The moment DooSan pressed on her injured shoulder to stick the band-aid used for pain, SolHi screamed blue murder and glared at him, hissing through her teeth, „Carefully with that shoulder, dude! It hurts! In case you forgot, I’m a human being and not a stone you are taking care of right now.” And, to be left alone, she tried to intimidate him by showing him her fangs. Yet, surprise: used to her way of doing the things, DooSan grabbed her shoulder even more tightly than he did by then, forcing her to stay in place and let him do his job. Doing this, DooSan paid no attention to her grimaces that imitated a mad Pitbull.

Then, to show her who the boss between them two was, DooSan slapped over that band-aid to ensure it was well-stuck and told her, „Yeah, sure: it hurts now. Yet, when you intended to climb on the roof and follow that guy again, you didn’t think about this. However, you are snapping at me now and complaining that it hurts.”

„That one was an exceptional case. This… is the reality,” mumbled SolHi, not eager to give up in front of him. Yet, even if she wanted to run away and not listen to him complaining that she hadn’t been a good girl, SolHi stood quietly. She did that because she was sure that if she hadn’t done this, she would have been forced to hear him telling her all day long and forever that he was nobody for her and that she also didn’t respect him.

Hearing her talking like that, DooSan deeply breathed in, trying not to tell her something „nice” about her behavior. After that, he looked at the small park, in front of which they were sitting on a wooden bench. Looking at the park and seeing nobody there, DooSan decided it was time to let her breathe normally. That’s why, he pulled a little further from her, letting her understand that her nightmare next to him was over. Feeling this, SolHi breathed a sigh of relief, suddenly putting the jacket on because she wore only the T-shirt while DooSan stuck that band-aid on her shoulder. While he did that, she felt somehow naked in front of him and this happened because of the story with the towel from the morning.

While putting on the jacket, SolHi felt that her shoulder was hurting her like hell. Yet, even though it hurt her a lot, SolHi didn’t moan. She only gnashed her teeth. She did that also because she didn’t want to give DooSan a chance to say that she was complaining for nothing. More than that, she was aware that if she had complained that it hurt like hell only because she put one jacket on, he would have sent her to the hospital for sure, something SolHi hated more than the pain - the hospitals. Thus, as she wanted to stay as far as possible from them, she did everything not to get to see the doctor. However, she got to see him more often lately, something that she started to hate.

„Is it better now?” She heard DooSan’s voice, which made her wince. Thus, finally understanding the meaning of his question, she looked at him, forcing a smile.

„Yes, it’s better,” she murmured, taking the bottle of water and the pills from his hand. „And… I was just thinking about that individual, whom I think we lost. Why? Our colleagues aren’t back yet.”

„Maybe, but… we couldn’t do anything to impede it.”

„If I had followed him on the roof, we would have had a chance to grab him. Yet, as this didn’t happen…” SolHi stubbornly hissed through her teeth, trying to let him know that she had been right and he’d been wrong in making that decision.

Her remark made DooSan squint at her. After that, he murmured, somehow furiously. „If you had been capable of doing that, you would have done this. Yet, as you couldn’t even put your jacket on without gnashing your teeth because of pain, you wouldn’t have gotten too far even if you had climbed on that roof. Why? Because you wouldn’t have been able to catch him with one hand only.”

Feeling attacked by him, SolHi glared at him and yelled, „You should have climbed on that roof in my place then. Yet… how should you do this when you are dressed like that: like a penguin with a tie, who barely moves on the ice?”

„Are you looking for a fight or what?”

„I? When exactly?” SolHi asked in an innocent tone. „I was just mentioning the things that could have helped us to succeed in this chase. More than that, if you took it personally… it’s not my fault, Prosecutor Han… you are the penguin with a tie and not me.”

„Your irony is something I hate already,” the man hissed through his teeth. SolHi only shrugged. „More than that, for your information, this is called uniform and not the „suit of the penguin” as you have called it. And, also for your general information, not all the „penguins” have your luck: to wear normal clothing or… to walk without them on the street.” His commentary touched the target, making SolHi throw the water bottle into his lap, after she finished drinking from it.

„I at least caught the bastard I was chasing that day even… naked while others… hadn’t been capable of doing this, not even wearing clothes.”

„If by „catching the bastard” you mean chasing Chan Choli that day almost naked, then… yes, this is a case everybody knows already. Even those who work for the Prosecution know that. Because of this, some of those who work for the Prosecution have asked me when I organize such a fashion show with you as the main model.” Seeing SolHi’s sparkling eyes, because of anger, he decided that it was wiser to change the subject and said, „Yet, don’t worry: I have told them already not to wait for such a show because…”

To his great surprise, SolHi smiled. Then, he widely opened his eyes when he heard her saying, „Why should we leave them waiting? We can start from here.” After that, she started to take the jacket off. This made DooSan jump to his feet and approach her. Then, looking around, afraid that someone could have seen them, he zipped her jacket up to the chin, furiously staring into her eyes when he said:

„Try to organize such a fashion show while you are working under my jurisdiction and I swear I’ll organize something better at home while we are alone. So: it’s up to you what you decide about this!”

Hearing him talking like that, SolHi pumped her eyes and hiccupped. This took DooSan by surprise and made him insistently look at her. After that, he smiled and pulled a little back, saying to her, „This means my warning was heard. Glad for you! And… for me, of course, because… it means you can be obedient when you want. Especially… you can listen to my orders!”

It was DooSan’s turn to wince when SolHi yelled at him, „Ia, Han DooSan, do you at least realize what you are saying? How the hell can you say something like this while we are on the street?”

„I’ve learned this from you. And… I assure you that I’m a damn good student when I want. So, if you don’t want others to know about our pact, I suggest you keep your mouth shut because Inspector Yu and Yoon Suk are coming. Or… should I tell them that we live together?”

„As though they don’t know already,” SolHi hissed through her teeth, making DooSan squint at her. „Don’t play the fool, okay?! I know you have told sombe Kan about your new home address.”

„I?”

„Yeah, you! Or what, will you deny this now?”

„Of course, I will deny this because… I haven’t told him anything. Rather… you have told him about this to have a reason to blackmail me now.”

