"Chan, sit down. Have your breakfast."
"I'll eat in school."
"Don't leave the house with empty stomach."
"Okay okaaaay."
My father prepared an egg sandwich and coffee for me. But none for him. That's why I don't want to eat. He's always like this, he feeds me at least thrice a day but he eats one meal per day. It's not healthy for him.
"Papa." I sliced the sandwich and gave him the half of it.
"No, that's yours."
"Don't leave the house with empty stomach."
"Hmph. Okay okaaaay."
He took it and sat in front of me.
He works as a carpenter to keep me in medical school. I'm in third year now, just few more semesters and he can finally relax.
I wish mom could see me achieve it. She died last year because of colon cancer. She also used to work nonstop without taking care of herself. It's only papa and I so I work as fried chicken delivery guy to earn somehow.
I'm so proud of them. They sent me to school even though we're poor. They always remind me that I am the future of our family. Both of them finished high school only so if ever I become a doctor, I'm the first in our family.
"I'll get going then." He's done eating.
"Me, too."
"Do good in school, okay?"
"Of course. I'm the future of medicine."
"Hahaha right."
Little did I know that was our last breakfast together.
I'm going home earlier than usual because the chicken restau owner needs to close for their wife's anniversary. At least I can do an advance reading on my subjects.
When I stepped on our apartment floor, I heard conversation coming from our door.
"Please. Please give me one more week." I peeked behind one of the apartment unit and saw papa speaking with a guy in black polo.
"But you're one week late." The guy looks young, we're kind of the same age.
"Mr. Choi, my son needs it for his internship."
"They told me to get your son if you don't pay now.."
What are they talking about? I stepped forward when papa brought out a kitchen knife.
"You can't take my son." His hands are shaking while pointing the knife at the guy.
The man stepped back. It's terrifying, papa can't threaten someone, he's a good person.
"Mr. Lee, put that down. I was only tasked to do this. If I can't bring the money, I need to take all your possessions."
"No!"
Papa charged so I ran towards them. Suddenly the man brought out a gun and shot my father twice.
"PAPA!"
The man was shocked to see me. He stood there watching my father bleed to death.
"HELP! SOMEONE!"
He was about to run when I grabbed his hand.
"GET SOME HELP!"
"Chan.."
"Papa! Wait we'll call the ambulance. HELP!" I screamed my lungs out but our neighbors don't seem to care.
While talking to papa, the guy ran away.
"BASTARD! I WILL REMEMBER YOU!"
That's when the neighbors went out their units and helped me bring him to the hospital.
But he died on arrival.
I can't forgive the man who did this to him. I will make sure he'll suffer. Death, yes, he'll know what death tastes like.
It's been three days since I filed a police report and they haven't reported back to me. What's taking them so long? Do they know I can't sleep at night knowing that Mr. Choi is still alive?
I went to the Investigation Bureau to follow up on my case when they told me they still have no leads.
"What do you mean nothing?!" I violently grabbed one officer by his collar.
"Sir, please calm down."
"Calm? Down?"
"What's happening here?" A man in long brown coat appeared.
"Detective Lee." An officer saluted. "He's a victim's family."
"Okay. I'll talk-"
"Ah! Detective! You're a detective, right?" I said. Finally, someone competent.
"May I know your name?"
"Lee Chan. Please find the culprit. Please."
"Okay, I will follow this up on Detective Jeon. Please settl-"
"Are you passing the responsibility?!"
"I believe that wasn't assigned to me, but rest assured this will be relayed to-"
"Ahh!! Then where is he? I want to talk to him."
Then the officers held me again. I can't deal with anyone here.
"Hey get off me! Where's that Detective Jeon?"
"Oh, hunters, right? Remember me?" I saw the detective I was talking to a while ago approached men in casual clothes.
Hunters..
I stopped being hysterical and watched the three of them talk. When they left, I asked for the cab to follow those two.
The hunters went inside a Chinese restaurant. I don't care if they're having lunch now. I need to talk to them.
"Welcome! Table for how many?"
I went straight and looked for the two guys. I stretched my neck to check every table in the restau.
"Oh, you're with someone?" The server asked.
"Where can I find the hunters?"
"Ahh. Please wait here."
He went through the metal door at looks like a kitchen and went back to me.
"They're busy. Kindly wait for them."
I waited for like 10 seconds then walked towards the metal door the server just went.
"Hey!" He called.
I just walked.
"Hey stop!"
I slammed the door and saw 4 men having a conversation. Oops, they're actually busy. Then I recognized the two of them, the people I'm looking for.
"Sorry, I was being rude. I'm Lee Chan. I came here to ask the hunters to kill someone."
"Uhm kill?" Said the guy who was just sitting on other man's lap.
"Yes. He's Mr. Choi. I know what he looks like but I don't know where he's from."
"I think you got it wrong." The other one of the hunters approached me. "We can't do that, we're not hired killers."
