"Guns." Her horror stricken face announced as she held his arm again.
                          
Jiyong hated seeing her like that. Scared, worried. If he has his way, he'd rather have them killed immediately so as to stop the commotion straightaway. All the shouting, the grunts, and the gunshots are like amplified on Dara's ear now that she's scared.
                          
"Let's go to your room. C'mon." Jiyong had to pull her lightly from where she was sitting. Her knees were wobbly and she can't even stand properly, she is really terrified. Jiyong had to hold her arms and guide her for her to be able to walk to her room. He stopped at the light switch and turned off the lights.
                          
"Let's sit. C'mon, don't be scared." He urged her to sit on the bed.
                          
They sat on her bed, their backs resting on the headboard. He reached for her bedside table and turned on the lamp.
                          
Another gunshot. They sure are noisy down there.
                          
She unconsciously hugged Jiyong, so he hugged her back.
                          
 "Hey, don't mind those people."
                          
"I'm scared, oppa." Dara swallowed.
                          
"I know. Don't worry, I'm here, I won't go."
                          
Jiyong hugged her and held her head on his chest. She's shaking.
                          
"Don't pay attention. Let's just chat. Okay?" Jiyong held her chin to tilt her head so that she'd look at him. "Look at me." Her eyes were wide, alert, and fearful. "I'm here, I'll stay, don't worry okay?" she nodded.
                          
"Let's just chat." Jiyong tried to smile at her, urging her to lighten up.
                          
"Okay." But her voice broke, she might cry anytime soon.
                          
"Okay, let me tell you a secret." Jiyong started. She put her head back on his chest.
                          
"What is it?" she asked.
                          
"Have you seen The Lion King?"
                          
"Yes."
                          
"I cried when Mufasa died."
                          
"Really?" she looked up at him and smiled.
                          
"Yeah. You tell me a secret, too."
                          
"I keep my hair long because I feel like it protects me from stares, I feel like it hides me away."
                          
"Why do you want to hide?"
                          
"I don't like stares. I feel like I am being judged."
                          
"I think you're beautiful."
                          
She didn't answer so Jiyong just kept quiet too. Her head was still on his chest, they were hugging each other. He wished they could stay like this. There were still a little commotion outside, but it's subsiding. Jiyong stroked her hair, it smelled wonderful, she smelled wonderful.
                          
And then, out of the blue, Dara started to hum. Jiyong doesn't know what song it was, he thinks it's a random melody, but it's really beautiful. When she stopped, Jiyong noticed the silence around them, he thinks it's over.
                          
"You sound like an angel." Jiyong said, barely audible.
                          
"Thanks."
                          
She didn't move, maybe she didn't notice that the scene outside stopped already. Who am I to complain right? Jiyong thought to himself.
                          
"Dara, why don't you lie down and try to sleep?" Jiyong was still stroking her hair.
                          
"I'm scared."
                          
"I'll stay here, promise. C'mon, lie down." Jiyong moved and fixed her pillows, she lay down but she was clutching his shirt tightly. Jiyong was about to stand up when she pulled his shirt.