LOVER

Chapter 2

Ever felt like someone was watching you? I felt it then. The day of my graduation. I was a doctor officially. I shouldnt have been feeling the way I was because there were hundreds of people there so someone looking at you was to be expected. But this was different. The hairs on the back of my neck were standing at attention.

I turned around, trying to scan the grounds and saw nothing out of the ordinary. I shook my head and focused back on my parents. For once, my brother, Felix wasn't on his phone. Surprise. I could see the proud smile on his face. My dad, well he was over the moon. His first daughter was following in his footsteps, ready to keep the family name flying high. He kept brushing imaginary dirt from my gown making my mother roll her eyes.

"She is fine honey. Stop doing that." She gently admonished him. He sighed, his eyes getting glossy.

"I cant help myself. I am such a proud father right now." He admitted.

"We should go in before the old man starts crying." My brother said looking at his watch. He'd grown over the years. Although he chose to be a police officer instead of going to varsity, we were still proud of him. He was fairly new in it but he was making big moves. He was recruited into the task force that was given a mandate to find Ge He Zhou.

The bodies had stopped piling up over the past couple of years but the police were still on his trail. As usual he was always ten steps ahead. I hadn't seen him since that Sunday. The note he left me still sits at the bottom of my memory box. For a while I thought I had Stockholm syndrome because why would I be so attached to him. Every time a new story about him would pop up I wanted to read it. But then I remembered the man never did anything to me. I was just being a drama queen.

When my name was called I made my way to the podium. I could hear my mother cheered like crazy. I went back to my seat and the feeling came back. I again scanned the auditorium and nothing. Maybe I was imagining things.

When we finished inside we made our way out to the grounds to take pictures. My mother had made sure to get a professional photographer. Two hours later and we were still taking pictures. When we were done we made our way to the parking lot. My parents got in their car and drove home. We were no longer living in the middle of nowhere. The place had progressed a bit over the years as more and more people bought land around us and built their homes. My brother followed them in his car.

I got into my car and right in the passenger seat was a huge bouquet of Roses. For a moment I thought they were from my parents but they would have given them to me. I pulled out the card.

"Congratulations Dr Taegyeom.

I hope this journey has been as fulfilling

For you as it has been for me.

You're truly incredible and I am proud of you.

Z"

The note brought a smile to my face. Maybe I wasn't imagining things after all. It was him watching me. I picked up the flowers and sniffed them. For some reason, instead of the usual flowery scent, it smelt like Rose's mixed with his cologne.

I drove home, happier than I had been earlier. When I got home there was a marquee in the front yard. I should have known my parents would do that. Throw me a graduation party. Everyone was there. My friends and my family. It was a great way to end the day.

Sometime during the party I made my way to my car to get my flowers then proceeded to my room to change. At first, I thought the smell of his cologne on the flowers was strong. Until I saw him standing in the corner of the room. I quickly closed the door and locked it.

"I see you're still obsessed with pink." He said. "But you've outgrown the boy bands." He noted. I wasn't sure what to say. He really was here. I could feel the butterflies fluttering around my tummy.

"How did you get in here?" I finally asked. He smiled, making his way to me. His beard had grown longer but he still maintained it pretty well. He sat at the bottom of the bed, spreading his legs.

"Come here." He said. My feet did not need to be told twice. I made my way to him, standing between his legs. He took the flowers and placed them on the bed then pulled me close to him, wrapping his arms around me. He smelt even better up close.

"So you're officially a doctor." He said. I nodded my head. "I guess I can consider myself your first patient." He added. I smiled a bit. Any normal person would be scared and shaking at that moment, not me though.

"I guess. Where have you been?" I asked, resting my hands on his chest. He looked up at me, his smile and dimple on full display.

"Did you miss me?" He answered. Did I? Maybe. Maybe I need a full on psyche evaluation.

"I heard the cops have been looking for you. I thought I'd read the papers one day and they would say you've been caught." I told him. His smile stayed intact.

"Do you want them to catch me?" He asked. I sighed and involuntarily lowered myself onto his lap, my one arm going around his neck.

"I dont know. Maybe if you'd tell me the truth I would know what to think." I said. He nodded his head as knock on the door disturbed us.

Someone decided to try the door handle and failed.

"Tae, open up." My brother called out. I looked at Ghu He Zhou and he seemed unfazed. But I was.

"You have to go. My brother can't find you here. He is a cop." I whispered.

"I know." He admitted. I got up and tried to pull him up but he wouldn't budge. Instead he pulled me to him and wrapped his arms around me again.

"You have to go." I reiterated.

"I will. It's just nice seeing you up close again." He whispered, his face buried in my chest.

"TAE!" My brother yelled over the door.

"I'm coming. I'm changing." I yelled back.

"Hurry up, mum and dad are ready to leave." He said. I heard his footsteps fading away. The after party was about to start.

I turned to the man in front of me.

"You really have to go." I said. He sighed and stood up, towering over me.

"I'll see you around Dr Taegyeom." He leaned down and planted a kiss on my forehead. I closed my eyes, savouring the moment. Lord knows how long it would take before I see him again.

