Living together turned out to be a temporary arrangement because Guk-doo has to work at the PD. He's often holed up in the office, to his dismay and hers, resulting in Do-young acting the guard outside her art studio. Living alone — Bong-soon confirms it's a miracle that Pa even conceded to her complete independence. Bong-gi's major role is overshadowed by his constant check-ins. And Ma... Ma doesn't care as usual. Or who knows, she may be throwing tantrums which Pa is handling?

A few days pass this way. Bong-soon is glad Guk-doo still hangs out with her in the PD sometimes, and on nights he has to patrol, only for a while. Then Do-young replaces him, each time remarking with a quirky smile that "they need someone competent like Guk-doo at the PD." Guk-doo, being who he is, tells his friend not to make a joke of his self worth. Yet the routine doesn't stop.

Guk-doo never loses his cool. Almost never. Until suddenly, he's overprotective, impulsive, and sometimes overbearing and perverted. Bong-soon is still glad for their fun yet maddening moments together.

The solitude she finds when she has the art studio all to herself is addicting. But when Guk-doo keeps her company, she can't refuse or find it repulsive. In fact, she wouldn't mind him sleeping in the art studio just so she can watch him sleep. After all, they are still "friends" after everything.

"Guk-doo, would you let someone else guard me from inside too?" She asked him the other day.

She was curious. He specifically hadn't said he was keeping company because he cared about her. She wanted to hear him say it. Why go out of his way amidst his hectic schedule? When he was exhausted from looking into the Black Wrestlers and the art thief?

"Huh, have someone guard you from inside, Bong-soon? As if I can trust you with anybody but me..."

Guk-doo's response wasn't what she wanted to hear. But it was what she expected. Icy wind rushed in from the art studio's open door. Neither of them rushed to close it, remaining seated on the couch next to each other, relaxing. He turned to her with a smirk on his face.

"Actually, Bong-soon, I don't even trust myself."

Bong-soon blinks and turns to face him.

"What does that mean?"

"It means you're cute. Irresistible. And you turn me on. I'm afraid I may do something stupid again."

"What... H-how can you say that with a straight face?" As she stared at him, red-faced, he chuckled in delight. She smacked his arm.

"Ugh, Guk-doo!"

"What? You asked for it!"

There came the assault... His smile was blinding. She glared at him.

"Pervert!"

"Uh... Only for you, Bong-soon."

"Huh... Idiot! Quit saying these things. You enjoy flustering me, huh?"

Why can't you tell me the words I want to hear? She thought it was unfair of him to tease her. But if it allowed him to release some stress, then she was all right. That night too, he stayed until Do-young took over, encouraging her to rest.

"Do-young is assisting the chief and it will take him a while. Sleep. I'll lock the door for you. You gave me the spare key, remember?"

Yes. She'd given him the spare key. Despite his teasing, his presence was reassuring. She slept better in his presence.

Can I trust him this much? Especially after he tried to use me as a rebound? But he's been a great friend... What are we, exactly? Still friends? Or more than friends? This may not be the right time to discuss, but what's the way forward? What's my way forward? I'm still unprepared for any outcomes.

The arguments and counterarguments in her head are often an endless cycle; as always, she tries to focus on the present. Alone at her desk in the PD, she strives to stay in the present moment, focusing on the painting she must replicate. On the brush strokes, on the subtle intimacy, Gustav Klimt tried to portray in the original.

The Kiss is a difficult painting to replicate, especially when you're aiming for a hundred percent accuracy. The colours are usually a maze and the technique. She had to brainstorm to understand and research the technique he used. Klimt's works, such as The Kiss, feature a texture that transitions between flat, patterned areas and three-dimensional faces. This bold artistic step influenced cubism and abstract expressionism.

Heh, The Kiss may be a difficult painting, but if you replicate it right... it will be the best painting to lure that art thief.

As her thoughts take a positive shift, Bong-soon hears Do-young's murmur—

"On this dewy Sunday morning, Do-young should be in the park, admiring sublime sceneries, but here is, sorting through stacks of papers..."

So it's Sunday, 8 am, Bong-soon muses, casting a sideways glance and finding Do-young at his desk. Days at the PD begin very early and sometimes they venture into the night and greet a new day. She's used to it. The officers have it worse than her.

