Racing Hearts

Chapter 9

AN: Hello, everyone! Belated Happy New Year! Once again, sorry for the delay and thank you for your patience and support. I don't think you guys know how encouraged I am by your comments, so as we head towards the end of the story, I don't want to miss the opportunity to tell you how much I appreciate you. Hope you enjoy the chapter.

P.S. Please ignore the differences between the cars in the images below, just imagine it's Seri's car lol.

"Can I get you something to drink?" Yoon Seri asked Jung Man Bok as soon as they got back to her hotel room.

"Sorry, I can't stay long," he told her sadly. "If someone saw me here, my family could be in danger."

"What do you mean?" Jeong Hyeok asked.

"I know that you and your family must have a lot of questions," the man told him shyly. "And I also know that I'm probably the only person who can give you the answers."

"Well, yeah, I'd like to ask you a few questions about what happened that weekend in Italy."

"Everything you need to know is in that box," Man Bok said making a gesture with his face to point to the box in Jeong Hyeok's arms.

Jeong Hyeok stared at it not knowing how to feel about it. The box contained what he had wanted to know for many years, but it was also confirmation that someone had hurt Mu Hyeok on purpose.

"I know I probably should have brought it to you much sooner, and I tried. I even tried to get the recordings to your father shortly after the accident, but—" he cut himself off.

"Is there... someone threatening you?" Seri asked cautiously.

"Not me directly, but my wife and son," he answered honestly.

"Who?" Jeong Hyeok asked.

That man just looked him in the eye.

"I hope we didn't cause any trouble by going to your house," Seri told him.

"No, no, luckily no one noticed," he told them. "I don't go home often to divert attention from them, but my wife called me as soon as you guys left the building."

"It must be hard... not to be with them, I mean," Seri said.

"We have adjusted," Man Bok said dismissively, when in reality it was very difficult to live alone in a foreign country without being able to see your family in order to keep them safe.

"I'm sorry you can't be close to your family because of mine," Jeong Hyeok apologized sincerely.

"No, it's not your fault. Our families just ran into the wrong people," he replied. "I think I should go now."

"Let us take you to your place," Seri offered.

"No, I don't think it's a good idea. I can't let someone see me near you guys," he added shyly, trying not to offend them.

"I understand," she nodded, and they walked together back to the door.

"Please, please don't judge me too harshly for keeping silent all these years," Man Bok asked Jeong Hyeok, looking into his eyes.

"No, I'm actually very grateful to you. You should know that this can bring much-needed peace to my family, especially my parents," Jeong Hyeok told him.

And they both said goodbye with a bow, knowing that their reunion would not be long in coming.

°

"So... should we check them now?" Seri asked after Man Bok left them.