Memoirs

Chapter 2: The Story of Us

EARLIER THAT DAY INSIDE ATTY. WOO'S OFFICE:

Lisa knocks on the door. She checks her watch and sees that she just made it on time for her meeting with Atty. Woo. She even brought a cup of coffee with her. She knows her weakness before everything else explodes when the attorney is not in the mood.

Attorney Woo: Come in!

Lisa: Good afternoon, Atty. Woo. I got you your favorite espresso! *Smiles as she enters the door.*

Attorney Woo: You are not late today. That is some improvement there, Atty. Manobal. *She smirks.*

Lisa: I know. *She hands her the cup of coffee and waits for Attorney Woo to signal her to sit.*

Attorney Woo: *Takes the cup and smells its aroma.* Lisa, please go to Thailand. When you come tomorrow to Judge Oh, he will give you your clearance and everything else you need. The information is classified. Call it half vacation, half work.

Lisa: Oh, wait! Thailand? When? Why me? Uh... *She immediately remembers her plan of looking for that girl in her dreams. * You know that I am having my sabbatical soon, right? It's in a week. Why me of all the lawyers here? *She screams that sad face.*

Attorney Woo: You are the only person we trust in this classified. You are a lawyer, but you are also part of the Korea Intelligence Agency. Have you forgotten that? You have all the skills and knowledge in combat, too. I know that you set aside KIA and focus on protecting the rights of the clients we encounter, but this one is different.

Lisa: But Attorney Woo, you know I do not want to hold a gun anymore. I can use my skills as KIA, but you know what happens in the field. Crazy circumstances like combats are inevitable. You know that well.

Attorney Woo: Please? You are the only person we trust, like what I said. We know that you can bring justice to the death of our senior lawyer. It has been months, and we got leads on the killer's whereabouts. Thailand that is.

Lisa: Are you sure everything else will be taken care of here? My family is in the U.S, and I have nothing to worry about, but once the people behind this find out it's me, I am dead. I want my family secured without them knowing what is going on. And what's in it for me here?

Attorney Woo: Aside from the medal, recognition, and media exposure, you will finally be able to give justice to our senior lawyer. You have always been our ace here. You will mark that again on the list of law firms here and abroad. Our partners will be happy. We will gain more of their trust. It's a win-win here, Lisa. There's nothing to worry about here. Your family will be in good hands. After this mission, you can have all the sabbatical you need and return when you're ready to be a lawyer again.

Lisa: That is a hell of a statement. Powerful. *She stands and puffs some air sarcastically.* When am I getting on the plane?

Attorney Woo: Tomorrow evening, after you meet with Judge Oh. He will hand you everything you need and then get on the plane. You will be escorted up to the airport.

Lisa: Who else knows this mission, Attorney Woo? Can I tell Attorney Park about this? You know that I trust her. I need my eyes here while I am out.

Attorney Woo: Just you, me, and Judge Oh. Sure, you can tell her, but do not disclose everything for her safety.

Lisa leaves with many things in her head while closing the door of Attorney Woo's office. Everything's abrupt. She still has lots of plans in the coming days. Even the case she is about to handle, she needs to hand it to another lawyer because of her confidential mission. The following day she talked to Judge Oh. It was a pleasant conversation. She trusts him. He is like his second father here in Korea. He is her mentor in the law field.