Sunday. The day of the week Guk-doo finds utmost repulsive. The third Sunday after they infiltrated the MP's house, he makes the observation and remains engrossed in what he's typing on his computer. Resisting the urge to spin in his swivel chair and flash an eye roll at his friend proves too much.

"Stop complaining and keep going," the words almost slip out of his mouth. The chief's voice rings in the PD's main hall, interrupting him.

"I noticed my team has been working hard, even on Sundays." The Chief crosses his arms across his chest and scans the office hall, addressing the three occupants with a smile. "I'm here to say you all need a day off. I'm taking the day off today. There's a flick my wife wants to catch. And she absolutely won't have it this time."

"Chief!" Do-young pipes in before anyone can respond. "Aren't you always using your day-offs to please your wife? You rarely take the day off, but whenever you do, it's for your wife!"

"Well, that's true love." Bong-soon says, adding a splash of green to the small canvas perched on her desk. Her brush carves a delicate arch precisely the way she has envisioned in her mind.

Do-young guffaws. Guk-doo reels back in his chair for some reason while Chief seizes this chance and pats Bong-soon on her head. He has grown fond of the young artist working in the PD. Even in the wake of a new conundrum each day, it's wonderful that she doesn't want to give up.

"How's the painting coming along?" he asks, pushing aside his thoughts and standing next to her.

Bong-soon looks at him with a soft smile. "It's tricky, sir. But not something I can't master. This one's practice. I'm sorry, but creating the perfect replica takes time. I don't want to mess up any detailing. Art thieves usually have a precise eye for art."

The chief nods in understanding and pats her head once again. Then sighs. "Three weeks of peace. Without a single bombing or theft incident. What if something happens now? I wish we could wrap everything right now, but I can't rush you..."

His voice is barely audible. He clears his throat, having realised he's thinking aloud. "Hah. That's enough. We're all taking the day off. Bong-soon, you too!"

"I can't take the day off," comes a reply from Guk-doo in his telltale flat tone. His fingers still tapping the keyboard, he doesn't look at his chief. "I have an appointment after this. And later in the evening, I have to attend a social event at the MP's house. Oh Sun invited me to be her partner. Oh Yun wants me too."

Bong-soon doesn't know how to take the news. Do-young whistles. "Wow! Partner? Do I see something brewing here?"

"Of course not." Guk-doo says as the chief sighs in the background, watching his two male officers bicker like teenagers.

"What? You'll hit a jackpot if she's interested in you! She wants to partner you, Guk-doo-ah, which means she has her eye on you."

"I don't know. Well, it's a good thing, huh? I only agreed, Do-young, because this is a good means to extract more information."

"I know... but what if this progressed into something else? Ah, with you I know it won't. How I wish I was in your shoes... I'd be spending tonight in a glamorous setting."

"Glamorous? Parties are choking."

Guk-doo's words put a stop to the starry-eyed Do-young's ramblings. Chief heaves another sigh. Bong-soon tamps down a wave of relief that washes over her after Guk-doo has casually brushed off the teasing that came his way. How high are his standards, anyway? He's always uptight. Also, why am I relieved?

"Chief," she addresses the boss of the office, who's also technically her boss in PD. "I was thinking... if I were to have a day off, I'd like a break from this constant monitoring. I need some space to hang out with my pa, brother, and best friend to feel truly relaxed."

"You can go." The quick reply comes from Guk-doo and not the chief. "A disguise should work. Dress differently. Use a mask and goggles. That way you'll conceal yourself and surely you won't stand out much in this age where pretty much everyone's doing the same in public spaces."

Again, Guk-doo doesn't turn his head away from his computer. Bong-soon stares at his side profile, jaw hung open. Where's her overprotective best friend? Who's this guy here?

"What? You're saying I can be free of this escort business? Really?"

"Our foes are lying dormant. It won't hurt for a while..." Guk-doo spares her a glance and turns back to his computer. "Only for this afternoon, though."

"Thanks, Guk-doo-ah! Chief!! Do-young!" Bong-soon beams at her best friend and seeks the two other men. Chief and Do-young flash her a thumbs up.

"Well, don't forget the disguise as Guk-doo said," Chief's one last reminder is the cue for the officers to call off their work. Even Guk-doo too shuts off his computer, ready to tackle his appointments. The Chief claps his hands in glee. "Okay. That's a wrap for today."

