Chapter 278: Day by Day (2)
Has it really only been a month since the last time I saw her?
Kang Chan felt a sense of bewilderment as he looked at Kim Mi-Young. She appeared to have matured, aging as if years had passed rather than just a month.
"Why?" Kim Mi-Young asked.
"It’s nothing," Kang Chan replied.
He took a sip of coffee as he watched Kim Mi-Young smile. Even her bangs, previously trimmed to align with her eyebrows—reminding him of Snow White—had changed.
"Did you cut your bangs?" he asked.
"Yes! Does it look good? Should I change it back?" Kim Mi-Young inquired.
"Don’t. It looks good, that's all," Kang Chan responded.
Kim Mi-Young touched her forehead, prompting Kang Chan to firmly shake his head. Her current style was definitely a hundred times better than her previous Snow White hairstyle.
"Will you be able to attend the graduation ceremony?" Kim Mi-Young asked.
"Graduation ceremony?" Kang Chan repeated, puzzled.
"It's next week.”
"I'll go if I can.”
"Are you too busy?"
This was a challenging question for Kang Chan. He felt as if he should attend for Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook. However, the immediate deployment of agents and the threat from the UIS made it difficult to decide. He also had to take Anne and Louis into consideration, further complicating the whole process of finalizing any plans.
"Are we going on a trip after graduation?" Kim Mi-Young inquired.
"What?" Kang Chan asked.
"You promised, remember? To travel together after graduation. You did see the letter, didn’t you?"
"Ah!"
Did I?
Kim Mi-Young's question nearly flustered Kang Chan. Why was she staring at him so intently anyway? Gazing into her large eyes, he felt as if he could genuinely get lost in them. Remembering that she was still a high school student, he briefly shook his head and downed the rest of his coffee in one gulp.
"So, are we going?" Kim Mi-Young prodded.
"I'll have to check my schedule," Kang Chan answered.
Kim Mi-Young pouted. "Tsk. Meanie."
In moments like these, she truly seemed like a high school student.
Beep beep beep beep, trrrrr.
Kang Chan sighed softly. After a while, the doorbell rang.
"Channy!" called out Yoo Hye-Sook.
Kang Chan and Kim Mi-Young stood up as Yoo Hye-Sook entered the apartment.
"Mother!" Kang Chan greeted back.
"Channy!" Yoo Hye-Sook said again.
"Hello?" Kim Mi-Young interjected.
Yoo Hye-Sook cast a cautious glance their way. "Oh, Mi-Young! You're here.”
Kang Chan hugged Yoo Hye-Sook. She wrapped her hands around him and gently patted his back in return, making him feel warm and comforted.
"Ah, my sweet Channy.” She smiled. "Are you hungry?"
"Yes, I am," Kang Chan answered.
"Give me a moment. I'll whip something up.”
"I'll help.”
Yoo Hye-Sook vehemently refused his offer. As she entered the kitchen, Kang Chan and Kim Mi-Young sat back down in the living room.
"Mi-Young, how are your parents doing?" Yoo Hye-Sook asked.
"They’re doing great!" Kim Mi-Young answered.
"What about you? What have you been up to recently?”
"Just studying French and reading some books.”
"I see," Yoo Hey-Sook responded.
The awkward atmosphere gradually eased up.
"Don't just stand around until the meal is ready, you two. It makes me uncomfortable. How about some fruits?" asked Yoo Hye-Sook.
"We’re good. We're about to eat anyway, and I have my tea," Kang Chan replied, holding a cup of green tea. He then gestured toward his room. "We'll be in my room.”
"Okay," Yoo Hye-Sook said.
Kang Chan and Kim Mi-Young went into his room. Out of curiosity, Kim Mi-Young explored every corner as if on an adventure.
"Have a seat," Kang Chan offered.
Kim Mi-Young settled into the desk chair while Kang Chan sat on the bed opposite her. Despite the slim chance, he couldn't shake off the worry that she might open the desk drawer. Explaining the walkie-talkie would be manageable, but there was no way to explain the gun and magazines.
Kim Mi-Young smiled. "So this is your room, huh?"
"What is it?" asked Kang Chan.