„Is it my fault now?” SolHi shouted furiously, standing up and taking a step in front. Then, face to face, they looked at each other like two mad dogs about stubbing their fangs into each other’s fur.

Seeing them on the warpath, Yu and Yoon Suk exchanged glances. Then, the inspector asked, „Did we interrupt a dog fight or something?”

„Hell no,” DooSan nervously hissed through his teeth, stepping back. „I was just ripping off a cat’s fur for daring to fight with someone although he was stronger than her.”

„And now it’s my fault that I haven’t just stood and blown with the wind while that one escaped, right?”

„Right! Or… will you keep saying that I’m wrong about this? It was obvious that he was better trained than you. I think everybody thinks this now after we saw how he escalated that wall using the pipe. Yet, like a stubborn donkey, you wanted to follow him although you were barely standing.”

„I would have at least delayed him to escape until the reinforcement had come. Not doing this, we lost him. Or… am I wrong now, Inspector, and we have him?”

„No, you aren’t! We lost him at the crossroads.”

„Do you see?” She snapped at DooSan again. „I was right. Following him from above…”

„…you would have cracked your neck too and not only the shoulder if you had fallen off the roof again. Why? Because that individual… is a monkey, unlike you. He has abilities you don’t have. Or… am I wrong now too?”

„No, you aren’t wrong. That’s why…,” she told DooSan, approaching him more and hissing through her teeth once she was right before him, „…you should be careful tonight. Who knows?! You might not wake up in the morning.”

„You won’t have that courage.”

„Do you think so?”

„Yeah, I think so. Why? Because… others know about my new home already. Thus, if something happens to me, they know who my butcher is. And, as you don’t like to be in the spotlight, you’ll also be a good girl because… baby, you have your hands tied. Now… Oh Yoon Suk, take her away from me until I haven’t asphyxiated her and not only injured her shoulder! I prohibit her from returning to the office until a doctor sees her. If not, if I see any of you in the office and a doctor hasn’t seen her, I assure you that you’ll be tied to each other by a cast forever!” After that, suddenly turning his back to them, DooSan headed toward his car, which was parked not that far from that place.

„What’s wrong with him?” Yoon Suk asked, confused.

„Nothing out of the ordinary,” SolHi growled. „He’s just imitating a mad woman, who is going through menopause. And, as I don’t want to have to do with his nervousness for my entire life, let’s see the famous doctor. Otherwise, I’ll kill him for sure.” After that, she headed in the opposite direction, followed by Yoon Suk, at Yu’s spurring.

Eventually, inspector Yu headed toward DooSan, who was waiting for him next to the car. And, while heading to the car, he wondered, confused, „Did the problems start in Paradise already? It seems so. Something that hints to me that none of them sees the old ages if they remain together.”

***

„What was that? Between you and Han DooSan!” Yoon Suk asked SolHi while they were heading toward the bus station.

„About what?” SolHi asked, confused. „If you are talking about the „growling,” I assure you that’s nothing new.”

„I was talking about „You might not wake up in the morning.” Don’t tell me you two are living together now.”

„Sombe Kan told you that?”

„No, Inspector Yu.”

„Where does he know this from?”

„I think you should ask him this question. Or… be more careful next time you step out of someone’s vehicle in the parking lot and… what you say! Why? Because the parking lots are having ears recently.”

„They saw us then. When we came to work in the morning. And… I can’t believe they have dared to tell others about this too.”

„Sombe, I’m not a simple „another person.” I’m your partner, in case you have forgotten this.”

„Yes, yes, sorry. I also assure you that I haven’t forgotten about this. Just… this isn’t something I want to talk about.”

„Why? Because this isn’t related to your feelings?”

„No.”

„Then?”

„Let’s just say that… living together… I’m paying back old debts. Which ones? Don’t ask because I won’t answer this question.”

„Even so, you are the one who suffers. And… I don’t know why I also feel that you would have liked to have feelings for him and not debts in front of Han DooSan.”

Such words made SolHi stop. Then, carefully looking at him, she asked, „Yoon Suk, what do you think: why can two enemies live together?”

„Because of the feelings they have for each other?”

„Of course not! This happens because they are trying hard not to forget the hatred. The same happens to me and Han DooSan while we live together: he tries to get revenge on me while I try not to forget what happened.”

„And, even if you know about the revenge, you accept him to live with you. Why?”

„Because this is the only way I can feel alive, Yoon Suk. If I hadn’t felt this, I would have collapsed a long time ago. And… let’s go or we’ll lose the bus!” Then, turning her back to him, she quickened her pace, rushing to get to the bus station when she saw the bus coming.

***

„It’s hard, isn’t it?” Inspector Yu asked DooSan when he saw him driving silently for a long time. Actually, DooSan didn’t say anything since Yu entered the car. He just turned the engine on, set the GPS, and headed to the Prosecution.

„About what?” DooSan asked eventually, confused.

„To live with a woman,” the inspector calmly responded. This made DooSan stare at Yu for a while, so focused on his companion that he had been about to hit the back of the car in front of them when the traffic light turned red. Seeing this, Inspector Yu jokingly said, „And, before killing us, I think it’ll be a good idea to look in front.”

„What I think that’s a good idea is to tell me how you have found out about me and SolHi before I start asking more questions.”

„Didn’t you start already?” Yu replied in a playful voice. Yet, seeing DooSan’s sour face, he decided that it was better for both of them if he had talked. That’s why, he calmly said, „Nothing personal and nothing in purpose. We just… saw you in the morning when you two came to work. Then… we also heard part of what you talked about.”

„Only part of what we talked about, no! I’m sure you have heard everything! That’s why you two keep whispering to each other, right from the morning… Kan and you. And… I understand now why SolHi has accused me of telling Kan about my new home address. This happened because Kan couldn’t keep his mouth shut and told her that you saw us. Well, he hinted something to her, and she, who has a damn good impression of me, imagined what she wanted.”

„I don’t think that this is the problem now: that SolHi has imagined things.”

„Aaa, no? Then? What’s my problem according to you? Is it because I guess things that you could have had in mind while saying what you said?”

„I like it when you draw some logical conclusions.”

