Ga Eul woke up feeling slightly dizzy and disoriented. There was that mild pounding sensation on the back of her head she recognized from being slightly dehydrated, a self diagnose strengthen by how her throat felt parched and she really wanted to have a glass of ice cold water with Panadol as she cracked her eyes open. It's rubbish though, she couldn't see anything even if she had opened her eyes a bit wider and strained to see a little harder. The room she was in was dark, and she couldn't be sure whether it was because the room had no window to the outside world or it was simply night time. Her cheek felt cold pressed on the hard floor for God knew how long.
Oh shit, she groaned. Why did she fall asleep on the floor in the first place? It just wasn't at all like her. She preferred to always sleep on a bed, at least a mattress or a couch, not on the hard floor like this. What is she, a savage or something? Where was she anyway? Very slowly she pushed herself from the floor, feeling her whole body stiff, a telling sign that she had been in the same position for quite a period of time already, although nothing seemed to hurt or broken. Still feeling woozy, she stretched out her arms and neck, feeling a little better as they gave a satisfying creak sound. It's a bad habit but it did make her feel better.
Starting to become fully awake, she forced herself to sit straight and looked around for the door. There had to be a door somewhere, she casted her eyes on the floor carefully, for she had no idea how big a room she was currently in. she almost leapt for joy when she finally saw a pale line on the floor, indicating there's some kind of light just outside that wall. Trying to ignore the pounding on her head, she pushed off from the floor and walked carefully toward the door, not wanting to trip on any furniture, if there had been any at all.
It was a clear runway all the way to the door, she quite easily found the handle but instantly let a desperate sigh when it didn't give even a slight budge as she turned the handle and pushed. Fuck it, she almost cried. Why would anyone lock her here in the first place?
'Hello?' She called loudly. 'Hey!' she slammed her hand on the door angrily. 'Is anybody out there?'
Fuck! She hissed when there's no reply from outside. Fucketyfucketyfucketyfuck!
Depressed, she leaned heavily against the door and let gravity took over. Slowly she slid down along the door and slumped on the floor, sitting on the cold hard tile once again. She closed her eyes and pressed her head against the heavy door, wishing she had her mobile phone on hand. As it was, she could hardly locate her purse where her phone was safely tucked in. If only she knew what had happened...
She furrowed her brow as her fingers softly massaging her temples and rewound her thoughts back to this morning. If only she could find a light switch, her sigh loud in the dark. Damn it, she hated being helpless in the dark like this.
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What's the use of mobile phone if you're not going to answer the call, or reply text messages? Seriously. Jae Kyung looked at her screen with disgust. She was starting to get restless when Ga Eul failed to acknowledge any of her text messages. As usual she had been sending silly pranks and messages that she knew would go straight to the message bank but not before making Ga Eul's phone vibrate for a few seconds during the interview. However, no angry replies came back from her. Her usual 'Shut up, Jae Kyung, I'm working now' had been sadly absent. She said so when Woo Bin came to her office just before lunch time.
'Stop harassing her,' was his comment as he walked with her to the elevator. 'I don't know why she hasn't put you on her blocked number list yet.'
The café was located just next door to her office building. It's a trendy place with minimalist décor serving the latest paleo fad. To be quite honest, she didn't care about the diet. It's just the fact that they served good coffee and had to die for flourless chocolate torte with raspberry sauce. Today the place seemed to be bustling with people. She frown a little, worried that they might have to wait for a table to clear.
Her concern, however, was unfounded since an eager hand waved at them as they entered the place. Jan Di and Jun Pyo had arrived early, citing unusual empty traffic (and the fact that Jun Pyo was one manic driver) that made them cover 10 km in five seconds or something.
'You guys have ordered?' she asked as Jan Di gave the affirmative.
She perused the menu as Jun Pyo lamented about what the fuck was wrong with this restaurant. 'They substitute rice with cauliflower, are they fucking crazy?' he hissed loudly.
Jae Kyung threw a helpless smile at the waitress who hovered next to their table, clearly listening to Jun Pyo's cauliflower rage. Next to him Jan Di chuckled gleefully, clearly enjoying her husband's misery.
'He thinks paleo is a disease,' she whispered conspiratorially to Jae Kyung who then couldn't help but giggle with her.
'He's not that far off,' she replied evenly, eyes still fixed on the menu. Aside from the flourless chocolate torte, the best thing about this café was that it changed its lunch menu every month or so and she liked finding and trying new things. 'I eat whatever I want.'
