You & Me [KARD FF] ✔

Chapter Six: Part One

Matthew

I let out a puff of smoke, which satisfied me for mere three seconds. So I pulled another one. And another one. Smoke after smoke, breathe in after breathe out, nicotine managed to calm me down. I knew it wasn't going to last long, so I made sure the pack is always in my pocket.

There was nothing but silence and darkness surrounding the motel. Builder chose a peaceful location, and it seemed like nothing could ever ruin that peace. Well, only if a group of smart druggies decided to take over the neighborhood...

As soon as I lit the second cigarette, there was a discreet cough. I turned around and noticed a small silhouette sitting on the bench next to me. Even though her head was hung low and I couldn't see her face, it was definitely a female. She was trying to suppress cough reflex, probably because she didn't want to attract any attention.

"Smoking's not your thing, is it?", I ask without turning to look at her.

"My best friend used to be passive smoker, but I can't take the smell...", she replies, also without turning to face me.

"Used to?", I suppose they're not friends anymore or she was weak enough to stop.

"She died two years ago", she says shortly. There are no emotions in her voice, I guess she doesn't want to be reminded of that fact.

Then she sighs loudly. "All men are heartless..."

"Maybe you would think otherwise if you women stopped taking everything so personal."

"Probably", I could imagine her shrugging her shoulders in the dark. "But you haven't seen my husband."

"Then you shouldn't have married him in the first place."

She said the word "husband" almost like she was spitting it.

"What makes you think I wanted to marry him?"

So, arranged marriage.

"Falling in love is way worse. One day you break up and months later they appear when you just get used to them not being there."

Sigh again.

"Love is temporary but memories and time you invest in someone are forever. As well as the time you waste on them..."

I finish the cigarette and reach my hand down to take another but change my mind, taking my interlocutor into consideration.

"What's your name?", she asks after we spent a few minutes in silence.

"Ma... Jin Seok. Kim Jin Seok."

"Can you keep a secret, Jin Seok?"

I frown. The more we talk, the more she confuses me. We go from her friend dying, over her arranged marriage and wasted time, to me being able to keep secrets.

"I guess so?", I finally respond, wondering what this is about.

"I think I killed my husband."

When I turned around, the silhouette was gone and only thing heard were heels clamping on the ground.

I realized too late, that I should've gone after her right away. Hell, I should've ignored her when she started coughing.