Chapter 27 - Cry

“You do know we actually stay in a hotel right?” Yuri teased as the silver car zipped through the city streets.

Behind the wheels, Jessica gave her a puzzled look.

"Well, technically we could have-" 'done it back at the hotel' was what Yuri intended to say, but knowing Jessica’s rather shy approach in such issue, she chuckled. “Nevermind.”

“No… I am not thinking about that, Yuri.”

“Oh…” came a defeated reply. “No! No, I wasn’t referring to that! Dinner I mean… our hotel serves good dinner right?”

“We’re not going for dinner…yet.”

“Where are we going then?”

Yuri focused on the road, in time to see a sign pass by - To Seoul University Hospital.

The car pulled into an empty parking lot on the Intensive Care Unit side of the hospital. As it slowed down, you could almost hear the crunching of the fresh snow under the Aston Martin's tires.

Jessica shifted the gear into park, clutching the handle so tightly that her knuckles turned white. She watched as the snow lightly descended in the calm of the night, wondering if she was really ready to reveal everything to the girl sitting beside her in the passenger seat.

"Sica." Yuri's hand touched the soft pale ones. Yuri didn't say anything more to the older girl. They both sat in the car in silence with Yuri resting her hand on top of Jessica's.

What Sooyoung had mentioned earlier was gnawing away at her curiosity, but she has decided to wait until Jessica is willing to share an important part of her. Until then, Yuri would continue to give Jessica her utmost silent support. She slipped her fingers in between Jessica's and gently rubbed her thumb against the back of her small pale hand. Her deathly grip on the shift stick eventually relaxed upon Yuri’s soothing touch.

Jessica took a deep breath, turned to Yuri and gave a soft yet solemn smile.

It’s time.

"Yuri-yah, I... I want you to meet someone."

*********

They walked down the corridor hand in hand. It seemed many nurses at the hospital recognized Jessica. They greeted her but only received a blank, cold look. Some of them even looked sadder than Jessica, shaking their heads as if Jessica was a hopeless girl.

Jessica stopped in front of a windowed unit. Inside lied a frail woman hooked up to many machines. Jessica placed a palm against the window, her index finger seeming to indirectly caress the woman on the other side.

As if the woman sensed their presence, she slowly opened her eyes and smiled at them. Jessica smiled back.

"That's my mother," she said, trying her best to sound composed. Before continuing, she bit down on her trembling lips. Yuri squeezed her hand. "Her liver's been failing and needs a transplant."

A tear rolled down Jessica's eye and she quickly wiped it away. As she said this, her gaze never left her mother's figure.

"The doctor told me last night that without a transplant soon, she won't make it past this month," Jessica continued to reveal.

Yuri immediately enveloped Jessica into a tight hug, feeling guilty for not being able to offer comfort when the trembling girl unexpectedly crawled into her bed last night. Guilty for not being able to control her emotions better.

The woman lifted her hand up and signaled for them to go inside. Yuri watched helplessly as Jessica left her side and kissed her mom lightly.

"Mom," she held the woman's small hands. "How are you feeling today?"

Jessica received a weak response. "Better..."

Another tear rolled down her eyes as she knew her mom was lying. The truth was, her condition was getting worse everyday.

"And were you a good girl today?" Jessica continued as if nothing was wrong with her mom. "Did you take all your medications that the kind nurses gave you?"

Her mom responded with a simple nod. More tears fell down. It became harder for Jessica to pretend that her mom would recover soon as she watched the woman become weaker day by day.

"Aigoo... Why are you like this? I'll be fine tomorrow!" She noticed the tanned girl behind Jessica. "Now don't be rude. There's a guest here. Who's your friend?"

Yuri stood next to Jessica. She rested her hands on the girl's shoulders and felt Jessica silently sob.

"Mom, this is Kwon Yuri..."

Jessica's mom ignored her daughter's tears and raised an eyebrow at Yuri. She reached for the dark hand.

"Oh... So you're Yuri. It's great to finally meet you. I've heard so much... But understood so little." Jessica's mom stared at Yuri for awhile, studying her. "Yes... Yes... I see. You have smile lines." She squeezed Yuri's hand. "And a warm touch. Just the right ingredients to melt our Ice Princess here."

"Mom!" Jessica yelled with the biggest smile.

"Jessica dear, I would like to speak to Yuri alone please."

Yuri gave Jessica a reassuring smile as the girl reluctantly left the room.

