Little Detective

Chapter 16: The Question

Jihwan, Murphy, and I returned to my apartment. I let Murphy off his leash and once he was free, he ran to his bed on the couch. I laughed at the dog as he automatically fell asleep.

I put Murphy's leash and doggy bags back in the drawer. Once I closed the drawer, I felt arms wrap around my waist. Jihwan placed his head in the crook of my neck. I felt him take a deep breath before he nuzzled deeper into my neck.

"I believe you have a promise you need to fulfill," I told Jihwan.

Jihwan hummed into my neck which tickled my skin. I moved my hands to cover his. Being in his embrace felt so nice. I could get used to something like this.

"That little boy's mom got me thinking," Jihwan muttered.

"About what?" I asked.

"What are we?" Jihwan asked as he pulled away from my neck.

I turned in his arms to face him. He was already gazing down at me. I put my hands on his chest and looked up at him confused.

"What are you talking about?"

"The lady said we're dating, which is true. We are dating," Jihwan said. "But are we just dating or are we more?"

"More? Like boyfriend and girlfriend?" I asked. Jihwan nodded. I started to play with the buttons on the top of his shirt. "I always thought that the guy had to ask the girl. That way it would be official."

"How about I tell you a bit about my past. And if you still want to be with me afterwards, I'll ask you then."

"Okay," I said. "Should we sit down?"

"It's a bit of a long story, so it might be best," Jihwan said.

Jihwan and I walked over to the couch. Jihwan sat down first and pulled me into his side, wrapping his arms around me.

"Where do I begin?" Jihwan wondered aloud.

"Where ever you think you should," I said.

"My father was a leader of a mafia here in Towson before I was born," Jihwan started. "It was called Chongal. My father was getting older and realized he would need an heir to take over for him. He was told about my mother from one of his allies. She was a mafia boss's second daughter. After an agreement between my father and his grandfather, they got married and had me not long after. And I was three when my mother died-"

"Your mother died?"

I watched as Jihwan wiggled in his seat. It was obvious he was uncomfortable talking about his mother.

"I only have one memory of my mother. And my father never told me how she died. And not long after she died, Father started my education. It was a regular education, yet I always knew what kind of business Father did. He never hid it from me. But by the time I was ten, my father began teaching me about his business. I took to learning the business quickly.

"When I turned eighteen, that's when I began to grow my own mafia, using my Father's to boost my own. But soon, I started getting stronger and others started joining me. That's how I met my six closest friends. Prince, Dwarf, JJ, Daydream, T, and Ghost."

"So is Ghost his real alias?" I asked.

"Yes, but you aren't going to put that in the file, Little Detective. Now let me continue. It was five years ago that Father was diagnosed with cancer. He lasted just over a year before he succumbed to it. I took over his mafia, adding my own to it. That's how the Gabos everyone knows was started."

"Quick question. I've always wondered, what does Gabos stand for? What does it mean?" I asked.

"In Korean, Gabos means armor. Since my father's mafia means Bullet, I wanted it to mean that my people are untouchable by the past. That there's no stopping them. No stopping me."