Chapter 209.1: I Couldn’t Leave Here (1)
Kang Dae-Kyung was still busy a day before Christmas since he had to wrap things up for the year during this season. The nature of the automotive sales industry required the disposal of excess inventory before the new year.
Interestingly enough, even though some of his employees were actually National Intelligence Service agents equipped with firearms, they were quite enthusiastic about selling cars. He had lived an ordinary life all this time, so he never had the chance to run into people like them until recently. Hence, he couldn’t help but find it quite fascinating watching them perform in the service industry and deal with customers.
To top it all off, they not only got along extremely well with his already existing employees but also made efforts to guarantee their performance was top-notch. They would even bow their heads down to rude customers to appease them.
“Sir, it’s time,” an employee said, interrupting his reverie.
“Oh, is it?” Kang Dae-Kyung responded in surprise.
Kang Dae-Kyung glanced at the clock. He then finished up the documents he was checking on his computer.
“Deputy Kim,” he hesitantly called.
“Yes, Director Kang?” the employee replied.
“…Nevermind.” Kang Dae-Kyung was about to ask the employee if he was tired of tending to these tasks but thought against it. Asking them such a question would do nothing but dampen their spirits.
Kang Dae-Kyung stood up from his desk and turned off his screen. At the same time, Deputy Kim took Kang Dae-Kyung’s coat from the hanger for him.
“You don’t have to do these small tasks, Mr. Kim,” Kang Dae-Kyung insisted.
Kang Dae-Kyung couldn’t help but feel apologetic about the employee’s situation. Agents like Deputy Section Chief Kim went through countless trials and rigorous training to be selected and employed by the government. Yet here he was, holding Kang Dae-Kyung’s old and simple top coat.
“Let’s go, sir,” Deputy Section Chief Kim politely replied.
With huge incidents taking place one after another, the agents decided to move with him. However, Kang Dae-Kyung didn’t expect them to escort him so closely that they seemed like his personal secretaries.
Kang Dae-Kyung couldn’t have any peace of mind as they made their way to the parking lot.
It had already been a month since he last spoke to Kang Chan.
Kang Chan texted him a while ago to let him know that he wouldn’t be able to call for two more weeks because of a sudden change in his schedule. Still, Kang Dae-Kyung was his father. He couldn’t just think, “I see,” and mindlessly accept it.
Yoo Hye-Sook sighed all the time, even in front of the TV and while making hot soup for breakfast. In the middle of the night, she would quietly leave the bedroom and head to the living room to thump her chest out of sheer concern. During moments like those, Kang Dae-Kyung pretended not to notice and just cracked silly jokes.
Yoo Hye-Sook’s sighs were especially deeper on mornings after she had worrying dreams. Just like back at the hotel, she said she felt uneasy and that she kept having nightmares about a red monster rushing toward her son. However, whenever she was on a call with Kang Chan, she would try not to show any of her concerns.
They were proud of their talented son. They were happy for him. However, they had never once let go of their worries. When they saw their son running beside the van during the shootout at the underground parking lot, Kang Dae-Kyung was so anxious that he felt as if his heart could melt away at any moment. While Yoo Hye-Sook shouted “Channy!” at the top of her lungs, Kang Dae-Kyung clenched his teeth to hold himself back from doing the same. By the time they arrived at the hotel back then, the tension had already given him a stiff neck.
It was embarrassing. As a father, he had to act firm and dependable, but he missed his son too much. He liked how his son’s sharp gaze turned softer when looking at Yoo Hye-Sook, when he would randomly come to him with problems to discuss out of the blue, and when he would call to ask him for help so he wouldn’t hurt Yoo Hye-Sook’s feelings. Kang Dae-Kyung truly missed his son.
I miss him.
When Kang Dae-Kyung extended his hand to stroke the head of his all-grown-up son and embrace his son’s sturdy shoulders, despite the awkwardness, Kang Dae-Kyung felt a happiness that couldn’t be found anywhere else.
Kang Dae-Kyung was sure that Kang Chan was fine. His son would return safe and sound no matter what difficulties he was going through. Soon, their little family would once again get to sit together at breakfast and order chicken while watching a movie on Saturdays.
Kang Dae-Kyung’s office was on the second floor, so they generally just used the stairs to get to the underground parking lot. He went back home with Yoo Hye-Sook, who came down a bit later. The agents were quite good at managing their schedules, so he never had to wait too long, and she was never particularly late.
As Deputy Section Chief Kim walked out of the office, he checked if the agents in the underground parking lot were in position. Only after getting confirmation from them did he and Kang Dae-Kyung go down the stairs.
“You should be home with your family on days like this too, Mr. Kim. I’m sorry,” Kang Dae-Kyung said apologetically.
Deputy Section Chief Kim gave him a good-natured smile.
“I don’t think you’re aware of this, sir…” Deputy Section Chief Kim trailed off and checked if there were any other people below or above them before continuing. “... but the agents who guard you and Mrs. Yoo can take time off or apply to change positions at any time. However, once I make such a request, about twenty people will rush to take my place.”
Kang Dae-Kyung gazed back at Deputy Section Chief Kim, unable to understand what he meant.
“We are all prepared to give everything we have if it means being able to help your son even just a tiny bit,” he added.
Kang Dae-Kyung nodded and quickly looked back at the stairs in front of him. As a father, hearing statements like that made him feel eternally grateful. However, it also made him miss his son even more.
He felt the yearning even more on days when Christmas carols were playing in the streets everywhere.
Creak.