Jessica's mom sighed the moment her daughter left the room and took deeper breaths.

"Jessica's my eldest. I have another daughter, Krystal. She's studying in the States right now."

"Oh..." was all Yuri could say.

"I don't know why, but I worry about Jessica the most." The old woman shook her head at her own bias. "Maybe it's because she can't cook."

Yuri chuckled at this comment. Already, she feels like she could connect well with Jessica's mom.

"When she was small, she would sing and dance around the house. You know, whenever Krystal cried, it was only Jessica who could make her smile again. My Sooyeonie was the joy of the family."

Yuri listened to all of the stories about Jessica, how at 5 years old she pretended to have a heart attack at the supermarket because she saw the mountain of cucumbers while grocery shopping with her mom, how she dressed up her baby sister who was only 1 year old as a frog because she wanted to be a fairytale princess, how she would take her baby sister's bottle and drink out of it, how Jessica would box with her dad.

No wonder she punches like a pro, Yuri thought as she rubbed her head.

"Yuri, I won't be around forever. I won't be able to give her any advice when she gets into love fights. Especially when she cries her eyes out over this silly game called Marry, Sleep, or Kill. I won't be able to tell her to apologize in the middle of the night." She gave Yuri a stern look.

Yuri gulped, knowing very well that the old woman was talking about her.

"Promise me something Yuri, don't make my angel cry. And promise me to take good care of her when I'm not around."

"You don't even have to ask."

Yuri looked out the window and saw Jessica staring back at them with a doctor by her side. He smiled at Yuri and entered the room.

"Alright, Mrs. Jung. I'm just going to do a quick checkup." He grabbed her charts and looked at them with his eyebrows furrowed.

Yuri left the room, letting the doctor do his thing. She quickly held Jessica's hand and led her away from the window --far from it. They went outside to get some fresh air.

"What did you and my mom talk about?" Jessica asked, facing the taller girl.

Yuri brushed some of the falling snow off Jessica's hair. The night was slightly chilly with light snowfall. Under the bright street lights, and with Jessica's long wavy brown hair, she looked like she just stepped out of a fairytale.

"We talked about how you should treat your Kwon Seobang better," Yuri joked, not wanting to reveal how intense the actual conversation was.

"Yah!" Jessica slapped Yuri on her arm, face turning red.

Yuri laughed at Jessica's shyness and then saw her give a cute pout, turning the mood serious again.

"Now you know why money is so important to me. My mom needs the transplant soon... And... And there's also Krystal, my sister. She's studying abroad and it's... Gosh, everything's so expensive!"

A tear rolled down Jessica's cheek and before she was able to wipe it, Yuri already brushed it away with her thumb. Instead of returning her hand back to her side, Yuri rested it on Jessica's cheek and neck, softly caressing her. By now, Yuri could judge by Jessica's expressions that the girl was frustrated with herself for being so helpless.

"Isn't your mom on the waiting list for a transplant?"

"Yes! And she was supposed to get one last month but this rich guy bumped himself up the list. The world's just not fair! I'm trying so hard to save up just so I can buy one... But... It's almost impossible." Jessica heaved her shoulders in defeat.

"How much are they?"

"Almost half a million..."

Yuri didn't want to bring him up, but Jessica still doesn't know about her true identity.

"Does Jae know?"

"Yes."

Yuri closed her eyes, hurt that another man pursuing Jessica also knows about this.

Jessica rested her hand on Yuri's shoulder and quickly added, almost pleadingly for the saddened girl to understand. "I had to. He saw me going to the hospital late one night. That's why he gave me that expensive car."

"And he didn't offer to help your mom?"

"Jae doesn't know how serious my mom's condition is. And he had to go on a business trip this morning but I left him a message about it. Yul... I'm desperate now."

Yuri couldn't count how many times Jessica has cried tonight, and how each time, it felt like as if her own heart was breaking.

"I'm sorry, I've been such a jerk to you. I didn't know..."

"..."

“It's not your fault.”

"But -"

Before Yuri could protest further, Jessica pressed a finger lightly against her lips.

Maybe it was the soft orange streetlight surrounding the two; or maybe it was the falling snow and that mistletoe nested on a barren fig tree just above them.

With the hand still on Jessica's cheek, Yuri moved it lower to behind Jessica's neck, surprising the shorter girl with a kiss.

Screw waiting for Jessica to initiate the kiss, screw my pride and competitiveness.

