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"you'll be comfortable here, it's our guest's room and wang decorated it a few months ago - he said opening the door for her. she walked inside, following jinyoung. the room was big, bigger than usual guests rooms. it was all white and had a big window with white curtains. a double bed in the middle of the room towards a wall, a big closet with light gray sliding doors and another door similar that jinyoung mentioned led to a private bathroom. there was a vanity with a big mirror.
"the tv is here - he said pushing a button on a small remote, a flat screen popped from the vanity. "it's... latest technology or that's what wang said." he said scratching the back of his neck.
"i don't know... if you don't like it, maybe-
"it's perfect, thanks." she said with a reassuring tone. he smiled, a sad kind of smile and nodded.
he was nervous, it was soon's first time in this house, because she had visited the previous one with kihyun countless times.but this was a new house that jinyoung bought after his promotion.
a house she never visited and park soon couldn't help but feel miserable that the first time she visited his new and improved house, was under such circumstances.
"okay... uh- there's more blankets here- he said pointing at the closet - and fresh towels at the bathroom. "actually here are the fresher towels, straight from the drier - wang walked inside with a sympathetic smile and towards the bathroom.
jinyoung glanced at his sister, hands on his pockets and an awkward expression. "also brought some of my clothes, they fit you perfectly, we're the same size." wang finally added, walking out of the bathroom and leaving the folded clothes inside the closer. soon smiled.
"thanks guys... really for... everything." wang walked towards jinyoung side and he put an arm around her, she hugged his torso.
"anytime. you know we're family. and we love you very much, actually, i am thrilled that you're here, i've missed you so much-
"alright. she's tired and she needs rest come on." jinyoung interrupted her, making funny faces.
"right. have a good night soonie." wang said with a smile, soon tried to flash a smile too but failed. wang walked out of the room, leaving jinyoung alone with soon.
"listen... i - he said taking a seat on the bed next to her - i know you probably know this already but you know you can stay here as long as you want right?" soon glanced at him with sad eyes, glassy.
"i mean, i know there's no need for me to say this but this is your house too. you're my sister, you're family... don't feel uncomfortable please, we want you to stay here with us as much as you want." she looked away and finally nodded.
"i really appreciate it, thanks." she said holding his hand and squeezing it a bit. he flashed a sad smile.
"also... i need to remember you that the officers are coming tomorrow to take your statement. i was thinking maybe we can press charges on domestic violence- her eyes widened and she shook her head.
"no, we talked this already. i don't want to ruin his life now that- she stopped talking when she realized she probably stepped out of the line. jinyoung frowned.
"what?"
"i mean. i don't- she sighed- i don't want to ruin his life okay? he just... i wasn't a saint either." she said now, as if she had been talking about kihyun this whole time. fortunate for her, jinyoung let it go and nodded.
"but he tried to kill you-"he didn't okay?-"he strangled you!" he exclaimed, eyes clearly concerned. she understood he was afraid of what happened that night. and she also knew he cared about her.
"can you... find another way to solve this without an actual demand?"he stared at her, a long minute of silence and finally nodded.
"but i don't get why you don't want to press charges, we could destroy him completely-
"jinyoung that's not my style okay? i don't want to ruin his life just because he tried to strangle me. i know what he did was wrong but i am not going to press charges. i am not apologizing his attitude or what he had done. i am just- she groaned in frustration - i am done with everything. i am divorcing him." his eyes widened in surprise as he swallowed hard.
a minute later he nodded. "that's right. that's what you should do. i'll start with the paperwork tomorrow morning okay? i am cancelling all of my clients-
"no. you don't need to-
"they don't need me, you need me more-
"listen i appreciate your will to help me but i can't let you neglect your clients for me-
"you're my sister soon, i am not neglecting you like i did last time." his eyes showed conviction and she knew her litter brother. she knew that when he set a goal, he'll never stop working on pro of that goal. he would never let it go.
"fine. thanks stubborn head." she said ruffling his dark and previously combed locks. he smiled as he squeezed her hand.
"we'll get through this... i promise. i'll make it easier for you, you just need to trust me." she knew he wasn't lying. she knew he meant it. especially since what happened previously.
park soon knew that jinyoung was full of regret and that now, he'll do things right. and that was enough for her. she trusted him.
"i know, thanks." she said finally hugging him. and with that, with that feeling of reassurance provided by her brother and the help of some pills provided by wang, she finally spent the night.
she slept her troubles away and there was nothing else in her mind, no kihyun, no jinyoung and no hyungwon. only a blank space. and then a voice woke her up. a sweet and melodious... a familiar voice.
"soonie?" she opened her eyes and the light almost blinded her. the morning.
"hey... are you okay? you slept like a log." wang's face materialized in front of her. she sat on the bed, eyes narrowed as she tried to adapt to the room's light.
"oh sorry for that, curtains are white so it's very bright in here." wang said with an awkward smile. soon nodded.
"very bright."
"i know, sorry... here, coffee." wang said handing her a mug with fresh coffee. it was hot, like she liked it.
"thanks."
"so... officers are here." she said sitting on the bed, in front of her. soon's eyes widened.
"don't worry... jinyoung told me everything. if you don't want to ruin kihyun's life it's okay. although i do not agree with you... if it was me, i'd sue his fancy ass-
"wang..."
"i know. it's not my problem - she said lifting her hands with a defeated gesture - but... know that we will back you up. in anything you need." she said with a reassuring smile. soon nodded.
"i know. thanks."
"either way... they need your statement because jinyoung called in for a domestic disturbance and they won't let it go. just say that you two had an argument." wang said and she nodded.
but then the idea popped into her mind. "what about this?" she asked wang, pointing at her neck. there were bruises, bruises that officers didn't see last night.
"don't worry. i have what you need." she said taking out a white turtleneck from the closet. soon flashed a sad smile.
"thanks again." the officers took her statement and they believed it.
"so just a domestic fight?" one of them asked, soon nodded.both jinyoung and wang were behind her on the couch. officers across them on another couch. one took notes while the other talked to them.
"still ma'am... your husband shouldn't yell at you like that? are you sure he didn't hurt you?" soon nodded.
"nothing serious?" the other asked, she nodded again. "we... we usually disagree a lot." she said trying to reason with them. jinyoung nodded.
"they're getting a divorce. i am her lawyer." both officers looked at jinyoung and remained silent.
"did he... assault you?" one of the officers asked. she swallowed hard and finally shook her head.
"only verbally. he... was yelling, like i said before." she said trying to convince everyone in the room. but all of them, officers included, knew that was probably a lie. but without her statement or the will to press charges, they just couldn't' do anything.
"fine. so... i guess we're done here?" the other asked.
"sure. i'll walk you out." jinyoung said walking the officers towards the door after they bid their goodbyes.
soon noticed jinyoung stopped at the door and told them something before he finally closed the door.
"there. it's done." he said with a triumphant smile.
"that went well." wang added, taking a seat next to soon. she nodded.
"what did you tell them?"
"uh?" jinyoung's eyes widened.
"what do you mean?"
"right there... before they left." soon added.
"ah. i was asking about the restraining order." she tilted her head, clearly confused.
"oh that's a great idea." wang added nodding.
"a restraining order?"
"yes. for kihyun... - he said as if it was obvious - i don't want him near you... 10 meters around. he'll never strangle you ever again."
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