„Ok, Detective Kan, I got it! Yes, yes, don’t worry! I’ll send the message to Prosecutor Han! Of course, see you in the office!”

Hearing Inspector Yu talking like that by phone, DooSan looked at him in amazement. „Problems?” He asked eventually, turning right on a narrow street.

„Min An Sook,” the Inspector drily responded. „It seems that he’s been framed for Lee Ha Ni’s death.”

„He’s been framed?! By who?”

Hearing DooSan’s question, Yu stopped and looked at him for a few moments. Then, still staring into DooSan’s eyes, Yu asked, „Prosecutor Han, tell me, who do you hate the most in this life?”

„Who do I hate?!” Murmured DooSan. Yet, it wasn’t a question for the Inspector but for himself because he hated two people in this life. Yet, only one of them was his worst enemy…

***

SIX YEARS AGO. RESTAURANT. DAY.

Walking into the restaurant, DooSan and GhiYon approached the reception. „We have a reservation in the name of Park GhiYon,” the forensic doctor said. Yet, before being able to give his ID, both he and DooSan winced, as did the receptionist too, when they heard a shout somewhere in the restaurant. Then, not understanding anything from what was going on, the two friends exchanged glances at first, to take a few steps aside, trying to see what happened inside the restaurant. Yet, while GhiYon did that out of pure curiosity, for DooSan was something more than this because he felt that the one involved in that „scandal” had something to do with him.

And he was actually right because, soon after this, DooSan recognized Mina’s voice when she said, „What? She can’t eat here?! Why? Why doesn’t she have the right to eat here? Is this a crime to have dinner somewhere, ma'am?” To whom Mina said these words was the manager of the restaurant, who was staying right in front of them, staring with hatred and contempt at SolHi while she was looking around, ashamed, aware that she was the monkey at a circus right then.

Realizing this, SolHi grabbed Mina’s arm, trying to make her listen to her. She even begged her friend by saying, „Let’s go, Mina! It’s not worth it…”

„To go? Not in a thousand years! Why? Because we have the same right as anyone here to eat here and wherever we want actually.”

„Nobody ever has forbidden you to stay, Miss,” the manager said. „Yet… she… must go!”

„She???” Mina shouted again. „Miss, lady, or whatever other name a manager can use with a client is ok, but not „She.” Why? Because „she” has a name too, one you can use to call her. A name you should have asked first and only after that…”

„To ask her name?!” The manager asked in a slightly mockery tone. „It seems that you’ve lost your mind. Why? Because everybody in this town knows who this… lady… is. That’s why, as everybody present here knows who she is, I have the right to forbid her to eat in this restaurant. Just as I have the right not to serve a criminal or allow her to stay at the same table as normal people.”

Hearing such words told about her, SolHi felt the sky collapsing over her shoulders because… yes, she heard others insulting her before, but it never hurt so much as that night. Before, when others called her „assassin” she was still in Court or in Jail. Now, however, she was free, set free by the Supreme Court, which gave her the right to go wherever she wanted and do whatever she wanted. Yet, it seemed that people thought not the same as she thought because… they still judged her and chased her away, not accepting her by their side. And they were cruel, even crueler than the Judges of the Supreme Court could be. Why? Because a Court never prohibits a prisoner from having dinner. People instead can do this, just as they have the right to keep calling her „assassin” and with any other name they wanted to use to insult her.

Yet, people seemed not to care about this… just as they didn’t care about justice. All that mattered to them was that a good man, as Han YuSan’d been, was dead, killed by her as they thought because she’d been there that night. That’s why she’d been eventually dragged to Court and forced to front a legal trial, and, after that, the trial of people of course, which was dozens if not thousand times worse than any other legal trial. Eventually, what's been the most painful for her, even more terrifying than even hell, was that she was aware that what she was living at that moment would never end, just as people would never change.

Eventually, understanding all this, when she remembered what kind of sins she had in her soul, SolHi headed toward the door, saying no more words. And, while leaving, because of the tears that were running down her cheek, she saw nothing around. Something that made her feel that she was lacking air. And, touching her chest, she tried to deeply breathe in, to chase that pain away, a pain that would have gone away if she had stopped, but, as SolHi was stubborn, she kept moving toward the exit door, desperately dreaming to get out, to deeply breathe in the fresh air, and leave. To hide, this was what she dreamt about. She wanted to hide somewhere where nobody would have found her, where nobody would have pointed her with his finger, considering her ugly inside… something that simply asphyxiated her.

