Kang Cheol stood in front of the artifacts display in his penthouse apartment. It now includes the items he recently retrieved from his former dwelling in the mountains. He was staring intently at the plush toy bunny that he propped just under the framed jade sword that used to belong to Yeo Wool. He wondered, just now, if the display somehow caught her attention that night of the dinner party when he hired her as his escort and was taken to this place to be dressed up.
Should I invite her over and see?
His train of thought suddenly stopped when someone knocked on the door.
"Deureowa...." He answered without turning around.
Yeon Seok entered, folders and files in his hands. He put it down on the side table near the couch and helped himself in the minibar. He poured whiskey for two and handed one over to him.
"You're knee-deep in thought." Pointing out what he noticed as he took a sip of whiskey. "It's a girl, matjjyo?"
He just smiled. Yeon Seok knew him well enough to define his every mood, he could almost read his mind.
"The one you met while hiking in Jirisan?"
"Don't you have anything better to do?" He replied instead.
"Should I book a dinner for two in our grandest hotel branch?"
Sounds like a good idea...but...andwae....
"What about a getaway in an island off coast?" Yeon Seok continued when he did not get an answer. He turned to him, seemingly considering the idea. As if.
He just wouldn't stop.
"Why don't you just hike with me up there the next time I go, and I'll formally introduce you to her."
Yeon Seok responded with a pursed lip and a nod.
"This girl seems to be pretty special. She's been haunting your thoughts for quite a while now."
She's been haunting my entire being for centuries....
He just smiled at him. He would understand if he remembered his past life. But until he does, he would be clueless about his feelings for her that he had been harboring in his heart, by himself, for hundreds of years.
"Just don't try to steal her away from me when you meet her." He jokingly told Yeon Seok, remembering the past life when he used to have a crush on Yeo Wool.
"I told you before...our tastes in women are far too different."
Before he had the chance to have the final word, Yeon Seok looked at his watch and changed the topic.
"Hwa...Look how time flies. Has it been an hour? ...Daepyonim, you have a meeting at two with the...."
"Kaja...." He answered with a heavy sigh as he put on his jacket and buttoning it, swiftly leading the way out of the door, before Yeon Seok even finished his statement.
Kang Cheol, with his head resting on a rolled towel, eyes closed, and body submerged in neck-deep bubbles, felt his tensed muscles relaxed for the first time in weeks. He was so busy that things like lounging in a warm bath in a tub seemed like a luxurious privilege.
It had been a couple of weeks since he last saw Yeo Wool, and he misses her—which is nothing new. He was reminiscing their last encounter and contemplating on meeting her again when his phone vibrated—vibrated away as he ignored it. But the caller was persistent, so he ended up answering it.
"Wae? Mwo jigeum?" He answered nonchalantly when he saw Yeon Seok's name on the caller ID. Him calling at this hour could only mean business, thus the uninterest.
"Daepyonim, Sergeant Bang Sung Jun and Captain Lee Sun Shin of National Security Administration want to have a meeting with you on Saturday...."
They're coming again....
The first time they came was regarding the national security for the Prince of Dubai, which was assigned to the Jongno-Gu Police Department where Yeo Wool is affiliated. But the two of them coming up to his penthouse apartment, unannounced and unescorted, to personally see him was a bit puzzling. They talked about the business on hand, with Sergeant Bang mostly leading the conversation while Captain Lee being silent most of the time, which, he thought, was a bit odd. The Admiral Lee Sun Shin of his past always had something to say, and the new one seemed to have run out of it.
Saturday...Motae....
He was planning on hiking in Jirisan with Yeon Seok on Saturday and drop by at the Dam residence on their way back. Somehow, he had a feeling that Yeo Wool would be there.
"...But since you're planning on hiking in Jirisan this Saturday, we could reschedule the meeting...." Yeon Seok continued but was unable to finish when he interrupted as a sudden flare of idea came to mind.
"Andwae. Let's go meet with them...In Jirisan."
"But...."
"Just tell them that I do want to meet with them, but I have a prior commitment that I just cannot call off. I'll have them picked up by the hotel transport service if necessary. Don't worry, they'll understand."
After Yeon Seok hung up, he pondered about meeting up with Captain Lee. He was wondering if he had memories of his past as Admiral Lee Sun Shin. If he does, he could be a great help to him on finding his way back to Yeo Wool's mind, heart and life.
His heart raced in anticipation for Saturday.
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Kang Chi: Beyond Life and Time
FanfictionThe story of Kang Chi and Yeo Wool that began centuries ago continues in the year 2013.
