My lawyer {BBANGSAZ}

Chapter 3

Minji

My primary goal of calling Hanni to visit me at the hospital was to ask her the favour of being my lawyer so I can fight for my case. But after I saw the state she was in, I decided to just let her have the day off and I could tell her when I got discharged. I limped through the hospital halls, making my way out to the yard for some fresh air. The sun was shining brightly in the sky, as though mocking my situation. I was still struggling to figure out who would want me dead. I mean, being the CEO of a prestigious and renowned law firm was a pretty big deal, but I myself don't work as a lawyer, so I have no idea who would wish for my death. 

Picking at the grass as I sat myself down, leaning against the brick walls that surrounded the front yard of the hospital, I let those thoughts dissolve for a bit, letting myself relax. The fresh air was just what I needed. In a way, this was good for me. It gave me the opportunity to take a break from the chaotic and stressful work life. As the CEO my parents and clients expected highly of me and the pressure to do well is starting to build up as high as Mount Everest. I mean, it would be silly if they didn't expect me to do well with their company, but still, sometimes it's just too much.

A sigh escaped me as I caught sight of a butterfly passing by me. The butterfly had orange and black coloured wings, its thin winds elegantly carrying it against the almost invisible motion of the weak breeze. A smile painted itself across my face. Wouldn't it be nice to be that butterfly?

I stayed out there for a little while longer. It at least felt like just a little longer. But by the time I got up to go back inside, everyone else was gone already and the sun was almost snuggled into the blanket of the horizon, casting a dusty glow, elongating the shadows in an eerie yet beautiful way.

I clenched onto my IV drip stand that I was required to take with me until the doctors say I no longer needed it, and it sort of acted like a crutch too, as I turned around to head back to the prison called a hospital. Well it wasn't actually that bad, but the food there was as bland as a piece of paper. At this point, I'd willingly eat vegetables (which I don't like) as long as they're flavoured. Usually my mum has to sneak in vegetables just so I'd eat them, so it really says something about the prison like quality of the food.

For some reason it felt like someone was watching me though. It sent a shiver down my spine knowing there was someone out there who was after me and wanted to abduct my life. I quickened my pace, not wanting to take any chances. 

"Minji watch out!" a familiar voice called out to me, and before I could even turn around to face whoever it was, I was tackled to the ground. I groaned in pain, but it was cut off when I processed the silent click of a retreating gun had sounded, echoing like a haunting whisper in my ear. I froze up, my breath hitching when I realised someone's arms were protectively wrapped around me.

To my horror, it was none other than my cold hearted secretary whom I assumed hated me to the moon and back, actually no, to Pluto and back, Pham Hanni. My eyes were as wide as saucers, taking in her pale face contorted with pain, but the warm protective embrace she was giving me never faltered. Her shoulder was bleeding, two bullets lodged into her flesh, stacked on top of each other like a layered cake within the wound. Shit, it would've gone really deep in that case. Blood was flowing uncontrollably out of the wound like a waterfall, a puddle forming below her shoulder. 

My eyes snapped up and I saw a retreating figure disappear into the dark evening. Anger boiled through me and I couldn't tell whether I was angry they had tried to kill me or because Hanni got hurt because of me, but either way I was fuming like an angry bull. If this were a comic, you'd see steam billowing out of my ears. 

"Someone help!!" I yelled out, sitting myself up and pulling Hanni up with me. I pressed on her wound to reduce the river of blood that was pouring out of her, causing her to wince and whimper in pain. 

The sound broke my heart and I didn't know why. Hanni was just my secretary and hopefully in the future my lawyer. Was it normal to feel this way towards my business partner?

Hanni

I don't know what ghost possessed me, but I felt the sudden urge to go and visit Minji today. I just felt the need to check up on her as she was my boss after all. And she did call me her friend the other day, so I decided that it wasn't at all a bad idea. 

However when I told Haerin this, the cat eyed girl gave me a suggestive smirk. 

"What?" I asked, my voice laced with irritation.

"You care about Minji?" she asked, amusement dancing in her eyes.

"Well, she said we're friends," I nonchalantly answered, fiddling with the sleeves of my jacket. 

"Since when did you let people into that cold stone heart of yours?" Haerin questioned, her voice suddenly much more serious, the playful tint it once had fading. 

And she wasn't wrong. Ever since both of my parents died on the same day, I became more closed up and cold towards everything and everyone. The hospital never tried to save either of them and my trust in anyone died along with my parents, so my solution was becoming distant. I only ever talked if it was necessary, even with Haerin. So even I myself, couldn't help but question my decision to let Minji in. There was something about her that told me I could trust her. It wasn't the most explainable thing, but it was just what it is.

"I'm proud of you Unnie, I'm glad to see you're opening up," my cat eyed best friend smiled at me, patting my head as she got up and exited the cafe, leaving me to my own thoughts.

I arrived at the hospital around evening, enjoying the soft breeze and the sunset, the sky becoming a canvas of warm colours. My eyebrows furrowed and my heart skipped a beat when I saw a figure in the distance, crouching down at red brick walls that acted like a fence to the hospital's front yard. They were dressed in a black cap, leather jacket and jeans, their face completely concealed by their disguise.

I took a detour, crossing the road to the other side, so I could watch the figure that peaked my interest. You know what they say, curiosity killed the cat, but this didn't feel like it was just about my safety, but about someone else's too. I just had that gut feeling. My eyes widened, fear crashing into me like a tonne of bricks when I saw them take out a shiny black gun, glinting menacingly in the glow of the awakened moon. They raised it, clearly aiming at someone and when I followed their line of sight, my heart dropped to my shoes.

Without really thinking, it was as though my body moved on its own, I sprinted across the road as fast as a cheetah or even as fast as Usain Bolt. My heart was screaming in my ears, my breath coming in ragged gasps as I ran towards Minji, the faint sound of the gun's safety going off sounding deafening in my ears.

I looked back and the figure's thumb was beginning to push the trigger. Minji had her back to them, so she was completely oblivious to the danger she was in. 

"Minji watch out!" I shouted out desperately, tackling her to the ground like a skilled foot ball player, biting back the cry of pain that accompanied me along with the sharp pain of the silent and deadly bullets making themselves comfortable in the flesh of my shoulder.

Silence followed as I felt the warmth of my blood drip, my world beginning to spin in and out of consciousness, darkness framing my vision. I winced and couldn't help the whimper that escaped me when I felt Minji press on my wound to try and stop the bleeding. My body was shivering as the coldness of the night settled around us and the last thing I heard before the darkness engulfed me in its arms was Minji screaming for help.