"Director Jeong, Miss Choi Jumi is here."
"Oh she's here. Come take a seat Jumi", her father called out to her.
She walked accross the room, bowing her head as a form of greeting to the other people in the room.
"I'm just sticking close by you, monitoring you as your father. If you decide to get married, you can go out and live your life the way you want to. However, you're still unmarried so you do as I say! That's right, girl. Don't you know how difficult the world is? If anything untoward happens to you and I hear a complain coming out of your mouth that you are having a hard time, I will sell the Café and the condo in Hannam-dong all at once. Be prepared to be independent but if your strong will and stubbornness won't last long, give it up as early as now! Don't get into trouble for doing something that shouldn't be done, and if you just quietly do as this father tells you to, your life will be guaranteed. Why is it so difficult to do that, and go out like a dog with its tail on fire? It's pathetic!"
Those were her father's parting words to her when she left their family mansion a few years ago.
How did I get in this predicament? My determination to go against my father's wishes clashes with his personality. The same stubborn characteristic that I got from him. I can take back what I've said 100,000 times over the day I left home for good. Father asked If I'm certain with my decisions... Oh yes, I'm most certain. Yet, that independence is on a brink of collapsing.
It's him. That creepy guy is the one from the Café.... What is the probability that we overlapped meeting three times in a row by coincidence? Since becoming independent, I haven't visited my parents' house even once, and it hasn't even been a few days since I started feeling this strange stalking sensation.
"Stalking? That's a bit of a pain. If the evidence is not clear, punishment is difficult, and even if the evidence is clear, the punishment is too light. Anyway, this damn law is so unfavorable to women."
Even when Hye-seon clicked her tongue, she wasn't this anxious. The customer who stopped by the Café every day, is the same man she met at the bar on the day of Senior Jung hyun's engagement ceremony, and then he emerged again today.
It's the same man! I'm sure of it! Is he absolutely stalking me?!
What are the chances of meeting the same person over and over again wherever she goes? Should she really see that as just plain coincidence? It's not a big deal that something like this has happened before, so is she being too sensitive?
"It looks like you had a light meal with a 'friend'. Now, have a glass of your favorite wine." Jumi's father poured a drink for her.
The sound of the wine pouring into a wineglass shook her from her thoughts.
The man sitting across from her now changed. Jeong Yun-kyo was in the space now where Lee Tae-just was supposed to be. Yun-kyo lifts the corners of his mouth slightly and raises his glass of whiskey, as if he is mocking her father's words. His eyes were ice cold steel. Eyes that are not filled with warmth and have never not had a single enemy in his life, if one were to use a metaphor, those eyes are the doors to hell.
While Jumi was deep in thought, she felt the eyes of everyone around them on her. She raised her head slowly, only to see her father glaring at her for being absentminded in front of his Boss' presence. It was as if fire would spew out of his eyes at any moment.
Those eyes are reprimanding her which meant, "What are you doing not paying attention?"
When she came to her senses, Yun-kyo was also looking at her with a rather strange expression. It was clear that the man was talking to her and she wasn't minding him.
"Ah... excuse me. I didn't catch that. What did you say?"
To come to her senses, Jumi straightened her head, which had been tilted at an angle and stared directly at him.
"I said that it seems that you're quite close with that 'friend' of yours, Miss Choi," Yun-kyo asked in a low voice that sounded foreign to her.
The reddish lips of this man move, holding a new glass of whiskey. It looked like he was reciting it one more time, but spoke softly as she never heard him before. She was a little nervous because his expression seemed to have some kind of intention that she didn't know about.
Is he upset?
She observed him as his strong neck moves as he swallows his drink. It was an unconscious gaze on her part. The man's piercing eyes never left hers. Her eyes were drawn to his whiskey-covered lips. He asked what the gaze meant by slightly raising his chin.
Jumi got flustered that she blushed. She had to answer his inquiry.
"Ah... yes. We're pretty close that's why we went out to have dinner together."
Her father's angry eyes suddenly flew at her direction, spitting fire. Jumi quickly became smaller at his silent anger as she was asked for not being able to answer properly. It was because her mother was at stake.
I'm a poor fish caught in the net, but anyway, I ended up tricking my father into a match-making game with my mother. So now I'm the one who's going to be reprimanded. Why did mom have to do something that shouldn't be done?