Yet, SolHi had no chance to hide. Not when she heard DooSan’s words to her right. „How does this feel?” He asked her. Looking to her right, SolHi saw DooSan and GhiYon next to the reception desk. And, looking at their faces’expression, SolHi understood that they saw that cheap „show” where she’d been the female lead. That's why she sketched a sad smile… through tears.

She smiled when she saw, through that thick cloth of tears that were running down her face, the sick satisfaction in his glance. At the same time, she saw hatred in those eyes, a glance that was ready to break her into pieces, punishing her for everything that happened. Something that she would have liked to have happened… to be killed by him. Maybe this way her nightmare would have been over. Yet… it was only a dream… to live without pain. That’s why she murmured eventually, still sadly smiling, „Like hell! You’re happy now, aren’t you, Han DooSan? Happy to see me dead in life!”

Somewhere in the distance, Mina’s argument with the manager was still heard. Yet, SolHi didn’t care about this anymore. At the same time, it didn’t matter to her what others thought about her. She found there, in the last possible place, a witness of her humiliation, Han DooSan, who was looking at her with satisfaction, with his hands stuck into his pockets, fully enjoying her social trial.

This humiliated her more than she thought. This killed her inside slowly but surely. A pain that made her ask him again, „What about you, Han DooSan? How does it feel? To see me a broken ship, trampled under feet, humiliated… a walking dead on Seoul’s streets.”

DooSan said nothing after hearing her question. He only kept staring at her with the eyes of a beast, trying to intimidate her. Because of this, GhiYon approached him eventually, whispering into his ear, „DooSan, I think we should…” Nevertheless, he’d been unable to continue his thought when he saw DooSan staring at him, furious, hearing nothing else but the voice of hatred from his heart.

The same voice of hatred made DooSan hiss through his teeth eventually, „Happy? It’s putting it mildly! I’m extremely happy because where, if not here, I can see you paying for what you’ve done?!” Saying this, DooSan took a few steps toward her, simply enjoying watching the shaking of her hands. „I call this „karma.” The perfect punishment for those like you. And, honestly, I’m really glad now that the Supreme Court of Justice didn’t sentence you that day. Thus… they allowed the punishment of humans to fall over you, a punishment that’s worse than any other jail where they could have sent you. And… I don’t want to be you, honestly. I’ll just stay here, watching your suffering, something that fills me inside and gives me the hope that even the most disgusting criminals… just as you are… receive their punishment as they deserve…”

A bowl of cold water, thrown over him, made DooSan stare with hatred to his left. There, shaking like hell because of anger, he saw Mina, who was looking at him with the same hatred in her glance. Something that didn’t disarm DooSan eventually, but made him yell at her, „You! You don’t even know what you’ve done, idiot!”

„Of course, I know!” Responded Mina with another shout. Then, after „cooling” her soul a little, seeing the water dripping off DooSan’s face, she squeezed the bowl in her hand while staring into DooSan’s eyes, whom she said, „Just as I know what is the real meaning of the word „punishment,” something you don’t even know. Why? Because you didn't pass through anything through what she passed. Yet, you dare to ask her if she enjoys her life, you, son of a bitch. Something that makes me ask you: how can you live with this dirty consciousness you have, Han DooSan, accusing someone who you have no idea who he is?”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

„Mina, please,” whispered SolHi, drowning in tears.

„Mina no!” SolHi’s friend shouted, flashing her. „I’m tired of seeing him insulting you when he knows nothing. You didn’t see her crawling on the floor because she was unable to stand up, right?! No, of course, no, because if you had seen her, you wouldn’t have talked as confident as you try to be right now. Just as I’m sure that you’d have had nightmares if you had heard her crying during the night because everybody was blaming and harassing her for something it was supposed she did, but nobody was sure of this. Yet, all of you had been stubborn in accusing her when you didn’t even see her killing someone. Because of this, I blame you for accusing her of a crime or calling her a criminal… because you know nothing about her, idiot!”

Her words made DooSan ironically smile. „It’s what she deserves, right? That's why I don't have to bother to find out things about her.” Then, still grinning, he tried to approach SolHi, intending to provoke her. Nevertheless, seeing Mina squeezing the bowl even more, he suddenly pulled back because, if not, he would have worn the bowl as a hat for sure.

