Hello everyone! Man, it's been a while right? Sooo sorry for the long wait. My computer had some problems sooo....I couldn't do anything with it for a while. (-cough- more like MONTHS! -cough- ) anyway, about this story... IT'S AWESOME ISN'T IT?! So, I'd like to apologize even more, but I figured you guys have been waiting long enough waiting to see what happens to our heroine soooo....... HERE'S CHAPTER 8!! =D
I woke up the next morning, in a king-sized bed, feeling very well rested and surprisingly wide awake. I ran a hand through my hair (ignoring the knots), and observed my surroundings. Wait..... this doesn't look like one of the many hotel rooms that I'm oh-so-comfortable in sleeping in.... I whipped my head left and right, trying to find something familiar, other than my suitcases. Nothing. I was about to shoot out of bed and call the cops, when memories of what happened to me so far flooded into my brain. The events replayed in my head until I got to the part concerning my current whereabouts.
That's right... I'm living with Mr. Sexy--no, wait...Detective Kim--now. I had almost forgotten. A small smile played across my face as I thought of the detective, and I felt my face grow slightly hot. Now, this guy was really hot and just drop-dead gorgeous, and for me to be living with him was just..... WOW! Bashfulness and giddiness surged through me and I felt my smile grow until it became a big stupid grin on my face. To counter such an idiotic facial expression, I grabbed one of my pillows, buried my face in it, and squealed. I then flopped down onto my back and stared at the ceiling, my arms spread away from my body.
I lay there thinking and enjoying the silence when I suddenly remembered that there was something important that I had to do today. I sat bolt upright in bed--totally grateful for the fact that there was no other bed above me to cause me searing head pain had I done that at Mi-Young's place and went out to the living room to look at the time. (I didn't have a clock in my new room yet) I yelped when I saw the clock and dashed back to my room, grabbed my towel, and went to shower. I was supposed to be at the Police Agency at 9am and it was already 8:15. Now, to some of you, that might seem like a LOT of time...but I really didn't know how long it would take me to get there, so by my standards... I was already late.
I finished my shower, raked a brush through my hair, dressed in jeans and a white turtleneck sweater, grabbed my purse and dashed out the door. I didn't even bother with breakfast, so I guess I was going to starve until I got back. I assumed that this whole thing wouldn't take more than a half hour or whatever, so the faster I got this over with, the faster I can come back and eat some food!
I dashed down the street and around a corner when I realized... I had no idea where I was going. Goddamn. I sifted through my purse only to find that I did not have my cell phone on me. Strike two. Oh, and I don't have a key for the house--it had been pretty unpredictable the past couple of days, so I wasn't really surprised that I didn't have one. But at a time like this... I sure as hell wish I did.
My heart started racing, as fear and panic started seeping through my veins. Granted, I should have been scared the minute I saw these guys, but I guess it was just a delayed reaction. Like really delayed. I tried to look at my ambushers but even the shifting of my eyes made them stare down at me, as if daring me to look them dead in they're eyes. And I can honestly say that wasn't a dare I was willing to take.
I did the only thing I could do and just sat in between the two brutes and waited, petrified, until we made it to our destination. I didn't know how long it took us to get to wherever it was they were taking me, but all too soon we had arrived and they dragged me out of the van and to a large cabin in a somewhat densely wooded area. Fallen leaves littered the ground and cracked under our feet as they practically pulled me toward the cabin where they shoved me inside the door. Inside, I saw a doctor, two more big guys, and a surgeon table standing ominously near the door. Before I could get a better look, I was shoved forward placed behind a makeshift curtain where some of the other girls from EGM were huddled in a corner and being watched by another of our kidnappers.
"Kimi!" cried Su-Jung and she held out her hand to steady me as I was flung towards them. I lost my footing, and ended up kneeling beside her and some other girls; I could see the fear in their eyes that was slowly seeping into me as well. Crap..... now, I realize this isn't good. I huddled closer to Su-Jung and she clung to me almost as tightly as my kidnappers had; I could feel her shaking as I glanced up at her face and saw tears glistening in her eyes.
"What's going on? Why are we here?" I managed to ask so low, that I prayed our captors couldn't hear me. She shook her head frantically, staring wide-eyed at me and giving me two answers: 'Don't ask questions' and 'I don't know.' We sat in silence for about 20 minutes, watching the doctor and some other guys go back and forth in our field of vision, carrying needles, and other surgical instruments to the table on the other side of us and I heard footsteps going away from us and another coming towards us as one of our captors came, dressed in all black and stared at all of us menacingly.
"Is that all of them?" he asked his companion in Korean, then looking at us once more.