"I just went out to get some fresh air and have a meal somewhere, then we ran into each other like this."
Why the hell am I explaining to this man?!
Never would've imagined that the date that started on a wrong foot would lead me to meeting him again. However, I don't need to worry too much. It's not like I cheated on him. But why is my heart beating so fast and my hands...
"H-how have you been, Director Jeong? I was planning on contacting you."
Of course, it was an unspoken lie. Jeong Yun-kyo, knows that fact better than anyone else, laughs out loud.
What? He has dimples?! Dimples in that cold face? He has it all.
It wasn't visible before because he never smiles properly and just raised the corners of his mouth. The dimple creeping on both side of his cheek felt somewhat obnoxious. Dimples on that cold, hard face. A face equipped with a variety of handsome features though.
Yun-kyo glanced at Jumi's empty wine glass and lifted the wine decanter. She lifted her empty glass as he gestured to pour it.
"You probably drank the same wine with your close friend. Would you like to drink some more?"
"Yes, I would love to. It's all right."
It was clear that the man who emphasized those two words did not believe the words 'close friend'. He must be guessing the difficult situation she was in, even if he did not know it.
However, the man did not elaborate on the topic any further. Jumi felt it the last time they were together, that this man strangely seemed to be able to read through people's mind, but he wasn't the type to bother asking questions.
Is it because he is the type of person who is indifferent to everything, or did he know that it would be better to just keep his thoughts to himself?
Conversations about business between the men continued, and stories about their unknown world were exchanged. Executive Director Choi sometimes filled her empty glass wine and hoped to include his daughter in the conversation. She was too tired from the previous confrontation to respond enthusiastically.
The stalker who seemed to be hovering around her for several days was so annoying that she couldn't even think straight and drink anymore.
Should she ask her mom to look into it? All around her were her father's people. Well, if her mom's finds out, she would be more difficult to deal with than her father, no less. Her mom was also deeply opposed to her independence. While she was alone in her thoughts, the setting on the table changed a couple of times.
Although the center of all conversations was directed at Director Jeong Yun-kyo, the talk was mainly in the form of a one-sided conversation with the man just occasionally responding. As he drank whiskey, he only sometimes responded with random questions, and in fact, he listened to the other person pouring out with words that sounded like it seemed bothersome for him to respond.
The man's hazel eyes were sharp to say he was patiently attentive, but his eyes were too indifferent to say he was listening.
Then, suddenly her eyes met his across the table, who was silently holding another glass of whiskey.
He was holding the glass that way that night, too. The man's hazel eyes were not as passionate as crashing waves, nor were they quiet and silent, but it seemed as if she was looking at a deep sea being swept into an abyss. Eyes that cannot be measured or read.
His gaze upon her lingered quite persistently. It was unlike him, who does not know her personally, but his eyes cling towards her like a dark shadow, as if he were looking right into her soul. Jumi turned her head away because she can no longer endure his penetrating stare.
The cigarette burning between his long fingers burned tediously. All these different conversations right now was irksome. The people sitting around the table did not notice his boredom, were still busy talking. There was a war about business going on all around this man, but it felt as if Director Jeong Yun-kyo was standing alone in a space where nothing was happening and there was no need to lose energy and pour out any emotions.
He's a man who seems to be accurate in everything that he does, and who doesn't seem to even look at anything unless it's valuable.
Well, I don't know if it's Hye-seon's influence, but I wonder why am I making such meaningless assumptions when she's doesn't even know this man. More than that, what does it all mean to a gangster?
"Jumi, would you like to eat dessert? It's your favorite truffle cheese-"
"No dad, this wine is enough."
"You don't come home these days. Your mom had a lot to say to you when she sees you."
Her father smiled quietly and continued to subtly ask questions about her work situation and about why she had not been seen in their family home.
"For a business to succeed only the owner, who has started the business, is busy." Jeong Yun-kyo suddenly declared.
Executive Director Choi's sigh was deep.
Naturally, the cigarette between his teeth was placed back on the table. The end of her gaze once again landed on that man, Jeong Yun-kyo.
Even though she had not committed any crime against him, or took advantage of whatever caught her eye and she felt like she wants to disperse right away as if she was a felon.
"I heard it was nice meeting me. You said you had a great time."
"Pardon?", Jumi asked, confused.
