"I know. I know. I know they should have come home or called me but they are not doing that for some reason. I just have to find them and bring them home to know the truth."
"Yes. You are right... but where do we look for them? Do you know where this picture was taken?" Da won asked
Kim sat back down and started working on his computer. He wanted to find out where the picture was taken but after many attempts and efforts, he was unable to and he became frustrated "Argh! Why can't I find where this picture is taken?! Why?!" He shouted in anger.
"I don't know much about computers either. I would have helped you but I know a friend who can help us track the location. Let me send it to him."
Kim turned his laptop to him and was about to transfer the picture when his phone suddenly rang. He hesitated for a while before he finally decided to pick it because it was an unknown number.
"Unknown!"
"Who could be calling you with a strange number?" Da won asked
"I don't know but it might be Hannah."
"Well, I don't think so but just pick it and let's know who it is."
"Ok..." Kim replied and picked up the call. "Hello.".
"Hello Kim." a sweet but weak voice rang over the phone but Kim was so unstable that he could not recognize the voice.
"Who... Who are you please?"
"Kim, this is Nina," Nina replied over the phone, and Kim was immediately shocked..and found it a bit difficult to believe that the person calling him could be Nina.
"Nina?? Nina.. is that really you?" Kim asked in disbelief
"Yes, Kim... it's me, Nina."
"Nina?? But! But where have you been?? Why did you suddenly leave our country without telling anyone? You never called and even your number stopped going through. Your social media pages no longer existed and you never bothered to reach me. You made me really worried, Nina but where are you right now?"
"I'm back, Kim... I'm in my house right now. Can you please come to my house right now? I must see you," she asked weakly.
"Ok... but Why is your voice so weak? Are you ok, Nina?"
"I'm not ok Kim and that's why I must see you soon please."
"Oh! Ok... I will be on my way then." Kim replied and ended the call.
"Is that really, Nina?" Da won asked
"Yes... She is.".
"How come? She ended the call that day and disappeared. I had even thought she was kidnapped."
"I thought so too. I don't know why she just disappeared but she is back now and she sounds weak. I guess she is sick."
"Ohh! Are you going to visit her at home now?"
"Yes. She asked me to come to her home but I think she will need you too.".
"Why? Why will she need me? It's not like she called me."
"Wait... are you jealous now?"
"Jealous? Me? Who cares? I was just asking why she would need me at her place?"
"Aiyyaa! Don't let your imagination run so wild! I just told you she is sick and what are you? Are you not a doctor?"
"Ohh!"
"Let's go!" Kim said and they both left the office.
"Boss, you have a meeting to attend by 3," Kim's secretary said when she realized Kim was leaving the office and he had a meeting to attend in the next hour.
"Oh, Yea! I should be back before 3. I must get somewhere with Da won right now but if I'm not able to come back before 3, then you should know what to do."
"Ok, boss." The secretary smiled politely.
Kim and Da won drove to Nina's house and it was obvious Kim was in a good mood as he kept smiling from ear to ear.
"What makes you so happy that you are smiling so sheepishly?" Da won asked
"I don't know. Maybe because I now have the hope that I will see Hannah and Jun soon.".
"Is that really the reason?"
"Yes."
"Are you sure?"
"What... what do you mean?"
"Are you sure you are only happy because you think you can find Hannah and Jun with that picture and it is not because of Nina that is back?".
" Shut up!"
"Urgh! So you are already in love?"
"Keep quiet,"
"You must have missed her so much all this while she left without saying a word. Oops!"
"Shut up!!"
"Oh My! You are blushing!"
"Me?... Am I?? Uh!" Kim started touching his face. "It's a lie! Shut up. Shut up."
Da won continued teasing Kim and they played and laughed together till they got to Nina's house.
"Hi! We are here to see Miss Nina." Kim said to the bodyguard outside Nina's house.
"You are Mr. Kim, right?" The bodyguard asked
"Yes, I am. Did she tell you I will be coming?"
"Yea.. but he?..."
"Yes. He is my friend and he's a doctor. I asked him to come along so he could treat Miss Nina,"
"Ohh! Ok... follow me."
Nina was on a chair in her room. She lay down with her eyes closed. She had become really lean and less pretty. Her face was pale and her skin no longer glowed. She was groaning in pain even in her sleep and sweat was all over her face. Seemed like she was having a bad dream.
She gritted her hands so tight and was saying something indistinctly. She suddenly opened her eyes and started panting hard and she held her chest.
Knock knock...
She heard a knock on her door and she glared at the door still panting hard "Who... Who is that?" She asked with difficulty.
"It's me, Madam. Mr... Kim is here!" The bodyguard replied
"Ohh! I'm coming!" She said and quickly picked a handkerchief from the armrest of the couch she slept on. She wiped her face gently and picked up her bag, brought out a powder and applied it on her face and she also applied light make-up on her plump lips. She checked herself one more time before she finally breathed in relief.
"Come in now," she said.
The door opened and the trio entered. The bodyguard moved to where Nina slept and helped her to sit.
"Are you this sick?"
"Don't worry about me, Kim. I have something to confess," but Kim shook his head in disapproval.
"Don't worry about me, Kim. Because you are going to hate me soon." Nina said in tears.
Kim was surprised at the statement "Why will I hate her soon? What on earth can make me hate her? I don't think there is anything that can make me hate her" Kim thought while shaking his head in denial.
"What do you mean by I will hate you soon? I don't think there is anything that can make me hate you. Is it because you left without informing me? Oh No, I'm no longer angry about that and I won't hate you for that either," Kim explained to her and smiled to assure her.
Nina stared at Kim for a while and tears kept falling from her eyes uncontrollably "I'm sorry Kim. I'm so sorry... I know I hurt you but I'm truly sorry." She wiped her tears with her hand "Please forgive me, please Kim," tears stained her face again.
"I don't understand you, Nina. What's going on? Why are you crying so much? You shouldn't do this when you are this sick. Please, stop crying," Kim begged with concern.
"Stop caring about me, Kim. I have to confess something to you."
"Confess? What confession? Uhm.. you know what? Relax now and sleep well, so you can be well relaxed in time. When you are fine, you can tell me everything then. I will wait, Nina." he assured her.
"Let me talk now Kim. Let me talk please,"
"Don't talk now, Nina. You can always talk when you are fine. You are crying too much. Please stop."
Da won seeing the situation nudged Kim "Let her talk, Kim! What's your problem?" He whispered
"I just think ....she should be okay first," Kim whispered back.
"It's not your fucking problem Kim... let her talk." They continued whispering to each other.
"Ok won." Kim replied "You can talk, Nina. That is if you want to because I'm not forcing you."
"Thank you, Kim. Erm... erm... have you found Hannah and her son?" She asked
"No... not yet but I hope I will see her soon," Kim said while scratching his neck anxiously.
"Ermm... Do you know why I left without saying a word then?"
"Well... you are yet to tell me anyway. I hope you will tell me when you are fine."
"I want to tell you now," she sat down more comfortably. "I left then because of my conscience. I couldn't face you anymore after what I did. I thought it was out of love not until I realized I had hurt you. Then I knew I don't deserve you and I will never be good enough for you because I'm just too heartless." She was crying more now and almost choking on her tears.