"Yuri, what are you doing here on the balcony? It's late, please come in. I don't want you to catch a cold."
Yuri turned around and smiled at her, took her hand and pulled her out into the fresh night air.
"I was looking at the stars, Sica."
She laid her head on Yuri's shoulder as Yuri wrapped an arm around her.
"I looked up into the sky and matched each star with a reason why I love you. I was doing great… until I ran out of stars."
"Yuri…" She looked up at the tanned girl and chuckled. "That's so cheesy."
"But you like it, don't you? I like saying things to make you blush like this." Yuri grinned and gave her a peck on the cheek. "I'm called Corn Yuri for a reason."
She giggled and snuggled up to Yuri's neck. Yuri tightened the grip around her and heaved a contented sigh.
"Being with you is not an easy thing, Sica… But I don't think I can ever live without you. I love you so much."
"Yuri… I—"
"WAKE UP AND CLEAN THE FLOOR OR I'LL STUFF CUCUMBER INTO YOUR MOUTH!"
Jessica's eyes snapped open and her body jolted up in an instant. She hastily reached for her phone and turned off Sooyoung's scream, frustrated with herself as she realized it was only six in the morning. The sweetest dream she'd had in months was now ruined, and even though she laid down trying to fall back asleep again, she just couldn't continue dreaming it. Jessica tossed and turned for what seemed like an hour until the door opened and Yuri sneaked into the room.
Having no intention of waking up, the blonde kept her eyes closed and pretended to be asleep. She didn't move when Yuri sat down onto the bed next to her, and even when Yuri started stroking her hair, Jessica remained motionless.
"Sica…"
Jessica could feel Yuri leaning in dangerously close, the girl's warm breath tickling her cheek.
"Do I get another kiss today?"
The question made her open her eyes wide, eliciting a chuckle from Yuri.
"I knew you're awake."
"Kwon Yuri…"
Jessica wanted to shove Yuri away but found almost no energy in her muscles. Yuri was practically lying on top of her, the girl's face hovering way too close above her own. She ended up staring into Yuri's eyes, savoring that warmth Yuri's body was adding to the blanket. It wasn't until she noticed Yuri's eyes travelling down to her lips that she pulled herself together and took action.
"Being greedy won't get you anywhere," she lectured Yuri and turned around, pulling the blanket over her head. "Now let me sleep."
She could hear Yuri's giggle as the tanned girl sat up.
"You're being too cute, you know that?" Yuri gave the blanket where Jessica's bum was a few pats. "Alright, I'll go make breakfast. Come out when you feel like it, you don't have to go to work anyways. I've got to leave soon, though."
Jessica felt the urge to yell 'don't leave!' but remained quiet instead, pouting to herself under the cover. Even though she knew it was impossible for Yuri to just quit work, she couldn't help but to feel a little disappointed Yuri wasn't staying home with her. Even after that kiss last night.
Consumed with that thought, Jessica was caught off guard when Yuri kissed her cheek from outside the blanket.
"I can't stay with you all day but you know I'm always just a call away," Yuri whispered as if she had read Jessica's mind. "I'll appear by your side faster than you can say my name."
Jessica felt her head being turned around gently before Yuri kissed her on the lips, the blanket still between them. It was short and she couldn't feel anything except for the fabric, but it was enough to set her heart on a race again.
"I'm like… your genie. Or guardian angel. Or better yet, superhero. Your very personal superhero."
Jessica heard a silly chuckle before the bed shifted and Yuri got off to leave. She hesitated a little before pulling the blanket away, just in time to see Yuri's figure disappearing behind the door.
"Superhero…" she mumbled to herself, unconsciously smiling. "Corn Yuri, indeed."
----------
A few hours later, Jessica met up with Sunny at the latter's request. Sunny said she had found a reliable source that could give them useful information about Mr Jung. Jessica was very excited and could barely sit still in the car, but Sunny didn't tell her anything until they arrived in front of Sunny's aunt's house.
"Sunny unnie! Jessica unnie!"
The person who opened the door for them was none other than Sunny's cousin, the wannabe detective that had once attempted to trick Jessica: Goo Hara. It turned out that Hara was the reliable source Sunny was talking about. Jessica felt a little cheated as the realization came by.
"My best friend is very smart," Hara explained as she led the two unnies into her room. "He knows especially a lot about computer stuff. He's the techie of my team. Like, you know how Sherlock Holmes has Doctor Watson as his assistant? He's my right-hand."
The young girl closed the door to her room and beamed at Jessica and Sunny.
"Well, I've told him about Sica unnie's situation a few months ago. We're working on that case!"