Upon contact, Jessica's lips parted almost immediately and Yuri didn't waste any time savoring Jessica's warmth. Yuri pulled Jessica closer by the waist, deepening the kiss some more.

It was everything Yuri had imagined and more. Jessica tasted sweet, her soft lips pressed against Yuri's. Every flick of the tongue sent jolts right down to Yuri's stomach.

The snow continued to fall slowly, oblivious to the passionate couple below. Everything was so perfect about this kiss --especially the girl Yuri was kissing.

She felt Jessica lean back a bit, getting ready to pull away from her. But Yuri just couldn't get enough and leaned in some more, supporting the slightly arched girl by the waist.

Jessica wanted to giggle at Yuri's greediness, but couldn't for she was kissing the taller girl back with just as much fervent passion.

Jessica gave a slight moan right as she said through the long kiss in bits and pieces, "Yul, I... Can't... Breathe."

Yuri could have spent an eternity just kissing Jessica --if only oxygen wasn't necessary. She leaned her forehead against Jessica's as they both breathed heavily, the hot steam visibly apparent between their mouths in this chilly winter air.

"There. I now owe you half a million dollars," Yuri said, recalling how Jessica attached a price tag to kisses during their first "date" courtesy of the casino's employee draw.

Jessica smiled, touched by how Yuri was willing to surrender just to make her happy. She slid her hand from Yuri's shoulder and brought it closer to Yuri's collar. She lightly ran her fingers on the smooth scarf.

"Kwon Seobang... I don't just take without giving back."

Yuri wanted to remind the girl how she practically robbed her of her salary and had given nothing back. But Yuri was glad that she didn't say anything. She couldn't. Not with Jessica against her mouth again.

Jessica held on tightly to Yuri's scarf, pulling her closer with it. It was a short and simple kiss, but enough for heat to rise up to her cheeks and spread to the rest of her body.

"Thank you, Yuri." Jessica pulled away. "I'm going to go spend some time with my mom... Do you mind?"

Yuri could barely register what Jessica had said. Jessica's kiss simply left her in a daze.

"Uh.. Yeah sure. Go ahead. I'll wait for you back at the hotel, 'kay?"

Jessica couldn't hide her smile other than by turning around and heading back into the hospital.

Yuri couldn't stop smiling either. The feel of Jessica's lips, the sweet taste -- they still lingered in her mouth.

Yuri forced herself to snap out of it. "There's a life at stake here, for goodness' sake!" she scolded herself aloud.

With her jelly fingers, she pulled out her cellphone and speed dialed Sooyoung's number.

"Hello?"

Yuri couldn't contain her excitement over what just happened with Jessica now and screamed into the phone, "Hello!"

"Woah there, Yuri! Who got you, jolly rancher?"

"Soo, you will never believe what just happened!"

"Mmmmm.... you awr duh ew grobnay chirkin mershcoh?"

"What? Stop eating and talk properly!" Yuri screamed into the phone.

Sooyoung sighed, then swallowed the food in her mouth. This time, she took her time to eununciate each syllable. "You. Are. Thee. New. Goob-nay. Chick-en. Mas-cot."

"What? No!"

"Hmm... That's too bad," Sooyoung replied as she took another bite of her drumstick. "So, what's up?"

"Jessica kissed me!" Yuri screeched as she waved a taxi over. She gave the driver the address to where she was staying, the K-Won hotel. "It was like... magic."

"Shut up! Jessica didn't really kiss you."

"I'm serious! She did. Okay, fine, I kissed her first but she kissed back!" Yuri squealed once more, lying down on the back seats, and kicking her long legs back and forth in the much confined space.

The taxi driver gave Yuri a weird look from the rearview mirror, wondering if he had picked up an escaped patient from the asylum department.

Noticing his stare, Yuri cleared her throat and sat back up properly. "Ahem, so I was wondering, how much does it cost for a human liver?"

The driver's eyes widened at Yuri's question to Sooyoung. He placed a hand over his right abdomen, presumably where his liver was located.

"I meant for transplants," Yuri quickly added after noticing the cabbie's reaction.

"Well, it depends on where you're getting it from... US, China, India..." Sooyoung listed while waving a new drumstick in the air.

"I want the best one. And I need it now."

Yuri's gaze accidentally landed on the rearview mirror, connecting it with the driver's. The man quickly looked away and wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead. He opened the compartment under the arm rest and pulled out a flask. Popping it open with one hand, he took a swig of the hard liquor.

"My liver's no good." He took another swig and chuckled nervously.

