You & Me [KARD FF] ✔

Chapter Two

A young woman walked out on the terrace, careless about stares she would get from people passing by the hotel, because of tight nightdress that didn't leave much to the imagination.

Somin stretched both arms and took a moment to breathe in New York morning air. It smelt like memories she left behind. But there she was, just a few months later, recalling the last time she had such a good sleep.

She grabbed her phone and immediately saw 80 missed calls. Her father noticed her disappearance at around 1:30 last night and he wouldn't stop dialing her number until 7:45, which was two hours ago.

She figured he probably already notified his sister and knowing Jeon Soon Young's detective skills, she will have to be very careful about where she moves during the next few days.

After getting dressed, Somin went down to reception with her suitcase, paid the bill with ready and politely asked if a taxi could wait for her outside in 20 minutes. She spent that time at the hotel restaurant, having a quick breakfast. She took all cash from her bank account yesterday, so her father wouldn't be able to track her down using her credit card transactions.

She gave the address to the driver and rode for about 30 minutes. Part of Manhattan where she was heading was one of those that government kept refusing to restore because "there was no point". As a result, buildings started to fall apart, native tenants who inherited apartments from their parents and grandparents moved out and sold them for low prices, to gangsters, murderers, men who neared their 4th decade but still acted like college students, people who illegally crossed the border. It was no secret how many kinds of people lived here, yet no one ever got involved with them. They were like a family, protecting each other no matter the circumstances.

Somin was once part of that family too. Her Father strongly opposed it and she finally gave up after going through painful breakup.

While standing under the building she recognized as the one where he lived, she wondered how smart was it to dig through past and open old wounds that haven't fully healed. But then she shook her head. She already broke the promise she gave to her Mother, basically robbed their family account, ran away... After coming that far, she can't just give up.

She climbed up a long stairway until she reached apartment number 303.

It's okay. You can do this!

She encouraged herself before knocking softly.

Out of all people in this world, Jeon Somin was the last he expected to see at 10 in the morning - and months after they broke up.

„Long time no see, Matthew", she highlighted his American name, as if she wanted to remind him there's no emotional connection between them anymore. Not waiting for his reaction, she let herself walk in.

„Somin...", he remained collected, even though everything around him screamed trouble. In the end, that's the only thing this girl's ever brought him.

She snickered upon seeing the condition of the apartment she once called her own. Carton boxes and take-out wrappers all over the floor, undergarment shamelessly laid on the sofa, soju bottles in the kitchen sink, and same suspicious smell all over the place. Probably an old sandwich.

„What the hell do you want?", he followed her around and spoke only after she attempted to open the door to his work room. They were locked.

„I want you to take responsibility", she turned around and looked up at him without hesitation.

For what? He paid all his debt to her family, he erased her from his memories as if she never existed, he sacrificed a passionate but destructive relationship for her happiness. And she dares to come back and ask him to bite down on more than what he already swallowed?

„Look, I wouldn't be here if it wasn't an emergency. Don't ask and just play along, alright?", she opens her suitcase and picks up two towels and new clothes.

„No, I need to know what's going on!", Matthew grabbed her arm and spun her around.

„I'm pregnant!"

Somin's shout echoed through the room.