Episode 43

This episode is part four of **"My Trip"**. As they continue to reside in the cavern, waiting for the rain to stop, Emma finally confronts Yohan about his reasons for conducting a background check. As the conversation progresses, Emma begins to delve into the past she tried so hard to bury.

## Synopsis

Emma asks Yohan why he conducted a background check on her. Before answering her question, he apologizes for invoking pain by bringing up her past in their last conversation on campus. He confesses that he was irritated that she kept avoiding him. When Emma curiously asks why that would irritate him since they are not close, Yohan becomes confused. Slightly unsure of himself, he explains that anyone will be annoyed by a close friend giving the cold shoulder.

Surprised that he already considered them close at that point, Emma apologizes for jumping to conclusions and refusing to hear his explanation. Though she suppressed the bad memories of her father abusing her, she can still recall the horrible feelings she experienced from his actions. She confesses that she has no recollection of how her father died ten years ago, and has convinced herself that she is better off not knowing. After the incident, Emma was raised by her aunt, whose surname she adopted, and lived there until she became an adult. Neighbors who knew of Emma's history treated her with unsolicited pity.

Yohan becomes surprised, admitting that he assumed from her reaction that no one knew of her past. Emma confirms that he is the only one who knows in their city, since she went to great lengths to hide it from her peers, especially her boyfriend. After Yohan confronted her on campus, Emma became paranoid that the news would eventually reach Elios. Yohan quickly reassures her that he has not confided in anyone of his discovery and has no intentions of doing so. He points out that her past should not define her or prevent her from opening up to others. He emphatically claims that if he is her boyfriend, learning about her past will not change his feelings. As Emma stares at him wordlessly, Yohan quickly backtracks and clarifies that he is speaking hypothetically. Emma smiles, stating that she cannot bring herself to confide in her boyfriend about her past, despite knowing how kind Elios is.

Hesitantly, Yohan proceeds to tell her about his investigation, including Brian's assault, and mentions the possibility that she has a stalker. Afraid that Emma may blame herself for the incidents, Yohan refrains from sharing his deductions for Rupert Patrovsky's homicide and his own attack at the warehouse. Already horrified, Emma asks if the stalker is attempting to protect her. Yohan warns her that even with good intentions, the stalker's disregard for the law and human life may eventually lead to murder.

     As Yohan explains that the culprit is likely a close acquaintance of hers, Emma confesses that she cannot think of anyone who would take such extreme measures. He notes that it is possible the culprit is from her past, such as a childhood friend who vowed to protect her. As Emma struggles to think, she suddenly recalls a boy she often dreamt of. Before she can remember any details, her head begins to ache. Yohan hastily urges her to not push herself too hard, explaining that they can continue the conversation another time.

## Characters

*Characters are listed in order of appearance. Character first appearances are **bolded**.*

* Yohan Lee
* Emma Wilson
* Elios (mentioned)
* Emma's father
* **Emma's aunt**
* Brian (mentioned)
* Rupert Patrovsky (mentioned)