In the bustling streets of Seoul, a respected, strict detective- Kim Namjoon- who works in a criminal department, finds his world transformed when he's tasked with training a spirited rookie-his old friend's daughter- Lee Aisling.
Waiting in Mr Lin Kuan's office felt like centuries. I counted the minutes while looking at a large clock above the wooden desk, which was filled with paperwork and empty mugs. My dad was sitting next to me, and I truly felt like a teenager despite being 24 years old and living completely alone at this point. However, my father managed to find out about the exact day and hour of my first day at the police department and decided to show up like the "good parent" he is.
"Dad, you really don't have to be here, you know that?" I murmured, crossing my arms together and leaning against the uncomfortable chair Mr Lin provided. I hope I won't be sitting on these while working.
"I know, princess, but I wanted to exchange a few words with Kuan anyway," he said, sending me a warm smile while rubbing my shoulder.
He really needs to understand that I'm an adult now. I remember a month ago when I moved to a new apartment nearer this place so I don't have to drive a car through the busy streets of Seoul, and my dad literally stayed a whole week with me, being concerned that someone would break in. He wanted to make sure everybody from the block knows that I'm not living in the apartment alone.
I was about to answer with some cheeky response my dad probably wouldn't approve, however the door behind us creaked and a second later, I saw Mr Lin and a tall figure behind him. As soon as both men stood in front of us, my dad poked me in my right arm, signaling to stand up. I bent over slightly as they did, and then we all sat back in our places once again.
"Jung-suk, I haven't heard from you in ages. I'm glad to see you in my office as well as your beautiful daughter. Aisling, please meet Kim Namjoon, one of our best detectives in the criminal department. He will be training you for the next couple of months. Your duties are to be by his side, get to see what it is like to be in our department. Moreover, your responsibilities would consist of filing the documents and providing any information Mr Kim Namjoon would need from you during selected cases. Do you understand that this job is difficult? It's not really a 'clean' work." Mr Lin Kuan looked me right in the eyes while asking the most sexist question I have ever heard in my life.
"Well, Mr. Lin Kuan, I believe excellence in any job is not determined by gender but by dedication, skills, and hard work. I assure you, I'm more than capable of handling any challenges that come my way, be it 'clean' or otherwise. Besides, as I concluded from your previous statement, I'm in good hands," I stated, shifting my gaze to the only person who was still standing next to the dark table, towering over me.
I exactly knew this persona, however I haven't seen him in a while. The last time I had a chance to glance at him like that was in my teenage years when he was a newbie in the police department, and my father helped him to get the position he has now. He has changed a lot. He doesn't have short hair anymore. Rather than that, he let black strands of his thick black hair cascade on both sides of his hatchet, pale face. His eyes were scanning mine like two lasers, wanting to make sure whether I spoke with pure appreciation towards him or sarcastically. His lips were pink and plump, just as I remembered. He seemed a bit taller than before, however, it wasn't the feature that differentiated him. He was buff and confident. He transformed into a true man. Despite the black blazer that covered his arms completely, I could tell he is athletic.
After a couple of seconds of complete silence, Mr Lin Kuan requested Mr Kim Namjoon to show me around and explain what would be my first task today. As I said a quick "goodbye" to my father and then bent over towards Mr Lin Kuan, thanking him for the opportunity to start my first work in his department, Namjoon was already gone.
I rushed out of Mr Lin's office and found Namjoon's tall figure on the other side of the corridor.
"Could you maybe wait for me, please?" I asked when I finally caught up with his steps.
"If you want to work here, you need to be awake and fast at any time," he said, opening the doors - I assumed - to his private office. I stepped in after him and saw a big room filled with different whiteboards, two wooden desks, which were surprisingly very neat.
"Sit down," he ordered, pointing at the chair - one of those uncomfortable ones I remembered exactly the shape of. Those chairs would haunt my dreams. Namjoon himself sat down on the swivel chair that was placed behind his desk, sitting directly in front of me. Why don't I get a swivel chair?
"Look," he started, bending over the desk and staring into my eyes. "It is not my dream job to babysit you all the time, however, I was told to do so," he said this time leaning on his chair.
"Babysit?" I exclaimed, furrowing my eyebrows. "I don't have to be babysat by anybody. I'm 24 years old and I came here to gain experience," I said, trying to be as calm as possible, however his judging look wasn't helping.
"Don't get too excited about it. Your first month of work will probably be filled with paperwork and different phone calls I will request you to make," he said, taking out a small, square piece of paper and a pen from his desk. "Now, write down your phone number and e-mail in case I need you beyond your working hours," he added while his gaze shifted from me to one of the two laptops he had.
"Don't you have a phone to just put my number and e-mail in?" I asked, raising one of my eyebrows, smirking a bit. He truly behaved like an old man.
"Don't debate with me," he suddenly answered, standing up and strolling around the desk, making himself comfortable on the chair next to me in seconds.
"I do it just because your father asked me to," he stated, folding his arms and looking at me from above.
What a dick. Without any further confrontation, I wrote down my phone number and right next to it my e-mail. Asking him about my today's duties, I got a small and clear response.
"Go home. Tomorrow at 6:30 in front of the police department," he said, taking his black police jacket from the swivel chair. Before his figure disappeared behind the door, he added, "And don't wear a dress. Jeans and a jacket are enough," he pointed out, scanning me up and down before leaving his office.
"What a jerk," I murmured when I was sure I was the only one in the room. Seconds later, I stood up and adjusted my black dress before leaving the department as quickly as possible, wanting to prepare myself for tomorrow's adventure by the devil's side.
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