"There seem to have a lot of pleasant encounters."
It was only a little later that Jumi realized that he was saying this to her. After telling him a ridiculous lie about having fun that day, he was quietly criticizing her for appearing in front of him once again tonight just after having dinner with another man.
"Oh, erm..."
"My daughter is very shy. She isn't outgoing and doesn't talk that much. She's always been reserved and has a quiet personality..."
"I bet she isn't shy but it's not about that."
"What?", Jumi frowned.
Jeong Yun-kyo signaled the end of the meeting by extinguishing the cigarette he had smoked not even a few times in the ashtray. The men at the table, who understood what he meant with that gesture, quickly left their seats and prepared to leave, too.
"What are you doing Jumi? We're leaving." Her father nudged her.
Jumi's eyes caught a glimpse of him putting on his coat. Whether it's because he's much taller than the men they're with, or because of his broad shoulders, she can't help but focus her eyes on him whenever she turn her head.
I have nowhere to focus my eyes here.
She also wanted to get out quickly. It was getting uncomfortable.
Jumi stood among the men in the VIP elevator and observed his back for the first time.
Even if I hit it with my fist, it would be like a child's baseball bat bouncing on that wide back.
Jumi felt uncomfortable being bathe in that silence, so she continued to think about nothing else. Her body, tired from the several glasses of wine she drank, was looking for a place to lean on, but there was no way she could find such a place in an elevator filled with gangsters everywhere.
She was breathlessly looking at the dashboard of the elevator heading down to the lobby. She feels like she's getting sick from the alcohol she drank. After what seemed like an eternity, they finally faced the outside air. She followed behind the men and walked with them towards the lobby.
If it weren't for my father, I would have just taken a taxi since Tae-ju left and be gone from here. This is really inconvenient. Oh, I can't wait to get out of here.
"Dad, I'm leaving first. I will take the cab." Jumi whispered to Woo-seok, who was walking silently behind his boss.
Since she was an uninvited guest who came without warning in the first place, she didn't want to linger with them any longer.
Her father gave her a knowing glare. Jumi knew what it meant but she would not want to stay like this and ride in a car with her father to her parents' house. Thinking about having a three-way meeting with her parents already makes her head hurt.
I was planning to leave quietly, but my father didn't even respond. Those eyes seemed to have a lot to say. As if he has no intention of letting me go like this. If we were left alone, my father would probably ask me about what happened tonight. About who Tae-ju is. It's okay if he'll just ask but knowing him, I will definitely be reprimanded.
"Get home safely, Director Jeong."
The dark suited men bowed their heads towards Jeong Yun-kyo. Jumi who stood behind those men did the same, looking at the ground with tired eyes and bit her lower lip.
I'm going to be in big trouble.
Suddenly, the Director stopped in his tracks and turned around.
"Jumi."
At the sound of her name resonating clearly, Jumi lifted her gaze from the ground. The mysterious man when combined with the quiet darkness of the night is the same dangerous man who would be useful to be around, spoke to her.
"You're leaving, too. I'm heading towards the direction of your home. It's on the way. So why don't you get in the car and I'll give you a ride?"
I couldn't understand at once whether it was a recommendation or an order.
"Huh?"
Yun-kyo blinks his eyes blankly and his slightly irritated eyebrows show that he doesn't want to wait for her answer. Jumi knew this much at once. This man won't ask twice. Just like he did that last time.
"Well, since Executive Director Choi is here, I guess there's no need to do that. I'll leave now. Let's go."
"Ah- wait! Yes, Director. Let me ride with you."
I run quickly towards the car. No, I jumped in it a little too forcefully. I never even had second thoughts. Anyway, I wanted to go home in peace rather than go straight to my parents' house and listen to both of my father and mother nagging me.
The man moved his long body into the backseat. Watching his bodyguard closing the door quietly as if he had been waiting, Jumi became anxious.
Jumi glanced behind as the car started to move away and saw that Woo-seok didn't like the idea of her driving home in this man's car.
"Well, if it's on your way, can I ask you to stop by the place from last time?"
Jumi's throat hurts from not talking for a long time. As soon as the car door closed, the car left the hotel without delay. A silence deeper than this night settled into the car.
"Thank you for giving me a ride." Jumi sat next to him anxiously.
"Should you say thank you more politely?"
