banghim ✧ detained

Three

Himchan woke up in the comfort of his bed, he looked around, his eyes landing on his sleeping wife laying next to him. "How the hell did I get here?" He whispered to himself. His wife woke up minutes later, while Himchan was brushing his teeth. She smiled as she saw his figure awake fir the first time in days. Himchan spit out the toothpaste in the sink, cleaning his mouth with water. He then walked over to her direction, placing a kiss on Jae-eun's forehead,"Good morning." "Good morning, to you too." She replied. "How did I get here, though?" "Your co-workers said you fell asleep on your desk again, so I asked them to bring you home. Himchan, you need to stop falling asleep at work. It's not good for your spine and your mental well-being. You already know I don't like that you have to be around criminals all day." "I know, I'm sorry. It's just there's a case that's been getting to me." "The Bang Yongdam one?" "Yeah... For a serial murderer he's mentally weak." "You never know what games these people'll play. Anyways, breakfast is on the table. Just don't go to work today, you need rest." Himchan nodded his head slightly, before walking out to the table. As Himchan sat down, his son walked out his room. He got back up, and picked his tired child. "Daddy, your home." The child smiled. "I missed you, Jin-soo." Himchan sat the child down, and sat back down himself. His wife sitting across. He picked up his chopsticks, sticking them in his rice bowl, taking bites. "Jae-eun." His wife looked up,"Yes?" "Did you ever remember where you heard Yongdam's name from?" "Well- there was a boy in high school. He was a classmate. He got suspended a lot of violent behaviour. But- I remember his name being Yongnam, not Yongdam." "Mhm."

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Yongguk sat in his cell, he ran his finger across the dirty floor in boredom. He clenched his stomach as it growled, trying to ignore his hunger. "If you're gonna starve yourself to death, you might as well die of dehydration. It'll be over in less than five days, since you care so little about life." The guard outside the cell said. "I keep telling you- I didn't murder anyone. I was fra-" "Everyone that works here had heard the story over a hundred times. You see all these prisoners around you? They all said the same thing. But, look. It didn't change their current situation whatsoever. It'd be best if keep you mouth shut before the hurry up the execution." Yongguk stayed quiet.

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Himchan opened his front door. "Where are you going? You're supposed to be resting today. It's already dark." Jae-eun said with a frown on her face. Himchan turned to his wife,"I forgot to tell you, but I promised Daehyun to go out to eat with him. We're meeting up with some friends from high school, and-" "I know- You have to discuss thing about work, don't you? It's okay. I understand." "Thank you for being so understanding." Himchan kissed Jae-eun, before walking outside to his car.

Himchan arrived at the restaurant. He stood outside waiting for Daehyun to arrive. His friend walked out of a Uber with two familiar men. Himchan walked towards them. They hugged as they hadn't seen each other in a couple years,"Jongup, Youngjae- it's been a while." Himchan said with a smile on his face. "It sure has. How're things going with Jae-eun?" "It's been the same since the last time I saw you." The four men walked inside the building. "Table for four." Daehyun said to a waitress directing a man to the bathrooms,"Oh, yes. Just a minute, sir."
The four friends were eventually seated. They ordered, different cuts of beef and pork to grill on the table, and four bottles of soju. "So how are things going with work?" Jongup asked Himchan, and Daehyun. "Well, we detained a suspect for serial murder. Besides that nothing much." "Victims?" "Somewhere around thirty-five to fifty." "Seems like you guys got a good one." The woman brought back a tray of raw meat and the four soju bottles with shot glasses. Himchan turned on the grill, placing the meat on the hot rack. The four sparked up conversations as they bit the piping hot meat. Eventually Youngjae and Jongup left, leaving Daehyun and Himchan alone. It was quiet. Himchan grabbed the bottle of soju and poured the liquid into his shot glass. He drank the alcohol, feeling the burning sensation go down his throat. He let out a sigh,"Daehyun." "Yes?" "Do you think what we do is right?" "What do you mean by that?" "I mean putting Yongdam on death row with absolutely no evidence that he is the murderer. At this point- I wonder how many innocent people we've executed." Daehyun crossed his arms on the table,"Why do you feel that way? You've never thought about things like that until Yongdam came in." "It's just, the way he looks at me when he claims he's innocent. They don't look as the eyes of a cold-blooded killer." "You never know but, most of these killers play mind games with you. Enough to where you feel as if your in a asylum more than a prison." "So you think he's just playing mind games with me?" "I'm not saying he is but, it's not like it's never happened before." Himchan ended the conversation there. Daehyun eventually left. Himchan paid for his portion of the bill and walked to his car. He sat down on the seat and laid his head back on the headrest. He started driving back home. Halfway, he had a unusual feeling in his head. He turned around heading towards his workplace. On the way he stopped by a fried chicken place, and bought a meal.

Himchan reached the building and walked inside, down to the cell room. His footsteps echoed through the hall. He tapped on the bars of Yongguk's cell, waking the man up. "Huh?" Yongguk looked up at Himchan. Himchan unlocked the cell door and slid the bag of chicken in,"Eat." "Why are you giving me this?" Himchan locked the cell door and grabbed the chair that sat where the guards usually stood. He turned the chair around in front of the cell and sat down. "Eat." Yongguk moved towards the bag and pulled the box out, the aroma making his mouth water. He slowing opened the box, looking at the meat. Yongguk looked at Himchan, who was glaring at the older man. "For god sake just eat the goddamn food already." Yongguk looked down. He picked up the wooden chopsticks and pulled them apart. His hand trembled as he picked up a piece of the meal. Yongguk savored the food until there was nothing left of the meal. Himchan stretched his back out. "Why did you give me that?" Yongguk asked. "Because you were hungry." "I thought you hated me." "You're name is Bang Yongguk and not Yongdam, correct?" Yongguk nodded in response. "My name is Kim Himchan." Yongguk looked at Himchan,"Why are you telling me this?" Himchan didn't answer. He unlocked the cell and picked up the trash from the floor. Yongguk stared at him while he did this action. Himchan walked out the cell and locked the door again. "Don't tell anyone about this. I'll be back tomorrow." Yongguk moved towards the bars, watching Himchan walk away.

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