I got too awkward.
It's super embarrassing to admit that I look up to Jeonghan and that I wanted to be by his side all the time. That I want him to live longer.
Taehyung and the other butlers were always reliable, that's because they were told to do so. But Jeonghan, I feel like he is willing to help me all the time. I never met someone that I can truly trust.
That's why I want to protect him and to make him trust me back.
But I was being too pushy back there about the smoking buddy stuff and I can't handle it. It was the first time in my life that I felt sooo shy. Thank goodness this patient came to save me from the hot seat.
I started preparing the tools. When I checked him, he doesn't have any gunshot wounds nor stabs.
"Bruises?" Chan asked.
"Yeah." I checked on the man again.
"Why would you go here for bruises? Well, Joshua, can I do this instead? There's no surgery involved so I can handle this."
"Sure."
"That guy's fishy." Hoshi whispered.
I nodded while I remove my gloves. It's been a while since I heard some sensible things come from Hoshi's mouth.
"You're a new face." I told the man.
"Uhm. Yeah. I'm new." He answered.
"What happened to you?"
"Hoshi, we don't ask patients about it." I said though I'm itching to ask him, too.
"There. Done." Chan said while he closes the bottle of disinfectant.
"Thanks."
The man didn't look on his newly treated bruises and paid us immediately. He got out of the clinic looking so paranoid.
"I think we need to raise our guards. Anything might be coming our way. Where's Jeonghan?" Hoshi said.
"He was smoking outside."
After a few minutes, we heard police sirens getting louder. I was stunned as the sounds stopped here in our location.
"Freeze! Raise your hands!"
The cops pointed their guns at us. They went closer to me and put my arms behind my back.
"You're under arrest for illegal medical practice and illegal possession of firearms. Anything you say can and will be held against you!"
Oh. It was me, so my time has come.
"Wait, you can't do that." Chan said.
"This person is accused of serving many crime syndicates as their underground doctor."
Hoshi and Chan were taken a back and looked at me worriedly.
"Who.. Who would accuse him of that?" Chan held onto me, refusing to surrender me to the cops.
"A bounty hunter has cooperated with the cops."
The three of us looked at each other as if we have the same person in mind. We were speechless. There's no way Jeonghan would do this. But where is he right now?
Hoshi and Chan went outside to look for him while the police guided me peacefully to their police car.
I saw someone outside made his way through the cops, panting. I caught his eyes, which he always does.
I really trusted this person. Though he has no reason to keep me and he has all the reasons to surrender me to the law. I understand him. It's just..
"Jeonghan, why?"
"No no no. Trust me!"
I rode the car and they drove it away from my clinic.
They immediately interrogated me when we arrived at the precinct. We went inside a room with white walls, metal table, two stools, and bad lighting. I sat in front of the police officer.
"Tell me who you have worked with."
"I'm a medical doctor."
"Have you worked for the mafia?"
"I work in my own clinic."
He slammed the table.
"I'm a good cop now, Mr. Hong."
"It's Doctor."
I want to just keep mouth shut for now. I'll decide later if whether I should bail myself out or not. I need to understand what's going on first.
"Now, where is your gun?"
"What gun?"
"You were seen with a gun."
How did they know about the gun?
Ah. By the witness, by a hunter.
Now I feel like staying behind bars. I don't want to see my buddies, especially him.
Stop, Jisoo. Jeonghan will never betray you.
But what made Jeonghan help me find Nico all of a sudden? Is this is intention all along, to put my guards down? Okay, stop thinking.
The officer detained me after the shouting and threatening session. I saw Hoshi, Chan, and Jeonghan waiting outside.
"Joshua!" Chan reached his hands through the bars.
"Listen, okay? There's a cash in the drawer, use it for your allowance."
"What wait"
"It will suffice you for now."
"How about you?"
"Focus on your studies, you can have more hours of sleep without the clinic.
"I can't sleep knowing you're here." He tapped my shoulders.
"Joshua.." Jeonghan called and I only smiled at him.
"Even though our friend right here looks so suspicious, he ain't a snitch." Hoshi pushed Jeonghan.
"Of course I won-"
"Yoon Jeonghan?" A cop called.
"Yes?"
"Regarding your reward money, it's available for pick up in the Investigation Bureau."
"It's not me!" He turned to us "I didn't do it, believe me." He turned to the cop again "I'm not accepting anything!" He turned again to us and whispered "I know who did this" He reached his hand to me and I dodged it.
"It's okay." I said.
"No way.." Jeonghan lowered his shoulders.
"Joshua, you believe us, right?" Hoshi asked with a nervous smile.
"You should all rest now. Please bring Chan to the condo."
"We'll bail you out. I'll take you back." Jeonghan told me before they left.
I watched them leave the station. Later on, a a metallic red sedan parked right in front of the entrance.
"Good morning, Detective Lee." The officer bowed as Seokmin entered the station and he nodded at them.
"Oh, how?" I asked.
"Come closer."
I leaned on the bars and he leaned onto my ears.
"It was a talk in the Bureau. I heard that an underground doctor will be arrested."
"News have wings."
"This is not good for you. They're hoping to squeeze information out of you about the mafia."
"I don't even know a thing."
"Right. That process is stressful. Wait for me, I'll take you out of here."
"Thanks, Seokmin."
"Also, take this." He gave me a bottled water and some bread.
"I won't take too long but I don't want you to starve or be bored so have that."
"I expect I'll be out here before I finish this, huh?"
"Yeah, trust me." And he hurriedly left.
Believe them. Trust them. How can I do that?
I turned around and noticed there's someone in here with me.
"Oh, hey." I called.
"Hmm?" He turned. He looks Western, American maybe.
"I'm Joshua." I sat in front of him.
"Hi Joshua. What brought you here?"
"I'm accused of illegal medical practice."
"Oh wow. I'm accused too."
"Of what?"
"Illegal immigrant. I'm clearly Korean."
"You could have showed them your Id."
"I was roaming around without my phone and wallet."
"You can phone someone."
"I will. But.."
"You want to stay here for a while? Because that's how I feel right now."
"Oh wow. Yeah. I don't like to face everyone right now."
"We can have some snacks, you want?" I offered him the bread Seokmin gave me.
"Thanks. Anyway, I'm Vernon."