"I’ve just been curious for so long about what your room would look like.”
‘I'm more curious about how you've changed so much,’ Kang Chan thought.
Kang Chan gazed at Kim Mi-Young.
"What?” Kim Mi-Young wondered.
"Just because.”
Kim Mi-Young giggled in reply. "Hehehe.”
There! That’s more like the Kim Mi-Young I know.
It was certainly important for people to meet and talk often. As they conversed, Kang Chan noticed the awkwardness quickly fade away.
"What exactly do you do?" Kim Mi-Young suddenly questioned.
"Me?"
"Yeah! Dad always says not to bother you, but he never tells me what you do.”
Kim Mi-Young looked at him as if asking a question during class.
"I basically mediate due to my connection with the ambassador," Kang Chan replied.
"That's amazing," Kim Mi-Young said, looking at him as if she was dreaming.
Perhaps because she was still a high school student, she seemed to be idealizing his words. If she knew about the countless shootings and stabbings in France, Afghanistan, and Africa that he had been a part of, she would never look at him the same way.
"What’s with the long face?" she asked.
"It’s nothing. I’m just wondering if I’m really doing the right thing," Kang Chan said.
"What you do is noble. I wish I could become a diplomat soon and work alongside you.”
"Sure.”
Suddenly, Kang Chan felt as if a huge barrier had formed between them—a barrier of blood, death, and brutal killings.
"Channy! It's time to eat!" called Yoo Hye-Sook.
Kang Chan and Kim Mi-Young headed to the dining room to have dinner. During the meal, Yoo Hye-Sook expressed her surprise about what happened to Kang Chan's hand, to which Kim Mi-Young noted that it surprised her too. When asked about the environment in Mongolia, Kang Chan vaguely mentioned that it was fine before going on to describe the surface mines and telling them about the ores denadite and cetinium.
After enjoying a good meal, Kim Mi-Young began to put the bowls and spoons in the sink, intending to wash them.
"What are you doing? Just have fun with Channy," Yoo Hye-Sook intervened, stopping her.
"Let’s do it together," Kim Mi-Young said.
"How sweet! It’s okay, though. This is your first visit, so just leave this one to me. You can lend a hand next time. Actually, Mi-Young, would you mind grabbing some fruits from the fridge?”
"Not at all," Kim Mi-Young answered.
Feeling somewhat awkward to intrude, Kang Chan simply moved the side dishes from the table. Frankly, the vibe was awkward but in a different way from when Michelle had visited.
Kim Mi-Young took out a melon from the fridge. Since cutting one could be a tricky task for a high school girl, Kang Chan swiftly sliced it for her and arranged it on a plate.
"You're good at this," Kim Mi-Young said.
"He makes omelets like no other!" Yoo Hye-Sook boasted.
‘The cooking I learned during my ten-year mercenary life isn’t limited to just that,’ Kang Chan playfully thought. However, looking at the knife in his scarred hand made the thought bear down on him.
After washing the dishes, Yoo Hye-Sook told the two to eat the fruits in his room without her. However, with Kang Chan’s insistence that she join them, they all eventually sat down to eat the melon together.
"Channy! You and Mi-Young should get some fresh air," Yoo Hye-Sook suggested.
Kim Mi-Young looked at Kang Chan.
‘Could this potentially escalate into a significant misunderstanding?’ Kang Chan wondered.
He did think it would be impolite to just send her away after being apart for so long, though.
"Shall we?" said Kim Mi-Young.
She sniffed and chuckled, reading the room.
"Then we'll just have a cup of tea nearby, Mother," Kang Chan said. He then turned to Kim Mi-Young, "Let me just change, then we’ll head out."
Kang Chan went to his room and changed into comfortable pants, a thick tee, and a winter jacket.
Whoosh.
He also took out his pistol, strapped it to his ankle, and attached the wireless radio to his waist.
Chk.
"I won’t be needing proximity security detail. I’m just going to the coffee shop out front,” Kang Chan whispered, making sure no one would overhear.
Chk.
“Understood, sir,” an agent replied.
Kang Chan put his earset in his jacket pocket before leaving the room.
"I'll be back," he said.
