Ace of Hearts

Where it Started

In the dark parking lot of the hospital Sehun spritzed her with his cologne. She winced and complained. "Enough! It smells!" she waved the floating particles of the fragrance away from her face.

"It's supposed to smell." Sehun remarked the obvious. "You smell like liquor, do you know?"

"Oh, amazing you withstood it this long." Namjoo retaliated when he stuffed his bottle back into the drawer.

A brow dug deep over his eye vexed when he shoved his door open. If she was annoying him she was feeling superior about it. He was such a pain in the arse.

Finally opening the door for her, Namjoo stepped out high and mighty with her chin pointed up. She was going to show him how great she was now that they were going to see his dear parents.

"Your goal is to pacify him." Sehun explained on the way to the glowing doors.

"And you couldn't have done it?" she ridiculed. "What an awful son."

"I'll let you off just this once." He warned holding himself back from bickering with her.

Firmly pressing her lips together victorious, Namjoo followed him down the hall. Sehun's father was in the private sector. As expected, their money was being well spent. Contrary to the rest of the hospital wing abuzz with activity it was deathly quiet here.

Arriving at their destination Sehun knocked on the door. From the other side Namjoo could hear the television. As the door opened Namjoo could hear a faded voice become clearer, the television volume louder.

Perturbed and upset by the visit, Sehun's dad screamed blasphemy, "Tell him to go away!"

Namjoo hesitated unsure. Never hearing Sehun's father raise his voice before. In front of her Sehun's mother's eyes enlarged. The corner of her lips rose at once in a way that frightened Namjoo.

The woman was too happy. Once more the expectations she would have to exceed propelled through her head like a landslide. Namjoo could feel her spirit billowing away.

"Honey, look who's here," she turned around to call out to her old man.

"I said I don't want to see him!" Sehun's haughty father repeated with menace. He was sitting on the hospital bed, legs sprawled out lazily, the blanket shoved to his socked feet in a ruffled mess. The irritation in his eyes softened when they landed on her. Almost like a tearful child who stopped crying at the sight of a lollipop. The ice in his expression melted.

The attention was so surreal Namjoo hovered at the doorway unmoving. Everything horrid pouring through her like acid again. Just a while ago she had left their household intending to never return. Parents like her own believing in lies meant to be deflated later.

Namjoo would not wish the same on her mother. To be played like that.

No one's parents did.

Palming her back Sehun pushed her into the room. Feigning a small laugh, Namjoo raised her hand to wave. "I'm back."

"Come here. Come here." Sehun's father beckoned for her with his hand.

Biting her lower lip Namjoo obediently stepped closer to the bed. Touching her arm, he guided her to the empty spot beside him. Namjoo sat albeit stiffly.

"I'm so happy you're here." He patted her hand affectionately.

"You left so suddenly; we were all so surprised." Sehun's mother joined them. Standing nearby as if to prevent Namjoo from fleeing, she preened, "I'm so glad you've come back. Please never leave like that again. You gave your father such a fright."