Jungkook
I stepped on the gas of my bike as I made my way to where I knew Misun could be. I knew she had a special place she liked to go when she was upset or angry. It was like her own safe space where she could just let it out – whether it was needing to cry or just stay in silence.
I had learned that much about her in these past six months, just like I had learned other things. I had learned she faced a lot of criticism and sexist remarks because she was just so good at her work. There were a lot of people who underestimated her or disregarded her for being a female.
I knew her start as a cop was not easy and she always told me some cases left her awake at night. I found myself wondering if this one had made her think of one from her past.
I parked the bike and took off my helmet. I looked on and saw her figure on the sand as she looked on towards the sea. I smiled, feeling relieved that she was safe. I took a deep breath and took off my shoes, not wanting to get them full of sand.
I walked quietly but she still heard me as she turned around quickly. It wasn’t a surprise considering how constantly aware of her surrounding she seemed to be.
‘Kooks? What are you doing here?’ she asked, clearly surprised. I smiled as I sat down next to her and put the shoes next to me.
‘I could ask you the same thing princess,’ I said but she shrugged. ‘I…um,’ I began as I rubbed the back of my neck with my hand. ‘I was waiting for you so when Yoongi-hyung and Jin-hyung arrived without you, I got worried,’ I admitted.
‘Hmm, I see. I’m fine though,’ she said with another shrug as she turned to look at the sea. I scooted closer and poked her arm, forcing her to look at me. ‘What?’ she asked.
‘Are you sure?’ I asked while she raised her eyebrow. ‘Yoongi hyung said you looked upset and I can tell you are. So, tell me what’s wrong,’ I said.
‘It’s nothing. It’s just, this case, it brought some horrible memories,’ she said and I nodded. ‘Are you sure you want to listen?’ she asked.
‘I’m always ready to listen to you princess,’ I said. She smiled and nodded as she turned slightly and handed me a bottle of beer.
‘Have you been drinking?’ I asked her but she shrugged. ‘Princess, it’s not safe to be on your own, much less when you’re drinking,’ I said.
‘Relax Jungkook. I just took one beer. I hadn’t touched the others. Now I can share with you,’ she said.
‘Okay,’ I said as I took the bottle. I popped off the cap and took a sip. It was still quite cold. ‘So, go on, tell me,’ I encouraged her.
‘Back when I was a rookie, the team was investigating an important case. I…I wasn’t one of the favourites, but my captain, he saw my potential, I guess. He gave me every opportunity he could, so he put me on the case,’ she explained.
‘Hmm of course he did. What was the case about?’ I asked.
‘A missing boy, around the age of Dylan. We…we didn’t have much to go on. We just knew he disappeared in just a few seconds. We searched and asked and searched some more but days were passing quickly. I…somehow I found a lead but...’ she paused as she shook her head. Her eyes were glazed over with tears, indicating she was truly upset. I reached for her hand and squeezed it.
‘Um…I found a lead but it was too late. We had found his body, dead in the forest. He…the child, he had been, he…he was sexually assaulted Jungkook. We were dealing with a kidnapping pedophile,’ she said.
‘Good God almighty, that’s sick,’ I said, truly feeling as if I was about to be sick. I squeezed her hand even more and I could feel her returning the squeeze, almost as if she was trying to ground herself. ‘Tell me you caught him,’ I said, unable to help myself. The thought he was still out there made me feel a certain rage.
‘I did not stop. I couldn’t. I spent days and nights working on it, especially when another child disappeared. I.. I had managed to break the case and we found him before he could kill that other child,’ she explained.
‘Thank God and thank goodness the captain had put you on that team,’ I said but she shook her head. I could imagine what she was thinking and although I knew she wasn’t right, I could understand her feelings.
‘I remember everyone congratulating me on the case. I was a rookie who had managed to solve a huge case. I got everyone’s respect at the precinct but… but I didn’t feel I had anything to celebrate. I hadn’t saved that boy,’ she said as he tears fell.
‘Misun, princess, no,’ I said as I pulled her closer to me. ‘It wasn’t your fault and you did everything you could,’ I said as I cupped her face with my hands. ‘You were just a rookie and yes, you didn’t save that boy but you saved many, many others because we both know that a pig like that would have kept going,’ I said as I wiped her tears with my thumbs.
