Chapter 132.2: The Hidden Things (1)
By the time the food arrived and Kang Chan, Seok Kang-Ho, and Kim Hyung-Jung finished eating, it was already past seven in the evening.
Throughout the course of their meal, they received no report that they had to pay special attention to.
“Well, we’ll be on our way now. Give me a call if there are any updates,” Kang Chan said.
“I will,” Kim Hyung-Jung replied.
After parting ways with Kim Hyung-Jung, Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho headed to the coffee shop at the intersection.
Kang Chan had to plan countermeasures. He couldn’t just let people he knew take turns falling in danger one by one like what happened today. He knew wouldn’t be able to take action every time this happened.
The enemies would only become more cruel and vicious as these incidents went on.
“I should’ve killed them as soon as I learned what those motherfuckers wanted,” Kang Chan said frustratedly.
“Enough with that crap. It’s already a relief that no one got hurt any more than they have right now,” Seok Kang-Ho chided.
It had been a while since they had lemon tea together. Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho sat across from each other.
“I have to find a solution. This isn’t right. I don’t know who will be attacked at what time, and it’s not like I can guard everyone I know,” Kang Chan mused.
“That is also true,” Seok Kang-Ho agreed.
“Tsk! That means we’ll have to drop everything and run to save even Heo Eun-Sil or Lee Ho-Jun if they get kidnapped!”
Seok Kang-Ho nodded, then lifted his gaze.
“How do you think those bastards targeted Smithen, though? The bugging device back then was one thing, but this is a bit strange, isn’t it?” Seok Kang-Ho questioned.
“I also find that suspicious. No matter how much I rack my brain, I can’t think of anyone who knows Smithen.”
The two contemplated an answer for about thirty minutes, but they couldn’t come up with a plausible explanation of how Smithen got kidnapped.
Taking into consideration Seok Kang-Ho’s condition, Kang Chan thought it was probably best for them to return home now.
“Let’s head back,” Kang Chan said.
“Are you sure you can go home with those injuries?” Seok Kang-Ho asked.
“You have it way worse than I do. Go home and rest, and be wary of your surroundings.”
“Got it.”
Seok Kang-Ho and Kang Chan split ways in front of the complex, but Kang Chan sat on a bench for a while instead of heading straight into his apartment.
Kang Chan’s entire right hand was wrapped in a cast to keep his thumb stationary inside. He had just gotten the cast off his left hand, but now it was his right hand’s turn. He couldn’t go home to his parents like this.
Kang Chan slowly took the cast off. He would be fine as long as he was careful with his thumb. When he was in Africa, he never got a cast for small injuries like these.
He removed the cast with his left hand and placed it next to him on the bench. Just then, he saw Kim Mi-Young heading inside through the apartment complex entrance.
“Kim Mi-Young!” Kang Chan called.
Kim Mi-Young jumped in surprise. She then ran over with her trademark bouncy steps.
“What are you doing here?” Kim Mi-Young asked.
“Have you just finished cram school?” Kang Chan asked back.
“Yup!”
Kim Mi-Young’s face was still as thin as when he had seen her back at school.
“What’s the cast for?” Kim Mi-Young asked.
“I sprained my finger, but I decided to take it off because it doesn’t really hurt. Have you had dinner yet?”
“I did!”
Kim Mi-Young sat down on the bench next to Kang Chan.
Kids these days really grew up fast. Kang Chan felt a sense of unfamiliarity at the way she suddenly seemed to have grown up into an adult.
“What is it?” Kang Chan asked.
“Nothing. It’s been a while since I last saw you, so I’m just happy to be with you again,” Kim Mi-Young applied with a broad smile.
“How are your studies? Are you having trouble?” Kang Chan asked.
“It’s definitely hard,” Kim Mi-Young replied.
Kim Mi-Young extended her arms in front of her, seemingly stretching after a long night.
“But the hardest part is not being able to see you.”
“Are you sure you miss me?” Kang Chan asked abruptly before he knew it.
Kim Mi-Young slowly turned her head and looked at him.
“Do you remember when you appeared on TV?” Kim Mi-Young asked.
“When? At the conference hall?” Kang Chan inquired.
“Yes. I was at school then, but while I was watching, I suddenly felt scared,” Kim Mi-Young said.
“But I’m not hurt. I’m sitting here just fine, as you can see,” Kang Chan responded.
“Not because of that,” Kim Mi-Young clarified.
She was already pretty, but she would be even prettier if she changed her bangs a little bit.
“You’re already shaking hands with the president at important events, Kang Chan, but I’m still just a normal, plain high school senior. I want to do whatever it takes to be admitted into the political science department at Seoul National University,” Kim Mi-Young said.
“You’re smart enough for that,” Kang Chan reassured.
“No. I’m going to be at the top of the class. My dad said people from wealthy families, the chaebols, won’t leave someone as incredible as you alone.”