"It should be," he answered, "Where did Jin-Ho go?"
"He went outside to move the van, because some idiot can't park," said the latter with a sneer.
The other nodded. "All right," the other guy said and stepped to where we were and we all huddled in a corner, whimpering--scared and petrified. We saw him grab a girl in a pink jacket, jeans, and pigtails and drag her on the other side of the curtain where the surgeon table, doctor, and the other guys were waiting. As she was being lugged away, we heard her scream in protest and beg him to let her go, but he wouldn't let up. We all sat in silence and listened, horrified, as we heard her being forced onto the surgeon table and her screams being muffled as they gagged her and her arms and feet banging on the table as they bound her to it.
The rest of us sat still, not daring to move. Some of the other girls started sniffling and whimpering and I glanced at Su-Jung and wasn't surprised that she too was crying. I was too petrified to cry let alone hear the muffled angry cries from outside. Wait, what? I strained my ears to listen more, trying to ignore the sobbing of the girls. Yup...those were voice I heard outside.
What's going on?" I heard one of them ask. It was quiet for a moment, then another answered, "It's the police." My fear immediately subsided as I saw our captors run from their posts of watching over us, and towards the door.
"Get the drugs out first!" yelled one guy.
"B-but the cops are here," answered the doctor cowardly. My insides boiled with anger. If you didn't want to get caught, then why are you here?!
"There's only four of them. Get the drugs out NOW!" ordered the first guy. Not even half a second later, I saw the doctor just jet and the other guys yell "RUN!" and they all started shooting out of there like bats out of Hell. Seconds later, the police came in and quickly pursued them. Detective Kim was the one who spotted us as two of his fellow detectives chased after the felons.
He rushed over to all of us, helping each one of us up and checking to see if we were OK and we weren't hurt. I was the last he helped up, and when he offered his hand and pulled me to my feet, he gripped my arms tightly, gently squeezing them as I looked up at his face. He looked at me dead in the eyes, and I couldn't read his expression.
"Are you OK?" he asked me. He sounded urgent, so I nodded hurriedly in response but said nothing. He squeezed my arms again, then directed his attention to the other girls. They all were still shaking and their faces were still red and tear-stained, but other than that they said they were fine. Detective Kim then beckoned us all to where his fellow detective--Detective Jang--was, freeing the girl on the surgeons table. When I saw him, my eyes widened and I looked from him, to my super-secret guardian. I opened my mouth to ask how the hell they managed to save him from the Triad in Hong Kong, but he beat me with a question of his own, which he asked to his fellow detective.
"Is she all right? She's not hurt is she?" he inquired. The girl sat upright on the surgeon table, too shaken up to speak, so Detective Jang spoke for her.
"She's fine," he answered, "a few scrapes, but nothing too serious." He looked at Detective Kim and added in a final tone, "Now, let's get these girl out of here and back to their families." My stomach pinched, at the sound of those words, seeing as how my "family" was standing right next to me. He wasn't showing me any affection--like putting a protective arm around me--but I wished like hell he was, cuz I was still totally freaked!
My guardian nodded once and ushered us single file to the awaiting police van outside. I saw the other detectives come back with the other crooks and my mind refreshed back to the bar when I was looking for a job. The sleaze-ball looking guy--whom I believed was Mr. Shin (or...I should call him Detective Shin now) came with one suspect in hand and thrust him into an awaiting police car and another--the big, stupid looking one whom I remembered was Detective Nam--came sauntering over with two more suspects.
I was lead into the van with the other girls as we waited to be brought to either the police station or to our families. My guess was the police station--it seemed like the logical choice. Besides, some of the girls' parents might already be there waiting for them. That thought left me with the lingering question as to what I was going to do once we got there. Like I said, my guardian was literally RIGHT OUTSIDE (and was now harassing the suspects). I suppressed a sigh. I suppose I could wait till his shift was over.... and be bored out of my mind while I was at it. But really, what other choice did I have? I'll answer that--none. I dug my fingers in my hair in frustration.
"Are you OK, Kimi?" asked Su-Jung who was sitting on the other side of the van next to the window.
"I'm fine," I answered, not looking at her. "I just have a headache is all." Lie. I'm mentally preparing myself for the infinite hours of boredom to befall my way. Ooh, jooy. I continued to stare at the floor of the police van until the opening of the door made me look up to see--you guessed it--my super-secret guardian.
