𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐎𝐟 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝 || 𝐭𝐚𝐞𝐤𝐨𝐨𝐤 ✓

EP36: Garden of secrets

Jungkook had arrived at the officer's training center at around 10:30 in the morning, greeted by the enthusiastic young trainees who recognised the detective. He exchanged warm smiles and wished them a good morning as he made his way towards the bustling training ground. Rows of dedicated boys and girls were diligently practicing their drills under the crisp morning sun.

His purpose for being there was to meet Ju Ho, the main suspect of the ongoing murder case. Jungkook scanned the grounds, trying to locate the guy among other trainees.

"Hello, Detective Jeon," a voice cut through the ambient noise. Jungkook turned to find Ju Ho standing behind him, a water bottle in hand. A sense of tension hung in the air.

"You must be here to see me," Ju Ho added, acknowledging the unspoken purpose of Jungkook's visit. Jungkook nodded, and, with a brief exchange of words, he asked if they could find a more private place to talk.

Ju Ho led Jungkook to his dorm room, a small and modest space filled with the necessities of military life. He gestured for Jungkook to take a seat on the bed while he occupied a chair nearby.

As Jungkook settled into the room, he couldn't help but take a moment to observe his surroundings. The room was neat and tidy, with posters of abstract art on the walls. These artworks contained complex patterns that, if you looked closely, might remind you of alphabets and numbers, although they weren't obvious at first glance. These intriguing artworks created a sense of mystery and left anyone who saw them curious about their meaning.

The atmosphere was heavy with tension as Jungkook finally broached the topic that had brought him here, "uhm–"

"I know you still think that I am the killer," Ju Ho began, his voice tinged with a mixture of anxiety and resentment.

But before Ju Ho could continue, Jungkook held up his hand, a solemn expression on his face. "I came here today to talk about that," he said, his words measured and sincere.

"I owe you an apology, Kim Myeonjin."

Ju Ho was taken aback and bewildered when Jungkook suddenly addressed him by his old name. He wondered how Jungkook had discovered this personal detail, but then he reminded himself that Jungkook was a skilled detective with the means to uncover information. The realization that his true identity might not be as concealed as he thought sent a chill down Ju Ho's spine.

"Ju Ho?" Jungkook's confused voice called out. Ju Ho felt puzzled for a moment, unsure if he had truly heard his old name.

He decided to ignore it and pretended to be calm, trying not to show how panicked he got for a moment. But Jungkook, being a sharp detective, easily saw through Ju Ho's act.

"Uh?"

"I said I owe you an apology, Ju Ho."

Ju Ho had expected to be accused by the other, but Jungkook's words were unexpected. The detective continued, explaining that he had spent a significant amount of time trying to find evidence against Ju Ho, but he had come up empty-handed. No leads, no tangible proof of Ju Ho's involvement in the murder case.

Ju Ho's eyes searched Jungkook's face, disbelief still dancing in his gaze. "Are you… sure?"

Jungkook nodded, "I was wrong all this time, and I found you to be innocent," he admitted, the sincerity in his voice undeniable.

Ju Ho processed this newfound revelation, and after a moment, he nodded in acceptance. "You should have believed me from the beginning," he said, a hint of mockery in his voice. "If you had, perhaps you wouldn't have wasted your time on this wild goose chase."

The room was cloaked in heavy tension after Ju Ho's comment. Finally, Jungkook broke the stillness, lifting his gaze from his hands to meet Ju Ho's eyes. He began by recounting the information Lee had uncovered during the investigation. "While trying to search for clues and information about you, Detective Lee discovered something about your father," he said, his voice steady. "He found out that your father mysteriously went missing and never returned."