“And we’re going to my house.”
Dayun heard Insoo say.
“What?-”
“Then, what were you thinking? Stay at the same place after what happened yesterday? You are unbelievable.” Insoo told her bewildered. “You want it or not, you’re staying with me for the time being. Till you find some other safe place to stay. How would Iseul be safe there? Do you know how anxious I was when I saw you all covered in blood last night? When I got Iseul’s call, I was worried that I might be late, and I really thought I was when I saw you like that. I-”
His words broke as he couldn’t speak further. He looked to the other side, taking a gulp. After a few moments he continued,
“Look, I cannot let you stay at an unsafe place after I saw how dangerous it is with my own eyes. Because I don’t wanna feel guilty and deal with your ghost. So, don’t argue with me.” He spoke as if that was the most valid reason anyone would ever have.
“No. I wasn’t going to argue.”
“Dayun, why don’t you understand-………………… What?” Insoo was about to argue but was surprised when her words sunk in.
“Yes. I may be slow but I’m not dumb. They know my location now. They’d find me quickly even if I move to some other place because they’d be closely watching the places where I can go. And I can’t take such a risk when it comes to the safety of my daughter.” Dayun spoke caressing Iseul’s hair.
“I could stay at Jae-mi’s but her house is not very far from mine. I’d drag her into trouble too. And…… The only other person I can trust right now is you. Plus, your place is the safest since it’s in the outskirts. So, this help of yours, I’m extremely in need of it.” She carefully spoke her words. She never asks anyone for help. She never liked that. But at this point, she needed his help the most.
And he was more than willing to provide it.
“Hmm…” Insoo agreed as he slowly nodded.
…
“But… Can I ask you something?” She couldn’t resist but ask.
“Go ahead.”
“Why would you help me? Why would you care? I mean, there’s nothing in it for you.” She asked nervously scratching her elbow.
After looking at her for a long moment, “Hmm.............. Well, because………….. I’m generous?” Insoo joked but looking at her serious expression he changed his too as he slowly turned his face to look through the window at the day sky and began to tell her something which was news for her.
“I don’t actually know the reason. But uhm- I guess… Maybe because, you remind me of my mother.”
“Your mother?” Dayun’s eyes grew curious as the graduation picture of Insoo that she saw on his table the other day came to her mind. She only saw him and his father in it. And she had been wondering about his mother ever since.
“Yeah, she died when I was 9, due to complications she got when I was born. Ever since she gave birth to me, she was bed-ridden. We barely kept her alive till she died 9 years later. And… She was a young mother too, just like you, at 17.” Insoo said with not much expression in his eyes but there still was a tiny tint of pain and guilt buried beneath which Dayun noticed.
Seeing Dayun grow sad listening to him, he quickly got out of the topic. “But… It’s not the only reason..." He spoke.
"You’re my secretary Dayun, you’re important to me. You’ve worked for me for four months which may not be a long period but it is long enough for me to help you not only because I want to but also because I have to. And this is about Iseul’s safety. I care about her. After all, she calls me dada, doesn’t she? How can I not worry about her?................. What do you say, little one?”
He said and couldn’t resist but pinch the six-year-old’s chubby and soft cheeks who smiled her innocent smile having no idea on what they were talking moments ago, for the words they spoke weren’t something her baby brain knew of.
~
~
Dayun’s POV,
Considering everything… Staying at Insoo’s for the time being is the best thing to do now and I’m grateful that he’s willing to help me.
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“I won’t be a burden for you. And I promise I’ll move out as soon as I’m sure that they aren’t tailing me anymore.” It was the first thing I told Insoo, after reaching his house. He was entering his password onto the dial – 141118, The day MoonTalks was formed. Only I being his secretary know his password as there could be times when I’d have to take certain documents from his house in his absence.
And yes… It’s been only four years since our company was formed. But look where it is now. One of biggest mobile phone company in the country. And of course to go to such heights from bottom is next to impossible. It’d have been a journey on roses without petals with hella hard-work that no-one but Moon Insoo would know.
Insoo started to talk after sighing.
“Dayun………… You won’t be a burden on me. Trust me, it’d be harder for me if you stay somewhere else and something happened to you or Iseul again. I’d feel badly guilty of letting that happen.” Insoo spoke entering his house while I and Iseul followed him behind. And he continued,
“Consider this whatever you want, a boss’s duty or better…………. a friend’s duty.”
He said turning his head to look at me.
A friend?
After everything we’ve done together, I guess it’s safe to say we’re friends………… Right?
Is it not?
Still…
“But don’t you have any other place where we could stay for the time being. Me staying here could endanger your life too. You should consider that. Don’t people like you have houses here and there?”
“No. I don’t and you’re offending me by thinking that I’d be afraid of some good for nothing thugs………………… Do you hate me that much to get this reluctant on staying here with me?”
“Noo… It’s the other way around. I’m afraid, I’d cause you inconvenience.”
“To which I told you hundreds if not thousands of times that I’m okay with you staying here. I have extra rooms that I’d probably never use. So, you won’t bother me at all. If something causes me inconvenience, it is you making me say the same thing over and over again.”
He said massaging his head. As he further added,
“And you won’t have any second thoughts when you hear what the police told me.”