"I'm deeply grateful."
Jumi grabbed her handbag tightly. There was nothing else to say in this awkward situation, so the silence surrounding them was even more deafening. There was no reply to the difficult thank you message. Suddenly, she made eye contact with the man beside her in the passenger's seat who was looking at her through the rear-view mirror.
Come to think of it, why did he help me? Unlike last time, he drank too much whiskey tonight. Is he drunk? But to what extent?
Jumi glanced at the seat next to her, where not even the sound of quiet breathing could be heard.
The eyes of the hypnotic man who was looking at her crookedly were fixed on her from the beginning. Eyes filled with emotions that are not particularly favorable. It's as if the emotions to show such kindness doesn't even exist.
"W-why did you help me?", Jumi asked with curiosity.
"I was unaware that I was helping you."
Lies.
He knew from the beginning the trouble she must have experienced as she was discovered having dinner with another man and suddenly found herself in the presence of her father, Director Choi.
It's just my guess, but being in this awkward position wasn't that fun.
"That's a lie."
He smirked.
Even when he secretly mutters his response, he never smiles. He didn't say anything anymore. He is a quiet, reserved man. No, it doesn't seem like there are no words to tell, but couldn't he at least talk to her?
Jumi doesn't really like guessing. He seemed to have no intention of talking further, which made him use his reasoning skills no more.
In fact, this may be nothing more to interpret. No, this is nothing more but a dream. There is no reason for this man to help her. If that were the case, he wouldn't have ignored people so coldly a week ago. Making her wait for 3 hours. He shouldn't be this generous.
Jumi shook her head to clear her mind.
"You can just stop over there."
I have to go home quickly. Ah, finally. I can't wait to rest properly.
"Skirt."
"Yes?"
As Jumi was wrapping up the clustered thoughts in her head and leaning back quietly, she tilted her head towards his direction as his words fell out of nowhere.
The words coming out of his mouth seemed strange. Did he say skirt?
"What's wrong with it?"
Jumi move her eyes to follow his gaze. She was on her way to get out of his car, when she noticed that the hem of her skirt was trapped under his thigh.
"Oh..."
Jumi pulled the soft flares of her dress neatly together and adjusted her grip, conscious of his gaze still directed at her. As she was tagging the hem of her skirt, his hand carelessly rested on the side of her thigh came into her field of vision. A watch that looked as expensive as the man was visible between the sleeves of his coat.
She was startled as his long fingers helped her tag her skirt away from him and turned her head away from him, blushing profusely. His nearness unnerved her. This man seemed to be sarcastic, but for some reason, he didn't say anything or look at her anymore.
"Thank you for the ride. Have a safe ride home and good night."
As he nodded, Jumi bowed her head, and walked towards her apartment building without looking back. She quickly entered the entrance code and went up the stairs.
I thought I was going to die with anxiety. He's a scary person to be around with. I was so nervous. Anyway, how can I explain to dad about what happened tonight?
"Ah!"
The cell phone she was holding fell down the flight of stairs. A subtle cracking sound was heard.
"Oh no, damn it! Nothing's going my way!"
As she went down the stairs to retrieve it, pulling her flowing scarf off, she heard the sound of a rustling down jacket coming from above.
Huh! There's someone up there!
The rustling sound of a down jacket subtly rubbing against her, and the black eyes that seemed to hover around her without her knowing and were watching her with a dark purpose, were something she vividly remembers from her college days.
Her cell phone is five steps down. The light blared from the slightly cracked cell phone screen.
[Mom]
The sound of the phone ringing in the quiet staircase along with Mrs. Yoon's call made her heart pound in urgency. An ominous energy suddenly came over her.
The phone call was abruptly disconnected. In the quiet building, the only sound could be heard was her laboured breathing.
Should I pretend to pick up my phone, go downstairs and run back to my parents' house?
Dad... No, mom. I'll answer my mom's phone call first... Okay, I'll leave this place first. I will quickly picked up my phone and ran straight out.
That was the plan she conjured up to that point. Another phone call came as if to signal her to make a final decision.
Jumi quickly ran over, picked up her phone, and went down. Her ears became more sensitive every time she run down the stairs, as if she was running away for her dear life.
"Ahh!"
