Jordan POV
The next day…
“How have you been son, I want to believe Eun kyung has been taking good care of you” Dad says in a very pale voice.
“You're frightening me Dad, you sure you're okay?” I asked in a teary voice.
He started coughing, I adjusted on the seat.
“No one there to give you water?” I asked frantically, felt like I should fly to where he was to give him water. “I'm fine Jordan, it's just a cough” He says, but I wasn't convinced.
“Then why aren't you sounding perky?”
“Please just return to Korea already, I'll take care of you myself”
“I'll return very soon, but I want to recover completely before I come back”
I breathe out deeply before nodding my head, like he could see me.
A car honked at my back. “Please take good care of yourself Dad, I'll speak with you later in the day”
“Take care of yourself too, son” He said warmly, and the phone got disconnected at once.
“Wait here” I told my driver before pushing the car door opened, I came down and kept my phone in my pocket.
“Hey” Min jun greeted with a doleful expression. He shut his car door and began strolling towards me.
Someone opened the other side of his car door, and my eyes popped up in surprise.
It's Ryan.
“What's she doing here?” I asked him silently, immediately he got to where I was.
“She had insisted on helping us figure out the culprit,” He responded, glancing over at her behind him.
I stared at her for a while, but her face wasn't smiling at all, her butt was rested on the car bonnet, with her arms folded beneath her boobs. Uh mm?
What happened to her?
“Then why are you guys late?” He raked a hand through his hair and sighed softly.
“Is there a problem?” I asked as we both stood before each other. We were of the same length, though.
“Audrey's Dad was shot last night, so I had to drop by the hospital first” “Oh my God!” I exclaimed, alarmed. “Who could have done that?”
“No idea, but the cops are on it already”
“How's he doing?” I asked, still shocked.
The man is a nice man, he doesn't deserve a bullet. “I learnt they still haven't heard a thing from the Doctor since last night”
I shook my head, sadly.
“This is terrible, isn't it?”
Min jun just nodded in response.
“Come on, let's hurry” I switched the subject to a more energized one and started walking ahead to the hotel.
“Let's go, Ryan,” Min jun said behind me.
******
“I can't let you go in here, kids” A huge security guard who was standing very close to the security room says adamantly, for the third time. “Don't you understand, someone was pushed into the pool last night, and we need to know the person because the victim almost lost her life,” Min jun said aggressively.
“I know, but you guys are not in the right position to do that, leave it to the police, let them do their job” The security put in.
Ryan and I quickly held Min jun, he was ready to attack the Goliath security. “Calm down, Min jun,” I told him and quickly retrieved my phone from my trouser pocket.
“Please sir, we promise not to waste time, we just want to see the camera footage and that's all” Ryan begged earnestly, but the security just pretended as if he wasn't the one she was talking to.
As*hole.
I moved away from them a bit, waiting impatiently for Dad to pick the call.
“Hello, Dad”
“What's it Jordan, we just talked a while ago”
“Yes dad, I need your help, and it's urgent”
“Hold on guys, the manager himself will be here soon” I assured them and their eyes dilated as they watched me. “What do you mean the manager?” Ryan asked, but I only winked at her.
Shortly, a man walked up to us and I presumed it's the manager.
“Excuse me, you're Mr. Jor…”
“Yes” I cut him off, proudly.
A wide smile quickly crept up on his face immediately. “I'm so sorry sir, I didn't get the information earlier” He apologized, bowing every second. “It's okay, can we go in now?” I asked him, ignoring the looks on Min jun and Ryan's faces.
“Of course sir, this way” He led the way, and we followed him.
The security Goliath bowed to us and I just scoffed while Min jun huffed, loudly.
“Your technique is wack” I swat his stomach before we walked past him and Ryan chuckled. “Why is he so tall, though?” She says to no one in particular.
We arrived in the security room and everyone rose to their feet, immediately they spotted the manager. “Can I see the footage from last night?” He asked in a rigid voice.
“Sure sir” One of the men in the room replied and turned to the system with immediate effect. The manager beckoned to us to come over at once.
“Oh my goodness!” Ryan gasped, but quickly covered her lips with her palm.
“It was Jin who pushed Audrey into the pool,” She says faintly. “Can I have a copy of this?”
The manager nodded affirmatively, and I quickly handed my phone to him.
“What are we going to do?” Ryan asked as we stepped back a bit. I turned to Min Jun.