“What did they say?” I asked curiousity and anxiety filling me.
“They escaped.” He spoke cautiously.
“The men who attacked you escaped. Your ‘sweet heart of a husband’ must have rescued them. And the police could do literally nothing about it…”
What?
I was shocked to hear that. I knew Hee-sung would rescue his men, but I didn’t expect them to escape this fast. Which could only mean how strong they’ve grown over the years. They’ve grown stronger. Much much stronger. That even the police fears them.
~
With that, I just shut my mouth and went to the room that Insoo told me I could use. Like he said, there’s no point in thinking anything else now.
He also told me to take a bath first as I reeked of medicines and I definitely did, so, I threw all the thoughts out of my mind and headed to take a long shower in my room.
Iseul wouldn’t stay with me. She wants to stay in a separate room that her ‘dada’ set up just for her with a Disney princess stickered bed and night lamp. She even hung up a sign that says ‘Iseul’s room. Do not enter.’
She’s unbelievable! She never sleeps without me. But now-
Sighs
But… When did he even have time for all that?
~
~
At Hyun Hee-sung’s
“WHAT?!” Hee-sung shouted breaking all the things in the room making the spectators tremble in fear.
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?” He asked them. “How can two skilled and trained men get beaten up so easily? Let alone by my wife? She doesn’t even know how to hold a knife!”
“No- No sir. She must have been trained. She was really good.” Jo-hwa’s words further made his mood bad.
“Still… You were two armed fu***ng men!” He shouted his lungs out and added “And… You lost track on her too.”
“She was not alone sir. There was a man with her.” The other man who attacked Dayun whose name was Lim Yu-sik spoke. “He must be the same man who was with her in the grocery store the other day. But we couldn’t see his face.”
…
As Hee-sung listened him speak those words, his anger was further fueled and he expressed it by breaking a glass with his bare-hands, getting hurt in the process. Blood ran down his hands, dripping onto the table as his grip on the broken glass tightened. His eyes were the same color as his blood, filled with nothing but anger.
His men couldn’t decide between helping him and staying away from him as they watched the scene in horror. After a few seconds, still holding onto the broken glass he slowly spoke, “Trusting you is pointless………… Just do as I say.”
And they were quickly on their feet listening.
“Collect the information about every single school kid in Seoul that is around the age of 6. If you find something strange, inform me. Also, search for information from all the places we found that she has lived in. And do it quick!”
As soon as he said that, his men were quick to follow his orders.
~
~
Back at Insoo’s place,
Dayun’s POV,
After taking a shower which wasn’t easy as my right thigh was injured, I came out to unpack my things. Apparently, Insoo had already packed all my necessary things from my apartment with Iseul’s help and brought them with him when he came to the hospital. So, when he told me to come with him, it was pre-decided… It’s always his way or the high-way, isn’t? But this time, his way is the most reasonable.
…
With my right thigh injured, it is kinda hard to do all the simple chores. But I guess I’d live it through. After all, this isn’t the first time that someone has stabbed me. Last time someone stabbed me, I almost died. Comparatively, this is less severe and the doctor told me, I’d heal within a weak which is the only good news I got today.
After doing all my works, I put on some comfortable clothes and headed towards the kitchen thinking of cooking something. I was very hungry from everything that happened that day and Iseul must be hungry too. Insoo as well.
I entered the kitchen, thinking on which dish I shall cook tonight and if Insoo would like my cooking.
…
But…
Damn-
I wasn’t prepared for the sight... At all…
…
Insoo stood there cutting vegetables. Yes, he was just cutting some vegetables. But with his slightly wet and messy hair from shower, I must say, he looked ethereal.
How this man looks this ethereal just by wearing something simple and not doing anything out of ordinary is mind-blowing.
He was just wearing an over-sized plain dark green sweat shirt with comfortable pants and rolled up sleeves. But that didn't stop him from looking handsome.
He seemed to be fully focused on cooking. Insoo… Whatever he does, he’s always focused. Be it work, be it cooking.
Looking at him like that in his casual clothes and doing simple chores is definitely going to take a long time for me to get used to… If he looked great in suit, he looks 10 times better in his casual clothes.
Aahrg… I’m starting to get an head ache from the way my heart acts around him. As close I get to him, as much he occupies space on my mind. I’ve been working for him for over four months and I always knew he was handsome, but never has it affected me the way it is doing now.
And living with him under the same roof won’t be helping me in any freaking way.
Again, I’m getting second thoughts on moving here now, because, I’m afraid I can’t trust my heart.
And he’s making it even harder for me looking like that.
…
Dayun… What the hell- He’s your boss for God’s sake, you can’t think about him this way! When someone helps you, you’re bound to feel grateful. Only grateful. Why the hell must you get these inappropriate thoughts?
Darn, this is driving me crazy. Really.
While he stabbed my leg, he must have hit my head too. Girlll, do you even remember why you're here-
Sighs
…
No one has ever stirred up my mind like this. Then, Moon Insoo, why must you give me such a hard time?
…
I seriously need mental help.
…
…
“Why are you giving yourself a hard time by standing there?”
Insoo’s words made me snap out of my thoughts,
“Pull out a seat, sit, relax and stare at me all you want. I won't mind.” Only to catch me off guard.
To be continued…