„What if she’s not guilty?!” Mina hissed through her teeth again.

„What?” DooSan asked her, confused. „What the hell are we talking about? She was there that night. It’s logical that…”

„No, Han DooSan, nothing is logical in this case. Why? Because nothing is clear. What if she’s been framed? What if you hate not the right person? How would you repair the damage you did to her if this is proven? With an „I’m sorry?!” If so, get lost! And, if you need this, I can also show you the path to hell, Han DooSan, because there you belong.” Tightly holding SolHi’s hand, Mina tried to pass by DooSan, heading toward the door.

Yet, she’d been the amazed one at the end when SolHi released her hand, not moving from the place where she was. SolHi only wiped her tears and, staring into DooSan’s eyes, she said, „You don’t believe anything from what Mina said because you need evidence, right? Then… I’ll give it to you! I’ll find the evidence you so insistently look for, Han DooSan. And, if the evidence shows that you’ve been wrong, you’ll pay me for everything you’ve done to me, Han DooSan! You’ll pay for every insult I’ve heard from you, for the pain I felt… for considering me your idiot all this time. Yes, I swear that I’ll make you pay for what you all have done to me!”

„Is this a threat?

„Yes, Han DooSan, is a threat! And… if you don’t like to be threatened then… you can go to the police and accuse me of this. I won’t deny this, you, son of a bitch!” After that, passing by Mina, SolHi walked out of the restaurant first, slamming the door behind her and behind Mina when this one followed her friend.

Namely the slam of the door made DooSan react, who looked eventually toward the closed door. DooSan didn’t stop staring at the closed door not even when GhiYon told him, „Let’s go too!” He only moved from his place when he decided to run out of the building, intending to catch up with SolHi. Something that didn’t happen eventually because he could only see Mina’s car passing in front of him and SolHi on the passenger’s side. Yet, even if that car passed right in front of DooSan, a few steps only from him, none of the women looked at him.

Months later, DooSan found out that SolHi entered the Police Academy. News that convinced him that it was time for a change. Something he did in the end: he gave up his studies at the Marketing and Business Administration University where he was enrolled, opting for a career as a Prosecutor. What made him change his life? SolHi and his desire to defeat her. No matter the consequences…

***

PRESENT. NIGHT.

„Where is she?” Asked DooSan, looking around.

„Who? Detective Ian? She said she'd catch up with us," responded Yu very calmly.

„Why am I not even surprised?! She always does what crosses her mind,” murmured DooSan, reproachfully shaking his head. Then, getting to the corner of the street, they stopped and looked at the entrance to a club. „More than that… Why do I feel we’ve passed through this before?” DooSan hissed through his teeth, seeing the crowd of motorcyclists gathered in front of the club.

„Because we’ve passed through this and we barely escaped with our backs not hurt?” Yu said, grinning. „An experience that still makes me feel itches on my skin, actually.”

„And, because it had been bad enough that time, you’ll run away now? With the tail between legs like two frightened puppies?” SolHi teased them, suddenly appearing between them.

Hearing her commentary, DooSan uncovered his fangs, saying to her, „If you are so sure of yourself, you can go and tell them „Hello, friends!” Yet, instead of a mockery addressed to SolHi, he widened his eyes when he saw her completely changed: makeup, hair, even her vestment was perfect for a Goddess rock. A look that made DooSan jokingly say, „Did you decide to copy them or what?”

„Only to drive you crazy! Yet, as I don’t really have time for this, I’ll simply walk away. Let’s go, Inspector! We don’t have all night long only to spy on them! It’s better to say hello to them, looking into their eyes.”

„I’ll say „pass" to this,” murmured Yu. „Last time I was bold enough to say „hello” to them, it ended badly for me. Actually… I still remember that time…”

„I can’t believe this,” said SolHi, disappointed. „A few puppies only, showing their fangs, and you’re running frightenedly, with your tails between the legs,” SolHi mocked them, imitating the piteous yip of a puppy.

Her mockery made DooSan frown. „Puppies?” He yelled in the end. „Those are pitbull not puppies. Pitbull!” Suddenly, he pulled back the moment SolHi pretended to bite him. Then, taking the pack of cigarettes from Yu’s hand, which the Inspector used to play with, she went toward the crossroad.

