My Heart Was Wounded Deep
Chapter 38's

Kikan tried to hide the seams by stroking his hair instead of tying it to the back. "Thanks to people who have good clothes, I can look good" Kikan said smiling at Devan.

" I'm glad you like everything" Devan raised his wrist. "I also love the gifts I get"

Kikan was careful not to make his gaze return to Rey. "Thank you, I know it's different"

" You mean cool" Devan said

" Everyone is waiting for us" Rey patted Devan on the back, a little louder than usual when viewed from Devan's reaction. "And some of us have to get back to work" Rey said.

Devan's lips curved as if he was holding back a laugh. "Include me," he said, then nodded towards Kikan. "Take care of yourself, okay?"

"You too." Say Kikan.

Devan stopped for a moment. "You still have my number, right? just in case you need a ride."

"Still."

"Don't hesitate to call. I don't want you to walk or bike when it's dark."

" He won't call you." Rey said, and this time Devan really laughed.

" You're right" Kikan said after Devan joined his friends. "I'm not going to call her, so there's no need to worry. I wasn't trying to disturb your friends, he was just trying to be nice, so I reciprocated his kind attitude."

" And that you're beautiful and single has nothing to do with it" Rey said.

Kikan was sure he heard wrong. "You mean?"

" Nothing. Forget it." Rey glanced at the menu written on the cafe's whiteboard, then looked at Kikan's desk, which had only a laptop and a backpack to carry the laptop on. "Can I buy you a coffee or something?"

Kikan spent every money he had to come to Jason's game, giving him small meals and drinks.but now he was not worried, thanks to the thirty orders he had. everything's gonna be fine. "No, no. I had a cup when I got here" she lied.

" they've got breakfast too. muffins and stuff." Rey is still trying to offer.

" Not to." Kikan wished his stomach wasn't rumbling, and was relieved when that didn't happen."

"Don't make me keep you from your friends" Kikan said.

Rey's friends sit at the end table, but they stick out their necks to see Kikan, although they smile as if to be friendly, Kikan must not hope.

He will satisfy their curiosity while finishing the job, then close the laptop and get out of the place. Kikan does not like to be reminded of the difference in social standing between himself and them.

" Okay" said Rey. "Congratulations to his order"

Kikan nodded his farewell. "Trims."

As soon as Rey rejoins her friends, Kikan looks down and sends her final email. He doesn't like to be at Black Coffee when it's full, that's why he comes in the morning, before the people. He should have left that place when he saw Rey's friends earlier. Even though that means he will come back later, in the heat of the weather. Not even five minutes before Rey left, she heard someone muttering, "Basic whore!"

Somehow Kikan could hear those words regardless of the noise around him. Rey and her friends are chatting and joking as if the world stopped spinning and they didn't notice.

"Oh, no," whispered Kikan as his heart pounded violently. He did not want to create a fight in the cafe. He hates being the center of attention, and especially Kikan doesn't want to look embarrassing in front of Rey.

Wanting to avoid strife, despite being only verbal, Kikan took out his laptop and left his backpack to speed up time, and went into the ladies' toilet. He actually chose to disappear without a trace. Logan and his friend were standing at the front door.

Kikan looked up at the only window in the toilet hoping to jump through it. But the window was too small, too high, and only opened a little.

While hoping Logan immediately ordered and got out, Kikan smacked the laptop in the chest and waited as he walked slowly, moving his legs step by step.

" Go away" Kikan muttered as he wished Logan had done so. But the door was open.

" You think I don't have the guts to follow you here?" Logan asked as he closed the entrance with his friend standing behind him.

The memory of Logan's expression when the man almost hit him made Kikan start sweating. "I don't want to cause trouble" Kikan said.

Kikan says so quietly that Rey and her friends won't hear. "I don't care!" yell Logan. "You killed my sister. You think I still want to see you when I drive in this town? when I buy coffee? when am I going out to dinner?"

Logan's friends seem supportive, even though Kikan is silent.

" I'm not. I'm not..." Kikan began to speak but his tongue was muffled and he could not say anything. Probably because he wasn't sure what he was going to say. Kikan wanted to say that he didn't kill anyone, but he knew Logan wouldn't believe it. It would be better to try to defuse the situation, so that he could get out of there without anyone getting hurt. "I'll go. Now, if you let me through."

" Let you through? when you insulted me by coming back here? by showing that you're alive and fresh while Lori is fit." His voice almost broke but it seemed he managed to control himself. "When Lori was gone for so long?"

Logan approaches Kikan, and Kikan slowly retreats but bumps into the bathroom cubicle. "I'm sorry about Lori. I don't want him to leave, to be honest, there are times when I wish he were here rather than me. But I can't change the past. You and I. We both have to figure out a way to move on."

" It doesn't mean I have to face you in this town." Logan said furiously.

Kikan hugged the laptop tighter. "This is my town, too, Logan. I have a kid here. That's why I came back, for Jason and my mom."

" Jason has a father, he doesn't need***** ex-convict. Let alone your sick, jerky mother, do you understand? You'd be useful if..."

" What's going on?"

As Rey appears at the door, pushing her logan friend with her shoulder so she can enter, Kikan feels her tears welling up. But he gulped and gnashed to hold it.

" It's none of your business!" Answer Logan. "Tell him Ken."

Logan's friend didn't say anything to Rey. He just shrugged his shoulders as if he wasn't sure what to do.

Rey doesn't ignore it, "Don't make Logan trouble." Said. "How can this help you deal with what happened to Lori?"

When he pointed at Kikan, Logan was so close to him that the man's finger almost pierced Kikan's nose. "He shouldn't be here." Deny Logan.

Rey is moving closer to Logan. "Do you think he'll come back if he kills Lori?" Ask Rey.

" What do you mean?" he was driving the car at the time!"

" Kikan is already serving his sentence.he can go anywhere, even here. "Rey made a quick gesture towards Kikan and added "Go! hurry..!"'s up...!" said.