„What I like is to have an answer to my question. That’s why: answer it, Yu!”

„There is not much to say about it anyway. At the same time, I’m not sure what your position or role in this relationship is.”

„Position? Role? What the hell are you talking about, Inspector?”

„I’m talking about Ian SolHi and you! I’m talking about the hatred and the enmity you said you felt for her. Yet, you are still in her house, living with her now. This is what I don’t understand because… as far as I know, you keep your enemies far away from you, Prosecutor Han, and not close.”

„Well, I prefer to keep them close, right in front of my nose. Why? Because I can control them easily this way.”

„Or… they can control you better. Haven’t you think about this?” DooSan looked at Yu, confused. „I’m talking about the decision you have to make related to SolHi. You have to decide who you are for her eventually: her friend or enemy.”

„Isn’t this clear already? I’m her enemy. We both know this. Very well, by the way!”

Yu smiled again. „Are you sure about this?”

„About what?”

„That she’s a simple enemy for you. Honestly, I didn’t see this when SolHi fought with that guy. For an enemy, you were ready to shoot… not to kill her, but to protect her: with a gun that wasn’t yours. You disarmed me, Prosecutor Han when we had an enemy before us. A good Prosecutor and police officer never does this. You know it, right?”

„Yeah, I know it. And I did that because… she’s also a colleague! I would have done this for all my team members if they had been in danger,” DooSan stuttered.

„And do you think I would have let her die?” DooSan squinted at him. „I think the same as you, Prosecutor Han: that’s funny to hear such words! That’s why, stop playing until it’s not too late. Otherwise, you can burn yourself in the fire you ignited for her. Both of us and damn badly, in fact!”

DooSan kept silent for a while, looking in front at the line of cars that started to move already. Then, stepping the gas pedal, he followed the line. Not silently, but he said, „I don’t think that’s only a game, what happens between SolHi and me, Inspector. I think it stopped being a simple game a long time ago.”

„Then? What happens between you two now? Love?”

„Honestly, I think we also don’t know this. We’ll find out this though. In time.”

„What if you hurt each other so badly until you find out this? Or worse: one of you ends dead and the other one in prison. Will it be better then?”

„I don’t know, Inspector. None of us knows the answer to this question. Even so, we know that we want to try this.”

„Why? To make sure you’ll have your revenge eventually?”

DooSan smiled this time. „There isn’t any revenge anymore, Inspector Yu. This changed a long time ago. Yet, I still don’t know what I’m still looking for while being next to her.”

„I also don’t know anything, Prosecutor Han! I don’t know what’s your role in this story or what you hope to get while being next to her. What I know is that you are playing a damn dangerous game while being next to her without being sure of the reasons that motivate you to do that. More than that, I think that it’ll be a good idea to move away from her, at least until you realize what you feel for her. It’s your only chance to do things right. Otherwise, playing this blind game, the only thing you’ll manage to do will be to dig each other’s grave or to dig a huge one for both of you to fall into it. If you don’t want this, Prosecutor Han, you should carefully think about your priorities and what you want from her. Something I’m sure you’ll do because you can make the right choices at the right time.” Saying this, Yu kept silent and looked through the window for a long time.

DooSan did the same: he also kept silent and looked through the front window. He did that because… he knew the answer to that question but wasn’t ready to talk with the truth in front of Yu. Yes, DooSan simply couldn’t tell the Inspector that he understood that he had fallen in love with her. He thought that it was unfair to say openly that he started to adore the woman who was considered guilty of his brother’s death although he was so happy having her by his side all the time.

***

Closing his eyes, DooSan allowed the madness of the city to take over him. He fell prey to the noise heard around, to the noisy honks of the cars that were heard down the street, and of the people that were rushing somewhere. Not the same DooSan did: he just stood there and looked around, hurrying nowhere as though he had had all the time in the world only for him.

At least this is what he thought at that moment: that he was far away from the rest of the world and that he was in a place where he could be alone and hear the music of the sea although all around him the infernal noise of the city was heard. „And it’s weird,” DooSan suddenly murmured. „I hear the sea here and it’s for sure because I’ve lost my mind.” After that, opening his eyes, he caught himself smiling while looking at the blind sunset of the springtime that was barely seen in the distance.

DooSan was on the Prosecution building’s roof at that moment. He was alone with his loneliness, something he had looked for by coming there: to be forgotten by everybody, at least for a while. DooSan also didn’t know why he wanted to be alone, but he wanted this with all his heart.

„Do I feel this because I miss you, brother?” He murmured eventually, confused. Even his eyes filled with tears when he whispered these words. After that, when a painful sigh came out of his chest, he felt the reality again, understanding that it was time to chase the numbness out of his bones and return to work because… He still had to do so many things that day before going home. Yet…

„I can’t! I really can’t leave this place. And… damn, what is happening to me today? And not only today but lately too: now I kiss her, then I go to look for her in a damn isolated and faraway village or I save her from an idiot that thinks that he’s a monkey. And, on top of that, I’m sending myself to the scaffold with all that I feel for her, and now more than ever while I’m living in her house.”

This thought of them living together made DooSan feel that he lacked power. Because of this, he finally sat on the cement roof, with his back to the city, supporting his back against the railing and his head with his palms. He sat like this because of the pressure he felt in his chest and because of that headache that suddenly started to bother him. Honestly, he felt weird since they returned from her village, always taking thoughts and being concerned about today and tomorrow. He felt weird because it hadn’t been easy for him to go to her village. DooSan felt so even before going to look for her in that village because he didn’t know what to say to her, how to look into her eyes, or how to explain why he was there. He didn’t know all this because he felt guilty for what happened in front of his building after the night they spent together although it wasn’t his fault either.

The moment he remembered that night, DooSan frowned. „We didn’t spend that night together,” he tried to justify himself in front of his consciousness. „We only… you also know what happened that night! A childish game with… holding hands and… passionate kisses. And… who am I lying to right now?” He kept scolding himself each time he caught himself thinking about that night. Thoughts that made him feel sometimes that his regret and guilt weren’t because they didn’t spend the night together as it should have happened between a woman and man but because of YuSan because…

„…I can’t ignore his suffering,” DooSan caught another thought crossing his mind. „I can’t also not think about her suffering because… I’m sure that she has suffered more than us, YuSan! That’s not a life… what she is living! You can’t live waiting for mercy from others when you don’t have anything to eat… when your mother chases you out of your home when it’s cold, on those nights when a good soul doesn’t allow even a dog to stay outside. Yet, she has lived all this and she hasn’t been loved, something that tells me that it has been really hard for her in the past.”

