- Two weeks later -
"Sorry!" Soon Deok apologized for the umpteenth time, when her car hit another rough bump in the road and she once again noticed her passenger visibly flinch at the jolt.
"If you apologize one more time, I'll get out and walk," Wang So quipped, yet with a clearly evident strain in his voice.
"Maybe I should make you walk home...just for being a smartass," she continued the lighthearted banter, then immediately regretted it and cringed, forcing herself to hold back another apology at the next bump. "And no, I'm not intentionally hitting them," she quickly said instead.
"Could have fooled me," So countered nonchalantly, restraining a grin.
Soon Deok sighed and rolled her eyes. "You haven't changed one bit in all those years," she assessed.
"And neither have you! Still overprotective like a mother hen," he grinned after all.
"Yeah, well," she shrugged, "I have Lady Hae to answer to...and not to mention Hae Soo-ssi, who would probably claw my eyes out if I let anything happen to you. And then there are your brothers who...by the way," she suddenly sidetracked, "just as a fair warning...don't say anything when you get home."
So regarded her with a quizzical frown. "Say anything about what?"
"You'll see what I mean when we get there," Soon Deok answered cryptically, "but let me just say your Namdongsaengdeul (younger brothers) worked really hard to give you a proper welcome home...and don't make that face either," she added, noticing his grimace.
He wearily shook his head. "All I want to do is just go home and sleep! I don't need any kind of welcome home party or whatever they..."
"I promise I'll get them out of there quickly," she cut off the protest. "Just indulge them for a few minutes...please?...Trust me, they definitely earned it," she assured him when he merely muttered something unintelligible under his breath and sighed in resignation.
So knew full well that there was no use in continuing to argue the matter. Not only because he was too tired and in too much discomfort to continue, but mostly because he had learned years ago that it was impossible for him to win an argument against Park Soon Deok once she had made up her mind on something. He also knew that he had no reason to worry, because the 'mother hen' would make sure that his brothers didn't put him through anything he couldn't handle—even if it required for her to physically throw them out of the house.
Yo-hyung had already learned his lesson, not to go against Soon Deok when she was in 'protector mode', and So had repeatedly observed his brother's unconcealed admiration for the feisty lady over the past couple of weeks. Hyung definitely has a crush on her! He grinned at the thought, yet somehow the notion pleased him. Yo had been by his side almost constantly while he remained in the hospital's intensive care unit—an arrangement Myung Hee had somehow managed to make, since the already highly restricted access to ICU made it easier to guard than any other area.
Myung Hee had also assigned two additional guards to So's room, leaving Soon Deok free to keep the brothers company inside. Her frisky nature and the almost constant, lighthearted bickering between her and Yo forestalled any possibility of boredom. Of course, laughing with broken ribs was more than just 'uncomfortable' —it pretty much bordered on torture—and Yo had earned himself numerous sharp reprimands from the 'mother hen' whenever she realized that their silly bantering left So in misery.
Soon Deok, still on a guilt-trip for failing to prevent Chae Ryung's attempt on So's life, had become even more protective. She had instructed the guards under her command that nobody would be permitted to enter the room without proper identification, including name, code and photo ID. Much to the chagrin of Eun and Baek Ah, the guards didn't dare to lax in their duty. Yo had initially laughed at his younger brothers' exasperation—until Choi Ji Young 'carded' him as well when he returned with Baek Ah after another trip to his house for a change of clothes. Only Hae Soo, on special order from Myung Hee, had been spared the—what his brothers considered 'humiliation'— being asked for a photo ID.
Hae Soo had continued to take turns with Eun and Baek Ah on evening visits, and somehow managed to always sneak a few forbidden delicacies into the room. Of course Yo had gladly volunteered his services as 'taste tester', which usually ended with half of the food disappearing—but just to be safe—and a lecture for So from the 'mother hen' about all the reasons why patients in hospitals were supposed to only consume hospital food. He had quietly endured Soon Deok's sermons, while snacking on whatever delicious contraband Hae Soo smuggled in, guessing that it was in fact Myung Hee who sent the special treats.