Yuri slapped the back of the driver's seat, surprising the man. He choked and coughed from the sudden movement.

"Yah! Are you sure you should be drinking and driving?" Yuri yelled, annoyed at how ignorant he was being.

"Everything ok?" Sooyoung asked on the other end.

"Yeah. So you were saying?"

"Well, it's always better to just be on a hospital's waiting list. Who's this for anyway? Don't tell me you've suddenly developed a taste for human organs."

Yuri smiled at Sooyoung's sarcasm. "Yes, didn't you know that I'm Mrs. Hannibal Lecter?"

To the driver, Yuri's smile was creepy in the dark shadows, not to mention her last comment caused him to slam on the brakes just as they arrived at the hotel's parking lot.

Yuri's seatbelt dug into her body as it locked in place from the sudden jerk. She unbuckled and rubbed her right stomach, slightly moaning from pain.

"Soo, hold on."

The taxi ride back wasn't a very pleasant one. Yuri counted the money in her hands wondering how much she should tip when suddenly her door opened and her driver ushered her out of the car, snatching the money out of her hands.

"Thank you ma'am! Have a nice night!" He screamed after jumping back into his car, speeding away into the dark of the night.

"Helloooo? Kwon Yuri? You still there?"

Bringing her attention back to the issue, Yuri forgot about the taxi driver's weird behavior and told Sooyoung all about Jessica's sick mother from the lobby of the hotel, leaving out the details of their sweet kiss.

At the end of Yuri's story, Sooyoung took a deep breath. "Wow. And I thought Jessica was the one who was sick."

"Yeah... Me too." Without wasting anymore time, Yuri asked more directly, "So... Do you think it's possible to me find a liver asap? Like for tonight?"

"Yul, with money, anything is possible." And she wasn't lying. After hanging up with Yuri, Sooyoung knew exactly who to contact before calling the hospital to prep for a transplant surgery.

Partially relieved that she had her friend's help, Yuri clasped her hands together and said a silent prayer, hoping that Jessica's mom had enough strength to hang in there for just a bit longer.

Instead of going straight up to the loneliness of her room, Yuri took a seat in the hotel's lobby. She wanted to see Jessica walk through the hotel doors, face flushed from the cold air.

Yuri waited with impatience, eyes never leaving the big front doors. A lot of things were going through her mind. Suddenly, she felt like a little girl, lost in the world of unknowns. She wondered if Jessica's mother would be fine now after finding a liver. She wondered when she should tell Jessica about her identity and how the girl would take it, what their relationship is now, and if Jessica would give up her playgirl and gold digging ways to be with her.

Yuri didn't know how long she sat in the lobby for, but by the time her phone rang again, the lights to a little restaurant across the street were already turned off.

When she saw who was calling, her worries and time suddenly became irrelevant and were replaced with the image of a flushed face girl.

"Yuri!" An overly enthusiastic girl screamed out on the other end of the phone.

"What is it Jessica?" Yuri answered sweetly with a smile at the mere sound of her voice.

"There's a liver available! My mom's going to have the transplant first thing tomorrow! I... I... I can't believe this," Jessica gushed before breaking down into tears. "Yuri-yah, is this really happening? Am I dreaming?"

Yuri chuckled at the silly girl. "That's great news! Hey, let's celebrate when you get back." That wasn't the only thing Yuri wanted to celebrate. "Shall we go out to grab a bite? Have some cake maybe?"

Go on a date...

"Yeah! Let's do that," Jessica eagerly responded.

"Ok. I'll wait for you."

Not too long after Yuri hung up with Jessica, her phone rang again, drawing unwanted attention from the bar in the hotel's lobby.

"So sorry for calling this late," an out of breath Jaebeom apologized. "But I really needed to tell you this."

Yuri did not like where this was going. She hasn't seen or spoken to Jaebeom since last night. She doubted he was going to tell her off for the things she said to him about being played by Jessica. Matter of fact, he didn't sound upset at all. He sounded excited and really happy... Not that it was a bad thing, but Yuri didn't like the vibes she was getting.

"You were right last night," Jaebeom continued.

"Huh?"

"Somebody as great as Jessica would obviously have a lot of people chasing after her and there's only one way to make her mine..." Yuri's breathing stopped as Jaebeom paused, hoping that it would put the world on hold. "Yuri, I'm going to ask Jessica to marry me."

Yuri felt her heart go into cardiac arrest. She squeezed her eyes shut and tightened her jaw in anger. This couldn't be happening. Not when she's come so close to getting Jessica.