Her foot misstepped and she sprained her ankle, but before she could feel the pain, she was already swallowed up by the fear that had overtaken her body. Jumi opened the glass door of the building's entrance and ran back the way she came from.
Could it be him? The man who came to the Café, the man I saw at the bar the other day and at the restaurant today. It was a moment when doubt became complete certainty. I belatedly remembered the electric shock gun I had packed in my bag just in case, but I couldn't do anything because people are told that if they are too scared, their mind goes blank.
Oh please, someone help me!
When the bright intersection began to appear, Jumi noticed a black sedan that had not yet gone but was parked on the spot. She grabbed her broken cell phone and knocked on the window frantically.
"Huh! Huh! Hey, D-Director! Please! Please! Help me!"
Jumi was unaware that her tears were flowing down her pale cheeks. She thought she would see those cold, welcoming eyes from the car window as it goes down, but before she could see him, he opened the car door on the other side of the passenger's seat and came out abruptly.
Jumi walked towards him, unable to see clearly because her vision was obscured by her pouring tears. She unknowingly pulled on his coat tightly as if he was her last hope and final salvation.
"It seems like there's someone there. I-it's been going on for a few days now... I... That man-"
Jumi swallowed her choking breath and cannot contain her anguish.
"I-I think I ran into the same guy at the hotel earlier. At the bar back then... and in my Café..."
Jumi, shivering and expressing her anxiety, suddenly looked up at him. Those emotionless eyes were looking down at her silently. Strangely, looking at those hazel eyes made her feel even more frightened.
The fear that I had been holding on for so long and internally denying that it would not happen came out sporadically as if exploding.
"As I was entering the house, I heard the sound of a puffer jacket coming from the top of the stairs..."
He removed her hands that was tightly holding the hem of his coat, grabbed Jumi's wrist, and started walking back to where she came from. His strong hand grasps her delicate hand. It was so tight that it looks like it would hurt, but it didn't.
"Where are we going?!"
"Where? Your home."
He's only holding my hand, but I felt a strange sense of relief knowing that I was connected to him. Now that I had no one to rely on, I had the overwhelming feeling that he was my only source of lifeline.
As she walked with a limp, he slowed down and his destination was the grand condo where she was staying at.
"Open the door."
Jumi's hands were shaking and she slipped a few times. After pressing the building's entrance password, he went up the stairs without hesitation. His hand grabbed her wrist again.
"Where's your place?"
"Third floor."
Jumi went ahead of him and opened her house's entrance door. A little while ago, she was fighting alone, but now she has Jeong Yun-kyo as her shield. She felt reassured as if she's carrying the Lord on her back. He entered her house without even taking his shoes off.
Even though Jumi knew that her handbag was left in front of her front door, she stood there frozen inside the narrow hallway, unable to go and pick it up. Her home was just a small condominium, so there was no hiding place to look for, but he stayed for quite a while as if he was searching for something. Then he walked back to the front door where she was standing at and opened the door. His head looked upward.
"Was that there originally?"
"It's supposed to be a fire alarm..."
No! That's not a fire alarm. It certainly looked similar, but the fire alarm was mounted a little further to the right before. In that case, that is...
"S-secret... is it a secret camera?"
He reached up towards the ceiling and ripped off the attached camera. The blinking red light flashes like the eye of a monster. Signalling that it is working well repeatedly, over and over again.
"First of all, judging by the lack of signs of force entry, it looks like this was installed yesterday or today. There was no sign of it being installed inside your house yet."
"Are you saying he knows my password?"
"Most probably, yes."
Before she knew it, tears were falling from her eyes again. Jumi wiped her soaked face with her trembling hands. Today might have been the day when the intruder came into her house and harmed her.
"I have to report... report this to the police..."
Jumi's mind wasn't working properly. She picked up her cell phone, which she had completely forgotten was in her hand, and felt the broken screen, but the cell phone, which was shaking in her palm, fell helplessly.
As she knelt down to pick up her cell phone again that had fallen on the floor, it was forcefully stepped on by the man's shoe in front of her. She looked up at him with tearful eyes.
He bent down and picked up her cell phone, which had glass shards falling everywhere.
"Please, give it back. I have to report this!"
Jumi tried to take the cell phone from his hand, but he held it tightly so that she couldn't take it. Suddenly, the screen was damaged so badly that she could hear the cracking sound of the broken glass screen, then her cell phone, which was still emitting light, was shattered in his hands. Pieces of crystal glass fell on the floor in-front of her.
