Tae Ho, after dropping So Hee home, returned to his house. The silence enveloped him as he poured a glass of water. He sat down, his mind replaying the events of the day. Emotions swirled within him—frustration, anger, and an underlying fear.
He realized the gravity of their situation. The culprit they were trying to catch had seen their faces. This meant he would avoid them, creating an even bigger problem. With this thought weighing heavily on him, Tae Ho went to bed, his anger simmering beneath the surface.
The next day, So Hee entered the place, looking for Tae Ho. She wanted to thank him for saving her life. She finally found him in the kitchen, opening a sachet of coffee with a knife.
So Hee couldn't help but mock him sarcastically, "Who opens a coffee sachet with a knife? It's like you're trying to make a point or something.
Tae Ho didn't respond immediately. Instead, he focused on cutting the sachet open in one slice. So Hee continued, "You know, it's almost as sharp as my ideas."
Tae Ho's eyes flicked towards her, his anger evident. "What do you want, So Hee?"
She hesitated but then said, "I wanted to thank you for saving me. Even though, we could have caught him if you didn't stop."
Tae Ho's fury ignited. His eyes darkened as he grabbed her by the arm, his grip like iron. In one swift motion, he pressed the knife against her neck, the cold steel biting into her skin. "How dare you?" he hissed, his voice a low growl. "If you weren't involved, I would have killed them. You're just a burden!"
So Hee's eyes met his, defiant yet tinged with fear. She refused to show weakness, but the proximity of the knife made her heart race. She felt the sharp edge press harder, a thin line of blood trickling down her neck.
Tae Ho took a step forward, his breath hot against her face. "You think you're so clever, don't you? Always interfering, always in the way."
So Hee stood her ground, her voice steady despite the fear creeping up her spine. "And you think you can do everything alone? You need me, whether you admit it or not."
Tae Ho's grip tightened, his eyes flashing with rage. He pressed the knife deeper, leaving a more pronounced scratch on her neck. "If it weren't for you, everything would have been perfect."
So Hee's heart pounded, but she refused to back down. "Perfect for you, maybe. But we're in this together, whether you like it or not."
Tae Ho's eyes bored into hers, the tension crackling between them like electricity. He pulled back slightly, his expression a mix of anger and something else-regret? He threw the knife aside, the clatter loud in the silence, and stormed out, leaving So Hee trembling yet resolute against the wall.
Sohee stood in the kitchen, her neck still stinging from the knife's scratch. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. She walked into the room, expecting to find Taeho, but it was empty.
Moments later, Taeho walked in, his expression unreadable. "The chief is calling you," he said flatly.
Sohee stared at him, her eyes locking onto his with a furious intensity. Taeho held her gaze, his eyes cold and unyielding. Without another word, Sohee turned and went to see the chief.
In the office, the chief's expression was stern. "You interrupted a case study without following the command of your partner," he said sharply. "There was no agreement between the two of you. As a result, you are suspended for two days."
Sohee's anger flared. She clenched her fists, but she knew arguing would be futile. She returned to the room, her steps heavy with frustration.
Taeho was leaning against the wall, a smirk playing on his lips. He watched her with a look of smug satisfaction. "Looks like you got what you deserved," he said mockingly.
Sohee glared at him, her anger boiling over. She moved quickly, grabbing her bag and shoving her belongings into it. Every movement was sharp and precise, her fury evident in every action.
"You think this is funny?" she snapped, her voice trembling with rage. "You think you're so much better than everyone else, don't you?"
Taeho's smirk widened. "Maybe I do. But at least I know how to follow orders."
Sohee zipped her bag shut with a forceful motion. "You're impossible," she spat. "This isn't over."
With that, she slung her bag over her shoulder and stormed out of the room, leaving Taeho behind. His smirk faded slightly as he watched her go, a flicker of something almost like regret crossing his face.