He looked at all of us and said clearly in Korean, "We're going to take you to the station where your parents await your arrivals. There, they will take you home; I'm sure they'll be more than relieved to see you all well and safe." The girls nodded, and smiled at him--excited about being able to go home and forget all this ever happened. Before he closed the door though, he took one long look at me. I stared back, though I couldn't read his expression. His eyes were fierce as if he was trying to communicate with me telepathically (good luck with that). Eventually, the mini staring contest got to be too much for me, and I looked away, trying to hide a blush that I felt searing across my cheeks.
When the door finally closed behind me, I thought it safe to look up again. Unfortunately, that was also when the girls thought it was OK to start telling me that my face was red and giggling.
"Giggling should be illegal," I muttered, quoting a line from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (the book not the movie). The girls along with Su-Jung all made comments about my blushing and how cute Detective Kim was. That got my insides all fired up with jealousy. Wait, why should I be jealous? I'm friggen LIVING with the guy!! But still.... they didn't know that. Nor did they NEED to. Besides... it's not like they have a chance of having him. Not that they should even be THINKING of having a chance. I mean, he's like what? 23? Yeah, too old for them.
We finally started heading to the Station (the girls still talking about the incident before) and just like Detective Kim promised, the girls' parents were all waiting for their daughters. Each girl ran to their families with tears in their eyes, while I lagged behind and ducked into the women's bathroom and out of sight. They didn't need to know that I didn't have family here (anymore), and I didn't want them to feel sorry for me. I waited in the bathroom for at least 20 minutes before finally coming out only to find Detective Cha outside waiting for me.
"Il-Ju is looking for you," she said to me in Korean. She sounded cross.
"Il-Ju?" I asked also in Korean, confused. "Who is that?"
"Wow.... you're living with him, and you don't even know his name?" she responded, smirking. "Just follow me," and she started walking away while I ran to try and keep up with her. Then it clicked.
"D-Detective Kim's first name is Il-Ju?" I asked in Korean, jogging behind her as we rounded a corner. She didn't slow down nor did she look at me when she answered, "Yes. His full name is Kim Il-Ju; I'm surprised he didn't tell you when you're living with him. Nobody else knows about that right?"
"A-anniyo," I answered, still jogging. Man, this lady walks fast...this is the most exercise I've ever gotten. "Just you...him...and Prosecutor Kim," I wheezed out as we rounded another corner and down a hallway and entered a door with the sign "H.I.T." above it. There was a giant sign that said "Homicide Investigation Team" and an office space with a large desk in the center and 5 computers. Four on about each corner of the desk, and one at the head of it. Detective Cha led me into the office and beckoned me inside.
"Il-Ju will be here in a moment. Have a seat," she said, and left to God knows where. I quietly sat down in the nearest office chair, placed my purse on the table, and tried to make myself comfortable--which was hard considering that I had NOTHING TO DO. I found a stapler in front of me and grabbed it, and after digging around a bit I retrieved a small pad of post-its in one of the drawers. Let the joy commence!
I tore off bits of Post-its and started doing some Origami (yes, I have Origami skillz) and managed to make a small crane, frog, and more frogs. Frogs are the only things I really know how to make. And cranes. Cranes and frogs. Yup. Anyway, after my 10th frog, and 4th crane, I took the stapler and some more post-its and drew eyes on them and stuck them onto the stapler so it looked like it had eyes.
"Raaawr! I am the Stapler Monster! I have come to eat your pathetic frogs!!" I said, moving the stapler around all menacing like. "Not if we can help it!! Cranes! Attack!" And thus the EPIC BATTLE of the cranes versus the Stapler Monster ensued! The cranes dive-bombed the Stapler Monster without any sign of letting up! But wait! The Stapler Monster can fly?!
"MWAHAHAHAHA!!! Fools!! Oh.... wait.... you can fly too?! GODDAMN!!" said the Stapler Monster as the cranes continued their assault. "Noooo!!!"
"Having fun?" said a voice behind me, and I jumped and turned and dropped everything. Detective Kim was standing in the entrance-way, watching me be an idiot. He didn't look happy or angry... just... eh. I quickly stood up and tried to make it look like I wasn't acting like a child approximately 5 seconds ago.
"Uhm....h-how long were you standing there?" I stammered in English, pushing the Origami and Stapler Monster aside behind my back. He smirked (omg, another blush! dammit!!) and came striding into the room, picked up the Stapler Monster, stared at it for a while, then finally answered back in English, "Long enough to see that this guy was losing the battle." I laughed nervously but said nothing. My insides were in a raging inferno of embarrassment.
We stood in silence for a minute while I awkwardly fidgeted waiting desperately for him to say something. When he didn't, I was about to open my mouth to say something, but at just that moment he decided to speak.