“Are you... surprised by that?” Jaebeom asked in a faltering manner.

"When are you proposing?" Yuri asked trying her best to sound calm.

"The moment I see her."

Yuri could just imagine the joyous triumphant grin on his face as he said that. In fact, she would probably look the same if she were the one who got Jessica.

"Hey, Yuri. I can't really talk right now. Just arrived at customs at the airport. They'll probably have a few questions about this big diamond ring," Jaebeom chuckled. "I just called to thank you for knocking some sense into me. And more so, I would love to have your blessing. Gotta go. Will fill you in on the good news."

The conversation ended with Yuri holding onto her phone tightly and cursing herself for her impulsive behavior last night. If only she hadn't opened her mouth, then she wouldn't have upsetted Jessica nor would Jaebeom have any thoughts about marrying Jessica.

She tried calling him back, to talk him out of proposing. How could he even be in love with Jessica when they don't even spend much time together... but she wouldn't know that. With all the constant fighting, even when being held up during the casino robbery, Yuri realized she did not spend as much time with Jessica anymore.

A soft voice broke into her panicked thoughts.

"Hey, you look like you could use a drink."

Yuri looked at the extended hand with small fingers wrapped around a round glass. The dark liquid looked and smelled strong.

"Hey, Stella. I'll pass. I don't really like to drink," Yuri politely declined with a soft smile.

While Yuri had spent the passing minutes waiting for Jessica to return to the hotel, unbeknownst to her, Stella had been watching Yuri from the bar, boiling of resentment.

"You seem troubled, Yuri. What's wrong?" Stella asked with creased eyebrows and a look of concern.

"Nothing..." Yuri replied meekly. Up in her mind, a hundred and one thoughts were running wild.

How would she be able to stop Jaebeom’s advancement?

Get a hitman to get rid of love rival! No.

Kidnap him and hide him out of plain view until I have properly confessed to Jessica? No.

Kidnap Jessica and hide her in a house so I can confess to her! Yes! ... No!

"Look, after my confession, I don't want things to be awkward between us." Stella sat down next to Yuri and rested her hand on top of Yuri's. "Just because we're not a couple, doesn't mean we can't be friends."

Yuri looked at her, slightly tensed. Do we really have to do this? she thought to herself.

Stella held the glass of scotch out to Yuri again to which the tanned girl guiltly accepted. After rejecting Stella's love confession, Yuri was too embarrassed to face her. But it appeared that the girl was much stronger than she had thought.

Stella held her glass up. "To friendship?"

Not wanting to be rude, Yuri lightly clinked their glasses together. "To friendship."

Not realizing how strong the alcohol was, Yuri began coughing after taking a big gulp.

"Haha!" Stella rubbed Yuri's back back and forth. "You okay?"

"Whew... That was an embarrassment. Not too used to drinking alcohol."

Whether it was due to the alcohol or Stella's comforting touches, Yuri felt a bit more relaxed.

"It's Jessica," Yuri blurted.

Stella tightened her jaw and gave an evil glare, all which lasted only a split second -- a second that Yuri seemed to have missed.

"I like her... But at times, just liking her, it upsets me. She's so hard to read which scares me... Because... Because..." Yuri looked up at Stella with a sudden revelation in her eyes. "Because I don't even know if she likes me."

How am I gonna confess to her...

Stella drank the remaining alcohol in her glass in one swift chug.

"Wow..." Stella said in disbelief.

Yuri felt guilty again for being so inconsiderate. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable."

Stella took a deep breathe, trying her best to swallow the hatred she was feeng towards her nemesis and Yuri. She exhaled and gave a sorry look.

"Yul, it's not that. I'm just shocked at how blinded you are by her. Look, I know what it's like when you like someone so much. You see them through rose colored glasses and you give them so many chances and excuses until you have nothing more to give except a broken heart. That's what happened with my ex-fiancé."

"I'm sorry..." was all Yuri could say, before nervously downing the entire glass of hard liquor.

"You might think that I'm attacking Jessica because she stole my fiancé from me, but I've worked with Jessica longer than you, Yul. I've seen her fox ways." Stella took Yuri's hands into hers. "I don't want you to get hurt."

Yuri's head started to spin.

Hurt? But that is not what I feel...

Sensing Yuri’s hesistation, Stella edged on, “Listen, you’re a nice kindhearted person who deserves better. And Jessica just isn’t the right person for you.”

