Just Like Before [Pinocchio]

°ʳᵉᵈ ᵗᵉⁿᵗ°

"Oh c'mon! You also told me everything about Gi Jae Myeong!" You exclaimed, sitting in squad-position, your head barely inches above Ahn Chan Soo's bureau. "That's exactly why I can't help you this time." Ahn Chan Soo stood up from his desk and began wandering off towards the exit, holding a fair amount of notes and small maps with more paper in it. "That's not even a good excuse!" You stood up and hastened over to him, Beomju followed you like a stray dog. "Listen, I will make a very good article and get back my job, alright?" You began as he stopped in his tracks. The man glimpsed over his shoulder with a grimace. "Why would I care about your job?" He replied with a frown as he began wandering off again.

You hurried over to him once more as you grab his arm. "If I'm one of the leaders again, I could easily give you a promotion!" You endeavored, looking at him with an imploring gaze. "What do you mean, promotion?", "Stand still and I'll tell you everything that you'd like to know." Chan Soo did exactly what you asked as he locked eyes with you. "Go ahead, you have one minute." He spoke as your e/c orbs trailed through the hallway. "Well, you might not believe me, but I was a head-chief." You revealed with a nod, Chan Soo kept maintaining his cold stare on you. "If I make one good article, just one that will go viral, I can have this job back. Once I do, I can work together with you some more and then... people will think you're so amazing and then, well, y-you know. Your loan will raise and you will be popular." Ahn Chan Soo crossed his arms at your statement, scoffing in disbelieve. "You're telling me that you were a head-chief, but you can't even convince a person in doing business with you?" His words felt like a hand smacking right into your face.

"Now if you'd excuse me, these papers need to be brought to the juridical monument of Seoul." He softly moved you aside as he strolled off once more. Your brother rubbed his nape, glaring around with not a single idea of knowing what to do. You remained in the same position. Perplexed. Bewildered. "Hey ehm, we could always try the other officers?" Your older brother suggested, trying to stay positive. You snap out of your thoughts and walk off at a rather fast pace. "Or... not." Your brother ended, standing alone in the police station.

"He really thinks he can just say stuff like that?" You muttered to yourself as you can see him disappearing right behind a corner. A few officers passed you by, having a coffee whilst talking about the latest football match. You see him wandering into an area which says 'Employees only'. A sigh escaped from your lips as you know that you can't enter it. Yes, you were a journalist, but that doesn't mean that you would break the rules of law, especially not in a police station.

At that moment your phone buzzed in your pocket. Your eyes moved down as you grabbed your phone which revealed a message saying; 'Are you free? There's something we need to talk about'. It was a message coming from Choi In Ha herself. The memories of you criticizing Cha Ok flashed right before your eyes. In Ha's facial expression, the anger that you felt back then, it all began flowing through your brain.

Memory from Song Cha Ok's special lecture.

"You made sure the wife of Gi Ho-Sang became isolated to the point where she wasn't even able to go to markets anymore!" You spoke loudly as In Ha shoots up from her chair. She hauled over to you, holding your hand. "Please stop-" She murmured with a worried tone and moist eyes. Your gaze moved down at hers as you felt sadness crawling up your body. You knew this woman killed your lover's parents. You knew this woman made sure Dal Po's brother became a murderer. "I'm sorry, Choi In Ha." You mumbled back as you take another step closer to the stage, softly removing In Ha's hand from yours.

"Do you know they had a promise, Miss Song Cha Ok?" You inquired as the elder's bottom lip began twitching. "They made a promise to watch the fireworks together. Because of you-" Your hands began molding fists, anger bottling up. You could see Dal Po's face again on that roof. You could hear everything he had been through once more. You could feel his embrace back at the police station.

End of memory.

But that wasn't the only thing that bothered you when thinking about this. You could have made things right with her that day, but you didn't. You did the opposite. You pushed her away and went fully on her mother. You eventually even tried to talk to her about it, but that didn't end well. All because of Gi Jae Myeong. If it wasn't for him, you two would still be able to talk like the way you did before.

Your gaze moved up, analyzing the board which said 'Employees only'. What would happen next was in your hands. This was your only chance of either making the article or mending with In Ha. Your eyes moved down anew, staring at the screen ere typing out a message; 'Let's meet each other at the red tent that's in front of our broadcasting station. I'll meet you there.' You hesitated a little but decided to send it. You give the employee's room one more glimpse ere turning your back at it. You began wandering off towards the exit of the police station, hoping that you made the right decision.

At the red tent

A soft exhale forced itself out of your mouth as soon as you walked into the place to be, the sun had already settled and darkness overwhelmed Seoul. Your e/c gaze shifted around the place as you catch In Ha sitting alone at a table with two bottles of soju along with one empty bottle. You analyze her a little bit more, realizing she doesn't look too good. She looks sad even.

In Ha attempted on refilling her small glass with soju, only concluding that it's empty. The woman turned her head; "Ajummoni, one more bottle of soju please!" That's when she acknowledged your features. Her gaze softened as you took a deep breath supplanted by strolling over, taking a seat in front of her. Your mind went blank as you tried to find a subject to talk about. "You wanted to talk about something?" You questioned as her tired nor drunk-like eyes trailed up, meeting yours. "That day when you went to the lecture of my mom, I asked you to come meet me, but you didn't show up. How can you do that to me? Do you hate me because she's my mom?" She mentioned quite-- loud. "Huh!" She added as she pointed a finger at me. "It wasn't-- because of your mom." You replied gazing around a little bit embarrassed, hoping no one was looking your direction. "Then who? Was it my uncle? Because once you worked with him, you steal my whoooole~ family. My grandfather likes you, my father likes you! B-but no one likes me, do you know how that feels, Y/n? Working so hard and still not achieving your goals just because you're a Pinocchio." You feel a little bit taken back by her sudden statements as your gaze went down; moving forth and back on the red, plastic table.

A woman wandered up to you two, handing another green bottle of Soju. "Thank you, Ajhummoni!" She called out as the woman bowed with a smile, wandering off. In Ha took a small glass and poured some Soju in it. "Here, drink it." Your gaze moved up as you maintained your gaze onto hers. "In Ha-ya, there's something you should know..." You stated as her gaze stated nothing more than drunkness. "You know Gi Jae Myeong, right?" You began as she frowned softly.