Kang Chi: Beyond Life and Time

Chapter 9: Beyond Life: Back to Reality

"Seonbaenim, I'm glad to see you back!" Were the first words that came out of Jung Ju when he saw Yeo Wool sat down behind her desk adjacent to his.

"Shhh..." She answered instead. "Don't make such a big deal out of it."

"Geunyang, seonbaenim...It's just that I wish you were here when Choi Kang Cheol Daepyonim came for his statement."

"Do I really need to be here?" I'm actually glad I wasn't.

"Geulsse...He was looking for you?"

"Jinjjayo? Waeyo?"

"Mollayo."

"Officer Dam, may I have a word with you." Captain So called from the door of his office. She reluctantly stood up as she sighed, preparing herself (and her ears) to be on the receiving end of the verbal missiles that the captain would be firing anytime soon.

And fire away he did, for her being AWOL during the weekend. As always, she just stood, her body, present, but her mind, absent—currently wandering somewhere else, far away from where she is. She had no idea how long the attack had been going on when the phone suddenly rang. Captain So picked up, still highly strung.

"Yeoboseyo?!" He asked. She just listened and silently wished for him to dismiss her. He did by shooing her away out of his office. She swiftly bowed and headed out before he changes his mind if he ever wanted to.

She sat back on her desk to attend to the paper works that piled up during her absence. Minutes later, Captain So came out of the office for an important task.

"The Baeknyeon Hotel in Seoul will be having an important event this coming Friday." He began. "The Prince of Dubai will be coming for a business trip and will be holding a party on Friday night. Our station is assigned for the event's security...."

After that particular sentence, her mind went wandering off again.

Does this mean I could bump into that man again? It's possible, matjjyo?

"Officer Dam!" Captain So called for the third time, in a tone loud enough for the entire block to hear. "Is everything clear?"

"Eo...Ye, Captain." She answered, though it obviously was not. She turned to Jung Ju after the captain went inside his office.

"He said we have to pay Baeknyeon Hotel a visit to coordinate with the administrator and their head of security." Jung Ju answered, as if knowing what he would be asked. "He also said we could take two more people with us." He finished.

"Kapssida...." She said without thinking twice, and quickly standing up from her seat. Jung Ju did the same and waved at another two officers across the room to come with them.

They were about to enter the hotel lobby when she suddenly had second thoughts.

Wae gurae? How come I feel this just now?

Jung Ju asked the concierge for the administrator. She let him do most of the talking, as she was discreetly looking around the surroundings.

"Seonbaenim..."

"Eo...Ye. Waeyo?"

"The concierge said we have to wait for a while because the administrator and head of security are in a meeting right now."

"Arasseoyo."

They sat down on the couch located at the far right of the lobby. She was still discreetly checking her surroundings. She did not know what to make of herself or her feelings as of the moment—everything was just discombobulating.

They had to wait for an hour before they could coordinate with the people in charge. During the entire meeting, all she did was pray that he would not run into that man, while a part of herself hoped to have at least a glimpse of him.

Two hours since they arrived, they were back at the station where they started. She was still not saying much, and only gave direct answers to questions—pretty much still not herself.

"Seonbaenim..." Jung Ju said softly as he put a cup of coffee from the vending machine on her table. "Are you alright? You don't seem to be. Perhaps you need more rest."

"Aniyo." She answered. "Nan gwaenchanhayo...I just have a lot in my mind right now."

A lot of...that man.

She shook her head as if waking herself up, and softly slapped both her cheeks to bring back her focus. She had to finish her tasks for the day, and her mind wandering off even for a moment is unacceptable.

As if it was some kind of miracle, the day went on smoothly. She managed to finish her piled up paperwork and was able to clock out at just a few minutes after five. She stopped by at a restaurant for their chicken dinner and got on the bus in the nick of time. As always, she came into a multi-tasking Han Wool who is waiting for her, watching the news, and doing his homework simultaneously.

"Ya..." She called. "I told you not to watch and do your homework at the same time."

"I'm almost finish, Nuna. Besides, the news is about to start."

They had their chicken dinner in front of the TV while watching the news...just for a change. Then, the report about the Prince of Dubai's business trip to Seoul flashed on the screen. She heaved a sigh, anticipating a very hectic weekend for her and her colleagues. Should she go AWOL again?

Ani...I could be sacked if I do it again.

And she could not afford that. Not now, nor any other time for that.

After tucking Han Wool to bed hours later after dinner, she went back at the front of the TV. The late-night news is currently on. She listened to the reports as she organized the scattered papers in front of her and reviewed the itinerary and the plans of their task for the weekend.

Then, she heard his name.

"...Choi Kang Cheol Daepyonim of Baeknyeon Hotels will also be holding a private business meeting with the Prince of Dubai...."

Hwa...He sure knows who to play with....

She scoffed at the thought after hearing the report.

They'll just probably brag about who has a higher bank account...or whose car is faster...or who has more girlfriends...or....

Her phone notified an incoming message. It was from Jung Ju.

Seonbaenim, still awake? He texted.

Ye. Waeyo? She texted back.

I sent the rest of the itinerary and plans for Friday. Just check your email.

Gomawo.

Aniyeyo...Good night and sweet dreams.

She decided to check her email later, and instead lay down on the couch while watching TV. In the middle of the night, someone came knocking on her door. She stood up to check who it was. But then, the door swung open, and a man came rushing in, pushing her against the wall, covering her mouth.

"Shhh..." He whispered. "They must not find us...."

Her eyes were opened wide, staring straight into his. Who the...? Then it suddenly hit her!

The man in my dream!

"You!..." She managed to say as she pries his hand from her mouth. "Nuguya?!"

"Shh...Just stay here." He answered instead. "I'll come back for you."

Then he was gone. As quickly as he came. Yeo Wool woke up, sweat dripping down her cheeks. She sat up and tried her best to remember his face.

"Aagghh!" She exclaimed in frustration. She rested her head on her hands and wondered...

How long will I keep dreaming like this and not even remember his face?