“Okay. I would like to be accompanied.”

He nodded to himself and went to the other side of the kitchen. I could see him moving around in front of the kitchen, to the right. He changed his shirt and grabbed his beanie, scarf and jacket. While he changed his clothes, I texted my mom and let her know what was going on. I didn’t want to keep her in the dark, so I let her know which precinct I was headed to. He finished changing and while we both walked up to the door, he was in the middle of putting his jacket on.

As I intended to open the door to walk out, the door swung open before I got my hand on the handle. The group I walked past a couple of hours ago was returning. I was overwhelmed with the number of people gathered around the door, as my mind was waltzing thinking of the past and what was awaiting me in 30 minutes. Geonsu stepped up and took a few steps in front of me at an angle, shielding my body with his side, both of us standing almost in the door frame. He signaled the guy who opened the door to back up a bit and then talked to him.

“I need to go right now. I’m taking today off. Is that okay? I’ll come in Tuesday to make up for it.”

“Is everything okay? Why so suddenly?”

“I need to resolve a personal matter. So?”

“Yeah, man. It’s perfectly fine. Don’t worry about it. Take care.”

They shared a fist bump and afterwards, Geonsu led the way through the group of people. I followed him behind. Everyone we walked past greeted him, telling him to take it easy and be safe, and some smiled warmly at me and said bye.

Heading through the alley, I was still lost in thought and burrowed my chin into my jacket. I guess he took it as a sign that I was cold, because he immediately took his scarf off and stopped. I instinctively stopped as well and looked at him. He stepped in front of me, put the scarf around my neck, looping it twice and arranged it to sit tightly and neat. He sighed, his warm breath turning to condensation and getting lost in the air, upwards. He turned his head and looked towards the main street, then turned his body and stepped to my side again.

“Okay, let’s go.” He parted his lips, and this time, he was the one who burrowed his chin into his jacket.

We walked around 13 minutes through the December cold and didn’t exchange a word. We stopped at a red light and looked at each other subtly, at the same time. Both of us only moved our heads lightly and peeked at the other, making sure neither of us got lost on the way, as if we were not walking right next to each other. We stood relatively close to one another, so much so that I thought I might be able to feel his body heat radiate onto me through the thick winter jackets. The light turned green, but before we crossed, he looked left and right, as if looking for out for cars or danger. I found myself feeling like a child being taken care of, which was a new sensation for me. I chuckled without having the intent to let it out as loudly as I did but seeing him be so caution was hilarious. A welcomed distraction.

“Huh?” he said, snapping his neck to look towards me after checking for dangers.

“Nothing.”

Last time I had to make a statement I was all alone, frightened and unsure if I was telling the truth or exaggerating the story out of fear. This time it was different. Not because Geonsu was with me, though I was grateful for his presence, but because I grew a lot from that experience and from that point forward.

We arrived at the precinct and walked inside. We both identified ourselves and were escorted to a waiting area.  Despite being called in at 2:30 pm, we were already waiting for forty minutes. Geonsu was sitting next to me, still and not saying anything. The silence didn’t feel uncomfortable, rather reassured me that the right person was with me, keeping me calm and collected. His scarf was long despite being looped twice. I was playing with the ends of the scarf for the past 12 minutes, for no particular reason.

Suddenly, I hear heals approach and fast at that. I look to my left towards the hallway and see… my mom? She asks someone for directions and looks around frantic, then spots me and with a smile and a thank you, she dismisses the person she previously asked for help. I whisper with a questioning voice.

“Mom?”

“I’m sorry?” Geonsu looks at me and asks confused, thinking I spoke to him.

I stand up while my mom approaches and before I can even ask her what she’s doing here, she hugs me and starts dramatically asking if I’m okay, repeats the words “my sweet baby” a couple of times and wipes my face.

“What are you doing here? Don’t you have work?”

“My child sends me a text telling me they have to go to the precinct all alone and you expect me not to come here? I didn’t say anything about how you didn’t come home last night and how you didn’t let me know about the incident immediately, but I need to be by your side right now. I’m not letting you do this alone again! What’s wrong with you!?” as she asks the last question, she smacks me lightly behind the head and furrows her brows.

“But… I’m not alone.” I turned my head towards Geonsu, who stood up as well and was standing behind us.

“Hello, ma’am.”

“Hello… and you are?” my mom’s eyes narrowed, her lips pursed, waiting for Geonsu to explain himself.

“My name is Geonsu Walker, ma’am. I am an acquaintance of your son.”