Lady Hae had also kept them updated on their Maknae's condition, as well as the ongoing investigation. The good news was that Jungie, under the care of Dr. Choi, continued to steadily recover, hidden away in the new, tightly guarded, safe house. Dr. Seong had been able to analyze and identify the drug that Jung had been exposed to as LMMDS, an experimental compound, comprised of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (aka LSD) and Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (aka Ecstasy) which provided the hypnotic effect, and Dimethyl Sulfoxide, a chemical that greatly enhanced absorption of other chemicals through mere skin contact. Keeping Jung calm and under constant observation had been the main concern, until the effects of the drug had completely worn off after a few days.
Myung Hee had furthermore arranged for a phone call between the brothers, mostly to put So's mind at ease that Jung was fully aware of who had caused his injuries. However, the call had ended up going in a different direction, since Jung kept apologizing over and over for getting his Hyung in trouble by coming to him for help. And even though everyone had supported him in reassuring Jung that it wasn't his fault, So was concerned that their Maknae would continue to blame himself for what had happened, and would start to once again avoid him—albeit for a different reason now.
"What are you thinking so hard about?" Soon Deok's question interrupted his pondering.
"Just different things," he shrugged, "but mostly about how I'm going to get it through to Jungie that the cops showing up at my house wasn't his fault."
Soon Deok merely 'hmmmed' with a wary grimace.
"Yeah, that would have been my answer too," So mused sullenly, and winced when the car hit yet another bump. "And don't say it," he preempted one more apology when Soon Deok opened her mouth.
"Okay, I won't," she muttered, "but tell me something...any idea where Lady Hae has been hiding for the past two weeks? No one has seen her...not even Hae Soo-ssi..."
"What do you mean?" he interrupted her, sounding perplexed. "She just called me yesterday...Has she not been at her house?"
"No, and apparently neither has Wook. Hae Soo-ssi also told me that Lady Hae called her several times, but refused to tell her where she was and only said not to worry about her...and that, whenever she tried to call her, the call would go straight to voicemail...Like the phone has been turned off."
This time So was the one who 'hmmmed', and winced again when he twisted slightly to reach the brand new, state-of-the-art cell phone in his jacket pocket—a 'pre welcome home present' from his brothers—and his still sore ribs protested against the move.
He dialed the preset for Myung Hee, then frowned. "Soo is right...it goes straight to voicemail." He left a brief message, requesting a call-back, but had barely hung up when his own phone vibrated. One brief glance at the caller ID and he quickly answered. "Would you care to tell me where in the world you are? You have a whole bunch of people here worried about you!"
"Well, hello to you too, Wang So-ssi," Myung Hee countered, addressing him formally, which she only ever did when he managed to irritate her.
"Mianhamnida, Lady Hae!" he hastily retracted, grimacing at Soon Deok who snickered because he blushed embarrassed. "I just..."
"Never mind!" she cut him off. "Where are you right now?"
"In the car, on my way home."
"You're driving?" Myung Hee queried concerned.
"No, Soon Deok is..." He openly cringed this time, then finished from between clenched teeth, "and trying to kill me by hitting every pothole in sight." The remark earned him a not-so-friendly glare from said female.
"Put me on speaker."
So quickly obeyed, though puzzled by the urgency in her request—no, demand!
"Soon Deok, I am sending an address to your GPS. You two meet me there as soon as you can. East end of the parking garage, fifth level, look for a black Lexus."
"What is..." Soon Deok's mouth remained open, as she exchanged a baffled glance with So when the call abruptly disconnected. "What was that all about?"
"How should I know?" he shrugged, clearly uneasy. "Any idea where that address is?"
"Matter of fact, I know exactly where it is...Hang on!"
So barely had time to grab the handle above the passenger side window, before she braked hard and slung her Kia around in a tight u-turn. The maneuver resulted in numerous flashes from high-beams and a bunch of angry horn honking, which she ignored by flooring the gas pedal.
