Secrets Aren't Lies

Chapter 7

I begin to think about Ken all a sudden, and how nice he was to me. Who was that man that joined with him? My lips part, not letting out a gasp as I quickly reach down for my clothes and pull out his number, putting it into my phone.

I guess I can text him after work, I don't see why not. I put my phone away and try to get perfectly settled to drift off into slumber.

My eyes rest close, trying my hardest to sleep. As soon as I close my eyes though, it's almost as if I see blood stains. I shoot my eyes back open, the horrific event penetrating my thoughts all over again.

My cheeks become wet with tears and I bite my lip, burying my face in the pillow. Eventually, before I even know it, I must've just cried myself to sleep, but now I see myself watching the dramatic scene right before my eyes.

The blood splattering from his head and the gruesome effects of the aftermath from the bullet, his body falling limp to the ground and me practically screaming bloody murder, which I'm not only doing in my nightmare.

I jolt awake and my body shoots forth off the couch, running and panicking to Leo's room, hitting a wall on the way there. My screams and whatever else must have woke Leo up. He sits up in his bed, automatically saying, "come here." with his deep sleepy, yet soothing voice.

My feet force me into his bed and under his comforter, laying my head on the pillow next to his. My arm nuzzles against his bare torso as I lay on my back, looking up at the dark ceiling. My pats my hand to assure me that he's right there and that everything is fine.

"Who would kill him, Leo? And why? Who would do such an awful and cruel thing. He didn't deserve it!" I cry out, clutching my fist into a ball, my body curling.

"I don't know, Jiyeon. I don't know. People are crazy creatures." Leo states with a sighing tone. I don't think I'll ever have the resiliency from this situation in my life. Physical exhaustion is just grasping onto my body and the vagaries of me are putting me through even more pain.

"It'll be okay, Jiyeon. I'm here for you, and Kijun is here for you. You have friends that will help you through this no matter what. I promise." Leo whispers sweet things close to my ear, making me fall asleep more peacefully this time, but I still feel mentally paralyzed.

I wake up painfully with my eyes forcing themselves open. They feel swollen, sore, and raw. I feel my body still in Leo's grasp, but I see he is awake. "Good morning, Jiyeon." He smiles down at me.

"G-good morning, Leo." I stutter while trying to rub the pain from my eyes. My body is comforted by the warmth from his body under the covers.

"You cried in your sleep a lot, if you're wondering about your eyes. I tried to ease you as much as I could, but you seemed bothered. I'm sorry." He states softly, his morning voice is a tad gruffly.

"No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to keep you awake all night if I did, I apologize," I mutter quietly, feeling a punch of guilt hit my stomach.

"No worries. I'm going to make your favorite breakfast this morning, how does that sound?" He smiles cutely.

"Banchan?" I gleam emptily, looking up at him with hopeful eyes.

"Of course." He nods his head proudly and sits up so he can start cooking. I let him leave the bed. "Stay here if you'd like," he smiles as he throws on a robe and exits his bedroom.

I smile and lay back down in his oversized bed, my head hitting the fluffy, feathery pillows. My thoughts jump back to Ken once again, and for some odd reason, I feel like I can't wait to see him again. Something is just coming over me. He just seems like an affable companion I want to have around me to help me get over the fact that people come and go in life. I let out a soft sigh, losing Hongbin feels like I lost a part of myself. He was an amazing brother. I take things for granted, like the last words he said to me was that he'd see me later. I sniffle, staring at the wall, angry at this situation.