Detective Jeon (2) : He, Never Left | JJK

Ch9. It's not you!

The unpredictability of life is what makes it a futile task to keep it from slipping away. Everyday, never teaches one how to react when a catastrophe happens. It comes like an unexpected blow of wind and before you know, the storm rips away something out of you.

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Seokjin's hands were shaking as he tried to press the password numbers on the digital security screen. Jeon held his hand back and pressed the password to open the front door of Seokjin's apartment. They both stormed inside in a hurry but with silent footsteps.

Dead silence entered their ears followed by a voice from the living area. They rushed in taking the cover from both the sides. No one was in there. Some orange juice was spilled on the table in a half empty glass near the bowl of dry potato chips. The T.V. was on and a kids anime was playing on it.

Jeon quickly removed the painting from the living room wall. Meanwhile Seokjin began checking all the rooms in the house but Aeseok was nowhere to be found.

"She's not here," Seokjin's voice trembled.

"Did you check them all?"

"I did! I did! She's nowhere." Seokjin called Chungsol to get an alert and stay on stand-by. "Why the fuck he's not picking!"

Jeon opened the screws behind the sunflower painting wooden frame and removed the glass. There was no name at the bottom except the Chinese symbol letters of the original creator. It was same as Taehyung and Aera got it from the exhibition, five years ago. He checked it carefully but there was no mention of Aeseok.

"Appa!" cried Aeseok as she entered the living room. "It's you! I thought there was a thief in our house."

Seokjin couldn't believe his eyes. It was Aeseok indeed. His daughter, standing alive and smiling in front of him. He immediately picked her up and wraps his arms around.

"Aeseok! Are you okay?"

"Of course I am but I can't breathe, Appa!"

"Where did you go at this hour?"

"I wanted to have some lemon candy and strawberry milk. So I went out with Samcheon! Look!" Aeseok pulled out her little bag filled with candies. "Do you want one?"

"Hey! Candies are not good for teeth!" Seokjin looked up and was surprised to find Chungsol standing behind them.

"Ne! Ne! I know. I promise, I won't eat them all at once." Aeseok smiled at Chungsol who slightly pats her head.

"Aeseok go inside. It's too late. We'll talk later," said Seokjin in a stern tone.

"Appa! Don't be mad at Chungsol Samcheon. I tried to call you because I wanted to eat these candies. When you didn't pick, I called Uncle Jungkook. He also didn't pick up. So I called him."

Aeseok knew she had made a mistake. Her dad was always strict about going out with strangers, but Officer Chungsol was no stranger to her. She had called him many times in the past when Seokjin and Jeon were unreachable, and he had always conveyed her messages to them.

"I was in the nearby area when she called. I tried to call you but you didn't respond." Chungsol said in an earnest voice. "You see, the convenience store was right in front of me. So I bought the candies and milk and called her downstairs to take them. I'm sorry if we scared you sir. I promise it won't happen again."

"We must've taken different lifts at the same time." Jeon started assembling the painting together.

"I'll take your leave now." Chungsol nodded.