Blindsided

Twenty Hours

ᴤᴤᴤᴤᴤ

Chatter buzzed erratically. Another reminder that the sun was out. Pedestrians were plenty. Life was many. A crowd always made it more challenging for a hunter to seek his victim. A crowd always made an individual feel safer.

As the noise grew louder so did the size of people around them. Shoving each other at the register. Bickering about who made it in the awkward line formation first.

It was very late in the afternoon and men and women, children and teenagers alike were prowling the streets. Looking for cover from the burning weather in the air-conditioned theater. Namjoo bumped into his back as the girls fooling around behind them pushed each other. Hee-hawing loudly.

Sehun shot a glance at them. They returned the glance, unafraid. Then mouth went to ear, whispering and then giggled even louder. Never minding them he waited impatiently for the couple arguing with the cashier about tickets.

Breathing a sigh of relief when they finally finished. Namjoo shook her head when he asked what she'd like to see. In order not to hold up the line he decided on something PG. Namjoo also declined snacks, so they found the movie room and settled into their seats.

Again, he glanced at her. Not sure what to say. It was unlike him to be direct with her. Sehun was already too self-conscious. Their relationship wasn't exactly shoulder to shoulder. They didn't say warm things to each other. They hadn't shared words of encouragement or endearment. So aware that he should say nice things to her made him shyer than normal.

Yet all he did was steal little glimpses of her. Contrary to the way she had became brittle when Yulhee died, Namjoo was too cool. Too unmoved. Too unaffected.

Sehun quickly turned when Namjoo glanced at him. His blood pulsed. Rushing through his veins at super speed.

Children flocked in with their parents. Bored teenagers found their seats. Then the movie ads ran for over 10 minutes. The room dimmed hiding everyone in the dark. Namjoo became just a shadow beside him.

In the middle of the movie he stole another look of her. Couldn't say he was too surprised to find her sleeping. Last night should be taking a toll on her. Especially after putting on a front today. Relaxing, he sank back into his seat.

When the movie ended Namjoo was still sleeping. He didn't wake her. Instead he turned to the children walking up the stairs toward the exit, "Can you be quiet?"

Their mother shot him a rude stare that said many things. Namjoo barely moved by the time everyone had exited. Breathing evenly, unbothered, as if she was the entire person in the world. Sehun took one last look before hurrying out of the room.

Running up to the cashier, he inquired, "What movie plays next in room number twelve?"

The young girl pointed to the schedule board. A chick flick was scheduled in the next half hour. If Namjoo wasn't awake by then he didn't intend to rouse her.

Pulling out his wallet, he said, "I'll buy two tickets."

"What seats would you like?" she asked.

They were sitting at the edge of the row. Deciding he wouldn't go broke over several seats, he said, "Can I get two extra seats?"

"You'd need to buy tickets for those, sir."

"Oh, right." He handed his card to her again and walked away with four tickets.

Namjoo hadn't woken up in the seven minutes he'd been gone. Completely out like the lights. Returning to his seat he glanced at the two seats over. Even if the movie started and people began flooding the room the two chairs beside Namjoo would remain empty. Hoping she would be undisturbed while she slumbered.