Deputy Section Chief Kim opened the door to the underground parking lot, checked the security outside, and escorted Kang Dae-Kyung out.
Kang Dae-Kyung thought about having dinner out with Yoo Hye-Sook. As he approached the car, he quickly glanced at Deputy Section Chief Kim. All three agents assigned to the area were standing around it, which was quite unusual. Moreover, Deputy Section Chief Kim looked as if he was masking a smile.
‘What is it?’
Kang Dae-Kyung tried to read his expression as he walked closer to the car. However, before he could decipher it, a laugh escaped his lips.
Kang Chan was right in front of him. Kang Chan smiled brightly as soon as he saw him.
The moment Kang Dae-Kyung saw his son between the agents, he felt as if the rest of the world disappeared. Kang Dae-Kyung could only see his son.
“Father,” Kang Chan greeted.
“You punk…” Kang Dae-Kyung trailed off.
He was all grown up. His son grew up before he knew it and was now hugging him.
“I’m sorry,” Kang Chan apologized.
“You should’ve told me you were coming!” Kang Dae-Kyung fussed. He was happy. More than anything in the world, he was elated to be embracing his son right now.
‘I have to check his face. Is he hurt anywhere?’
How did his son grow up so much in that short amount of time?
“You didn’t call your mom either?” Kang Dae-Kyung asked.
“Nope,” Kang Chan replied with a grin.
Kang Dae-Kyung chuckled in disbelief. He was smug for not being the only one who would be taken by surprise and pleased at how thrilled Yoo Hye-Sook would be.
Creak.
Just then, the door to the parking lot opened again. A female agent entered first, followed by Yoo Hye-Sook.
“Come here,” Kang Dae-Kyung mischievously said, standing in front of Kang Chan. Quickly catching onto what he was doing, Deputy Section Chief Kim stood next to Kang Dae-Kyung to help hide Kang Chan. Kang Chan bent over and hid behind Kang Dae-Kyung, then carefully peaked over his shoulder to look at Yoo Hye-Sook.
It looked as if the agents were all gathered around Kang Dae-Kyung, so Yoo Hye-Sook seemed taken aback.
“Honey?” Yoo Hye-Sook asked worriedly.
“Are you done with work today?” Kang Dae-Kyung responded.
“Yeah,” Yoo Hye-Sook replied with confusion. She looked to his sides with a scared expression. As she did, Kang Chan’s face popped up from behind her husband’s shoulder.
“Huh?” she exclaimed in shock, frozen as if under the effect of a spell.
Kang Dae-Kyung moved aside, and Kang Chan took Yoo Hye-Sook into his arms.
“Mother, I’m sorry I wasn’t able to call you,” Kang Chan greeted.
Yoo Hye-Sook could only sob.
“I missed you,” Kang Chan said with a soft smile.
“Mmmm.”
She was trying not to cry, which made her sound strange. However, no one found it hideous.
Her son had been running beside the van with a hobbling leg during the shootout. One day, he suddenly changed and began living an entirely different life. As his mother, she had to watch him through it all.
Yoo Hye-Sook clutched onto Kang Chan’s back and cried her heart out. Everyone present understood how she felt. The female agents sniffed with red eyes. The male agents’ eyes were tearing up as well, but they glanced around their surroundings to hide them.
“Are you feeling better now?” Kang Chan asked with a smile.
“Yes,” Yoo Hye-Sook responded after wiping her tears and then glaring at Kang Dae-Kyung. She clearly looked upset.
“What?” Kang Dae-Kyung asked.
“You knew, didn’t you?”
“I didn’t.”
The atmosphere calmed down a bit.
“Father, if it’s all right with you, I was thinking of taking all the employees to dinner with us,” Kang Chan suggested.
“That’s a good idea. What about you, dear?” Kang Dae-Kyung asked.
“Of course. I was hoping for that too,” Yoo Hye-Sook agreed.
Kang Chan turned around.
“Who’s in charge here?” he asked.
“I am today, sir,” Deputy Section Chief Kim swiftly replied.
“Woo Hee-Seung is outside too. Come to dinner with us,” Kang Chan said.
“The three of you should take this time to have a cozy family dinner today. We will accompany you next time,” Deputy Section Chief Kim politely declined.
“It’s okay. Let’s go together,” Yoo Hye-Sook insisted.
“If you’re alright with it, I’d like to have you all join us,” Kang Dae-Kyung added.
After receiving a nod from Kang Chan, Deputy Section Chief Kim lifted his left hand to his ear with a pleased face and spoke over the radio.
“Do you think we should make a reservation for a restaurant?” Yoo Hye-Sook asked.
“I’ve already prepared everything. I’ll be your escort today, Mother,” Kang Chan determinedly said.
“Really?”
“Let’s go. Woo Hee-Sung knows where it is. Just tell all the employees to follow him,” Kang Chan instructed.
“Yes, sir,” Deputy Section Chief Kim replied.
When the agent who would lead their convoy finished preparing the car, Kang Chan got into it with Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook.
“Where are we going?” Yoo Hye-Sook asked.
“I made a reservation at the International Hotel out front,” Kang Chan replied.
“Did you ask for time off?” she asked.
“I didn’t have to. I’m already done with my training,” Kang Chan answered.
“Really?” Yoo Hye-Sook asked, suddenly filled with hope.
“Yes. I couldn’t call you because my schedule was pulled forward, but at least I finished my appointments early,” Kang Chan responded.
Kang Dae-Kyung glanced back at Kang Chan and then turned forward again.
“I’m glad to hear that,” Kang Dae-Kyung said.
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