To Say the Least

New Beginnings

A detective with short black hair that is messy and hanging above his brown eyes walks into a main detective office. Many officers walk around busy with their own work as the detective walks to his desk covered in paperwork and pens. The detective sits down and lays more paperwork down as his heavy and stressed eyes glance at the screen of his computer. Photos of a crime scene next to a bridge covered in snow fill the computer screen as the man's eyes fall back to the paperwork in his hands.

"Hae-sung." An older man's voice speaks up loudly from across the room, making everyone look up from their work. "A word, please."

Hae-sung sighs and drops his paperwork on all the other papers on his desk and shoves his seat out loudly so everyone quickly goes back to doing their work. Hae-sung turns and obediently walks toward the man and follows him into a larger office. Hae-sung closes the door and walks to the center of the room and slides his hands into his pockets. The older man sits at his desk and studies Hae-sung's messy hair and exhausted expression before sighing loudly.

"Hae-sung, I understand that you're a hard worker and a dedicated detective. However, I am worried about your health and am officially giving you a partner to ease your workload."

Hae-sung opens his mouth to speak, but the director lifts his hand to keep Hae-sung's mouth shut. Hae-sung obediently closes his mouth but clenches his teeth.

"His name is Jeon Chan-woo. He's a detective from Busan and will be under your wing from now on."

The director puts his hands on his desk so Hae-sung takes a step closer.

"Sir, I don't have time to babysit a nobody from Busan. I have a lot of cases, and I think I have a new lead on Snow Bridge." Hae-sung complains, and the director straightens up in his seat.

"I don't want to hear any complaints. Chan-woo should be here in an hour, and I am officially removing you from the Snow Bridge case. You're dismissed."

Hae-sung's eyes widen, and he quickly takes his hands out of his pockets and walks closer to the desk.

"S-sir, you can't remove me. I've made sure to keep up with every new case I receive and still work on this case. Please, you know how much this case means to me. I have to solve it!" Hae-sung yells at the end, then drops his hands to his sides as the director sighs as he stands up.

"No, you're too involved with that case. You have too many personal hindrances to try and continue. It's a case of someone covering up an accident. Drop it and take the day off tomorrow. Do I make myself clear?"

Hae-sung clenches his fists and lowers his head as he tries to calm his growing anger and racing heart.

"Y-yes, sir."

The director nods, so Hae-sung bows and storms out of the office and straight to his desk. He sits down and glares at his black computer screen, but his eyes soften as he notices his exhausted body in his reflection. He sighs and puts his elbow on his desk, then covers his face with his hand.

"Did you hear? The transfer from Busan is crazy." A man talks to his partner who turns with a cup of coffee.

"Really? How so?"

"I heard he carries around charms and talismans in his pockets and at his desk."

"What? For like ghosts and stuff?"

"I guess. He's also too scared to see dead bodies, so he never goes into autopsy rooms."

"What a coward. Is he scared a ghost will haunt him? How funny."

The two laugh, and Hae-sung groans as he drops his arm onto his desk and glares at the paperwork on it.

"Perfect." Hae-sung mumbles under his breath when a person suddenly stops next to his desk.