifted uncomfortably to find a sleeping position. The sun had set already, and I was beginning to regret not taking Siwon's offer of help.

Siwon. I thought to myself.

You have to forget about him. He would have just hurt you anyways. Tears welled up in my eyes again.

At a situation like this, you would think I would have a friend to call. My father keeps me at home. Even when my mother was alive he sexually abused me. After her death, the beatings increased. I couldn't take it anymore. But I'm to scared to tell anyone. I'm not ready yet, but I don't know when I'll ever be.

I ignored the throbbing pain in my ankle just as I tried to ignore the haunting memories. Both would not go away.

As usual, I cried myself to sleep.

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 Siwon.

The minute I left her I regretted it. I couldn't get Christina out of my head. Her long brown hair fell perfectly against her shoulders. Her soft skin seemed to glow, and even with the bruises on her face and the redness around her clear brown eyes, I found her beautiful.  I woke up early in the morning, restless.

I should helped her some more.

I probably wouldn't see her again. A guilty feeling washed over me.

Get it together. You need to focus on getting money to support your parents.

Sighing, I closed my eyes and began to pray. I always found strengh in God. He provided me with a job in the USA, and now it is my job to send money to my mother in South Korea.

I thought back some more. I was taking a walk in the park when I saw Christina veer out of control. She flipped over and landed on her back and then I ran over. Why is it that her face and arms were bruised?

Stop thinking about her. I abruptly told myself. I always got too attached to people. I just seemed to care too much about other people before I cared about my self. 

I stretched out my arms and yawned, tossing in my bed. I couldn't find a comfortable position. I jumped up and pulled on a shirt and some jogging shorts. I started to run. It always helped me forget about the troubles I was facing. My feet took me to the park, and I slowed down at the bench were we had sat, struggling to catch my breath. Suddenly, I heard a girl scream not too far ahead.

"No! Stop! Please!" She screamed. My heart pounding I ran along the row of benches and stopped abrubtly. 

"Christina?" She was laying on the bench, covered in sweat and crying. Gently, I placed my hand on her shoulder. She jumped up and hit me in the groin.

At least she knows how to defend her self  I thought, crouching in pain.

"Oh my gosh, Siwon?!" She exclaimed, swinging off the bench and covering her body self consciously with a small blanket that had fallen on the ground.

"I'm so sorry, it was a reflex..." She faded off looking down.

"No, its fine." I said, even though it really hurt. "Are you okay? You were screaming."  I said, sort of puzzled. Her hair was plastered to her face and her eyes were red from crying again. Christina looked down at the ground.

"Why are you sleeping here?" I asked, suddenly realizing how swollen her ankle was. She looked up at me with tears in her eyes. My heart dropped. She was really in pain. Sitting down next to her, I had to instinct to put my arm around her and stroke her hair, calming her down. I prayed a silent prayer for Christina to feel better. I stopped and pulled away after awhile when I realized that I shouldn't be doing this to someone I nearly just met.

"Sorry.." I said nervously. For some reason, Christina started laughing. I looked at her, admiring her shining eyes and the way her nose crinkled up when she laughed. I started to smile too. I was about to ask why she was laughing, but I realized it didn't matter. She was happy.

"No its fine. You made me feel a lot better." She admitted, smiling at me.

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 Some one woke me up from my nightmare. Was it my dad? Had he found me? I didn't take any chances so I put all my might into punching his junk. I was about to get up to hop away when the man crouching in pain looked up at me.

"Oh my gosh, Siwon?!" I exclaimed, carefully swinging my feet around. I know that my ankle was swollen and I winced slightly as I moved it.

"It was a reflex..." I told him, feeling sorry. He got up.

 "No, its fine." He said, even though it looked like it hurt. "Are you okay? You were screaming." He asked, concern spilling out of his mouth. I looked down at the ground. He must be wondering why I was sleeping out here, but I have no idea how to tell him the truth.

"Why are you sleeping here?" The words I didn't want to hear came. Tears started building up in my eyes again.

Why are you such a crybaby Christina. Can't you do anything right? Maybe that's why your father beat you. That voice wasn't my own. Suddenly, Siwon sat down, his eyes full of concern. He put his arm around me and pulled me closer to him, stroking my hair. Instantly, I felt calm, as if a wave of peace had washed over me. My heart pounded as I felt Siwon's chest steadily move up and down. He pulled away abruptly, his forhead crinkling nervously and his eyes widening, looking down.

"Sorry," He said quietly. For some reason, He looked absolutley adorable that I just had to laugh. I don't know why I laughed, but it was better than crying. For the first time in a long time, I was actually happy.

"No it's fine," I said smiling at him, "You made me feel a lot better." At this moment, something in my heart was telling me to tell Siwon the truth.