„This doesn’t justify a crime,” he heard the voice of DooSan, the Punisher, in his head. „Or what, do you think that if you had been in her place and had suffered as much as she said she suffered, you would have killed someone too? I don’t think so because…”

„…she didn’t tell anyone about this,” DooSan stubbornly denied his previous ideas. „She didn’t say that she suffers or that she has suffered. I got to this conclusion alone when I found out her story.”

„Then… you are stupid if you believe this,” the Punisher said again. „She made you think exactly what she wanted you to think about her. Why? Because it’s easier when others feel pity for you. More than that, people stop comparing you with a monster when they think you’ve been a victim too. Something that perfectly works in her case, right?”

„Do you think so?” The Pessimistic asked. „If it’s so, what about the justice that’s at the bottom of the sea and which cannot be found? Because of this, I feel that I won’t ever find out the truth about YuSan’s death or avenge him. I feel that I will always suffer…”

„She also suffers,” the In Love DooSan suddenly said. „That suffering, which I saw there, in that small village by the sea, cannot be a lie. Why? Because it was something natural, something that couldn’t be played even by the most skillful actor. You can play something similar in front of the cameras, but not in real life. At least SolHi isn’t a good actor to play such a scene in front of me. I can see this in her eyes, in the tremor of her hand, which shakes each time she touches something that can be used as a weapon. Yes, I found out that her hand shakes each time she touches a gun, and this happens because she doesn’t remember that night, and all this makes her suffer.”

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Actually, DooSan stopped hating her because of this. He found out about her problem from a former colleague of SolHi, who studied with her at the Police Academy. That one told her that she had been the only one allowed to shoot with the left hand, and it had been decided that after she had anxiety fits during the shooting classes where the teachers forced her to use her right hand for shooting. The same young man told DooSan that her hand was shaking not only when she touched the gun, but also the truncheon or any other kind of weapon used for defense.

Finding out about this, DooSan got to visit an academic, a renowned psychologist, and a good friend of his father. The academic, finding out about the story, told DooSan, „I’ll be honest with you, son: I don’t know what’s behind this story, but I’m sure of one thing.”

„Of one thing? Which one?”

„That she didn’t kill anybody.” The academic’s answer made DooSan confused. Then he squinted at him because it seemed weird to him what the man in front of him said. The psychologist, a man about sixty, seeing DooSan so confused because of what he said, rushed to explain what he meant. „What I tried to say is that even if YuSan died because of her, she didn’t want to kill him. She didn’t intend that.”

This explanation confused DooSan more than helped him understand things. Yet, determined to find out the truth, he asked the academic, „What makes you think this?”

„The tremor of her hand. You said that her right-hand shakes each time she touches a gun, right?”

„True! Yet, this might be because…”

„…she’s playing?”

„This has also been a thought that has crossed my mind.”

„Then, you’ve been wrong in thinking this. Why? Because PTSD (stress posttraumatic) cannot be simulated. Why? Because this is something the patient experiences from the inside, and I assure you that’s so real that you feel it as if something hits the top of your head. This also allows a good professional to understand if it’s real or not. You also feel it. With your heart, something that never fails you. And, maybe I’m wrong in saying this now, but… I think she cannot do a great thing with that hand. I mean the one she thinks she has used to kill YuSan. That’s why, if I’m right and she suffers as I think she suffers, you’ll understand what I’m talking about when you see this right in front of your eyes.”

The academic had been right in saying those words then because, even though DooSan hadn’t understood too much of what he said that day, he convinced himself after this that it was so. DooSan understood this when he started to work with SolHi and saw the tremor of her hand although she often tried to hide it from him. He saw that tremor not only once. Yet, the most obvious time when he noticed that tremor, it happened at SolHi’s house, right before her mother attacked her. And, if SinHa hadn’t attacked SolHi that night, he was sure that he would have found out many truths then.

„Yes, I would have found out a lot that night if her mother hadn’t attacked her. Maybe, if I had asked her about the tremor of her hand, I would have found a new way to solve this case. Yet…”

Yet, all those were only thoughts eventually. And, thinking about all this, night sneaked around him, surrounding him from all over very soon. DooSan didn’t notice it because each time he was anxious or immersed in thoughts, he was completely out of reality. He couldn’t feel differently when the reason for the storm that was tormenting him inside had a simple, but powerful meaning - feelings…

***

It was late when DooSan finally got home. It was past eight already because, after those thoughts that controlled him for about two hours and kept him away from his work, DooSan had to do some extra hours. Yet, he also had to be honest with him: he worked extra because he was trying to stall from getting home early. After all, after the quarrel with SolHi in the park and after he realized that he drove her crazy that day if she dared to threaten him with his life, promising him that he might not wake in the morning, he started to fear returning home.

His fear was childish eventually because he was sure SolHi wasn’t capable of killing him. He started to feel this after they started to work together and got closer to each other. Even so, he decided that it was wiser for him to be cautious because, as he knew her character - explosive and ready for everything when she was mad - she would have kicked him out of the apartment for sure for what happened in the morning and during the day.

Yet… getting home, surprise: the apartment was sunken in darkness and it was suspiciously quiet. This seemed strange to him because he was sure that he got a message from Yoon Suk, who told him that SolHi had gone home after the doctor saw her and that Kan and he went to check a track about Kim Ha Na. Yet, SolHi wasn’t home as she should have been according to that message.

„Should I call her?” DooSan wondered in a whisper when he turned the light on and saw that everything was as he left it in the morning. „Nea, this isn’t a good idea. Not after she had threatened me with killing me in my sleep. Yet, where has she gone if she isn’t here? Yoon Suk said that…”

He winced and pulled back the moment a noise of falling things was heard from the bathroom. „What the hell is this?” He wondered when he recovered from that fright. Then, when he stumbled over SolHi’s shoes, he noticed them and cooked his nose, murmuring, „My cat is home while I, like a blind idiot, saw what I wanted to see: a calm place. Nea, Han DooSan, it seems that you won’t have a quiet night.” After that, on the sly, he approached the bathroom door.