'Yeah. So how come that doesn't show up?' Jan Di pouted with envy. 'I swear I ate nothing but fish and salad and still gain a kilo last week.'
'That's fish and chips for you, with potato salad and extra mayo. Sometimes with crisps on the side.' Jun Pyo snickered even as his wife glared at him.
'What do you think about themed wedding?' she said after the waitress took their order (lovely grilled snapper with Zuchinni and fennel seeds for her and pork ribs for Woo Bin).
'Themed wedding?'
'Like Titanic wedding, I don't know, walking dead wedding. It will be fun, right?'
Woo Bin and Jun Pyo snorted. 'She's been surfing the internet again,' Woo Bin dryly commented. 'Stop messing with your wedding planner, babe. Next thing you know, she's plotting revenge against us.'
'She's seriously no fun,' Jae Kyung pouted. 'I only mentioned about changing the venue again last week and she almost went mental on me. It's not like I'm going to move the wedding to Australian Outback or the North Pole or something. Although come to think of it, those white expanse with polar bear and….' She trailed at the looks her friends gave her.
'OK, OK, I won't change anything.' She paused. 'Where's Ga Eul? She didn't mention about going to be late. Did she contact you?'
Jan Di shook her head.
'Strange,' she took her mobile out and sent another text. 'It's not like her at all.'
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The light switch was located by the door.
Once she overcame her initial depression, Ga Eul was able to use her brain. Following logic, she decided to inspect the wall closest to the door handle. She almost cried for joy when her hand touched that magic switch and light came harshly but not unwelcome on her eyes.
She blinked several times, feeling better each time before she let her eyes wander and she turned her head in a kind of 180 each way to see what kind of a room she's in.
It was not a large room, but large enough that it had a double size mattress on the floor at one corner of the room and a crappy coffee table and one cheap looking couch in vomit-green velour at the other side and did not feel at all cramped.
She grumbled at the thought that there was mattress on the floor and yet she woke up with cheek on the floor. Freaking criminals. If only she could send a text to Jae Kyung about this unjust treatment. She looked around; searching for her blue carry-all tote she had this morning. But of course it was nowhere to be found, and that made her burst of hope died a hasty death once more. At least they could have left her with her book, she thought crossly. She had packed a well thumbed Nicholas Spark in her bag, not necessarily the best companion in kidnapping case but at least she would have something to do. Next time she'd pack The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook, she thought bitterly, she was pretty sure there's a section about breaking a door or something.
Suddenly feeling tired, she walked toward the ugly looking couch, hesitated a little before dumping herself rather ungracefully onto the surface. Despite the color and her hopelessness, it still felt a lot better than lying on the floor. She didn't want to even think about lying on the naked mattress, thinking about nasty stuff it might had.
A little inspection underneath the coffee table brought her new treasure. A couple bottles of mineral water and one pack of Kit Kat. Seriously, she snorted, Kit Kat? At the very least they could give her the green tea one.
The unpleasant feeling of her parched throat came back in full force. She hesitated a minute before forcing herself to grab one of the bottles. Carefully she examined the plastic cap, worried that the water inside might be tampered with drugs of whatever it was they used to knock someone unconscious. Pleased, as she found the cap still wrapped in its original plastic cover, she tore off the plastic material and promptly unscrewed the cap. The water was tepid as it had been sitting there probably for hours, but it did the job of cooling down her throat tremendously. She drank half a bottle in record time before she screwed back the cap and put the bottle on the coffee table.
Feeling a bit more alive, she sat back on the couch, pulling her legs up and drew her knees to her chest. She let her head fell against the fabric of the head rest and looked around once again, trying to make sense about where she was and how did she get there. The room was painted in white. No windows, she noted in displeasure, but the air did not feel stale, there must some sort of air conditioning system, she noted. The room must have been used for storage at some point. She sighed and closed her eyes, thinking back to this morning where it all started to go wrong.
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By the time lunch time was over, a full blown panic had threatened to break Jae Kyung's calm façade. They were all well into their lunches when Yi Jeong arrived at last, grimacing as he walked inside, saying sorry for being late but there was a sudden meeting at the museum. He kissed Jae Kyung and Jan Di's cheeks before asking where Ga Eul was. He had not been able to contact her after his meeting finished.
'You mean she's not with you?' Jae Kyung hiked her beautiful eyebrows. She swiftly grabbed her mobile and typed in a message to her friend. Serious situation needs some serious action. In this case, the lava cake might already be sold out by the time she arrived. She put back her mobile after she pressed the send button and gave her attention back to Yi Jeong who still stood at the end of the table.
