Winter Hearts

Three of Two

"You mean there's pictures?" Min reacted to Siana's look with surprise. "Video?"

"Yeah, there's video. Me and Leo at the Acropolis. And another of us at Syntagma that night."

MIn's eyes widened momentarily, then she shook her head, looking down at her phone to find what she had.

"No. I haven't seen that."

Siana gasped in disbelief. Another one?

"What? What have you seen, Min?" Siana's voice cracked. Min looked at her in concern as she handed over the phone.

"It's just an article, and there is only a blurred-out picture. But they claim a kpop artist got violent and put someone in hospital."

Min showed Siana the article, just a small piece of text that had been tweeted and linked to an article with the blurred picture. She watched as Siana's face drained of colour, a worried frown furrowing her forehead.

"I have already sent it to N. And he sent me a copy of the police report and the hospital report from the embassy."

"You think Mark did this?" Siana asked, forlornly.

"I didn't notice any other witnesses to that whole escapade. If it wasn't him, it was one of his friends. I doubt it was the bouncer or the aide. But you know, it could be just some bystander who realised who the boys were somehow."

"So, they know already." Siana

"N knows. He was alone when I sent him the details."

Siana nodded, noticing that Min was a little closer to N than she had thought. Her head was beginning to throb painfully.

Leo was being attacked, and the onslaught was a compounded quagmire of misunderstood and misdirected information. She wanted to end it all, tell the world that none of it was true, but she didn't know how to do so without causing more of a stir.

"This bus ride is going to be hell," she murmured as she sat down, feeling like she had something urgent to do.

"Tell me about it! Which is why I have snacks and drugs," Min said, pulling out a small pouch and waggling it. "Just travel sickness pills. Knock you right out."

"I think I would need horse tranquilizer to put me out," Siana joked as she rummaged through the shopping bag and pulled out a packet of barbecue-flavoured cheesy puffs shaped like monster teeth. She and her dad used to put them in their mouths and pretend to be zombies or snaggle-toothed vampires until they got soggy.

"I am not that medically resourceful. But, try not to think too much about it til we get back. You might be tempted to try to make a plan with the boys as we travel. Let them do their own thing, because I am sure they will be trying to figure out what to do all the way back." Min sighed. "Leo will be in the thick of it and needs to think clearly, and so do you. Sleep will make everything better, I'm telling you,"

Min reached into the packet, taking some wonky teeth puffs for herself. Siana shook her head, and suddenly jumped up.

"There's another video. Two other videos. Min, it's bad. It's just so bad. Give me a minute, I have to let him know, I just found out." Siana pulled out her phone as Min watched her walk towards the ticket counter. She opened her phone and texted Mark, sending him a screenshot of the article.

You wanna explain this?

Mark read it immediately.

That wasn't me, my friend did that.

Min rolled her eyes.

Get him to take it down before I make a report against you with HQ.

He did. But not before someone picked it up and used it. They didn't even check with him for permission. Mark texted back.

What did you think, they'd ask nicely? Give you a token of their appreciation? She refrained from calling him an idiot.

I didn't know about it til he told me had taken it down. Anyway, all he did was complain about how they got star treatment because they were kpop idols.

Min felt aggression rise up inside. I am so gonna call him names now.

They're stars, asshole. But they were being looked after because they were being harrassed by assholes.

Mark didn't respond for a few minutes. She let out a rough breath and looked up to see Siana pacing between the ticket counter and her bench. She saw the bus driver approach the bus and start directing people to place their luggage in cargo space below the carriage. He got in to start the engine to warm it up. She stood and stretched, catching Siana's eye.

Siana realised they were about to board the bus and came over, grabbing her bag as Min took hers to load it into the hold. They got in and found their seats, and Min settled to text Mark again.

Did he really claim you were put in hospital because of that?

Well, technically it is true, isn't it?

Min felt her anger beginning to boil over. She wanted so much to come down on Mark so hard he wouldn't know what hit him.

You really haven't considered the implications of the police and medical reports have you? She muted her phone and dumped it in her bag.

"I swear, some people should be put down as soon as they emerge in this world."

Siana laughed mirthlessly. "You don't mean that."

"I do. But am well aware that even if only the best people are left, there will still be a rat at the bottom of the pile."

Siana shook her head, biting on her thumbnail as she leaned back in her seat.

"I guess we're all guilty of being bad at some point," Min softened. "I mean, I could so murder Mark right now."

"So it was him?"

"His friend. They took it down but it had already spread."

They waited in silence as other passengers got on and settled in. The driver got on and shut the door, and they began the slow, meandering journey through traffic in the cramped streets of Athens, until they reached the open highway and were speeding west towards Delphi and Itea.

They had chosen this particular route because it would take the scenic route down the face of the mountains as they headed towards Itea from Delphi.

The ride down was exciting as the bus would have to maneouvre around tight corners and at their height it always felt like they were too close to the edge.

For Min, the thrill had gone out of the anticipation of that ride and the magnificent view that would accompany it. She rather wished she could teleport Siana into a warm and comfy bed in Itea, or, even better, out of this mess that seemed to have burgeoned like a foul wind this morning.