Once next to the door, after he touched the doorknob, DooSan hesitated to open it. „What if she’s naked?” It suddenly crossed his mind. Even so, curious to see what happened in the bathroom and this happened because he finally heard SolHi mumbling something, he decided to take the risk and open that door. Moreover, he decided to do that when he heard a strange noise as though someone was groping through darkness or a snake was snaking on the wet floor.

Hearing that noise, DooSan opened the door carefully and slowly. After that, sticking his head through the door, he looked to the right, at the shower cabin, whose door was open, and no steam was seen coming from inside. Seeing this, DooSan breathed a sigh of relief because if that door was open, it meant that SolHi hadn’t taken a shower and she couldn’t be naked in the bathroom. Yet, it was only a theory. Even so, he pushed the door a little more in front to be able to look at the sink where he heard that the water was flowing from the tap. Looking there, he saw SolHi on her knees, in „three paws,” and groping around while looking for something. He also saw that her right arm was in an arm sling.

Feeling the door opening and the noise next to it, SolHi suddenly looked over there. Yet, „looking” was only for saying because she had her eyes covered by shampoo foam after she tried to wash her hair with only one hand. She failed eventually when the bottle of shampoo slipped from her hand and she was forced to grope for it around her while seeing nothing.

Even so, even if she was seeing nothing at that moment, she still felt DooSan next to the door. Because of this, she suddenly hissed through her teeth, „Will you stay there for long?”

„Why? Do you need help?” DooSan decided to tease her. And, to be more comfortable for him to watch her, he supported himself on the door, folded his arms over his chest, and carefully looked at SolHi, whom he found very interesting and comic with the foam on her face and growling at him like a dog at a cat.

That happy moment had been very short eventually, something that amazed him a lot because he heard SolHi saying in the end, „I’ll say no to your help! Why? Because I don’t want to remain also without my head once I’m without a hand. If I accept your help, you are more than able to send me to the other world only to take revenge.” After that, she started to grope around her again, thinking about finding that shampoo bottle and finishing washing her hair. Yet, no matter how hard she didn’t try to find it, the shampoo bottle wasn’t there.

Seeing her struggling to find that shampoo bottle, DooSan smiled and looked around. He saw that bottle in the corner to his right, too far from SolHi because both the floor and bottle were wet and it slipped like on ice. Because of this, DooSan smiled, understanding that SolHi wouldn’t have ever found that bottle while having her eyes closed. And, still smiling, he said, „At this rate, you finish washing your hair in twenty years for sure.”

„And? Do you have better ideas than mine?” SolHi mumbled, turning her head toward him and frowning although she had her eyes closed, just to show him that he managed to piss her off again.

„Yeah. Asking for help?!”

„Sure! When the pigs fly, I’ll ask you for help! Rather… I wait for the foam to dry and finish washing my hair then.”

Hearing her talking like that, DooSan face-palmed. After that, reproachfully shaking his head, he took his jacket off and left it on the washing machine. Feeling him moving around her made SolHi attentive. Eventually, when DooSan suddenly took her in his arms, she winced and yelled at him when she realized what he was doing, „Ia, Han DooSan, what are you trying to do?”

A „shhh,” which DooSan hissed through his teeth, made her keep her mouth shut and stop struggling with him to put her down. After that, she became attentive again, when DooSan said, „I just try to clear the bathroom and take a shower. Alone. Or… will we do it together?”

„I see nothing anyway,” SolHi whispered, smiling. „I’m a blind mole now, remember?”

DooSan squinted at her. „Even the moles can see things if they want. Because of this, I prefer not to take the risk,” he said. After that, bending, he put her on the floor with her back against the tube and supported her head on the edge of the tube too. Then, he told her not to move and turned the shower on, and, taking the hand shower and making sure that the water wasn’t too hot or cold, he cleaned SolHi’s hair.

Doing this, DooSan finally noticed the foam on SolHi’s left cheek… dozens of small shampoo bubbles that were bursting one by one because of the air. And, even with her eyes closed and with her face stained with white foam, she seemed so beautiful in his eyes. She was as beautiful as he had seen her that day on the beach, playing with Kochiko, or maybe even more beautiful. Feeling this and a strange spurring from inside, DooSan touched her cheek with his wide-open palm as though intending to caress it.

Feeling his touch, SolHi winced, and this brought the man back to his senses. He felt awkward after that touch. And, not to let SolHi understand what he was feeling at that moment, DooSan grabbed the towel and threw it on her face. Then, with a quick but soft movement, he cleaned her face of foam, allowing her to open her eyes and look at him.

Her glance… oh, her intense glance touched his soul at that moment: those black eyes, which looked at him, confused because they had never seen so much care for them, not from close. At that moment, they didn’t only see it from close, but it also had the shape of an enemy, the one she „hated” for so long life, but who appeared in her life at that time to stay forever there. Feeling this… that it was too intense, what they were living at that moment… and that she wanted to kiss him, something that could have crossed his mind too, SolHi smiled and said, „You are good at this though.”

„At what?” DooSan asked, confused. Then, realizing that they were staying too close and that he was just wasting water by cleaning the tub and not her hair, he cleared his throat and continued to wash her hair.

His clumsiness made SolHi smile, although she felt so well with him by her side and spoiling her with that warm water. After that, when she remembered that she didn’t answer his question, she said, „I mean you are good at taking care of a girl. It seems to me you have some experience with this.”

DooSan smiled. „Of course, I’m good at this. At washing the girls’hair, I mean. It’s my evening routine.”

The irony felt in his voice didn’t manage to confuse SolHi. She, squinting at him, asked, „And if we are honest now? Why are you so good at this?”

Understanding her game and that she was just making fun of him by pretending to be confused, DooSan grinned. „What do I know?! Maybe this is a talent I have had since I was born?!” An answer that made both of them burst into laughter. „Nothing special, anyway. I’m doing this every day… washing my hair I mean.” Seeing SolHi thoughtful after such words, he asked, „What now?”

