The forceful pull tugged at her harshly. When she was lifted from underneath Joo ri did not have to question who it was. The discontentment across his face by her actions spoke enough.
Fury rode through his dark orbs. The disquieted gaze burned strongly. She wanted to melt into the ocean and flow away. "What were you thinking? It's dangerous and-" abruptly stopping, he furrowed his brows noticing something that shouldn't be disregarded.
His palms that was placed on her elbows emitted intense heat. Flickering his sight between their points of contact, Chenle shifted his attention back to her, to see how exhausted and faint she was. Anyone could easily be deceived that she was just drowsy with lack of sleep, but Chenle began to get wary. He's seen this kind of state in many people before.
And his questions had been answered when a trickle of blood dripped down her nose. Sensing it, Joo ri instantly tilted her head up to the sky and hovered her palm under her nose. "It's - it's not stopping" she cried out, her voice weak and feeble.
Exhaling exasperatedly, Chenle tore his shirt off his body and balled it up. Gazing at the distressed girl, he placed his hand on the back of her head and dabbed his shirt against her nose.
○
It took awhile but the nose bleed had stopped.
Joo ri sat under the midnight sky cross legged with Chenle's shirt in her palms. Her body temperature had not returned back to normal but she wasn't as elevated as before. Thanks to her impulsive act of jumping into the sea.
As the night progressed, the air cooled, the tides crashed aggressively, strong ocean currents drove relentlessly. Joo ri tucked herself back into her clothes and the leather jacket. Chenle on the other hand was not wearing his shirt. Afterall, not long ago, it was used as a handkerchief.
He wasn't the least bothered. Instead he began to understand a few things. His Boss was devious as always. Perfectly planned to get Joo ri to play into his hands. Sadly the girl was oblivious as to what she was getting herself into.
Throwing another pebble into the sea in front of him, Chenle turned back and walked towards Joo ri. Sitting down beside her he immediately pushed back her hair off her shoulder to get a better look.
Palm resting on her neck he used his thumb to gently hover his thumb over the surface of her skin. At his cold touch on her burning skin, Joo ri flinched and seethed in some air.
It was now clear to him why she constantly scratched at this area. Dropping his hand, Chenle huffed out some air. "You're poisoned" he stated. "And you knew, that's why you agreed to help me escape" shaking her head, Joo ri coughed out.
"They have Eun tak. I would've done it either way" cocking a brow Chenle racked his sight over her. "But that was the only reason you agreed to meet my Boss. For the antidote." at this Joo ri pressed her lips together.
Sighing, Chenle ran his palm through his hair. Fiddling with his now blooded shirt, Joo ri winced quietly. "Chenle" she called out in a low voice. "You're Boss said that it'll be more difficult for me after the symptoms kick in." Gulping down hard she bit her bottom lip. "am I-" stopping between her words, Joo ri shut her eyes. "Am I going to die?" she faced the boy with her wavering orbs to find his eyes already on hers.
Relaxing his features upon spotting her scared ones, Chenle did not know what to say. Truth is, they do have an antidote but he was unsure if Winwin would give it to her.
Honestly speaking, he only wants her to come to him so that he can confirm her death. And he will surely kill Eun tak upon Chenle returns.
Winwin always refused to let any witnesses live. And these two are the only ones from the chaos they made that night. He could have easily asked Chenle to kill the girl but she went to the police and the boy was taken into custody. It was too risky to let Chenle kill her. On top of that, by bringing her to them, they can make her disappear with no trace. If the police found out then they would believe that the real killer murdered her because she helped the police. Indirectly this will tell them that one of the men they released was actually the killer and not the one she pointed at or that there was a accomplice.
However, that plan didn't go accordingly because the police caught Joo ri as an imposter. Poor girl either will die by Winwins hands or will be taken into jail. She won't be able to return back to her peaceful life .
She thinks that she is going to save her sister-in-law and receive the antidote. But in reality Chenle knew the truth her fate is holding.
Facing the sand he shook his head, unable to lie whilst looking into her petrified eyes. "You're not going to die. You've only shown the first few symptoms. You still have time to take the antidote and survive"
"Promise"
Promise? He didn't lie about the last part. She really did have time but the symptoms will gradually get worse. How was he to say that she'd soon get fainting spells and possibly seizures. NO! He refuses to tell her.
Connecting his dark orbs into Joo ri's, Chenle nodded. "I promise. You'll be fine"
○
"Why are you rubbing your butt?" she eyed him judgingly. Unamused, Sungchan rolled his eyes and put her into a loose head lock. "Because of you! You kicked me off the bed . . again!"
Pulling away, Deiji blankly stared at him attempting to hold in her laughter. But eventually she chuckled, finding it sort of funny. Tucking in some strands behind her ear, Deiji tied her purple hair into a bun.
"I guess I'll never grow out of that habit" she said to herself. She climbed onto the low wall that the two were walking past. Sungchan had her skateboard in his hold. Deiji mentioned that they'd be getting on a bus soon to get to their destination.
He simply nodded but his curiosity continued to grow. Unable to remain silent he finally let it out. "Look I know I agreed to go on this trip and I know that you have a personal reason behind it Deiji. But when are you going to tell me?"
Stopping in her tracks, she dropped her hands that were floating on either side. Spinning on her heels she looked at Sungchan who was at her eye level now. Looking to the ground, Deiji placed both hands behind her.
"This was supposed to be a trip where we both enjoy but I'm sorry I'm dragging you everywhere." scoffing he shook his head. "Idiot, I am enjoying myself. I even found some fossils" he reminded her, making the girl smile lightly. "It has been fun so far but I just want to know where we are going and why you chose this place to visit. I at least have the right to know that"
Nodding, Deiji huffed out some air. "It's to do with my mum's diary" strangely he wasn't too surprised that it had to do with the hard covered book. She's been attached to it like the day she became fond of her skateboard.
Jumping down, Deiji linked her arms in his and they began to walk again. "Mum actually made this exact trip with someone else when she was young. And I wanted to walk in the same footsteps and hopefully learn more about her. And Aunt said how I might also learn more about my father as well." This shocked Sungchan and he halted in his spot. "And I think I know who my father is." she muttered but hurriedly finished the sentence to not get any hopes up. "I'm not entirely sure but it's a hunch"
"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked, slightly disappointed. She had always shared tiny things with him especially if it is to do with her father but for the first time she didn't. Biting her bottom lip, Deiji inhaled lightly. "I couldn't go into the details because it's to do with my mother"
Understanding where she was coming from he placed his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. With a soft smile Sungchan pointed ahead. "Then let's go and find your answers to your desperate questions"
It aches to keep it to herself to be honest. She did think about sharing all her thoughts with him however if Chenle really was her father then how was she supposed to tell Sungchan that her father is a criminal.
She wasn't too affected by this information because it was not confirmed. But Deiji herself wasn't sure how to be satisfied, if it were true. Yet a part of her also believes that Chenle wasn't a terrible person. She didn't want to believe that he was horrible.
For now she was feeling mixed emotions. Happy that she is learning about her mother and perhaps her father. But then again she was also wary and scared to learn that maybe he is a lawbreaker and whether she'd be satisfied.
Maybe that was why her mother hid everything about him?