she's in the rain | k.ws

FIVE。

WOOSUNG

it took us about 10 minutes to get home by walking (we didn't want to cycle cause hana might get lost if we cycled too fast). hana was following right behind us, although she was 1 metre away from me and she kept her head low. i stopped walking until she caught up with me and held her by her right arm so that she wouldn't be left behind.

"wh-" hana exclaimed before looking up.

"sorry, you were walking too slow. or maybe we were walking too fast? i just didn't want you to get lost." i replied. we made a left turn before we reached my house.

"we're here already right? you can let go of my arm now."

"oh yea- sorry." i walked towards the front door and unlocked it. my brother burst through the front door, probably starving. the aroma of freshly cooked rice wafted through the living room to the front door.

"we're home!" i shouted, even though i didn't really need to because my brother had already sat at the dining table where my parents were. i turned around to see hana standing near the gate; she didn't move a single bit. i ran up to her and grabbed her by her arm once again, dragged her into my house and closing the door behind us shut.

"mom, dad. this is hana. we met at the park."

my parents were utterly shocked. their mouths were left agape, not knowing what to say when they first saw hana. they were looking at her arms, full of bruises and dried blood.

"oh dear, are you okay? sit down, honey. i'll get you some band-aids to patch you up. make yourself comfortable. woosung, get her a plate. you seem pale, you probably need a lot of food. eat as much as you want, it's our honour." father said as he gestured her to sit next to the place where i usually sit, and he went to the kitchen to find the band-aids where we usually kept it. mother went to get some ointment while i went to get an extra plate from the kitchen. i put the plate infront of her and noticed she was picking at her nails, shaking.

"hey, it'll be fine. my parents are kind people. they wouldn't ever do harm." i assured her as i sat next to her. my parents came over to the table and started treating hana's wounds. she looked lifeless - no emotion in her face, but her eyes looked as if they were watering, like she could cry any second. hana's dried blood was gone, wiped away, and there were multiple band-aids across her two arms. she thanked my parents for helping.

i took a few spoons of rice and put it on her plate for her to eat, along with some soup and chicken. i gestured her to eat while i took my own food, but she didn't even lift her finger. once everyone else has taken their food, then she started eating with everyone (with an exception of my brother, of course, he started eating as soon as we reached home). for someone with abusive parents who didn't seem to care about her, she surely did know some table manners. after she was done eating, she took her plate to the kitchen.

"leave it there, honey. i'll wash it," my mother said before hana could continue with washing the dishes. she left the plate in the sink and washed her hands before walking towards me.

bending down, she whispered into my ear,

"your parents are really kind. must be nice to have amazing parents like them. anyways, where's the toilet?" she asked.

i gestured to the door next to the kitchen and she thanked me before walking to the door. she went inside and locked the door behind her. once the door was locked shut, my parents finished washing the dishes and sat down next to me, suddenly asking me questions as if i was a suspect of a crime.

"what happened to her? did she fall down or?"

"she has abusive parents. i met her at the park sitting alone and asked her to come along to our house cause it might not be safe for her at her own home."

my parents had worried looks on their faces while looking at each other. they turned back to face me and made a decision.

"tell her to stay here for a day or two. we'll take care of her as much as possible." my mother said before my father added in,

"maybe she'll be the love of your life. she seems like a gentle person." he added while laughing to himself.

maybe.