Silence>JJK (paused)

6

"Are you dumb or drunk?" Jin asked me.

"None of them." I answered leaning my back on the wall behind me. Jin was really pissed at my decision. I could tell.

Why?

Because I am a 20 year old woman. Who had a tough job. To Jin's point of view, I was still a stubborn girl who is careless enough to skip 3 timed meal a day. So there was no way I would be able to take care of a 17 year old who was shot and practically lost.

It was dangerous.

"Jin, I was the one who bought him and saved him," replaying the day, doctor's praises and all.
I continued, "I bought this up to myself. Thus, I will take care of him."

I looked eagerly at him.

"You could have made me sign the papers? I am a guy and I can perfectly communicate with him, understand him." Jin said. His tone of voice rising up.

"Jin, he is scared. I want to give him space and take care of him. And once I have decided please don't ruin this for me. I want to be responsible. For once!" I looked at him pleadingly.

He sighed. And faced the other way.

"I understand you want to take care of him and proof yourself that you can be responsible too. But  this is a serious matter Jieon. Who knows the one who might tried to kill him, come after you and hurt you?"

"The police told me they would give me enough protection."

"I don't get it. I don't know. He clearly isn't telling us anything. What if he tries to harm you?"

I couldn't say anything. I froze. I don't know why but at that time, I couldn't come up with a good reason. But my prayers soon worked out.

"Okay. If you want to take responsibility over him, make sure to stay alert and take it as you are saying. I will give you 2 week of time. If you can't take both of him and your responsibilities correctly,"

I gulped at his words. He was dead serious. His eyes were dark and he had his arms crossed.

"I will sign the papers and take him from you."

Present

The car ride to our house was pretty awkward. Jin trying to converse with the boy. Me trying to focus on the road. The situation was silent.

Pretty tense, I would like to add.

Jin is annoyed how the boy simply blinked at him when he asked him things. And I tried not to stifle a laugh. Since, it might make the atmosphere more awkward.

It made me suspicious about the boy who was only blinking towards someone who approaches to him or talks to him. He understands us. Like the officer said before.

Flashback

Officer was suspicious of the boy.

"He won't talk to us. He will only blink. Isn't that strange?" He asked me.

"Ofcourse, It is." I replied, understanding the situation.

"I am sure he understands Korean. And he is ofcourse not mute," he says. I thought the same. Nodding at his words I tried to think of possible reasons of the boy not cooperate with us.

"What if he is too scared?" I said while looking towards the officer. He looked at me, confused but trying to take my words in.

"I mean," I continued, "He had a gunshot wound. He was lying in the grass beside the highway. And the highway is really silent and very few people go there." I stopped, looking at him.

"What's your point?" He said cocking an eyebrow at me.

"My point is, He probably tried to escape the shooter. And while running away, the shooter might have missed him and missed his target resulting him shooting his shoulder. He probably tried to run back to the highway for possible help?" My words came more like a bullet. Confident every second.

"Well, we don't know if that had happened. Even if that is the case, then I think you should stay alert around him. I find him suspicious," he said. I looked at him.

"All I would say is, try to get as much information from him." He said as he was furrowing his brows. Serious about the case.

"Okay. I will." I said understanding the situation, again.

"Stay safe okay? We never know what might happen amidst of running this case." He said worriedly. Don't know why but it made me flustered.

"Sure." I smiled assuring him.

Present

After reaching infront of my house, I stretched a bit,a earning a laugh from Jin.

"Finally home!" I said while yawning a bit.

"When did you move your stuff in?" Jin asked.

Recently, I moved from an apartment to my own house. I bought these things months ago but, due to various comebacks of different idol groups I couldn't come here with my stuff. I moved my stuff and left the previous apartment before my trip.

"Before the trip started." I simply answered, busy taking my luggage to the house.

"Oh. Was it when the girlgroup debuted?" He asked trying to figure out the time.

"Yeah, around that time." I replied.

Jin helped me with other luggage and some medical supplies of the boy, bought fromthe hospital.

"You should feel welcome here. Make yourself home." I said to the boy standing. I just noticed our height difference. It wasn't much, but still. A 17 year old with this height is considered very tall.

"Hey, which room is yours?" Jin asked me, his voice indicating that he was far way. His voice echoing through the room.

"Upstairs, right corner. You should take the keys. I locked all rooms before leaving." I said.

"Where are the keys?" Jin said approaching me. I pointed towards the table that was standing beside him. He took it and kept opening each room to see how I designed the house.

"Why don't you choose a room by the time I finish?" I said to the boy who was standing at the painting that was hanging on the wall. I noticed he was staring at the painting. Taking notes about it.

After hearing my words, He blinked.

I sighed and pointed towards Jin's back. I saw him going towards Jin and inspecting with him. I smiled how Jin became startled at him but patted him.

After unpacking and making lunch, Jin had to go to his studio for some work. He was worried with me living with a stranger. But after lecturing me about everything and staying alert he finally left.

It was complete silence. With me, there was the boy. He was silent and had manners unlike boys his age.

"So..." I trailed off my words to him, gaining attention I continued, "What is your name?" I asked him.

He stayed silent.

"Do you understand me?" I tilted my head a bit. He said nothing. Does he even understands me or not?

"Can you-" Before I could say anything, an idea came to me. Before telling him anything, I rushed to another room, confusing the boy.

After a while, I came with a pen and a paper.

"Can you write?" I asked him. He looked at me. And for the first time since our encounter, he nodded.

He responded!

I smiled ear to ear.