"Do you have your things in order?" he asked me. My heart sank into my stomach and I felt myself begin to shake and my body turn cold.
"Y-yes....why?" I stuttered out, "You're not sending me back home are you? I told you that I'm not going back to Canada!!" He raised his hands as if he was surrendering and stared at me.
"Calm down," he said, "I'm not sending you anywhere. I'm just taking you home. And here," he added as he stooped to open his drawer next to his computer and pulled out some papers and handed them to me. "I printed out these applications for schools around Seoul--don't think just because you're living with a cop, you're going to get away with not getting an education. When we get home, I want you to fill those out. I'll have to come back here soon, so I can't stay with you while you do that."
I stared at him. Really? Do I look like I need a babysitter to fill out papers? Please. I sifted through the applications--there were only about four or five, and they all seemed to be in English. Good, I wouldn't have to struggle with it. I looked up at him.
"Ok, so you're taking me home and then coming back here," I repeated to him, "sounds ok to me. But do you mind if we make a pit stop first? I didn't have breakfast, and I'm starving."
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We stopped by McDonalds (HOLY CRAP, MICKEY D'S?! WHY DID I NOT NOTICE THIS BEFORE?!) and I got a chicken selects meal and then Detective Kim drove me home. He said I could eat in his car, just to be sure not to make a complete mess. While I ate I asked him a couple of questions, one that was burning in my mind all day.
"Detective," I started, feeling a little weird addressing him with that title even though we were living together. "How did you manage to get Detective Jang back from the Triad in Hong Kong?" I looked up from munching on a strip of chicken to see that Detective Kim was staring intently on the road, his face held in a dark scowl. It was a long time before he actually started to speak, though when he did, it was as if his words were laced with acid; he sounded so venemous.
"Those idiot police in Hong Kong..." he spat, his eyes narrowing dangerously. I started to get really nervous--maybe I shouldn't have asked. But before I could say anything, he continued on with what he was saying.
"After I had taken you girls to the Korean Consul, I met up with Detective Cha, Prosecutor Kim, and Sung Dong-Joon--the head of the Consul--and a Hong Kong policeman. We told him that Charlie Park must be arrested but he said that he couldn't arrest him because there wasn't any evidence nor proof of his crime. But Detective Cha said that she had been locked up, and that there was a shootout between her and him in the parking lot of the building where she was being held captive."
I listened intently. This was pretty deep stuff; I couldn't believe it. I waited for him to say more, totally forgetting about my chicken strips...and my meal in general.
"When the policeman heard that, he said that since Charlie Park is a UK citizen and a respected businessman, they need to be careful. I was losing my patience; if he was such a respected businessman why would he kidnap others? The police said that was only what we assumed, and that they needed more proof before they did anything. I lost my temper then. Detective Jang was still missing and Charlie Park was still at large and they weren't going to to anything about it?! I already felt awful for allowing them to capture him--I couldn't take another slap in the face. So I told him off. Then he got me even more riled up--I said some things--and then stormed out."
I stayed quiet, waiting for more.
"The other two followed me, which I wasn't at all surprised about," he continued. "I also wasn't surprised when they started lecturing me about where it was that we were and how we needed to be careful. Then I blew up at them too, taking all my anger and regret out on them. I threatened to quit if we didn't get Detective Jang back safely. Detective Cha seemed to agree with me that we should do whatever it takes to get Detective Jang back alive, and when she said that the Triad had the upper hand since they had guns, I went into the glove compartment of the car I rented and pulled out a manilla envelope, weighted down with 3 guns."
"Are you crazy?!" I hollered. "If you had gotten caught, you would've been thrown in jail!! What's wrong with you?!"
"Well, we didn't did we?" he shot back at me, with a smirk. I stayed quiet for a moment, then mumbled out, ".....I guess not....continue!" I was getting into the story now. So not only is Mr. Sexy drop dead hot.....he's a total BADASS!!! I'M LIVING WITH A HOT BADASS!! GO ME!! =D
"So anyway, I had thought up a plan the night before--"
"You mean when we were at the hotel?" I interuppted.
"Yes, then," he answered me. I nodded, and he continued.
"So, that night--when you were at the Consulate--Detective Cha, Prosecutor Kim, and I staked out Charlie Park, and managed to corner him in his van and made him tell us where Detective Jang was. We were going to exchange him for our comrade. So... in the dead of night--with Charlie Park held at gunpoint by myself--we managed to force him to tell us where Detective Jang was being held captive and Prosecutor Kim drove us to the location. Since I was holding Charlie Park at gunpoint, there was basically nothing the scumbag could do but let Detective Jang go. And there you have it," he finished. "But don't repeat a word of this to anyone, understand?" he added sternly.
