A local thief and outcasted police detective, Park Seonghwa, become unlikely partners in crime to solve a string of murders.
START: 3.31.2020
FINISH: 2.20.2021
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record 05...JUNE 18
8:02 AM
SEONGHWA CLUTCHES HIS PHONE TO HIS EAR. A familiar voice drones on from the other side, the crashing of the waves before him serving as background noise.
"Are you doing well Seonghwa? We've been so worried since hearing you left Newhurst," the voice asks and Seonghwa can almost picture her cradling the phone to her ear like its the last time she'd hear his voice.
It had been a long time. It's hard to face someone when all you feel is guilt eating away at you.
"I'm doing fine. How are you guys?" he responds, laughing to make it sound more believable. He leans against the railings on the pier as the voice sighs in relief. He takes a couple of nervous breaths before continuing, his brows dropping a little lower. "How is Hongjoong?"
Hongjoong's mother pauses for a second too long. "Oh honey, don't worry about that. We're all fine, including Joong."
"Well, I sent you guys a few things and I sent him some music on those cassettes he likes so much. Maybe you can play it for him when you get the time. Tell him I said hi if you do."
"Seonghwa, you already do so much. You didn't have to do that. Paying for his hospital bills is already kind enough," she responds softly, almost a whisper. Seonghwa is almost surprised that he can hear her over the sounds of the beach.
He covers his eyes with his injured hand, squinting against the light of the sun. "Please accept it. That's the least I can do. After all, I should have–"
"I'll play it," Hongjoong's mother interrupts suddenly, voice catching. The conversation is going quickly into territory she hates. "And tell him hi yourself when he wakes up."
He opens his mouth to respond, but no words come out. Only a thick layer of guilt settles on his tongue, making it difficult to swallow or even think.
Seonghwa realizes a little too late that he is probably suffocating Hongjoong's mother by constantly reminding her that her son is stuck in a hospital bed tied to a web of machines. That it was possible he'd never return to the way he once was. That he would never be an officer again.
Voices pick up in the background of the call.
"I have to go open the shop. Thank you, Seonghwa. I'll check up on you later and let you know when we get the package. Goodbye."
The call leaves a bitter taste in his mouth. He leans his body against the railing as if he has lost the strength to stand. The sadness hits him suddenly then, and he finds it difficult to breathe. Tears fight to escape the confines of his eyes and he blinks them away rapidly, blaming it on the brightness of the sun bouncing off of the ocean.
