Captive

II - Happy Birthday

"How are you?" The woman asked.

With that simple question, Yuri suddenly got lost in her thoughts. She couldn't look at Yoona for a moment. She bows her head as tears start to cloud her eyes. The feeling of loneliness starts to fill her body. She may be friends with her cellmates, and she's thankful enough to be in a room full of good people, but that will never erase the fact that she's alone there. That she will spend some years of her life there without her family, friends, or relatives -- without someone she loves.

Yuri starts crying so hard and loud. She rested her head on her arm on the counter. Yoona worriedly looked at her but she couldn't do anything. As much as she wanted to hug and comfort her, she couldn't.

"Yul... it's okay." Tears start to escape her eyes looking at the woman she has loved all these years. "I'll be here." She presses her hand on the glass where Yuri's head is on the other side. Her other hand covers her mouth, trying to suppress her emotions. She wouldn't want Yuri to see her like this.

They remained in that position with their silent comfort. Yuri couldn't talk after she calmed down. If the glass is not between them, their faces are probably an inch away from each other. Both their hands are pressed even on the glass.

"I promise to see you again. I'll visit you often." Yoona said. "Don't avoid me, or else I'll tell your dad."

Yuri tried to show a smile but her eyes were still wet with tears. She nodded.

The clock suddenly beeped.

"Kwon, time's up." An officer said.

"I'll see you again. Okay?" Yoona said, smiling so beautifully at her with her puffy eyes, red cheeks, and nose.

"I'll see you Yoong." Yuri stood up and waved at her.

As promised, Yoona visits her as frequently as she can whenever she's free. She once had a week-long vacation after filming a movie. So, she was at the center thrice that week. And in between the days, Yuri would make a phone call to her. Their eight minutes didn't feel too short, unlike the first time. Somehow, it felt enough for both of them. It was enough for Yoona to make Yuri feel that she's still there and will never leave. That she still loves her. It was enough for Yuri to not feel the loneliness anymore.

Yuri was able to get hired at the furniture shop. She gets paid even just for a few bucks. She didn't mind. She's not doing it for money after all. She just really wanted to kill time. She also finished a few more skill courses that were offered during the holidays. She loved that.

***

It's already been a year and Yuri seems to enjoy her stay there. She didn't know that her father only had two requests from the heads of the institution. Make her join a cell with less evil inmates, and make sure that no one touches her until she gets out. With that, Yuri feels like living a normal life inside.

Luck is surely on Yuri's side but not on Jessica's. After the divorce, she lost her clothing business, for not paying the company's loan amounting to more than six million dollars. She didn't get anything, Yuri made sure about that. Every property and car they have were named under Yuri's, so she couldn't use any of them. She lost every single brand sponsorship she had. Financially, she was left with only a few hundred bucks on her account just enough to get herself a small room apartment. She lost her family too. Not one of them helped her when they found out what really happened. Turns out, Yuri's team leaked the photos and videos of her cheating. And even the people whom she considers her friends also left her. Though, there's only one that remained, Tiffany. Her childhood best friend who she almost forgot about after being surrounded by beautiful people. The woman got successful with her real estate company where she got VIP clients, from both the business industry and government. She even handles celebrity accounts now and is getting a lot of attention because of how good she is as a lady boss. She's been featured in a few business and women's magazines already.