150 At the Police Station (2/2)

”You want to meet her? Go right ahead,” Hyuk added bitingly. He was basically implying that she should go die.

Hyuk's words erased any trace of pity Mrs. Joo had for Hyuk. She scrunched her eyebrows, ”You little—” Mrs. Joo raised her hand as if she was going to slap the impertinent boy.

”Oppa!”

Recognising the voice, Hyuk tensed.

He turned around, and there she was, his precious little sister, running towards his directions with a worried look. Her hair was fluttering against the wind, messing it up. The skirt of her dress was flaring from her large movements. Sometimes, if one paid enough attention, one could see how the skirt rode up to her thighs before falling back down below her knees. Although she was slightly unkempt, there was a charm to her less-than-neat appearance.

His eyes widened, then darkened. He didn't tell her that he was at the police station. How did she find out?

”Oppa!” She cried again, coming to a halt as she neared him. She panted heavily, looking at him searchingly. When she saw that Hyuk wasn't looking too terrible, her shoulders fell, her body visibly relaxing.

Once his surprise wore off, Hyuk jumped up from his seat, ”Lee Yeo Ri, who told you to come here?!” He shouted thunderously. ”Why are you alone?! Where's Gun?! Go home, right now!”

His heart was beating loudly. Somehow, he felt jittery and anxious. He didn't know whether it was because he was ashamed, or because it was her. Granted, part of the reason was probably the latter; he hadn't seen her for some time since he had been sleeping over at Yeong Gi's these past few days.

Yeo Ri flinched at his harsh tone, but her concern won her over. She dismissed his brusque attitude, biting her lips. ”Are you hurt?” She asked instead. She brought her hands to her chin and played with her fingers nervously.

”Go!” He shouted. ”Do you think this is a place that little girls like you can go freely?! Just go home!”

Yeo Ri's lips trembled. Soon enough, her tear ducts loosened and large droplets fell from her eyes. She clenched her hands, looking at him sadly. Then, she finally noticed the two who was standing by the side.

Yeo Ri stifled a gasp as she saw In Guk's terrible state. Even without context she could tell that Hyuk had beaten him up. However, she didn't believe that Hyuk did it for no reason. The other man must have done something to provoke him somehow. Deep down, Yeo Ri did not want to believe that Hyuk was such an unreasonable and violent person. 'No, he was not that kind of person.' She knew it since she had always been by his side since the day she was born. Although he was crass and rough, there was a kindness hidden deep inside his guarded but sensitive heart.

”H-hello,” she immediately bowed to the woman and her son. ”I-I am Lee Yeo Ri, Hyuk-oppa's little sister. I will apologise on his behalf if he has done something to offend you,” she said stutteringly, bowing her head to the angry-looking woman.

”Hmph! Look at this, he even made his little sister apologise for him,” Mrs. Joo sneered. ”At least there's one sensible person in the Lee family.”

”I'm sorry...” Yeo Ri repeated.

Hyuk did not like seeing Yeo Ri lower her head for something he did. Furthermore, even though it was really his fault, it still left a bad taste in his mouth when he realised that she had assumed he was the one in the wrong. He grabbed her arm, pulling her up, ”Who told you to do that?! Go away!”

Yeo Ri grimaced from the strength he had placed in his grip, but kept her mouth shut when she saw his frazzled and pained eyes.

”Hmph! I've had enough with this farce! I'll be contacting my husband, and I will make sure this boy pays his dues!” Mrs. Joo said, storming off. Her high heels clacked noisily against the tiled flooring, the loud noise signalling her bad mood.

”Ah, mom!” In Guk jolted in a hurry, looking as if he wanted to chase after his mother, but somebody had already beaten him to it.

Yeo Ri's face paled at the older woman's words, then she quickly pulled away from Hyuk to run after the woman. She had to somehow convince her to let Hyuk go.

”Yeo Ri!” Hyuk wanted to grab her, but the police officer had him rooted to his place.

”Where are you two going? We're not done here yet,” the police officer said, rubbing his temples tiredly with one hand and holding Hyuk's wrist with the other.

Hyuk glared at the man fiercely, but for some reason, he could not remove his hand from the policeman's grip. It seems like despite his dull-looking figure, he was a strong person.

In the end, Hyuk could only resign himself to his fate while cursing everyone—particularly Gun, for letting Yeo Ri come to the station by herself.