‘I know Jungkook but it still hurts. It hurts so much and when I saw Dylan reuniting with his mother, I kept thinking of that mother who never had a chance to reunite with her son. I remembered how I had to tell her that her precious little boy had been kidnapped, abused, defiled and then murdered,’ she said as she sobbed.
‘Ohh Misun-ah,’ I said as I pulled her completely in my arms. I hugged her tightly, wishing I could take away her pain. ‘I know it hurts, I know princess,’ I said as I kissed the top of her head.
‘Why are there so many cruel people in the world Kooks? I understand crimes of passion, I don’t justify them but I understand them but this – these things don’t make sense to me,’ she said.
‘I know, they’re horrible and despicable and unfortunately, we cannot win them all,’ I said as she looked at me.
‘It’s not fair,’ she mumbled quietly, still upset. I nodded as I sighed.
‘I know and I know it’s a hard pill to swallow. I know we want to save the world but sometimes, sometimes we just cannot get it all done. Sometimes, they’ll have a win but it’s our responsibility to not give up and keep going,’ I said and she nodded.
‘Yeah, you’re right. We cannot ever give up. We cannot let the monsters roam free,’ she said as she yawned.
‘You’re tired. Let’s get you home,’ I said, but she shook her head. ‘No?’ I asked.
‘Not yet. I want to stay here for a bit,’ she said and I nodded.
‘Okay, then we’ll stay right here,’ I said as she smiled. She kept staring at me and I felt my cheeks redden. ‘What? Why are you looking at me like that?’ I asked.
‘Nothing. I just…I appreciate you a lot Jungkook. I appreciate how much you’re always there for me,’ she said and I smiled.
‘I promised you, I will always, always have your back,’ I said.
‘You know, I always thought I would rather work on my own. I was scared to trust in others but I’m glad I found this team and you,’ she said and I smiled.
‘I know the feeling. After I lost my partner, I, was shutting everyone out but this team, this family, it opened up my heart again and I wouldn’t trade it for the world,’ I said.
‘Yeah me too. We’re more than a team. We’re a family,’ I said and she smiled.
‘Yeah, that’s true. You know, when I saw Dylan with his mother, it reminded me of my own parents,’ she said. I sighed, knowing she missed her own parents. She had lost them too young. ‘It felt sort of bittersweet. It made me miss my own parents,’ she said.
‘Yeah. Honestly, it makes me feel somewhat ashamed. I mean, my parents and my brother, they’re alive but I don’t visit often,’ I said, biting on my own lower lip.
‘Don’t waste time Jungkook. Visit them often, spend time with them. They’re precious moments,’ she said and I nodded.
‘I will. You know, Eomma wants to see you again. She really took a liking to you,’ I said with a smile.
‘She’s a very sweet woman. Very lively too,’ she said with a smile of her own.
‘Did I ever tell you it was Eomma who made the first move on Appa because Appa was really shy?’ I asked and she shook her head.
‘Really? Wah your Eomma is so cool,’ she said, causing me to chuckle.
‘She really is,’ I said. ‘She said that Appa was really handsome too so she did not want to risk any other girl stealing her man away so she asked him out herself,’ I explained.
‘Eomma and Appa met in medical school but they were sort of rivals at first. They were also involved in a lot of things in their university making them quite popular. Other students actually shipped them together, even though they gave the impression they hated each other,’ she said laughing.
‘Wah that’s like a story from a rom com or something. So how did they end up together?’ I asked.
‘Eomma was quite pretty. During a school event or game, I’m not sure, I don’t remember but there was something important, some random boy from the sports team came and started bothering my Eomma. Appa saw everything and he came and pushed him away. The other guy didn’t learn his lesson though because he got up to hit my Appa but Appa was really great at jujitsu so he knocked him out and then Eomma and him started getting close,’ she explained.
‘I know I just said it, but it really sounds like a story from one of those movies,’ I said and she nodded.
‘They loved each other a lot. They did everything together. They were really busy, but they always had time for one another. In a way, I’m glad they both died together because honestly, I don’t think either of them would have survived without the other,’ she said.
I hummed in response because I knew it was hard for her to say that. We stayed silent as we continued to watch the waves rolling by on the sand. She took a deep breath as she closed her eyes and rested her head on my shoulder.
‘This is so peaceful and tranquil,’ she said and I nodded.
‘It really is,’ I said as I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and brought her closer, hoping to offer her some warmth.