“Denise Becker. I’ve never heard of you. Why are you here with Kento?”

They shook hands, it looked rather flimsy and uncoordinated. The air turned awkward. My mom looked at him, sizing him up and down, glancing at him and back at me. I think my mom believed I slept over at Romina’s and not a man she didn’t know about. I didn’t do it on purpose, but I understood her reaction. She was not one to pry into my business or private life, but she must have been curious who this man was and why has she never heard of him. A worker from the precinct approached and saved Geonsu from my mom’s interrogation. He was wearing casual smart style clothes, a shirt and no tie. An identity card was hanging on the belt of his black suit pants.

“Mister Kento Becker? My name is Trevon Meyer. Would you please follow me? Would you like to be accompanied by the two people here? Do you need emotional support?”

I thought about it for a second, unsure of what I should do. Geonsu took time off work as did my mom to be here, plus he was the one who helped calm the guy down a bit for the police to arrive on time. I could do it alone, but I didn’t want Geonsu to have to experience my mom alone. He would not survive her.

“Yes. Would it be possible for both of them to be by my side?”

“As you wish. Follow me, please.”

We stepped inside a room that looked like a small and cheap conference room and as soon as we sat down, the roller blinds were closed for privacy. I found the gesture unnecessary. My statement was going to be short, as nothing much happened. The serious tone must have made my mom anxious, as I glanced over at her and she started to peel her nail polish bit by bit.

“Okay. Can I call you Kento? Is that okay?” the man asked. I figured he must be a detective.

“Yeah, that’s fine.”

“Okay, Kento. Do you know the man that had the interaction with you in the restroom of the Plum Bar, last night? Did he ever approach you before you entered the restroom?”

“No, I’ve never seen him before.”

“Can you tell me again what happened inside the restroom?”

“I went inside the restroom to wash my hands, and while doing so, someone lightly bumped into me. He apologized, I looked at him and nodded and wanted to leave. Then he implied he wanted to buy me a drink and have sex with me and blocked the exit.”

“Can I interrupt? What did he say to you? Could you repeat the dialogue?”

I regrated bringing them in. The pick-up lines were not only cringe, but they were also vulgar in my opinion, as he described my pheromones before and after I panicked. However, it was too late now, so I repeated them to mister Meyer.

“Tsk, bastard.” My mom parted her lips just to say that.

“Okay, so what happened after?”

“Not only did he block the exit, he leaned in for a kiss. I slapped him.”

“Okay. You mentioned he released his pheromones. Can you explain how and how that made you feel?”

I explained to him the way I sensed the release. As a push and pull, not a gradient that one would expect, but a pulse. I also didn’t hold back the fact that my body reacted the way it did, explaining my state, especially the secretion. These were details the police didn’t receive last night, as the conversation was rather short.

“And you were also present, sir? I heard from my colleagues.”

“Yes. I only heard the door slam and when I looked up, Kento was walking out. As we approached each other, the guy exited the restroom, screaming and pointing at him. Saying stuff like “how dare you, bitch” something like that.” Geonsu answered immediately.

He was looking back and forth between the detective and me. Until now, he didn’t say a word, you couldn’t even hear him breathe. He stood to my right and didn’t move once since I started talking. But the more he talked about that night, the more you could see his veins pop on his neck and his brows furrow.

“So, what are you going to do to that motherfu… I mean, guy?” my mom asked, crossing her arms and leaning back into her seat. “He basically tried to sexually assault my son.”

“Yes ma’am. It’s clear to us that that is the case. We will take the evidence to the prosecutor. I cannot tell you more than this. It’s not my area of expertise, so…”

“This is a serious matter! I want him put on the registry as well!” my mom got louder.

“Mom, please…” I pleaded with her.

“I’m sorry. I apologize. Continue.”

“I have no other questions, Kento. We asked the manager over the phone and his workers and he himself confirmed the story, as much as they knew. We will take care of this. Thank you for your time!” The detectives smiled and stood up slowly, signaling to us that the interview was over and we should be on our way.

“Yeah, yeah, sure you do.” My mom muttered and picked up her purse.

All three of us left the room and were escorted by the detective until we reached the front door.

“And here. If you need counselling, call this number. Don’t hesitate.”

The detective handed me a card and shook my hand, then my mom’s then Geonsu’s. He nodded his head slightly and turned around. The moment only the three of us were standing outside, my mom spoke up.

“Care to get some coffee with us? I need to calm down.”

“Um, yes. Thank you.” Geonsu responded.