Ice: Thaw the Frozen Heart [EDITING]

Chapter 68

Kris looked up from the sink when he heard her footsteps entering the kitchen. Shutting the tap, he turned around to face Yeojin.

"You're finally up." He pushed a bowl on the counter toward her when she took a seat. "I ordered porridge for you. I've already ate mine." He nodded at the washed bowl on the sink.

Yeojin pursed her lips and nodded. "Thanks." She lightly rubbed her swollen eye and glanced at the window realizing it was already getting dark outside.

She really loathed whenever she had panic attack. She would always wake up feeling wasted.

"I've told your mom about what happened." He told her as he handed her a spoon and took a seat beside her.

"Ah..." She nodded then looked away with a sniff. A tinge of guilt was poking her because she disregarded Kris' warning and got herself at this stage.

"We'll go to the mansion after you eat."

"Okay." Yeojin spooned some porridge but didn't immediately eat it. Sighing, she turned to look at Kris. "I'm sorry." When Kris stared at her, she lowered her gaze.

He huffed. "I told you to stay put," he reprimanded, but his voice wasn't stern. Instead, it carried tiredness.

Her lower lip slightly jutted out while her head was lowered. "I was hungry."

"You could've ordered something by phone."

"I know. I didn't think of it. I'm sorry." She heard him sigh before she felt warm palms pressed against her cheeks.

Kris lifted her head and squeezed her cheeks. "You little pancake! Do you know how much you scared me?!"

"Pancake?" Yeojin frowned with cheeks still squished. "I was scared too! It's not like I wanted to get chased by two jerks!"

A corner of Kris' lips tugged up as he released her cheeks. "You were, huh?" He patted her head smoothening her hair. Somehow, despite his small smile, his eyes didn't smile along. "That's why you should listen to me next time." Yeojin nodded and Kris continued stroking her head. "Your panic attack wasn't that bad this time though. It was hard, wasn't it? Holding it back, I meant."

It was a torture! Yeojin silently agreed and nodded lowering her head before suddenly snapping it up. "Ah! Wasn't Sehun there? Is he okay? Did he got beaten up?"

Kris' hand immediately froze, and he slowly retracted it. Realizing what she was asking a little too late, Yeojin clamped her mouth and looked away.

"I mean..."

"He's alright," Kris told her with a small smile. "He was beaten up, but not so much. At least he didn't get too much bruises like the ones his brother gave me," he half-joked.

Yeojin sighed in relief and returned his smile while carefully caressing the bruises on his face. She couldn't ignore how his gaze looked...tired and a little empty. He was there, but his mind was somewhere else, she observed.

Somewhere chaotic and burdensome.

Standing up from his seat, Kris patted her head again. "Finish your porridge. I'll go wash up first. Then we'll go to the mansion. It's better if we stay there this week. For your safety's sake. You've packed some clothes right?"

Yeojin nodded.

"Alright." He walked to exit the kitchen before suddenly stopping and looking back at her over his shoulder.

Yeojin raised a brow and just blinked at him.

"You should call Sehun later," he told her nonchalantly.