Maybe Stella was right. After all she's only met the girl and if her memory was correct, she didn't quite hit it off with Jessica in the beginning.

That hurts.

And like Stella said, she's been hurt by Jason before and she never wants to go through that again.

A dull nagging pain was pounding against her temples and that surely hurt.

"Hey, Stella. I think I feel your drink kicking in," Yuri chuckled while holding her head. "I'm going to go up and get some rest. Thanks for listening."

Yuri smiled at Stella before making her way to the elevators, leaving the girl alone in the lobby. Her head was hurting with each floor that she passed and even the elevator's soft "ding" sounded like a gong.

(Click to listen while reading next part)

Yuri winced in pain as she made her way to her room. She stared at Jessica's door across before entering hers. It was getting late. Maybe they'll just grab a bite tomorrow and talk about things when Yuri's head was more clear and hurting less.

The alcohol was making Yuri extra sensitive to every bit of noise. Not long after reaching her bed, she heard a door close and open again. She rushed to open her door and caught Jessica hastily putting on a scarf.

"Hey Sica! Ready to go eat?" Yuri excitedly blurted.

Even to herself, she wasn't making much sense. She just said that they would go eat when she's feeling more sober, yet seeing Jessica always makes her want to do something else.

Jessica took quick steps back to stand by Yuri's door.

"I can't. I have to meet someone right now."

Jessica started to turn her body to walk towards the elevators when Yuri grabbed her wrist tightly, freezing her in place.

She gave the taller girl a puzzled look. "Yuri, I'm in a hurry. Jae's waiting for me at the restaurant," Jessica accidentally blurted.

Yuri's eyes darkened. "Jae? Jaebeom? You're blowing me off for him?"

"Yul, I promise I'll have breakfast with you."

Her head was hurting badly and she definitely wasn’t thinking clear.

“Why do you have to go see him right now? Don't go. Tell him you'll see him tomorrow.”

Yuri didn't want to use such a commanding and harsh tone with Jessica... She wanted to plead with Jessica to stay with her tonight, to make her head stop hurting. But she felt pathetic. And angry. If Jessica sees Jaebeom tonight, then he'll propose and she'll lose Jessica forever.

"Yuri! Let go!" Jessica rubbed her wrist. "What's gotten into you?"

"Me?! What's gotten into you?! Why are you so eager to see him tonight?" Yuri couldn't help screaming.

"Because! ...because he helped my mom get a transplant!"

Yuri scoffed in disbelief. "Did he tell you that?"

Jessica didn't understand why they were fighting nor why Yuri was so red in the face. Now wasn't the time to be jealous and it annoyed Jessica that Yuri was acting even younger than her sister -- like a baby.

"No."

"Then what makes you think it was him!"

"Because, I just know it, okay?"

Jessica gave Yuri a mean glare and Yuri glared back.

What Yuri said next shocked the both of them.

"How much do you want, Jessica Jung?" Yuri said her name as if she was a stranger. "How much will it cost to have you spend the night with me? How much do I have to pay you to share my bed with me tonight?"

Jessica was silent.

"Half a million?" Yuri continued. "No, it must be more than that since your kiss alone was that much."

Yuri knew it was a slap across the face and she knew she was acting like a jerk. But she'd reached her limit with Jessica. She wasn't going to allow herself to get played again.

She watched Jessica close her eyes with pain and disappointment. When she opened them again, all Yuri saw was anger.

"One million dollars. Something that you will never be able to afford, Kwon Yuri." Jessica said in a low yet scary voice.

Yuri could only clench her teeth and shake her head. Stella was right about Jessica all along. And Jessica's last words just shattered those rose colored glasses she's been seeing her through.

Yuri closed the door in fury before Jessica could see her lips quiver; and before Yuri could see the tears that fell almost instantly off Jessica’s reddened eyes.

“Kwon Yuri... you are an idiot.” Jessica mouthed silently before running off with a wrenched heart.

Yuri staggered into the room, her mind and heart clouded with disappointment and ache. The nagging pain in her head refused to go away. She collapsed on the bed, breathing harshly in an attempt to block out all those hurting emotions.

“I don't want you to get hurt.”

“You deserve better.”

“Jessica just isn’t the right person for you.”

She pulled out her phone and called her dad, disregarding the late hour.

"Hello?" a groggy voice mumbled.

"Pa?" Yuri took a deep breath to mask the pain. "I'm ready for Vegas now."