The Gift-the sequel to Crash Landing On You

Trapped

The driver and security team Jeong-hyeok had engaged were good and they safely switched cars in an underground car park. When they returned to the hotel, they hurried up to their rooms feeling very shaken but relieved. Yoon-he in particular looked distressed; she muttered something about lying down and then went to her room.

Jeong-hyeok took out his phone. "I need to speak to the Swiss security people. Seri would you," he started, but he was interrupted by a knock at the door. He looked through the spy hole and opened it. Yoon Jeong-pyeong was there.

"How did you get on?" he asked as the door was opened for him.

Seri started to vent her frustration at the consulate official's attitude towards her, but Jeong-hyeok cut across her.

"Seri, that can wait. Can you go to mother please. I need to contact Herr Gisler."

She stopped, surprised at his firm tone. It sounded like an instruction rather than a request, but she turned and went to Yoon-he's room.

Jeong-hyeok carried on with his call. He managed to speak to Herr Gisler and explain what had happened on the drive back, asking if there was anything further that could be done to protect them. Jeong-pyeong sat in a chair and waited patiently until he had finished.

Jeong-hyeok ended the call and then sat feeling troubled and gloomy. He felt responsible for everyone and everything, and there didn't seem to be much he could do about it. Jeong-pyeong looked sympathetically at him, but didn't say anything.

Seri came back into the sitting area and joined them. She came over to Jeong-hyeok and put a hand on his shoulder. He looked up at her.

"I'm sorry for snapping at you" he said. "It was just I wanted to call Herr Gisler and I could see mother was upset. Is she ok?"

"Yes, she's feeling a bit better now. She's going to rest. It's ok, I know you were feeling stressed." She came and sat next to him and smiled. It helped to calm him.

"So where are we? Did you speak to Herr Gisler?"

"Yes," said Jeong-hyeok with a sigh of frustration. "He was pleased to get the information, but that was about it. He's clearly not keen on getting involved. He just advised us to stay in our hotel rooms."

"Oh." Seri was clearly disappointed too.

Jeong-hyeok turned to his father in law. "I'm sorry Jeong-pyeong, we haven't answered your question yet."

"Well, I've gathered that you'd had some trouble when you left the consulate. And that is worrying, especially if the Swiss security services aren't keen to help. How did it go at the consulate, though?"

"Not great," said Jeong-hyeok looking gloomy again. He looked at Seri as if to say, You tell him.

Seri obliged, giving a detailed account of the interview.

"Hmm," said Jeong-pyeong. "I can see why you feel frustrated. I wish they had offered you some help."

"I'm worried that it is going to take a long time," said Jeong-hyeok. "And meanwhile they know we're here and have plenty of time to find us and make plans. I don't like it." He ran his hands through his hair and rolled his shoulders, trying to throw off the tension he felt. "And I'm afraid we've put you in danger. I think you should return to Seoul as soon as possible."

"I think you might be right on that, but first I've got a suggestion," said Jeong-pyeong. "Whilst you were gone I did some research and I realise I know the ambassador here."

"You do?" said Seri.

"Yes, we met at a corporate reception a few years ago, but he wasn't the ambassador for Switzerland then. Anyway, I've made a few calls and I've got his number."

Jeong-pyeong looked pleased with himself. This was something he could do to help. "So, I can ring him and see if he can help push things along."

"Father that would be marvellous! Thank you," cried Seri.

"Yes," said Jeong-hyeok. "Thank you."

"I'll do what I can to help here," said Jeong-pyeong. "But then I suggest your mother and I return to Seoul."

"Yes that would be best," said Seri "I don't want you to be in danger here."

"Well, that isn't why I think we need to go back. I've got lots more contacts in Seoul. If I'm there I can make some calls, kick up a fuss if I have to, to get you both home."

Seri caught hold of his hand. "Thank you," she said.

Jeong-hyeok nodded his head. "Thank you, sir. I think we do need all the help we can get, so I would appreciate any support you can drum up for us."

"Excellent!" said Jeong-pyeong. "I'll get onto it straight away." He stood up and headed back to his own suite.

Seri and Jeong-hyeok continued to sit together on the sofa. They were both quiet, but after a while she said, "This is what you've been dreading isn't it? The application taking ages to go through, or even rejected, whilst we're being hunted down by Kang Sung-ho. Just trapped."

"Yes," he said sadly.

"I don't think I fully appreciated that feeling until today," she said. "We can't even leave this room can we?"

He shook his head and they both sat quietly again.

Then he turned to face her. "But you could."

"No."

"But you could," he insisted. "You could travel back to Seoul with your parents, work with your father to help us there."

"No. I mean it. I know it's hard for you. I know you hate putting me in danger. But I choose to stay. It's not your responsibility its mine. And if anything was to happen to me, you must remember that."

"But -" he started.

"No, I'm not leaving you. I couldn't. Saying goodbye to you now, not knowing when I would see you again. Not knowing what was going on. I just can't do that. We'll face it together. Anyway whilst I'm here and in danger too, it puts more pressure on the consulate to get on with the application, or for the security service to step in and help."

He looked at her face. She was clearly resolute. He leant towards her and kissed her forehead.

"One of the things I love about you, is your determination. You don't give in do you." He smiled a little at her.

She put her head on his shoulder. "No I don't," she said. "Now tell me what else you love about me."

The next day Seri's parents flew back to Seoul. Jeong-pyeong had tracked down the Ambassador and managed to make their case to him. He had promised to check on progress to make sure it was being processed as speedily as possible. Seri was grateful for her father's efforts and relieved when her parents were safely on the flight to Seoul. For Jeong-hyeok it made the job of ensuring they were all safe a little easier too.

Nothing really changed over the next few days. They had an update from their lawyer to say he had received some questions from the consulate, so some progress was being made. They answered the questions, but then there was nothing else they could do. Jeong-pyeong called with an update of who he had spoken with now he was back in Seoul. He certainly seemed to be pulling all the strings he could to speed things up. The Swiss Security people had no further information to give them. All they could do was to wait. It was tiring, frustrating and boring, but each of them knew there was no choice.

They didn't dare talk about the future and there was nothing new to talk about in the present, so they talked about the past. Seri was keen to know more about Jeong-hyeok and Mu-hyeok when they were children. This helped Yoon-he too as she enjoyed sharing those happy memories. She had brought some photographs with her and showed them to Seri. Seri also wanted to know more about Yoon-he's parents, since she now had their engagement ring. Jeong-hyeok also enjoyed looking back though the photographs, but they also made him sad. He would never see any of his own photographs or mementos again. All he could hope was that the new memories he might make would make up for that, but for now, the future seemed very uncertain.