„I was just… thinking about something you told me once. After the fight we had when we were investigating Han So Ra’s case.”

DooSan frowned, thinking that she was teasing him again. After that, when he remembered part of their previous talk, he asked, „Are you talking about the path to hell now?”

„Mmm, you said you would send me there eventually, right?! Yet, what I didn’t know was that… in hell, one gets the full service and even the devil helps you to wash your hair. This makes me wish to buy the Premium service. Who knows what kind of deliveries I will receive after this.” Understanding that she was mocking him, DooSan looked at her with a fit of childish anger. Seeing his sparkling eyes because of that anger, SolHi pulled back, „It was only a joke! Don’t take it too personally, devil that helps the girls to wash their hair.”

„Yeah, yeah, right! I don’t think it is only a joke, but… anyway, I don’t have time to waste with you!” DooSan murmured, frowning, finishing washing her hair and wrapping a towel around her head eventually. After that, gently touching her back, he lifted her from the floor. Both on their feet already, so close and intensely looking at each other with a hidden desire, DooSan turned back to his senses when SolHi suddenly hiccupped. He swallowed hard after this and, suddenly, he kissed her. That stolen kiss made SolHi blush. After that, releasing her while she was often blinking, DooSan jokingly said, „This is what Premium Service includes for the moment. If you want more from the devil, you have to buy the Gold Package.” After that, grinning and slowly bending over her, he whispered, „This is the only way you can have this devil at your service.”

„Ia!” SolHi suddenly yelled, making him grin. „I asked for help not for an escort at home!” DooSan shrugged and stepped toward her, making her take a step back while squinting at him. „What now? Don’t tell me that you intend to activate that package… the Golden one… without me agreeing to do this.”

„What do I know?!” He asked her, weirdly grinning. „I was just…,” he whispered, still heading toward her. Then, suddenly pushing her away from him, he said, „I was just trying to get out of the bathroom. Don’t take it personally! You were just blocking my way!” After that, still smiling, he left the bathroom.

SolHi blushed. „Damn, Ian SolHi! What were you thinking when you said that… Ah, you are an idiot! And, hello, Ian SolHi!” She grinned while waving at herself with her left hand in front of the window. „And… Why are you so preoccupied when, being „invalid” for another week, you can enjoy the Premium Package of Han DooSan for free?!” Then, smiling and dancing, she left the bathroom. She stopped in the bathroom doorway when she saw DooSan supporting himself against the wall and staring at her, something that hinted to her that he listened to everything she said. Even so, she still asked, „What now?”

„Nothing out of the ordinary. I was just… wondering if you are always like this or only on special occasions.”

„Am I… how?” She asked, with a certain innocence in her voice, thinking that he was paying her a compliment.

„Crazy,” DooSan suddenly replied, bringing her back to earth. Then, seeing her about to pounce on him, he decided that it was wiser if he had changed the subject and said, „Forget it! I was just trying to tell you that your „friend,” the one with whom you catapulted from off the roof, in his arms, by the way, is someone who knows very well what Parkour means.” The part with „in his arms,” DooSan even hissed through his teeth, feeling jealousy.

„Parkour? And… you know that because…?”

„Yu SuJin. He „found” the evidence about this. Well, I should say that he „legally” checked the street surveillance cameras. Thus, he saw where Inspector Yu and Oh Yoon Suk lost the guy. And… I assure you that he’s not a usual guy.”

„Actually, this doesn’t even surprise me. Not after, I saw him climbing on the gas pipe to that roof. You also saw him. Yet, what you didn’t see is how he jumped from one roof to another, something that tells me that he’s not a simple Parkour guy. This also makes me think that it’ll be a good idea to investigate this track. And… I know the perfect guy to ask about this.” She said this, strangely grinning, making DooSan look with concern at her.

„What are you planning this time?” DooSan asked, frowning. „More than that… what devil do you bring into our lives now?”

„You’ll see! Very soon, by the way, because… Tizi is for sure another level demon!” Her grin meant only one thing for DooSan: she knew a secret he didn’t know.

***

„Was it absolutely necessary to bring me here? On this path to hell at this late hour?” DooSan mumbled while following SolHi on a narrow street, dark and dirty.

„If I had known that you would complain so much, I wouldn’t have ever taken you with me,” SolHi hissed through her teeth, stopping and glazing at him.

„And lose all the fun? No way!” Then, getting next to her, DooSan smiled, seeing her insistently looking at him. „Just as I would be grateful to you if you tell me where we are heading instead of looking at me with these eyes that are similar to the sparkling ones of the cats.” Hearing a noise somewhere to his left, DooSan winced and looked over there. „What was that?”

„You are who said that this is the way to hell, right?! Well, I think that there might be a soul in pain! Now, follow me!”

„Which way, I asked.”

„To introduce you to the devil. Thus… we’ll buy a lot of time, related to our case, I mean. And, of course, we won’t look for ghosts everywhere.” She stopped eventually when she heard DooSan mumbling:

„What a surprise: a devil looks for another one.” Seeing her insistent look, he asked a little afraid, „What now?”

„Are you looking for a fight?”

„I was talking about her!” He said, pointing with his hand toward a black cat, whose eyes were shining in the darkness and which was heading toward them.

SolHi stared at him, considering him crazy. After that, she told him, „For God’s Sake, it’s only a cat, Han DooSan.”

„Yeah, right! The last time I told myself, „It’s only a cat,” I had scratches on my skin for months.”

„Don’t exaggerate, okay?! It hasn’t been for months, but only weeks. We have been living together only for two weeks, remember?”

„As though something like this can be forgotten,” he murmured. After this, DooSan followed SolHi right away, somehow afraid because of that black cat that was stopped and weirdly staring at him. He did that to tease SolHi more than being afraid. And, once he was next to her, he grabbed her sleeve like any frightened boy, something that made SolHi squint at him. „I’m just trying to make sure I’ll survive. And, once you look pretty sure while being in this place, I prefer to be next to you. I also see that your left hand is okay.”

„Why shouldn’t it have been okay?”