„It’ll end ugly for sure,” Yu said, scratching the back of his head. „I feel this already.”

„What I know, not feel, is that she’s a damn psycho. She never listens to anyone and always does only what she wants. That’s why, if we definitely don’t want to die, it is to keep her short. Go after her!” After that, DooSan furiously kicked a stone, making it roll meters away from him on that sidewalk.

***

„A light?” SolHi asked one of the motorcyclists seen in front of the club. She asked this calmly and was willing to make conversation with them. Instead of this or someone to light her cigarette, she heard mockery waves of laughter and saw the men present there eyeing her or elbowing each other. Then, one of the motorcyclists, tall and chubby enough, stood up off his motto and, approaching her, he said:

„Listen to me carefully, dwarf: get lost! This is not a place for you!” This made SolHi squint at him. Then, she cooked her nose when she heard the noise of the chains the man used as accessories around his waist and wrists. Yet, not this made her attentive, but the earring the man had grabbed from his columella. Seconds after staring at that earring and planning how she could use it in her favor, she felt irritated when she heard him telling her again, „Didn’t you hear what I said, dwarf? Get lost or…”

An awful howling made everybody wince shortly after this. The reason? Well, the „dwarf,” not loving the way he decided to fondle her, kicked him between his legs. Then, not waiting for him to react, she grabbed him by the earring and pulled it toward her. This let him know that playing with her wasn’t a good idea. Moreover, when SolHi used more force to pull that earring and his head toward her, turning him in just seconds into a really good puppy. Only after that, she told him, „If a lady asks you to light her cigarette, idiot, you take your lighter out of your pocket and light her cigarette. If not, what you can get is a bullet in your head, right between the eyes, rat.” And, to support what she said, the barrel of a gun touched the idiot’s temple.

Not a wise decision, in fact, using that gun to threaten the „rat” because, when they saw their comrade in danger, the other motorcyclists stood up right away and started to approach her at a slow pace. This made Yu, who was still waiting for the green light at the traffic light, slap his forehead and mumbled, „Damn, I said that this won’t end well, but nobody ever listens to what I say!”

Nevertheless, Yu’d been even more surprised when he heard one of the motorcyclists saying, „What he told you is not move between someone’s legs, dwarf! Ah, damn, I never loved Chihuahuas, but I always have to deal with one!” After that, he punched, intending to hit her.

Instead of SolHi’s head, he punched his comrade’s jaw the moment she, understanding what could have happened, still holding the earring tightly, pushed her victim toward the new attacker. Her sudden attack was something that they didn’t expect because after punching that one’s face, the motorcyclist that hit lost his balance, and both he and his friend went head over heels. The others, seeing the gun pointing at them, decided that it was wiser to pull a few steps back.

„Uh, it definitely gets worse!” Murmured Yu, seeing what was going on in front of the club. After that, the moment the traffic light turned green, he jerked from his place and crossed the street. Just in time because he'd been able to get next to SolHi before the other motorcyclists could regroup and decide to pounce on her.

A bullet shot into the ground by Yu made everybody jump to the side at first, then stop. After that, with pumped eyes, they stared at Yu, who kept threatening them with the gun. And that dude didn’t look friendly at all. He looked more like a pitbull escaped from the ring, ready to break everybody into pieces. Even SolHi looked amazed by the Inspector's behavior because, after that bullet shot, which made her heart stop for a few seconds, she started to blink quickly, staring at Yu. Yet, what surprised her more, in a pleasant way, was to realize that Yu used that gun to protect her.

Seconds later after that gunshot, she’d been even more surprised listening to Inspector’s words, „Next time, idiots, when you have the brilliant idea of calling someone Chihuahua, ask her first if she’s not from the police. If you don’t ask this, you can have a big surprise because our Chihuahua is a damn dangerous one! And now… move your asses and get in the club before I shoot another bullet, this time in your dry heads! Now!”

Hearing him saying this, SolHi expected everything from the motorcyclists, but not to see them submissive. Yet, it happened because, shortly after Yu finished his speech, they started to walk toward the club. It wasn’t clear who scared them that badly… the police Chihuahua or the mad pitbull with the gun in his hand. And… honestly, it didn’t matter too much while SolHi and Yu got what they wanted… to enter that club.