Jessica looked at Sunny, uncertain. Then again, she didn't want to be rude and hurt the over-enthusiastic girl, so she gave Hara a small smile.
"I really appreciate that, Hara, but I'm not sure if—"
"Unnie, you can trust me! "
"Well, I—"
"Sica." Sunny put a reassuring hand on Jessica's shoulder. "The kids are silly sometimes, I gotta admit, but they are good at what they do. Listen to what she has to say first."
Jessica was still skeptical, but she gave in because to tell the truth, she didn't know where else to start looking for her dad anyway. Hara booted up the computer and opened a few files.
"I've been collecting witnesses' accounts about the day your dad disappeared. Officially, Kwon Yuri was the last one who spoke to your dad in private. According to Ms Han, your father's secretary, Ms Kwon called at six o'clock on the dot, sending a message to your father. She refused his offer to separate her company, Iustit, from the endangered Jung Enterprise. Your dad left right after receiving the message. He didn't take his car so no one knew where he went to. But the guard in front of the Jung Enterprise's building remembered that he left without anything, not even his briefcase. And he appeared to be in a great hurry."
Jessica was taken aback. "How did you get all that info? I mean, I talked to Ms Han the other day and she didn't tell me about Yuri's call. She didn't seem to remember it at all."
"I already met her about a month ago. I believe the memories were fresher back then."
"But... how did you get them to talk?" Jessica was still baffled. "I can't imagine anyone to voluntarily give you a witness account if you approach them the way you did with me last time."
At the mention of their first encounter, Hara's cheeks flushed lightly. "Unnie," the girl whined, "let's forget about that incident. I'm more professional now."
"Your fake ID looks more real now?" Sunny teased.
"No," Hara crossed her arms, "I don't bother dressing up anymore. People find it easier to talk to curious kids than to cops anyway. I just had to tell them I was close to Sica unnie and heave a few sad sighs before asking questions."
"And how did you know the security guard had information to look for him?"
"I didn't. I talked to a lot of people who weren't helpful. But the ones who were made the efforts worthwhile." Hara smiled proudly. "My bestie helped me look up their contact data and all that stuff. I told you, we're quite the unstoppable team."
"I'm impressed."
"You'll be even more impressed when we get the info from the police office's database."
"You're hacking the police's database?!" Jessica's eyes went wide.
"Yup." Hara grinned. "We found a way just yesterday." She tapped her watch and tilted her head. "He should be done by now, actually."
"School shouldn't give you kids breaks," Sunny remarked. "Boredom turns you all into criminals."
"But hey, it's for a good cause." Hara laughs. "In this case, at least."
Sunny raised an eyebrow at her cousin but decided to not ask any further.
"Oh!" Hara almost jumped up from her seat when her messenger notified her of a new email.
"Yongvirus@gmail.com?" Sunny asked.
"It's him. My best friend."
Jessica and Sunny scooted closer as Hara clicked the direct link to her mailbox. The new unread email had the title 'Mission accomplished.' Jessica unconsciously gripped the younger girl's chair, her heart speeding up. If Hara's bragging was based on truth, she was most likely about to get very important information about her dad. That plus all the things she knew about her dad that the police didn't, there was a great chance she'd figure out where he was very soon.
A zip folder was attached to the email. The mail itself couldn't be more succinct. Jessica's heart sunk as she read the content.
Hey Hara,
Bad news. Our target is out of reach.
-Yonghwa
----------
Jessica entered the hospital with a heavy heart. The news she received from Yonghwa and Hara were important but not what she had hoped for.
Her dad was overseas. Somehow, he had managed to leave Korea without anyone noticing and cleared every trail behind. The police's files were only speculating about him being in China, but there was no evidence found. Jessica knew her dad wasn't capable of organizing such a flawless fugitive plan all on his own. Sooyoung was right; someone else must have had their hands in the issue.
The question about the Kwon's involvement consequently rose to the surface again. A shudder ran through Jessica's body at the thought of Old Kwon. She couldn't even be mad at her father, knowing if he was in Old Kwon's hands, his life could be in danger. She was rather frustrated at herself for not being able to do anything. Not a single thing. Seeking for the police's help was impossible, flying over to China would only raise unnecessary suspicion, and staying in Korea was getting her nowhere.
Jessica temporarily pushed the thoughts aside as she entered the hospital room. Krystal was next to her mom's bed, feeding the pale woman a spoonful of soup. Mrs Jung looked better compared to the other day Jessica visited, but that could change within a minute if Jessica wasn't careful with what she said.
"Unnie?" Krystal was the first to see Jessica.