"Alright, Channy," Yoo Hye-Sook said.
"Take care," Kim Mi-Young told Yoo Hye-Sook.
"Thank you! Do drop by again," Yoo Hye-Sook responded.
After bidding each other farewell, Kang Chan and Kim Mi-Young left the apartment.
"I ate a lot," Kim Mi-Young said.
"Did you?" said Kang Chan.
Didn’t she eat just one bowl of rice?
During the elevator ride, Kang Chan observed Kim Mi-Young's expressions and listened to her laughter, which vividly reminded him of something that Kang Dae-Kyung had once said about him,
‘When did this kid grow up so much?’
Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook likely felt the same way after seeing Kang Chan after a month.
Ting—!
Upon reaching the ground floor and exiting the apartment building, they were met with sharp glances from all directions.
"Those types of people have been flocking around the apartment lately," Kim Mi-Young whispered into Kang Chan's ear.
She walked with her gaze fixed on the ground, avoiding any direct eye contact with the people she was talking about—not knowing she was walking right beside their organization’s Assistant Director, Kang Chan.
The two crossed the street and entered the coffee shop. They then ordered a mocha latte and an Americano before sitting down.
"This is nice," Kim Mi-Young said.
"What is?" asked Kang Chan.
"Spending time together and getting to see each other's faces.”
After a short giggle, she took a sip of her latte.
She continued, "I wish you wouldn't go abroad anymore."
"I won't be going for a while," Kang Chan said.
"It would be even better if we could go on that trip.”
"I'll check my schedule.”
Kim Mi-Young pouted again. “That’s unfair.”
"What is?"
"You always act like you're older, which makes me feel like I'm pestering you like a child. Normally, it’s the guy who suggests we go on a trip..."
Kang Chan just smirked and listened. Her words made it abundantly clear to him that although his body might be that of a high schooler, his mind had surely gone past thirty. It plunged him into turmoil about how he should act. It was as if he had to decide whether to live as Kang Dae-Kyung and Yoo Hye-Sook’s son or not.
"What is it that keeps making you think during moments like this?" asked Kim Mi-Young.
"What?" Kang Chan asked back.
"Sometimes, like now, you make that face when you look at me. It makes me curious about what’s on your mind.”
"I don't know, really."
Kim Mi-Young pouted again.
"Mi-Young," Kang Chan called.
"Yes?"
"Do you really want to become a diplomat?"
"That's the plan.”
"But what is it that you really want to do?"
Kim Mi-Young stretched her lips into a thin smile.
"What is it?" Kang Chan prodded.
"A diplomat. So I can give fancy interviews," Kim Mi-Young answered.
Kang Chan felt as if their conversation was just skimming the surface. It made him realize that Kim Mi-Young hadn't changed at all. All that mattered was his mindset. He liked her, but he still didn’t know how to bridge the generation gap he felt and confront the harsh reality that they would face together. He felt like a coward. Despite wanting to see her and missing her, he couldn't show her how he truly felt.
Damn it! What should I say? How much of myself should I show her?
Kang Chan suddenly thought of Kang Chul-Gyu. Kang Chul-Gyu wouldn’t have gotten married expecting his wife to hang herself and his young son to wish for a life as a mercenary.
Is it right to stain Kim Mi-Young—this pure, smart, and increasingly beautiful girl—with the dark and bloody reality of my life?
As Kang Chan pondered, over five agents entered the cafe and started to secure the perimeter. Kim Mi-Young nervously glanced around and looked at Kang Chan with a frightened expression.
People had a hard time changing. Some, like Kang Chan, were born never to back down, while others could never adapt to situations like this even if they spent their entire lives trying to.
Lanok was no different. His beloved wife was shot dead in a car, and his daughter could no longer use one of her legs properly. Would he have married if he had known about this future?
"This is bad," Kang Chan mumbled.
"What?" asked Kim Mi-Young, "What are you thinking about all by yourself?"
Kang Chan smiled at Kim Mi-Young.
"Let's go on that trip—ah!" he said.
He wanted to go.
He continued, "Let’s go after the coming-of-age ceremony."
Kim Min-Young frowned. "Tsk."