„Because… I knew you were right-handed. For the rest of the things you were doing. Now you do everything with the left hand. Well, I saw this in the bathroom today.”

Not at all satisfied to be questioned by DooSan, she still responded to those remarks that seemed like questions. „Let’s say that I’ve been forced to turn myself into a left-handed person. After… certain events.”

„Events? Do you mean the seven-years ago… events?”

„I see you know a little more than you let on. Yet, you are right. It’s because of what happened then. This has completely changed my life. And, of course, it also made me left-handed.”

„Why?”

To get some courage, SolHi deeply breathed in. She didn’t want to talk about those reasons with Han DooSan, but she seemed not to have a choice other than to do this that night. „Because… I feel my right hand paralyzed when I grab something that can be used as a weapon. I can’t do almost anything with it, by the way.”

„It’s not what I’ve seen in my apartment,” DooSan thoughtfully replied.

„What do you mean?”

„That you opened the bottles of beer and soju with your right hand? It wasn’t shaking, by the way. Or… are you only pretending that it shakes when you aren’t drunk?”

„Don’t talk nonsense, okay?! It’s not like that. I just think that Mina has been right.”

„About?”

„About… my subconscious that controls my mind sometimes and I can do things I have never thought I could do. Like the… kiss!” She suddenly kept silent when she realized that she had talked too much. Yet, it was too late to pretend that she didn’t say that because DooSan suddenly grabbed her hand and made her look at him. Thus, she saw him strangely grinning. „What happened this time?”

„Are you talking about our kiss?”

„Yeah because… I don’t kiss everybody on the street, right?”

„What do I know?! Anyway, I was just asking because… when you kissed me that night, you weren’t drunk.”

„It happened because of fear, okay?! I was just trying to protect us because, thinking that someone saw us there, I listened to my instinct only. And… damn instinct, by the way, which is getting me in trouble.” After that, she turned her back to DooSan and continued walking.

DooSan followed her right away. He was damn curious about why she had said that. „Why damn instinct? Oh, don’t tell me: if you say that it’s because of instinct, then… has your first kiss been with me?”

His trick worked because SolHi suddenly turned toward him, glaring straight into his eyes. „Do you really think that I’ve wasted my first kiss with you?”

„It seemed to be so to me.”

„Hell no!”

„Hell yes! So, tell me: what are you hiding behind that first kiss? A spicy story?” Seeing her grinning, DooSan frowned. „I was right, right?”

„Absolutely. Why? Because… I also know some secrets about our beloved and respected Prosecutor Han, who, being a first-year student at the Finance and Marketing Faculty, seven years ago, was singing in a rock bar dressed like Superman.”

„I see you have done some homework,” DooSan growled.

„Let’s say that I’ve done this to back me up. And… honestly, I have a damn interesting idea about that story. Like… what if a certain journalist, someone like Nam Jin Guk, would receive an envelope with your photos…”

„Try it!” DooSan suddenly hissed through his teeth. „If you want to be a dead body in a mortuary sack. And… it has happened only once, don’t exaggerate. I was drinking with my friends that night and… I did that after I lost a bet… after many hours of drinking.”

„Aaa, I got this now: you are that kind of guy who is funny when he drinks. Something we should try one day because… it seems interesting to me.”

„What exactly?”

„To see what you are generally doing when you are drunk?! Who knows, by doing this, I can get some evidence against you.” Suddenly, she stepped back when she saw DooSan grinning. „What are you planning?”

„I? Nothing out of the ordinary. I just… remembered the night when you got into my apartment, drunk. Well, that night, a lot of things broke when we… you and I… passionately kissed each other. I can only imagine what could have happened then if I was also drunk. Even so, I’m sure of one thing: that we wouldn’t have just slept and held hands that night. That’s why, I think that’s a good idea to try to get drunk together. If you want to see the continuation of that night, of course.” After that, cunningly whistling, DooSan passed by her.

He stopped right away, after a few steps only, taking the same number of steps back after this when he saw himself surrounded by many guys, hippy dressed, and staring at him as though they were ready to break him into pieces. Yet, looking at SolHi, he didn’t see her scared, something that took him by surprise. More than that, DooSan stared with wide-open eyes at her when he saw her greeting those guys as though she had seen some old friends. Because of this, he murmured eventually, „Now I understand why she told me that I might not see the light tomorrow. She intended to kill me here.”

Seeing SolHi and the guys she greeted staring at him, DooSan kept silent eventually. After that, DooSan squinted at that individual when he heard that one asking, „Is he someone you know, Detective Ian?”

„Unfortunately! Where is Scar?”

„At the usual place! He said to see him alone.”

SolHi smiled. „To see him alone and let my pet with you? No way! I haven’t lost my mind yet.” Then, looking at DooSan, who was showing his fangs to her because he understood very well who the „pet” was, SolHi forced a smile. After that, she looked straight into his eyes, letting him know that it was time to look around. Doing this, DooSan saw that all those guys, who were surrounding them at that moment, seemed to be by her side, but not on his side. That’s why he also peacefully grinned, realizing that it wasn’t the right time to pounce on her and teach her some manners. After that, DooSan growled something unpleasant about SolHi again when he heard her saying, „Hey, guys: let my „pet” breathe a little! He needs that!” Then, she pointed with her head toward DooSan, hinting to him that it was time to follow her.

DooSan did that right away because he wasn’t at all eager to remain alone with those guys. Yet, while following her, he carefully looked around, trying to see what they would do after that. He saw them leaving eventually, something that hinted to him that SolHi had some influence on them. That’s why, suddenly approaching her left ear, he told her, „We’ll talk about the „pet” later. Now… tell me, where did you meet such specimens?”

„At the Zoo?” SolHi had the brilliant idea to joke. Yet, seeing his sour face, she said in a serious voice, „We have been at school together.”

„Are you kidding me now? These aren’t older than twenty.”

„I was talking about him and not about them, DooSan. And „him,” is Tizi, the devil you’ve been asking me about ever since we left home.”

Looking in front, where SolHi headed eventually, DooSan saw a young man about thirty, also dressed hippy like the other guys that had greeted them before. Then, DooSan quickened his pace, approaching SolHi, who stopped about 50 meters from the one she called Tizi, who was supporting his back against a wall painted with graffiti - the representation of a skeleton’s head.