"How are you going to get out?" I asked. There were people all over the yard, how he even got in my room was still a mystery. I felt his lips curl into a smile on my forehead.

"I have my ways. Take care of yourself Doctor." He said. I watched him make his way to the door and unlock it. He turned back, smiling. "You look beautiful by the way." He added before making his way out.

For a while I held my breath, scared he would not make it out. But ten minutes later there was no commotion or any indication that he was caught. I looked through the window and everything seemed to be in order. I let out a sigh of relief. He was gone. I picked up my flowers and sniffed them again.

"Tae, we are leaving what's taking you so long?" My mother shouted as she pushed the door open. I was still standing in the same place with the flowers in my hands. "Nice flowers. Who got them for you?" She asked as a smile filled her face.

"A friend got them for me." I told her. It wasn't a lie though. Or was it? I mean I'd seen Zhou a handful of times, could that classify him as one?

"They are pretty. Come, let's go put them in a vase before we leave." She said taking the flowers from me and marching out. All I could do was follow behind her.

"Nice." My father said when we made it to the kitchen. My mother grabbed her best vase, the largest she could find and filled it with water before carefully placing the flowers inside. Making sure they are displayed very well.

"Where did you get those?" Lwandle asked coming into the kitchen.

"A friend?" I answered. He gave me a side eye and I could tell he didnt believe me. But I didn't care. I took my flowers and carefully placed them on my side table. They were going to be a great sight to wake up to.

I changed into a pair of shorts and a tshirt then joined my friends in the marquee. Most people had left, especially the older family members. Now the real party would start. Alcohol, music and dancing cleared my mind of Ghu He Zhou. For a bit. It was nice being able to focus on something else other than him. It took flowers and ten minutes with him in the same room for my head to go back to square one. His thoughts filling my mind, constantly wondering if he is okay and hoping he doesnt get caught.

I laid in my bed that night, or rather morning saying a prayer. Or tried to. All I could master was 'Heavenly Father' and nothing else after that. My conscience was fully awake, how could I ask God to protect a man wanted for committing murders. Not just one but multiple. Did all those people really deserve to die like that? I'd read about each of the murders. It wasn't just some random hijacking or robbery gone wrong, they all seemed planned, calculated and very well executed. No pictures of the victims had been released, just names. Maybe putting faces to the names would shake me out of whatever delusion I was in.

The next day my friends helped me clean up the house before they left. Felix was working so I was left alone. A thought came to me, I needed to find out who the victims were. Maybe it would clarify a lot of things for me.

I took a shower and changed into a nice dress. I drove to the police station, making sure to pack up some of yesterdays food for Felix. He hates it when I bring him anything at work, according to him it makes his colleagues disrespect him. I dont know how food can do that. I made sure to pack enough for a few people, just in case. I got to the station and asked for him, I was pointed to a conference room at the back. I knocked and went in.

"Tae, what are you doing here?" My brother asked as soon as he saw me. All heads turned to me but my eyes were glued to the whiteboard in the middle of the room with pictures pinned on it.

"I brought you lunch." I answered absent minded.

"Thank you, you can leave now." My brother said taking the Tupperware from me and trying to push me out the door.

"Felix, come on, let your sister stay." The lead detective said. "Please, sit." He pulled out a chair and I sat down. "Did you really come to bring him food or you just wanted to make sure we are treating him well?" He asked.

"A bit of both i guess." I answered and he laughed. He was cute, but annoying. He never stopped trying to flirt with me. No matter how many times I turned him down, he was persistent.

"Well, I can asure you, he is in very good hands." He held out his hands to emphasise his point.

"How is the case going? Are we ever going to be safe?" I asked. I knew just the right button to press when I needed information. His ego. He fixed his pants and turned to the whiteboard, pointing at the sketch. It seemed that's the only image they had of him. Just a sketch and a question mark. There was no name, not even a nickname.

"See this bastard, it's only a matter of time before I catch him?" He boasted. I could see his team rolling their eyes, his ego was becoming bigger by the second. It worked for me though because he was telling me everything I needed to know. I stood up and smiled at him.

"Well, I guess I can sleep easier now knowing you have everything under control." I said. His smile widened, I'd hit the right spot.

"Of course. And if you ever feel scared or unsafe, just call me. I will make sure to show up anytime you call." He took my hand, bringing it to his lips and planting a kiss on it.

The door opened just then and another officer walked in. My attention was quickly drawn to him.

"Something smells nice in here." The officer said looking at the Tupperware. The detective turned to him, with his chest out.

"Of course, Dr Choi brought lunch for her brother." He told him. The officer turned to me and I could see his name, Jaekyung.

"Oh, it must be nice having a sister." He said. He held out his hand for me to shake and I did. But one thing that caught my attention were his eyes. I may be jumping to conclusions but those eyes, I knew them. Except these ones weren't as cold. They were warm, somewhat. His smile, the dimple and then his name. But this one had no beard. Could it be him? Or another version of him? But how?