'No, I told her that I was going to be late and asked her to call my other driver to pick her up.' Yi Jeong alarmed. He took his seat in front of Woo Bin and looked around the table. 'She hasn't arrived yet?'
No one replied but the blank looks from everyone made him launch into muted grumble and swear. He picked up his phone and called his driver, spoke in short sentences before informing everyone that no, Ga Eul had not called the driver either.
A few sent text messages and failed calls later, the mood had turned somber. Their food was all but forgotten; no one had any appetite to finish their lunch.
They looked at each other, nor quite sure of what to do. Jae Kyung restlessly tapping her manicured nails on the table, sending everyone else crazy.
'Shall we call the police?' she asked her fiancé almost desperately, but Woo Bin shook his head in doubt.
'You know we can't report someone as a missing person if it's only hours since we heard from her. What do you think we should do now?' he looked at Jun Pyo and Yi Jeong.
'Call her boss,' Jan Di threw a suggestion. 'She might know where she is.'
'That's a good idea. Do you know her number?'
Deflated, Jan Di shook her head.
'I'll ask my secretary to give her a call.' Woo Bin decided. 'Let's go to my office. I have all the files there. Can you settle the bill?' he looked at Jun Pyo who nodded easily. 'You guys better all come with me. We probably can find something I overlook last time.'
Silently they all followed him out of the restaurant.
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They arrived at Woo Bin's office in no time at all. The Song building was an exact opposite of the So museum. Where the museum was an interesting fuse of traditional and modern architecture, the Song building was all smooth edges and sleek lines with minimalist interior to match the modern look. They followed the young mafia prince into his office, waiting in jitter while he unlocked the drawer of his desk and pulled a bundle of folders out.
He paused as he remembered something and called his secretary into the room. In short and precise sentences he asked her to get in touch with Ga Eul's boss and ask, if any, whatever information they have about her supposed whereabouts. 'Tell her it's important; give her all our names if you need to.' He dismissed her before going back to the bundle in his hand.
Carefully he took the top two folders as he looked at Yi jeong's face to ask for permission. With a slight of hand and imperceptible nod from his friend, he opened both folders and turned to face the rest of the group. He started to tell the story from the very beginning in soft but clear voice. Patiently answering any questions coming from Jan Di and Jun Pyo. His fiancé was startlingly quiet in her seat, her teeth anxiously biting edges of her nails.
'So there you go,' he said, looking at each and every ones in the room, 'that's the whole story we have been able to piece together so far.' He paused. 'And that is assuming that what we have here,' he pated the two folders in front of him, 'is the correct answer. Now what I'd like you to see….' He was interrupted by a knock on the door. Seconds later, his secretary came inside with a piece of paper in her hand.
'I'm sorry Sir,' she started, 'this is the contact number given by Ms. Jung. I've tried calling several times but the number was inactive.'
'Shit,' Yi Jeong hissed angrily as Jae Kyung and Jan Di let out a loud groan.
'I also tried calling the gallery that Ms. Chu supposed to go this morning, but apparently she never made it there. I spoke with the owner but he said they don't have an agent or employee named Mr. Jin, and they also never made appointment with Ms. Chu.'
Woo Bin rubbed his temple tiredly. 'That's OK, thank you,' he nodded at his secretary who then let herself out. 'This is bad,' he sighed. 'Can you guys have a look at all these pictures; see if there's anything you think is important.' He took a number of pictures from each folder and laid them out on the table.
There were about twenty pictures in total, counted Jan Di silently; they were all laid out randomly. She glanced at them, trying to see what's captured on those pictures. Seemingly they were pictures of the business man with his mistress, him again with his family, the mistress and her friends, the other girl by herself, her again with her father, still the girl with Yi Jeong's father, her again with her friends. What do they have to do with Ga Eul's predicament, she sighed almost too loudly. She took the nearest picture and studied the faintly smiling girl with her father. Anger started to boil in the pit of her stomach. No one should be able to walk away free after destroying such young life; she thought angrily, for a moment her thought straying from Ga Eul. She put the picture back on the table and reached for another one. Her attempt halted as Jae Kyung let a high pitched shriek from her end of the table.
'What? What is it?' Jun Pyo was the first one to react.
'This picture, Jan Di, this picture!
Jae Kyung pointing at one picture in her hand.
'What?'
'Mr. Bodybuilder here!'
She quickly leaned over to look at the photograph more closely.
'Oh my God!' she shrieked as it came to her focus. 'She's meeting him today!'
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