“Your dad said that?”
“I heard him speaking with my mom,” Kim Mi-Young responded.
Kang Chan smiled faintly. He already had enough of chaebols because of his experience with Yang Jin-Woo, and he hadn’t even thought about what Kim Mi-Young was worried about.
“Kang Chan, buy me some coffee,” Kim Mi-Young demanded.
“Do you have time?” Kang Chan asked.
“Yes!”
Kang Chan didn’t feel like going home right away anyway.
“Give me your bag,” he said.
Kang Chan and Kim Mi-Young left the apartment complex together.
‘Should I go back to school?’
Walking side by side with Kim Mi-Young, he realized how easygoing those days were.
“So, about So-Yeon unnie,” Kim Mi-Young suddenly opened.
Kang Chan initially had no idea who she was talking about.
“She’s super pretty in the drama,” Kim Mi-Young continued.
“Oh! Are you talking about Eun So-Yeon? You have time to watch TV?” Kang Chan asked.
“I just watched for a few minutes. Some girls showed the drama to me on their phones after cram school. It has been really popular these days, and it has a super cool soundtrack too.”
They walked across the street to the coffee shop.
Kim Mi-Young ordered an Americano with less coffee, and Kang Chan just got a bottle of water. They found a table and sat down.
Kim Mi-Young continued to chatter. She was the same as ever. She spoke endlessly about her after-school lessons and events that took place at school. Through it all, she sounded as if she was working extremely hard to keep the promise she made to him.
“Dad said he would pay for me to study abroad in France if I wanted.”
Kang Chan just smiled back at her.
“And he said I shouldn’t bother you because the work you’re doing is super important. He said you would be annoyed if I got in your way instead of being diligent in my own studies,” Kim Mi-Young said.
“He said that about me?” Kang Chan asked.
“Yeah.”
Now that they were together, Kang Chan recalled the loneliness that had been hidden deep within her eyes.
“I’m really okay with it, so if you’re going through a tough time or if you think of me after cram school, text me. I’ll come out to see you for a little bit if I’m home,” Kang Chan told her.
Kim Mi-Young shook her head.
“The applications for early admittance are due soon. After that, I’ll contact you.”
Kim Mi-Young was probably so successful in her studies because she was this stubborn.
“For the first time, I’m having fun studying. I’ve just been going along with what my mom made me do in the past, but I enjoy it whenever I solve problems,” she said.
“Alright. But you should take it easy with studying French. You have to take care of yourself too,” Kang Chan chastised.
“I will,” Kim Mi-Young replied.
Kim Mi-Young wrapped both hands around her coffee cup and looked at Kang Chan.
She was only wearing a simple T-shirt and jeans. Although her outfit was plain, and she wasn’t dressed up at all, her sparkling eyes were beautiful.
If Kang Chan’s emotions could be compared to cluttered and messy pieces inside a bottle, he felt like they had now neatly and calmly sunk to the bottom after someone had given it a shake.
Strangely, whenever he was with Kim Mi-Young, he didn’t feel so high-strung and could be at ease.
“What is it?” Kim Mi-Young asked.
“I’m just happy to be with you,” Kang Chan replied.
“Hehehehe. Thanks.”
Kang Chan adored her unique laughter now.
“Oh, right! I heard Ho-Jun and Eun-Sil frequently visit a hospital these days.”
Did those two get beaten up?
Receiving a curious look from Kang Chan, Kim Mi-Young continued, “There’s a girl named Shim Su-Jin that they used to bully in the past. They apparently go to the hospital to apologize, since that’s where she is. They go together after school ends. Sometimes, other students go with them too,” she explained.
“Do they cause trouble or anything like that at school?” Kang Chan asked.
“No, they’re always on their best behavior! No one gets bullied at our school anymore. If someone tries to be mean, the teachers immediately look for Ho-Jun and Eun-Sil.”
When Kang Chan smirked, Kim Mi-Young looked upset, thinking he was smirking at her.
.
This was nice.
His emotions, which had been restless due to the recent incidents, seemed to be serenely settling down, and the brimming tension inside him from the event this morning was alleviated.
Kang Chan suddenly wanted to hug Kim Mi-Young. Once he did, the exhaustion in him would also be melted away.
“What?” he asked.
“I’m just happy I get to look at you. It’s been too long,” Kim Mi-Young said with a bright smile.
“It’s getting late, though. You should head inside now,” Kang Chan urged.
“Can’t you stay a little longer?” Kim Mi-Young asked pleadingly.
“Is that really okay with you?” Kang Chan asked.
“Yes, it’s fine,” Kim Mi-Young replied.
Kang Chan nodded. He was in a tranquil state.
Strangely, however, he still couldn’t get rid of the anxiety that had taken place in the back of his mind.
This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