The next day, Kang Min was five minutes late at the bus station. When he saw his friends, he waved at his three best friends. He was with Mr. Lee Ju Nan, who stood beside him. In Kang Min's hand, he held a Bluetooth speaker. With a big smile, he approached and embraced Hanna, and together they entered the bus.
Inside the bus, the atmosphere was very noisy. "Are we going to Jeju?" asked Lee Jong with a laugh.
In the front, Mr. Lee Ju Nan just muttered, "This is so annoying."
Kang Min and Lee Jong started swaying to the beat of Blackpink's "Forever Young" playing from the speakers. Their two friends burst out laughing, watching the two boys having fun. "These two crazy boys, hahaha," one of them joked.
From afar, Eum Byeul, who was sitting in a farther seat, took out her headset and occasionally glanced at Kang Min. Unable to contain her laughter, she smiled a little.
The atmosphere in the bus was getting more and more exciting with their togetherness, although Kang Min still felt that there was something stuck in his heart.
Choi Sang Woo watched them from behind, standing at the end of the terminal with a serious expression. "That kid wants to die," he muttered quietly, his eyes keenly watching Kang Min and his friends' movements. "I told him to be careful, and he went camping instead. That kid..." she said again in an annoyed tone, almost in disbelief.
He couldn't help but worry even though Kang Min always showed a stubborn attitude. Sang Woo knew very well how dangerous the situation Kang Min was in, and even though he tried to warn him, the boy didn't seem to care.
Sang Woo took a deep breath, deciding to keep watching from a distance. "No matter what happens, I have to make sure he stays safe," he told himself, stepping back towards his car.
Sang Woo stepped back with a heart full of worry, but he couldn't let Kang Min and his friends know that he was watching them. Although he knew, the more he tried to warn, the more stubborn Kang Min would become. Sang Woo felt a great responsibility for Kang Min's safety, especially after the events that had happened in the boy's life.
While heading to his car, Sang Woo thought, "He may think he can solve everything on his own, but I know how dangerous this is. If he keeps this up, he could get into bigger trouble."
Sang Woo paused for a moment, staring at the bus that started moving towards Jeju. "I have to find a way to protect him without him knowing. If she finds out, he'll get angry." he thought.
He quickly got into the car and started the engine, preparing to follow them from a distance. This wasn't just about a warning anymore, it was about making sure that Kang Min didn't make a fatal mistake that could end very badly for him.
Meanwhile, on the bus, Kang Min and his friends continued their journey with high spirits. They had no idea that danger was lurking, and an experienced detective like Sang Woo was watching them from afar.
Upon arrival in Jeju, the atmosphere became very cheerful and full of enthusiasm. Kang Min and his friends traveled around, enjoyed the beautiful scenery, and played together. They climbed hills, splashed on the beach, and enjoyed being together at night. Everything felt light, as if the outside world didn't exist. Kang Min felt like he had forgotten the burden he had been carrying, even though the images of his brother and father still haunted his mind.
However, the tranquility did not last long. When night fell, they gathered around the campfire, laughing and joking. Kang Min sat by the campfire, occasionally looking up at the dark sky with its glittering stars. He thought of his mother and Kang Soo Hyuk, his brother who had passed away. Suddenly, his cell phone rang, breaking the silence of the night.
It was a message from Lee Ju Nan, "Be careful, Kang Min. Don't be too calm. I'm still monitoring the situation."
Kang Min looked at the message for a moment, feeling anxious starting to come back. He knew that even though he was far away from the commotion, the threat was still there. Without telling anyone, Kang Min put his cell phone back into his bag. He tried to forget about it all, blending in with the company of his friends.
However, at midnight, they heard a strange noise outside their tent. Something was moving quickly around the camping area. All his friends woke up and wondered. Kang Min felt uneasy, knowing that this was no coincidence.
Without saying anything to the others, Kang Min got out of the tent and walked outside. He felt the tension in the air, like someone was watching them. Suddenly, he saw a familiar figure-Choi Sang Woo, standing in the distance, watching them with a sharp gaze.
Kang Min stepped forward, approaching Sang Woo, who didn't say a word. There was only tension between them. "What are you doing here, sir?" asked Kang Min in a low voice.
Sang Woo just shook his head and said, "You're too bold. I told you, don't mess with this. Don't bring your friends into this."
Kang Min snorted, a little angry. "I don't care. This is my way of life. I have to seek justice for them-for my father and brother. You can't stop me!"
Sang Woo looked at him with a regretful gaze. "If you continue like this, you'll end up like those who have fallen before you. Those who think they're heroes only end up ruined."
Kang Min sighed, knowing that Sang Woo was right, but his heart was already hard. "I can't stop now. I will protect those I love," he replied firmly.
Wordlessly, Sang Woo nodded slowly, realizing that nothing could stop Kang Min from his path. "Be careful. It's not over yet," he said, then turned around and disappeared into the darkness of the night.
Kang Min returned to the tent with a heavy heart, but he knew that no matter what, he would not back down from the path he had chosen. Tomorrow morning, they would return to their regular lives, but for Kang Min, the adventure and the true fight had just begun.
With a day full of fun in Jeju, they got back on the bus and continued their journey home, not knowing that the danger that lurked around them never really left. And Kang Min, despite feeling a little lighter, still guards his heart and mind, ready to face whatever may come in the future.