***

In a skater dress, jeggings, mask, and goggles, Bong-soon leads Pa, Bong-gi, and Hana on a metro train ride. They arrive in northern Seoul and shop the streets for little trinkets and charms. The morning hour allows for a more enjoyable stroll with fewer people on the streets. It's also chilly. Bong-soon's glasses fog up from her breath in the cold, despite her mask — a mild discomfort she's okay to bear as the sun steadily warms up.

Bong-gi finds a restaurant with private rooms for his sister to remove her disguise. A grateful Bong-soon hugs him while Pa smiles at the siblings. Hana clicks a few pictures to mark the occasion. The gathering exemplifies finding joy in crisis times. One can have fun no matter what. Just you need to try. And you're in double luck if you have close confidants with you.

After an early brunch, Pa leaves the youngsters to have a fun day out to themselves. Bong-soon puts her disguise back on; she, Bong-gi, Hana window shop in the Downtown shopping mall.

They walk down the third floor, arriving at an escalator when Bong-gi suggests they visit the doughnut shop for a quick break. Who'd resist a perfect cup of coffee and a yummy doughnut?

The sparkling little shop at the end of the floor is the centre of the hustle. Bong-soon and Hana find a table furthest away and plop down into their chairs. Bong-gi joins them, though his eyes are drawn to something intriguing in the vicinity.

Her mask and goggles firmly in place, Bong-soon scans her surroundings and follows his gaze. Seated at all the tables on this wintery afternoon are several couples, and one in particular, oh so familiar.

"Guk-doo and... Heeji?" Hana opts for a wild guess, naming the woman sitting across Guk-doo's familiar figure. Bong-soon and Bong-gi can't help taking a collective sharp inhale.

Hana's concern for her best friend is evident, given the accuracy of her observation. "They broke up, didn't they?"

Bong-gi dismisses the words with a wave of his hand and takes his seat. "They might have been meeting casually. Let's carry on."

So much confidence. Normally Bong-soon would right away agree with Bong-gi. Bong-gi is consistently sensible and exact in his observations. But Guk-doo and Heeji... Bon-soon twists in her seat and glances behind her shoulder. There they are, in her line of sight. Those smiles on their faces. Though not full-blown, soft and awkward — For a couple who broke up, they look amicable.

These thoughts settle in mind even as she shifts her gaze to Bong-gi and Hana, who are munching on their respective doughnuts.

"Here," Bong-gi says, passing her a menu card, "you can order takeaway."

Bong-soon can't help but think Bong-gi is one considerate brother. Earlier, too, when they visited the antique boutique that displayed art, he didn't hesitate to shell out all his cash and purchased quite a handful of paintings for his sister.

Bong-soon places a takeaway order for a strawberry doughnut and lemon tea. Despite her efforts to smile, a weight remains on her chest. What are these heavy feelings? Why is Guk-doo meeting Heeji? Is this the appointment he mentioned? Ugh, enough. Pretend there's no unrest. Hana or Bong-gi shouldn't notice.

They are ready to call it a day, with several bags of purchases, including the takeaway from the doughnut shop, Bong-gi and Hana holding on to most of them. Bong-soon feels an itch in her throat, clutching her order bag. Hana and Bong-gi found respite in their espresso. It's her turn to find a quiet corner for lemon tea.

Downtown mall is a massive complex with endless attractions. One can spend an entire day and still be left with so much to do. There will surely be a quiet spot somewhere. If not, she has to wait until their cab ride, even to sip some water. Aren't these security measures excessive? Hell can't break loose if she takes off her mask and goggles.

As Bong-soon observes the busy scene, a new thought occurs to her. Isn't this day dragging on and on? She was having fun... that's until she saw Guk-doo with Heeji. Ah, enough. Don't think of that, Bong-soon. That can't be the reason you're irked.

"All right, that was a fun outing. And I had my fill of delicious coffee..." Hana declares suddenly, "Oh, Guk-doo! They are leaving. Will he pass by our table?"

***

TBC

That's all <3 had been trying hard to finish this part... but there were a lot of hiccups I had to face. Bad seasonal allergies, ankle injury, nights of disturbed sleep.. ugh...

I hope everyone who's read likes the chapter! Please vote and comment if you're reading. <3