In These Arms [mxm]

Chapter 35 - Chanyeol's POV: Sweet Dreams

A/N: For hbgo31 whose poor soul just wants to see the end. Thanks for the kick up the bum! Here's a very, very rough, untouched draft. It'll probably go through some serious revisions, but it'll give some resolution for now. The story will conclude in 2 more chapters!!  Keep pushing me to finish. I really want to!! 

Additional note: For hbgo31, I've added a snippet confrontation to the start of this chapter that'll answer a bit about Mr. Kim. I'll weave it into the story properly in the next editing round, but if I keep dwelling on how to fit it into the last two chapters, I'll never finish it xP it's just a scribble draft (equivalent of a stick figure drawing) but I hope this is okay for now. I'll get to work on the next chapter now! 

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"Father," I said through the phone. "Mr. Kim has proven his guilt and attempted to run. Please have your men ensure he cannot leave this city."

"Of course, son."

"Also, father, did you find out how he could pull this off all this time? His motivations?"

My father cleared his throat, a deep grumble meeting my ears through the speaker. "Mr. Kim is not at all who he led us to believe. His age, his working history, even his qualifications. Everything was set up as soon as they learned you were taking a position connected to the hospital. As the only person closely connected to Haneul Bom, you were at the highest risk of recognizing him. That's why they set Mr. Kim on your tail. They kept him alive to minimize the risk of a murder scandal, but I guess they didn't bet on him waking up."

"But we were both apprentices," I said. "We worked our way up, together."

"I can't answer that one," Father answered. "But what I know is that he isn't much younger than me, although he looks closer in age to you, if not younger. Who knows if it's plastic surgery or good genes, you know? Anyway, Mr. Kim will probably try to call you. You can get the answers you need from him then."

The line ended, and I leaned back in the chair, running my hands through my hair. My return flight was delayed by an hour, forcing me to sit in wait in the VIP lounges. While it was inconvenient, causing unnecessary stress that I could not be with Haneul any earlier, it did give me sufficient time to lay the groundwork for both resolution and retribution.

After some phone calls, one of the lounge doors opened, and someone came running inside, their shoes clicking against the polished tiles.

"Chanyeol!" Mr. Kim's desperate voice cried out. "Chanyeol, you're here, aren't you? Please speak with me. Let me explain everything."

I stood up, bringing his attention straight over to me. He dashed across the lounge before stopping in front of me, recklessly pulling my hands in his.

"Chanyeol, please, I'm sorry. I'll turn myself in, just... I wish you would forgive me."

I paused, my back still turned, tension seizing my body. Without looking at him, I demanded, "Explain yourself, Kim. Tell me everything."

Mr. Kim's voice was low and hesitant as he began. "I'm forty-seven... I've been in this industry long before Haneul came. My job... I'm connected to the military, to Haneul's father, and it turned into keeping his records hidden. I had to stay close, make sure no one found out."

"Then how did you fake your identity? Was it the military?"

Mr. Kim nodded; his face ashen. "They set me up with everything I needed to join you from the beginning. As soon as they learned there was a risk of you being affiliated with the hospital, I was assigned to keep you from learning of his existence. I'd been a working professional for years before we met, but they saw to me that I approached on the same level as you."