"Are you saying you're planning to call the police in front of a gangster?"
No, I think they'll beat all the police to death, too.
She couldn't bear to say those words and shut her mouth but his fierce eyes that seemed to say 'Are you out of your mind?'
The tears that had been flowing like a tide dropped repeatedly again.
"I hate being bothered by annoying things."
"Then you can leave now without it being a hassle to you... Ah! No, I don't mean that."
Just barely managed to grab the sleeve of his coat as he was about to leave.
"W-what I'm saying is that if something happened to me because of that stalker, the Director would be responsible, right? So let me call the police. There's no guarantee that something like this won't happen in the future."
"Calm down. No one's chasing you now."
Embarrassingly, the meaning of his words entered her mind. The hiccuping sounds that come out of her throat were clogged with tears. Jumi tried her best to get her cell phone back, which was tightly held in his hand as if he was grabbing it by the back of someone's neck.
"Give it to me. Quickly...", she pleaded him desperately.
"Wouldn't your father be faster than those idiots?"
"What?"
"Is asking repeatedly a hobby of yours?"
Jumi hoped he wouldn't notice her hesitation, but the moment he asked her the question, the corners of his eyes narrowed. Looks like he was laughing at her. A reaction that wasn't hard to notice.
If my parents knew about this, it's almost certain that my father will come forward , and if my father gets involved, the situation will escalate. He was already displeased with me leaving home, so my current plan to become independent and free myself from my father's control might be ruined. It was obvious that, just like in college, I would be taken back at my parents' home right away, regardless of whether I was independent or not, my life would be uneasy. It was always a difficult life for me being the only child. In a world where strength is everything, my father, Executive Director Choi, lived in a world more peaceful than anyone else, but not for me.
Is he saying we should not bother others and try to solve the problem on our own? Well, what would have happened to Jeong Yun-kyo if I would receive help from the police? A person who does not need help from public power.
"Ha..."
For the first time, Jumi felt helpless as she tried to stand on her own. This is unfair. The world she found herself in, shaking off her parents' hand and leaving home, was getting harsher and difficult than she thought.
"If you report this to the police and there is no evidence of assault, they will not help you. They'll say the guy didn't break the law. They will tell you to collect evidences first, but to get it you have to keep being stalked. That's it!"
That's why there was a lot of bad news about women being harmed for a while. Will the law change?
I couldn't help but think of Hye-seon's voice lamenting earnestly. "It is very difficult for women to live alone in this world."
"That's what I'm saying."
He threw the broken cell phone he was holding behind him. It fell onto the floor like he was throwing away a cigarette butt. Her phone, which was completely dead now, fell apart like a broken candy. Jumi look down on it pitifully, wondering if there is any need to buying a new one right away.
This man is really rude. I hate him!
As she glared at him, imagining him with all his thorns like a hedgehog on his head, Jeong Yun-kyo took out his cell phone from his pocket.
"Is that you Gwangmi? I need you to find someone for me. It seems like he just left Yongil Building. Find out everything about him... That's right... It doesn't look like he's been around for a long time, but he put his mark here with bad intentions. Find out his identity and bring him to me. It looks like he was purposely stalking her."
A chill ran down Jumi's spine. In that brief moment, she was walking a tightrope of extreme fear.
"That guy must have done this to start something with Jumi... Okay." He paused. "You said you saw him somewhere?"
The last sentence was thrown towards her. He was acting fast and more reliable than her father.
His eyes, which seemed to show the urgency of this phone conversation, ask about the circumstances of the incident.
"Oh, I wrote everything down."
Jumi didn't even think about taking her shoes off before digging through the pile of notes in her living room. The table quickly became cluttered. She was not out of her mind. Thinking that something like this might happen again, she carefully wrote down the Café CCTV informations and the times she encountered the creepy man outside. In fact, while she was taking notes, she first thought she was overreacting.
Of course, I never dreamed that I would hand this note to this man with me.
"Here, here it is."
He received the notepad from her hastily extended fingertips and stood facing the veranda looking out the window.
The strong man's profile reflected in her glass window. His eyes are looking out the window, but his mouth is focused on the phone call.
Their eyes briefly met through the glass window, but she could only stare out the window where the light was reflecting, and it felt like she was standing alone and unbroken in this storm.