"Yah!...I just got out of a hospital," So commented harshly. "Could you maybe not put me back into one right now?"
"Don't worry, I got this," she gave back nonchalantly, passing three cars at a time and barely avoiding oncoming traffic.
He bit back another remark, and just gripped the handle tighter when she took the next corner in fourth gear. He couldn't suppress a sharply exhaled breath, however, when she swerved to miss a parked delivery truck.
"Sorry!"
So didn't reply, only clamped his teeth tightly together, and squinted his eyes shut until he felt the Kia slowing down at last as they turned into the parking garage.
"Watch out for the..." He didn't get any further before she hit the first of them.
"Sorry! I forgot about the speed bumps," she muttered contritely.
"Yeah, I noticed," he gave back, bracing himself for the next one. "She couldn't have met us on the ground level?"
"We could park down here and take the elevator up," Soon Deok suggested.
"No, keep driving. Just..." He swore under his breath, then finished audibly, "take it easy over those things."
She merely nodded this time, though knowing that even crossing the speed bumps as slow as possible had to be pure torture for So. Still, she realized that he was equally concerned about Myung Hee's cryptic call and the rather strange request to meet her here.
"Last one...Hold on," she said, slowing down once more as they reached the fifth level at last. "Look, back there is the Lexus. I guess that's her. Where does she keep getting those awesome cars?"
"From the awesome car store," So stated dryly, earning himself a snooty grimace. "But I'm more curious why she's not driving her beloved Jeep."
"Us girls need a change of scenery every now and then," Soon Deok gave back as she pulled her Kia into the empty spot beside the Lexus and cut the engine. "Are you okay?" she inquired, serious now and fully aware of his drawn expression.
"I will be...eventually!" he replied from between tightly clenched teeth again, as he moved to step out of the car. He straightened with a suppressed grunt, then momentarily grabbed hold of the door frame to fight off a wave of dizziness.
Soon Deok rushed around to the passenger side, and reached him just as Myung Hee exited the Lexus.
"Lady Hae, annyeo..." The rest of the greeting died in her throat, and she stared wide-eyed at the older woman.
Even in the rather dim light of the parking garage, her uncharacteristically ragged appearance, together with the deep worry lines around her lips and between her eyebrows, were a clear indication that something was very wrong.
"Lady Hae, are you..."
"Don't even say it," she wearily cut off Wang So before he got any further. "I know I'm a mess, and no, I'm not all right," she hastily continued.
"What happened?" So managed to interject.
"Long story, and we don't have time for it right now. Here..." She handed him a large, sealed envelope. "This is for you, and there is also a letter inside explaining everything. But please do not open in until you get home." Myung Hee then turned to Soon Deok, and held out her hand. "Let me have your car keys."
Soon Deok hesitated for a brief moment, then complied and squinted perplexed when Myung Hee handed her the keys to the Lexus in exchange for her own.
"Lady Hae, what..."
"Ji Mong will take over the network," Myung Hee cut her off as she walked around the Kia and opened the driver's side door. "You take care of yourself, and take care of my boy here," she added with a motion of her head toward So. "And you..." she addressed him directly, "stay out of trouble, and take good care of Soo-ya for me. Everything you need to clear yourself and your brothers is in the trunk of the Lexus, and Ji Mong can answer any questions you might have." With this, she quickly slipped into the Kia, slammed the door shut, started the engine and backed out of the parking spot.
She stopped briefly and rolled down the window. "One more thing...keep an eye out for Wook. Our people are on him, but haven't caught him yet, and he's out of his mind, so be extra careful," she admonished her two friends who stood dazed, staring at her uncomprehendingly. Then she floored the gas pedal, squealing tires as the Kia disappeared around the corner at the far end of the parking garage.
A/N: Disclaimer: The name of the drug that Jung was exposed to and its composition is (like the story) purely fictional and doesn't really exist. Could it exist? I don't know! Would it work like in the story? I don't know that either, but I would strongly advise AGAINST trying to find out!