Mrs Jung smiled and gestured her eldest daughter to come her bed. "You look so skinny, dear. Is it too hard to live with Yuri?"
"I'm fine, mom. Yuri's been treating me well. You look less pale than the other day. Are you feeling better?"
"I am, dear. Krystal won't need to be around as much in the next few days. I think I can take care of myself."
"Mom," the youngest girl whined and grabbed Mrs Jung's hand. "I want to be here with you."
"You don't have to. My arm is healing well and I'm feeling better everyday. Actually, I'm planning to leave the hospital next week."
The two girls protested immediately.
"You should stay for as long as the doctors say, mom." Jessica shook her head. "Don't worry about hospital fees. We can handle it."
Krystal nodded furiously in agreement but Mrs Jung shook her head.
"I'm really feeling a lot better. Staying is just a waste of money, darling. And remember, the money you earn with the hotel business isn't just yours. We shall not take advantage of Sooyoung and her family's kindness."
"I have another job here. Please, you really don't have to worry about money."
"A job? Here in the city? So soon? What is it?"
"I... I work for Yuri. As her secretary." Jessica avoided her mom's eyes. She couldn't include the 'but I was fired' part.
Surprise was evident in both Mrs Jung's and Krystal's faces.
"You work for the Kwon Enterprise, unnie?"
Jessica nodded.
"Why? I mean, didn't they…"
"Yes, they are practically our enemy. But I wanted to find out if they had anything to do with dad's disappearance, or if they knew where he was."
"And did you find anything?"
Jessica shook her head. "No… Maybe they really don't have anything to do with it."
A flash of disappointment crossed Krystal's face. Mrs Jung sat up straight in her bed, much concern shown in her face.
"Isn't that very dangerous, Jessica? What if the Kwons do harm to you, too?"
"How did you get in anyway, unnie? I can't imagine that old man to tolerate you there."
"It's Yuri. She wanted to show me she had no choice but to do what she did because her grandfather's influence is too powerful. She brought me in and is doing everything to keep me safe. There's no need to be worried."
Jessica gave a reassuring smile, but Krystal frowned.
"Did you tell her about dad?"
"She knows I'm trying to find him. I thought she might have something to do with dad's runaway at first, but I've confirmed her innocence. Don't worry. Yuri… she really doesn't know anything about it."
Krystal scowled even harder. "Then what are you still doing there? Shouldn't you be trying other ways to find dad?"
"What do you mean?"
"Krystal," Mrs Jung interrupted. "Don't talk to your unnie like that."
"Unnie, you know I support the relationship between the two of you. But the way you're talking about Yuri unnie… You should hear yourself speak and see the look on your face. I don't even know… are you really focusing on finding dad? It seems like you've been much busier trying to settle your own matters with Yuri unnie."
"What? No, I—"
Words were stuck in Jessica's throat. She looked at her mom, but the woman kept silence and looked down, as if she was waiting for an explanation too. But Jessica didn't know what to say. She couldn't even find an argument to convince herself Yuri had not been a distraction. Krystal's words become more reasonable the more she thought about it, and soon enough, Jessica heard her conscience declare herself guilty.
She was too selfish because of Yuri.
----------
That night, Yuri ended work earlier than usual. She parked her car in front of the apartment complex and took out her phone to quickly type and send a short message to a foreign number. Once done, Yuri unbuckled her belt and got out of the car. She was just about to enter the huge building when a person at the end of the street caught her attention. Yuri stopped in her tracks and narrowed her eyes, trying to figure out who it was. She could swear the person looked like Jessica, but it made no sense that Jessica would walk down the street with a suitcase pulled behind at this hour, so Yuri shrugged, let it go and went inside.
Just when she reached the stairs, her stomach grumbled as if suggesting it wouldn't be bad to buy something yummy for dinner. Yuri listened to the grumbles and went to the Thai restaurant on the other side of the street, ordering some spicy fried noodles for takeaway.
Half an hour later, Yuri finally reached home. She opened the apartment door and cheerily called out for Jessica, making obvious noises with the plastic bag containing the noodle boxes. But she received no reply. The apartment was abnormally quiet.
Yuri placed the food on the table in the empty kitchen and went looking for Jessica. She soon found out that the whole apartment was empty. A cold shiver ran down her spine when she reached the bedroom and realized all of Jessica's belongings were gone. It was then that realization dawned on her all of a sudden, clear like daylight – the person she saw earlier was no one but Jessica.
Yuri felt like slapping herself for wasting so much time in the Thai restaurant.
But maybe it wasn't too late.
She dashed out of the apartment and jumped into her car.
She was determined to get her girl back.
