North - South

I want to marry you here (M)

Scotland Yard, 6 PM

Chief Kim welcomed them into his office with a wide, kind smile. It was a smile he had always had for Yoon Se-ri during the course of the investigation about her father, and that the woman had learned to recognize as his way to reassure her.

The same smile was extended to Jeong Hyeok too. "Captain Ri, I'm pleased to make your acquaintance," he said, showing to have done his homework. Chief Kim wasn't one to be caught unprepared

"I've asked you for this informal meeting because I want to start prepping your deposition. Please, let's start."

For the following 45 minutes, the man listened without questions, his gaze shifting now on the one now on the other. Only when they were close to the end, he took a long breath, exhaled, and waved his hand in midair, signalling it was enough.

"Frankly, I can't say I'm surprised."

"What do you mean?"

Brushing a strand of hair on a side of his head, the sweet eyes of the man halted on Se-ri's. "Mrs. Yoon, the names of your brothers had already come out in some investigations through the years. Indirectly, crosswise, but constantly. Please, don't misunderstand me: anything really compromising. And anyway, tell me the name of a rich man who doesn't risk coming out when it's about cocaine. The fact is... it usually is about personal use, parties..."

"According to the maids," Se-ri continued aloud what he was kindly trying to imply, "there's traffic in my parents' house. People coming and going. And there's a space, it was once used as a granary, it's been said that is under renovation."

"But would have it been under renovation, you would have known it for first. Because it's always been you the one who was asked to pay for the renovations, isn't it?" Chief Kim finished the sentence for her, a gentle, friendly stare firm on her.

"How... you..." so, that was why Chief Kim had always been kind? Because he knew everything since the beginning?

"Cases like your father's request to keep an eye on everything," he replied to her silent question before moving his attention to Jeong Hyeok. "Now, dear colleague..."

Hotel room, 9 PM

He was stunning, in the cashmere suit they had bought together, Se-ri said to herself while entering the living room. Jeong Hyeok was facing the window, observing the London lights. Good choice. As expected, light gray suited him perfectly.

"What are you drinking?" Turning with a smile, he showed her a beer in response.

"Do you want one?"

"Mhm," Se-ri nodded, "I want to drink but not a beer, I could have a better idea."

She had been waiting that moment all day. It was her surprise for him, and she had specifically sent a request to the hotel for it to be ready yet hidden in the mini-fridge of the suite. Since when she had left Pyongyang, Se-ri would have killed for a drop of soju.

Jeong Hyeok's eyes brightened when she reappeared in the room with the bottles.

It was a slow and methodical getting drunk. Recalling all the important points of the deposition. Sharing opinions – him – and anecdotes about Scotland Yard – her -. It was placid, and comfortable, like being with someone one knew since forever. Like, Jeong Hyeok thought, it only happened when he was with her.