Yeah, who on Earth am I going to tell? I nodded anyway, just to make him feel reassured. When we finally made it home, he immediately ordered me to fill out the applications (oh joy...) and left without another word. I groaned. Now I'm stuck here....BORED. Luckily, I had brought the rest of my meal, so I decided to munch on that while filling out the apps. I finished them in about 2 hours (taking long breaks in between) and then began to try and find something to do. I took a nap.
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Detective Kim didn't return that night. Nor did he return the next day--not that I was worried, he's a big boy. But I took the liberty of mailing the applications myself, and then I decided to just wander. I'm not going to be stuck in the house all day just because I'm paranoid of people kidnapping me. Come on people, I'm no pussy.
While wandering, I managed to buy myself a digital clock for my room, and some toiletries, and other essentials (like SuJu posters....yeah, yeah, shaddup) to liven up my room. I then bought myself some ice cream, and some instant noodles and decided to head home and decorate. As soon as I locked the door and kicked off my shoes, I was in my room slapping posters on the wall, putting up some really nice curtains I bought, some colorful rugs and some stuffed animals, a bright comforter that I stuffed in my closet, and then I stood back to admire my handy work. Perfect. Now to go watch TV until my brain fries.
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Almost a week passed and Detective Kim dropped by every once in a while, but then always returned to go right back to work. I was used to it, but then I started to feel lonely. Yeah, being in a house by yourself is cool, but after a few days.... IT'S SO BORING!! So I was quite surprised to find Detective Kim home on Saturday and using the shower when I accidentally walked in on him. The glass door of the shower wasn't completely fogged over with steam so..... let's just say that I saw more than I bargained for that day before both of us screamed in shock, and I bolted out the door.
My face was burning, and I had slapped my hand over my mouth (reflex) and started fanning myself in a poor attempt to ebb the blush searing across my face. FAIL. I went into my room and waited until it was safe enough for me to use the shower. After I had finished and dressed in black jeans and my purple hoodie, I joined Detective Kim for breakfast.
"Good Morning," I said warmly, trying to ignore the wake-up call from earlier. He said nothing, and looked at me for a long time--almost glaring at me. I cracked.
"OK, I'm sorry I walked in on you, I didn't know you were even home; you've been gone forEVER!! I-I didn't even see anything! I swear!! It was too foggy anyway for me to get a good look," I blabbered. He raised a questioning eyebrow and I slapped my hands to my mouth, in complete shock and disbelief of what had just vomited out of my mouth.
"I didn't mean that," I finally answered, praying that he'd understand. "Really....I swear I didn't--"
"You have a letter," he said, cutting me off and handing me an envelope from the table. I looked at it curiously, and finally opened it. It was an acceptance letter; I was to start school on Monday and I was to get my uniform sometime before then. Ugh....great. Uniform.
"What is it?" he asked. I looked at it, shrugged, and answered "Just an acceptance letter to one of the schools you made me apply too." I wasn't ecstatic about it--I don't know anything about these schools, so my way of thinking was 'if they want you, just go for it.' I handed him the letter so he could read it, while I made myself some toast.
"I'll get your uniform for you, today," he told me, as I sat down and began eating. "I'm hoping to be done early anyway." I looked at him while munching on my breakfast, smiled and nodded in thanks. "Why aren't you at work, today?" I asked in between bites of toast.
"I asked for the day off," he replied. When I asked why, he answered "To spend time with you and show you around Seoul. You're living with me and we haven't actually spent time with one another to get to know each other." He smiled at me, which made me blush and look away and devour the rest of my toast.
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Monday morning came and I showered and dressed into my new school uniform (it was actually pretty cute), and Detective Kim drove me to school. I waved goodbye and turned to look at my surroundings and drink in my new school. There were girls sitting on the outside benches and talking, girls standing in their own little circles and talking, girls talking to some teachers...... wait..... there are girls EVERYWHERE.
I whipped my head around and actually did a mini circle in my place. More girls. No.... there has to be at least ONE guy here. I scanned the area....nope. ALL. GIRLS. THIS CANNOT BE!! I dug my cell phone out of my pocket, punched in Detective Kim's cell number, and waited for him to answer. He answered on the 3rd ring.
"Yes, Kimi?"
"WHAT KIND OF SCHOOL DID YOU SEND ME TO?!" I hollered. There was a pause.
"Sookmyung Girls' High School," he finally answered calmly. My insides shriveled and vaporized.
"YOU SENT ME TO AN ALL GIRLS SCHOOL?!" I'm going to KILL him!!