„The others also know him as Scar. And not for nothing because… I took care of this.” After that, smiling, SolHi imitated a punch in the beard.

DooSan said nothing after he heard her confession. He only reproachfully shook his head and looked at Scar when he saw that one heading toward them and saying, „I see you brought the leash with you too.”

Tizi’s commentary made DooSan feel nervous. Then, he hissed through his teeth, „What’s your problem with the dogs today, guys? One calls me „leash,” another one „pet.” Would you mind agreeing on which name to call me? Not the other, but this confuses me and I might forget which name I should react to.”

SolHi and Tizi exchanged glances, then smiled. After that, looking at SolHi, who shrugged, Tizi said, „I didn’t know your leash could bite.”

„He cannot only bite but he can also send you behind bars. So, Scar, you should better respect my partner. Yeah, Iun Dja Iun, do that if you don’t want to spur him against you. And I’m not joking when I say this because… at „biting” others, my partner is damn good. Yet, before doing this, tell me where you’ve been lately.”

„Busy?! With some businesses where you shouldn’t poke your nose?! And… you are asking too many questions, dwarf.” After that, Dja Iun tried to tangle her hair. Seeing SolHi about to bite him for real, he smiled and shook her hand eventually, both touching their shoulders after that, telling her in the end, „You still look like a poodle, by the way.”

„If I were you, I would have been careful with calling her like that. Why? Because I’ve seen with my own eyes what happened to the last guy who has called her „Dwarf” and „Chihuahua.” He still lays at the morgue,” DooSan joked.

SolHi grinned at him. „I would be grateful to you if you stop exaggerating.”

„Why? I only told the truth because…” Seeing the other guys approaching them again, DooSan kept silent and felt slightly nervous.

Seeing DooSan so nervous with all those guys around them, SolHi smiled. Then, looking at Iun Dja Iun, she told him, „Let him breathe, okay?! I don’t want him to break the throat of one of you if he pounces on him.”

„If you say so,” Dja Iun said, shrugging. After that, he made a sign to the other guys to move back and asked, „Who is he? Your new partner? He looks older for a hube.”

„And you are right, and he’s not a hube, but the Prosecutor we are working for. So, if you don’t want problems with the law, I suggest you not enrage him.”

„As though I care about,” Dja Iun dryly said. After that, he squinted at DooSan because he didn’t like the guy, although he didn’t know why. Then, he asked SolHi, „Why are you here anyway? I don’t think you come here to introduce us to each other.”

„And you are right again. We are here because… I would like you to tell me more about this guy,” SolHi said, showing Dja Iun a photo of the guy she fought with that day. „Do you know him?”

„I don’t think so,” responded Dja Iun, shaking his head. After that, looking at his friends, he called one of them, a chubby one that looked like a bear and who they were actually calling „The Bear!”

Hearing Dja Iun telling the other guy „The Bear,” DooSan mumbled, „Cats, pets, turkeys, and bears more recently. What can I say? I feel like I’m at the Zoo.” Then, seeing SolHi reproachfully looking at him, DooSan kept silent and took more steps toward her and Dja Iun.

„I see you have some blood in your veins, Prosecutor,” Dja Iun ironically said. „I thought you’d hide behind her all night long.”

DooSan didn’t lose his temper that time but said, „Do you think I was standing there because of fear? Of course not! I was just giving her time to say hello to old friends… from the Zoo!” Although DooSan said this to show Dja Iun that he wasn’t afraid of them, Dja Iun still felt the jealousy in DooSan’s voice.

Because of this, he suddenly looked at SolHi. Yet, understanding that she wasn’t aware of DooSan’s feelings, Dja Iun decided not to tell her about this. He only smiled and said, „Anyway, as long as you are with Grunny, nothing bad can happen to you here.” Then, he entangled SolHi’s hair.

„Are you looking for problems?” SolHi hissed through her teeth, furious. „Call me once again „poodle” or „Grunny” and I assure you that your friends will find out for sure the real story behind your scar.” After that, SolHi showed him her fist.

Dja Iun cunningly smiled. „Sweet like always. And… hei, Bear, do you know this guy?”

The one called „The Bear” took SolHi’s phone in his hand and stared at the photo seen on the screen for a while. After that, he said, „This is Plank! From Parkour!”

„Plank? The one who had the accident with the motorcycle the last year?” Dja Iun asked.

„Yeah, it’s him! I remember his face very well because he’s been about to lose his head because of the debts he had. He owed something to me too. Even so, he had been able to pay back for everything in a record time.”

„What do you mean by… in record time?” SolHi asked.

„What I’m more interested in is… how much did he owe?” DooSan asked.

„About fifty thousand.”

„Won?” DooSan joked.

„Dollars, dude. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have risked that much. As I said, he paid back everything he owed in a single night.”

„Did he win at the lotto or something?” DooSan ironically asked.

„I don’t think so. Just as I don’t think that anybody cared about where he took that money. The important thing here is that he paid back his debts and his girlfriend wasn’t given in exchange for this,” the Bear replied.

„In exchange? Prostitution?” SolHi asked.

Dja Iun nodded. „No, SolHi! In this world, if the boyfriend has debts and cannot pay them, the girlfriend pays for them. How? She spends the night with each guy her boyfriend owes something. And it’s nothing sweet to do that, I assure you because… there is hell and many of those who are exchanged for debts never return from that hell alive. Not that they would have lived after that if they had returned from that place because… hell is here where we live and not somewhere else, SolHi.”

Iun Dja Iun’s way of outlining the words, especially the last part of what he said, made SolHi stagger. She felt that the world was collapsing around her at that moment. Even so, she tried not to let DooSan and Dja Iun know about her feelings, just as she didn’t want to admit that the hell she passed through seven years ago marked her more than she thought, especially what marked her so strongly was the rape. That’s why, hearing about the girls who were forced to become prostitutes to pay for their boyfriends’debts, it made her feel powerless and so dirty. She also felt that she lacked air while a single thought was spinning in her mind, „This world is hell for sure. Why do we fear another one then?”