Why do I feel so alone in the pouring rain, as if I was completely torn apart?
Even though he was a gangster, she couldn't bear to say that to him so she kept repeating it in her head, but she followed him with anxious eyes.
"Report to me as soon as you find him and bring him to me. Alive."
After ending the call, he stood facing her, who had his back turned to her the entire time he was on the phone.
He quietly hold out the notepad she gave him back to her. As she looked up, she saw his neck moving quietly and his jaw moved. Not a single word escaped from between his tightly closed lips.
For a thorough-minded person who doesn't want to waste unnecessary time wasting his breath, this would be nothing more than a nuisance. When she quietly accepted what was offered to her, he turned away and started walking towards the front door.
"Hey, I...!"
Jumi was startled and grabbed the hem of his coat.
"A-are you leaving?"
He stopped and scowled down at her.
"No, you just got here, so why are you leaving so soon?"
"I don't like this awkward flirting."
"I-I wasn't flirting... W-what if that man comes back again?"
"So, you want me to guard you all night?"
"No, that's not it... I... I..."
His mood became a bit more darker as he looked down at the coat she was holding tightly, but Jumi had no time to worry about such things.
I can't believe I feel safer with this man than with the bastard who committed the crime of stalking.
It was so absurd that she wants to burst out laughing, but it was true. Jumi wiped away her silent tears and swept the corners of her eyes with the back of her hand.
The man's long sigh fell on the back of her neck, which was bent as she had her head lowered. He went straight to the kitchen. As she was observing him, he took out a bottle of wine from the refrigerator and opened the cap.
"W-what are you doing?"
He roughly took out a glass he saw on the kitchen counter that he could get his hands on and poured wine until the glass was full.
"Here... Drink this."
In response to the tone telling her to drink calmly and not make any small talk, Jumi drank the wine handed to her. A sudden heat quickly spread across her pale, pitiful face. She closed her eyes tightly and opened my mouth until she emptied the glass as teardrops collect on her chin again and fell.
"One more drink."
The shocked expression on his face when she asked him to pour her another drink was worthy to look at.
"I'm sorry for asking you this. Director..."
"Sorry? don't say sorry if you don't mean it."
Jumi was fully prepared to face rejection but her courage increased a little because she drank some alcohol. Meanwhile, her teardrops stopped flowing down her tear-stained face.
"For now, please keep your help a secret from my dad."
The look in his eyes is even more astounding. The expression on his face was scrutinising her reasoning.
"I'm afraid they might worry about me. Please I'm seriously asking you to keep this incident a secret between us."
After a very long time of staring at her, he refilled the empty glass as if he was responding to Jumi's muttered request.
"Can you stay with me for a while until I finish drinking this? Could you please do that?
"Me? You want me to stay here with you?"
He picks up the conversation and reprimands her for the informal remark she threw at him. Being reprimanded by him was scary, but the complacency that made her feel like he was on her side secretly gave her courage for some unknown reason.
"No, it's not because I'm scared... I would-"
"You're bothering me."
"I... Since you're already here to help me."
"I hate wasting my time."
"But you helped me. You told me not to report this to the police. Then you will have to take responsibility."
"I have a lot of things to do. Do you think I have time for leisure?"
"A-actually, I lied to you. The truth is I'm so scared right now. Something like this happened once before."
He let out a long, drawn-out sigh, as if to tell her to hurry up and get it over with. She held back her tears and swallowed hard. The alcohol tasted salty like her tears.
"Do I not look dangerous to you?", he asked her, in a low-tone that sounded husky to her ears.
"I know you're a bad person, but at least I already know who you are. I feel much better since you know my father well, too."
Even though she openly called him a bad person, Jumi had no idea what she was talking about anymore. Her head was a mess. The man's dumbfounded eyes went straight to her.
It felt bad to see those eyes that looked like he was staring at an immature child, but she was the one in a crucial moment and it was she who needed him. Funny enough, this man was the only one she could rely on in this critical situation. This man is so dangerous that he can't even be compared to her stalkers.
"Isn't being careless the most dangerous thing in the world?"
"What do you mean?"
"Just have a drink."
Jumi drank a lot of alcohol that night that when she regained her senses the following morning, she realised a part of her soul had been lost and a new life had begun.