“Haa…”
They continued driving for another twenty minutes, and it wasn’t until they veered off the dirt road that Yi-soo finally removed her mask, still catching her breath. Hyun-seong took a bottled water from Tae-jun, uncapping it for her.
“Take a sip. Are you okay, Seo Yi-soo?”
“…Seriously, how can a place like that exist?” Yi-soo accepted the bottle and drank the water, the moderately lukewarm liquid easing down her narrow throat. The thirst proved challenging to quench. Hyun-seong patiently waited for her to finish, his stomach tied in knots.
“What happened to you, Prosecutor? Do you need me to take you to the hospital?” Tae-jun inquired.
“…No, I think I’ll be fine with a little rest.”
“Let’s head to my house,” Hyun-seong decided. “Those bastards.”
Not one for harsh language, he couldn’t maintain composure after the recent events. With a subdued sigh, he removed his mask and leather gloves.
“I’ll have to discard this on the way out.”
He glanced down at the powered-down air meter, supposedly stored in a secure box, though there was no certainty about potential alterations they might have made. They needed to exercise caution and remain vigilant. Yi-soo nodded, settling back in her seat. It felt as if they were in downtown Yangpyeong.
“Do you think we should involve the police…? Leaving it like this might lead to more murders.”
“We’ll have to hit them all at once to catch them. Otherwise, they’ll slip away like a pyramid.”
Hyun-seong was on point. Even if she contacted the police immediately, Yi-soo wasn’t confident they could apprehend everyone, so she’d have to wait at least another month.
A weighty sensation pressed down on her chest. Biting her lower lip, Yi-soo spoke in a hushed voice.
“Still, I believe it’s better to inform a reliable police officer. We can’t just stand by and let this happen.”
“Trusted police officers, you know, just not the overly friendly ones.”
“Secretary Kang, could you please fetch my mobile phone?” Yi-soo requested.
In response, Tae-jun retrieved two mobile phones from his jacket pocket—belonging to Yi-soo and Hyun-seong.
“I’ve just sent you her number. It’s Detective Ahn Se-young from the Yeongdeungpo police station. You can trust him. If you encounter any issues later on, feel free to reach out to him,” Yi-soo informed Hyun-seong.
Hyun-seong inquired, “How much should we disclose to him?”
“While divulging everything might be challenging, I can’t allow a repeat of that meeting next month,” Yi-soo replied.
Hyun-seong agreed with Yi-soo’s stance. The situation had surpassed the capabilities of private investigation, necessitating the involvement of authorities. However, confronting a group of influential tycoons posed a formidable challenge. The country was still under the influence of chaebols, and the struggle against them would be an uphill battle.
Recognizing the hidden complexities within the system, they had to exercise utmost caution in navigating the intricate web of intrigue. Reflecting on the situation, Hyun-seong massaged his forehead.
“I’ll share this information with the lieutenant and conduct a personal investigation,” he declared.
“Thank you, Attorney Yoon,” Yi-soo expressed her gratitude.
“You’re welcome. It’s part of my job.”
Yi-soo’s words elicited a chuckle from Hyun-seong, who then closed his eyes tightly. The two moles on Roman’s neck lingered in his thoughts. It was an unusual physical characteristic, and he sensed that delving deeper might yield answers.
I feel like I’ve seen them before… Two dots, an inexplicable aura, and an ominous feeling. Yi-soo rested her head on Hyun-seong’s shoulder, lost in contemplation. She lowered her long eyelashes and muttered slowly, “Yoon Hyun-seong.”
“It’s been a while since you’ve called me that.”
“Do you prefer your first name over… ‘attorney’?” Yi-soo lightly tapped the tip of her index finger on the back of his hand, and Hyun-seong blinked slowly, enjoying the pleasant tickle.
Yoon Hyun-seong. It wasn’t a particularly noteworthy title, yet the sound of her voice uttering his name stirred an unfamiliar emotion within him, a sensation rising in the back of his throat. He couldn’t quite define it, but he sensed it was a positive feeling.
“Of course.”
“Then… I’ll call you that from now on. Yoon Hyun-seong.” Smiling faintly, Yi-soo intertwined the backs of their hands. If only they could keep holding like this. If only she could get used to his warmth.
A peculiar sense of possessiveness crept over her. It was as if… she liked this man.
Do I like him?
The realization hit her like a sudden jolt, leaving her momentarily speechless. She raised her head slightly to sneak a glance at Hyun-seong’s profile. His eyes were closed, and a different kind of embarrassment washed over her.
She ran her tongue over her lower lip, then cleared her throat in an attempt to regain composure. Does she like him? She questioned herself, but all that echoed back was a sense of confusion.
Yoon Hyun-seong, Hyun-seong…
Attempting to recite the name swirling in her mind, she found his name playing like a broken record, repeating in her ears incessantly.
Rolling her eyes, she let out a small cough. This wasn’t the time to entertain such thoughts.
“Feeling cold, prosecutor? Want me to switch on the heater?” Tae-jun asked, breaking through her thoughts.
“Oh, no, thank you.”
“We still have another hour or two before we reach home, and I know you’re exhausted.”
Tae-jun, driving silently, stole a glance at the rearview mirror where Hyun-seong was situated. “He’s asleep too… He’s been pulling all-nighters for the past few days. He’s a grumpy one, blame it on the lack of sleep.”
“I’m not sleeping,” Hyun-seong grumbled.
“It’s a ghost… Pretend you didn’t hear that.”
“…I thought you were asleep. We’ve got a few more miles to cover, go get some rest.”
“Sleep with me, Yi-soo.” Still with his eyes closed, Hyun-seong draped his left arm around Yi-soo’s shoulders, his embrace as comforting as ever. After a brief moment of hesitation, Yi-soo leaned her head back against him and closed her eyes.
She could sense her heartbeat slowing, a medley of emotions contributing to the rhythm. The warm air from the heater filled the car, and the landscape outside the window unfolded in a serene panorama.
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