Dares and Heartbreaks: TaeJoo & KangGook

Chapter 19

Kang Gook watched as the three strode in the court room oozing confidence. He felt intimidated as if he were the one facing them.

He sat down at the edge of his seat. He wished it were over before it even started. He wanted to go there to confront all of them, but he just couldn't. They all had changed in the five years that he hadn't seen them or talked to them. He had looked for them, he had waited, and he couldn't believe they had been working for the same company and he didn't know.

Kang Gook was distracted from his thinking when they introduced themselves.

"I'm sorry we are late your honour, my name is Min Tae Joo, the defence attorney and these are my clients, the owner of Min Joo, Min Hyeo and Lee Jun"

Kang Gook got lost when Tae Joo introduced himself. He had changed his last name from Han to Min.

He looked at Tae Joo's mother introduced as Min Hyeo. It was the Tae Joo's mother that he knew. She was the owner of-

"Min-Joo" he whispered as it made sense in his head. The name of the company was a combination of their names. He had thought it was a name derived from the term Minju meaning democracy but that was not the case.

What baffled him even more was that she was the owner of the company. No wonder she succeeded in hiding Tae Joo from him.

The fact that Lee Jun was a part of the team was something that he was failing to understand.

The court started and they seem to be winning. They had irrefutable evidence against Torch.

Kang Gook was impressed by Tae Joo. He was no longer the weak baby he had raised. He was a man, a confident man. He was not whining or stuttering like he used to, he was speaking with a powerful voice as he defended his mother's company.

Kang Gook was called to take a stand and was questioned by Tae Joo. Throughout the examination, Tae Joo referred him as Chief Operations Manager. It was different seeing him this way. He was like a new person. He answered the questions from the prosecution as well. They tried to vex his mind, but he stuck to the facts.

An agonizing 45 minutes later, the judge asked for recess after asking both sides to make their final statements. He said he was coming back with the verdict after the recess.

Kang Gook was stuck as some people left the court room to get some air. Tae Joo was smiling talking to his mother and Lee Jun. They didn't acknowledge him at all. They didn't look his way. It was like they didn't know who he was. They didn't leave the room, but he saw Tae Joo getting up from his seat as he headed for the exit.

Kang Gook followed Tae Joo. He saw him going into the bathroom and followed him there too. He was nervous. He didn't go inside. He waited nervously outside the bathroom.

Tae Joo came out and as he was heading back Kang Gook called him,

"Han Tae Joo" Kang Gook called out and Tae Joo kept walking as if he hadn't him.

"Tae Jooya" He called again this time louder and Tae Joo stopped. He turned and looked at Kang Gook.

"oh Chief Operations Manager, how are you?" Tae Joo greeted formally.

"I'm doing quite well thank you.... Tae Jooya" Kang Gook called again, and Tae Joo looked with a curious face.

"it must be hard going through all this right? I'm glad we managed to conclude this one but please make sure that there is no repeat of a similar case in the future"

"I understand" Kang Gook replied.

"you have worked hard Mr Kang, kurom" Tae Joo did a mini bow with his head and left a bewildered Kang Gook behind. Tae Joo acted like he did not know him. He acted like he didn't remember him.

"don't tell me...." Kang Gook's eyes widened. He looked at Tae Joo's back as he entered the court room.

Did Tae Joo lose his memories after that incident? Kang Gook asked himself. Tae Joo hadn't acted like he knew him before.

Kang Gook didn't know anything, and it was frustrating. He had so many questions.

He went back to the court room too, swallowing tears and sadness threatening to take over. He was feeling overwhelmed. Seeing Tae Joo again after he disappeared was too much. He had so much to ask but Tae Joo was not prepared to listen. He feared that Tae Joo didn't have him in his memories anymore and it was a terrifying possibility.

The second session of the courtroom was different. This time he was getting stares from Min Hyeo and periodically Lee Jun was looking at his direction. It was like they noticed that he was in the room now.

The judge came back and asked for closing remarks from both parties. The prosecution went first asking for compensation and an apology, among other things from Minjoo.

Tae Joo got up and started his closing remarks. He summarised his arguments and asked the judge to punish those who slander the company's name and attempt to tarnish the image of the company. It was in this closing argument that he said a unique statement.

"Your honor, these small companies make bets and dares to take down hardworking companies and claim undeserving and unearned compensation."

He went on with his remarks.

Kang Gook sat there frozen.

That one was meant for him. It didn't help that Tae Joo was looking at him when he said those words.

Kang Gook felt attacked.

He deserved it.

However, it was a moment of clarity.

Tae Joo did not lose his memory