"Let's travel as much as we want once we're adults," Kang Chan said.
"You'll break that promise again, won’t you?" Kim Min-Young said.
"Not this time."
"Really?"
"Yes."
Kim Mi-Young extended her pinky finger. In front of the agents' sharp gazes, Kang Chan reached his finger out and hooked it with hers. It made her chuckle.
Before that time came, Kang Chan intended to decide whether to let go or to allow himself to keep listening to her laughter.
After talking for about an hour, the two headed back to the apartment. It was the time when the sun was out the longest.
"I’ll talk to you later," Kim Min-Young said.
"Okay," answered Kang Chan.
"See you!"
As Kang Chan nodded, Kim Mi-Young waved her hand and walked toward her house. Looking at the agents surrounding them, Kang Chan suddenly thought of Choi Jong-Il, Woo Hee-Seung, and Lee Doo-Hee.
Wasn't Lee Doo-Hee's injury not that serious?
Kang Chan wanted to visit the police hospital or at least sit on a bench for a while, but he decided to just go back home instead. It didn't seem right to make Yoo Hye-Sook wait for him on such a day.
He took the elevator to their floor. Entering their apartment, he found Yoo Hye-Sook still in the kitchen.
"I'm back. What are you doing?" he asked.
"Ah, Channy! You're home early,” Yoo Hye-Sook greeted. “I'm making pork bulgogi."
"It smells really good.”
A spicy and savory aroma filled the living room.
"Where's Mi-Young?" Yoo Hye-Sook asked as she looked over her shoulder, still kneading meat with her gloved hands.
"She’s gone home," Kang Chan answered as he sat down at the table.
"Do you like Mi-Young?" Yoo Hye-Sook suddenly asked.
"We're still high school students, aren't we?"
"That doesn’t mean you can’t have a girlfriend, does it?"
I don’t see any problems with just staying as friends.
"Did you fall in love with Father at first sight, Mother?" asked Kang Chan.
"Yes," Yoo Hye-Sook confidently replied, making Kang Chan turn his head.
She smiled at Kang Chan as she skillfully packed the marinated meat into a rectangular tupperware.
"I fell in love with your father the moment I saw him. I found his big eyes and masculine lips attractive.”
"Dad's eyes aren't that big, are they?"
"What? They are.”
When Kang Chan laughed, Yoo Hye-Sook washed her hands, looking as if she had been wronged.
"Your dad was popular in school. The only issue was that his family was poor. If he had come from a wealthy family, I would have only suffered from heartburn. You can't imagine how considerate he was toward me.”
"Father did say that he can never forget the help you gave him. You even gave up your scholarship abroad and visited him on a snowy day," Kang Chan said.
"Your dad told you all that?"
"Huh? Weren’t you with us?”
Wasn't it?
Yoo Hye-Sook took off her gloves and sat next to Kang Chan. "You have something on your mind, don't you, Channy? From what I’ve seen, Mi-Young seems to like you.”
What do I say to that?
Even though they were close, Kang Chan couldn’t tell her about his fear of what could happen if Kim Mi-Young were by his side during incidents like the one in the underground parking lot. It would surely bring up painful memories for Yoo Hye-Sook.
Seeing Kang Chan's expression, Yoo Hye-Sook smiled tenderly. "Seems like our Channy has grown up so much already. Are you worried that Mi-Young, or anyone else, might get hurt because of your job?"
What? How can she see right through me?
Kang Chan's face lit up with surprise.
"I'm always on edge, bleeding without a way to stop it, just like when I gave birth to you. That's why I'm always getting checked. Your father never once complained about it.” Her gentle smile seemed to herald her heartfelt words.
"I'll always be grateful to your father. He never fails to reassure me even when I'm being difficult or sick. Oh, here's a secret: when I can't sleep and your father is still awake, he pretends to be asleep. I believe he does it to spare me the worry. I can see his eyes twitch when I enter the room."
"Dad is pretty bad at pretending," Kang Chan remarked. The two shared a laugh.
"Isn't being together and staying committed to each other the most important thing?" Yoo Hye-Sook posed, challenging Kang Chan with a profound question.
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