“Let me handle this, please,” I begged, with my palms glued together.
He watched my face for a while. “Do you have a plan?” He asked me, I nodded twice.
“Who do you intend to show the clip?” He further asked and I breathe out softly.
“The principal,” I replied. They both glanced at each other before nodding their heads.
“So, are you going to school now?” Ryan asked. “I think we should go back to the hospital first, Audrey would be awake by now,” I said to them, glancing at my wristwatch. “You're right”
*****
“You can head home now, I'll go in his car,” I told my driver. “Yes, master Jordan,” He said and drove off. I sat beside Ryan at the back seat in Min jun's car, and his driver took off immediately.
“I can't remember the last time I was absent in school” Ryan broke the silence and I just nodded. “But Audrey, worth it, isn't it?” Min jun asked from the passenger seat, beside the driver.
“She worth more,” Ryan says and we both smiled. “Uhm mm… Guys, we should stop by the veterinary clinic,” I uttered. Min jun tilted his head back. “Huh?”
“Yeah, I brought Audrey's dog to a doctor- even though I doubt its survival”
“That was very thoughtful of you, Jordan” Ryan shot me an adoring smile which I reciprocated in the best way I could.
“Yes, we should do that”
“I'm sorry, but we lost your dog,” The young animal doctor said to us, and we all lowered our gazes at once. “Had it been you had brought it here fifteen minutes earlier, I guarantee she would be fine” She amplified, but we just stared at her, she wouldn't understand.
“Where's it?” Ryan bit out, tears rushing down her cheeks.
“I'll be right back,” The doctor said and turned away to bring the dog.
“Audrey will be so sad to hear this,” Ryan mumbled sadly. I stretched out my handkerchief to her, and she collected it without sparing me a glance.
The doctor returned with a small paper bag.
“Here” She stretched it forward and Ryan was the one who collected it.
She opened it, Min jun and I looked inside the paper bag, but the dog was already wrapped up with a fabric. So sad.
Min jun POV
I pushed the door open and sauntered in, while Ryan and Jordan followed behind.
There should be a nurse here with her at least. I worried within myself as I sat on the stool beside her.
Her mom was with her Dad, while Hazel and Kwan are still busy comforting Kwa young, she wouldn't stop crying, more like she had lost her Dad already.
“She should be awake by now, isn't it?” Ryan asked, impatiently.
“Yeah my thought too, it's past 1 pm already” Jordan added. I just stared at her loving face, which was giving me goosebumps already.
Her lips made a short movement, I beamed.
“Aaron” She muttered, her eyes were still shut. I felt my heartbeat accelerate as I quickly turned to others.
“Did you hear that?”
“She's awake,” I grinned. They both shuffled forward instantly. “Aaron, I'm sorry,” She said tearfully, and I quickly took her hand in mine.
“It's okay Audrey, just open your eyes already, I'm here”
Her eyelids flickered for a moment and finally, she squinted her eyes open.
“Audrey, are you awake?!” Ryan held her other hand, her eyes beaming.
She nodded faintly with a little smile on her lips. “Everyone, Audrey is awake!” Ryan shrieked with enthusiasm as she rushed out of the ward.
"Will you keep it on a low, girl?” Jordan cautioned as he followed behind her, I smiled inwardly as I watched them walk out.
“I'm glad you're awake,” I turned to Audrey and says quietly, fondling with her tiny fingers. “Are you still mad at me?” She bit out, staring directly into my eyes.
“I can never stay mad at you, Audrey,” I shook my head negatively as I felt water in my eyes.
“I love you, Aaron,” She cooed, tears rolling down her cheeks. My heart was gladdened at the love that was boldly written on her face.
“It's okay Audrey, just open your eyes already, I'm here”
Her eyelids flickered for a moment and finally, she squinted her eyes open.
“Audrey, are you awake?!” Ryan held her other hand, her eyes beaming
“I'm glad you're awake,” I turned to Audrey and says quietly, fondling with her tiny fingers. “Are you still mad at me?” She bit out, staring directly into my eyes. "I can never stay mad at you, Audrey,” I shook my head negatively as I felt water in my eyes.
“I love you, Aaron,” She cooed, tears rolling down her cheeks. My heart was gladdened at the love that was boldly written on her face.
I raised her fingers to my lips and nibbled it. “I love you more, Mi cha”