Winter Hearts

One of Two

"What is it, Hyukkie?" Leo asked from behind Siana.

"Sorry Hyung, I came as soon as I got up."

Siana smiled at him, not sure why he seemed agitated at having slept in. She watched as Hyuk handed over his phone, angling it so that both she and Leo could see the image on it.

Siana could feel a dread creep over her before she even looked at the screen.

On it, she saw a shaky video of Leo, although it took her a few moments to figure out where it was. When she did, she realised with a shock what she was about to see.

Leo in Syntagma at night, in front of the tomb of the unknown soldier, in front of the changing of the guards, walking directly up to a girl, her, and taking her in his arms as he kissed her deeply.

The moving image repeated, clicking over to the beginning, making his walk a grotesque thing to revisit just for someone to make sure, to be absolutely sure that it was he, and that he was walking over to a girl and doing that to her.

Leo took the phone out of Hyuk's hands and scrolled through the article, which was in Korean.

"It's been viral for almost ten hours, Hyung," Hyuk's voice was hoarse from sleep.

"How did you find it?" Leo asked quietly as he perused the article.

"I woke up, feeling like I had missed something when I went to sleep last night. I must have seen it as I was dozing off. I would have told you earlier if-"

"Of course, Hyukkie," Leo said quietly, looking into Hyuk's eyes for a moment before handing back his phone.

"The usual garbage writing - but they are only speculating it is me," he said. "Though for once, the situation they see is the truth of it."

"What are you going to do?" Hyuk asked Leo, looking at Siana as he did so. She stood quietly, pursing her lips, staring at nothing.

"I don't know. I don't think I need to do anything," Leo said, almost defiantly. Siana raised her eyebrows, still staring into space.

Hyuk, seeing that, wondered if she had doubts about what Leo said, or about the situation they found themselves in. He cleared his throat, not wanting to hang around if she decided to question Leo on his intentions. He stepped back.

"I've messaged N and Kkomae, but they haven't responded to me, which is strange because N said he would be up early for breakfast."

"They're probably already discussing it. Look, they haven't confirmed it is me, and it doesn't look like any claims by the original poster that it is me have arisen."

Leo's words seemed to break Siana out of her thoughts, and she turned suddenly to look at Leo.

"I have to call my mum," she said, urgently, and Leo nodded, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"Will you be okay?" he asked.

"I'm late, I'd better go. I need to catch a taxi," she laughed a little nervously, giving him a quick peck on the cheek, avoiding making eye contact, before turning to nod to Hyuk to say goodbye.

"Wait, I want to walk you-"

"No, I better just go. You guys need to.. do whatever you have to do." She turned and walked briskly down the corridor to the lift lobby. She wanted to call her mum straight away but knew that she could lose her connection once she got in the lift, so she waited.

When she got to the ground floor, she walked out the lift and saw N, Kkomae, Min Seok and Hongbin seated at the far end of the lobby, in what looked like a tight-lipped discussion.