We may be miles apart but our hearts still belong together~

**~~**

Inside the spacious, well-lit office of South Seoul's Metro Police Department, the officers have their swivel chairs lined haphazardly in the walkways between their desks. The morning hour's always rush hour. A report came from the forensics earlier, copies of which the front desk jackie handed them over.

There wasn't enough time to run to the conference hall. And this is how impromptu meetings happen in the PD.

Guk-doo's tall figure remains poised against his desk, facing the crowd that's his coworkers, his long legs crossed at the ankles. His one hand is deep in his coat pocket and the other holds the forensic report of the bombing incident. With an air of confidence, he reads it aloud for the chief and everyone to hear.

"The main chemical used in the blast was lead azide." He pauses and looks at everyone's faces. "Coincidentally, a company off the Busan coast reported the theft of the same explosive chemical three weeks ago."

The Chief seated in the middle of the front row adjusts his coat, pushes his spectacles up his nose. "West of Busan is where the Black Wrestlers are active. You were right, Guk-doo. This was their work."

He adds, "But we can't go in and arrest them all without proof. Not that arresting an entire mafia group is an easy feat for us. We need the higher-ups moving and other vital things. We can't act without orders. And Black Wrestlers continue to act as if they are dormant."

"Black Wrestlers. Damn, screw the rules. I wish I could throw them all behind bars. Or worse, detonate their base." Guk-doo curses audibly. The Chief chastises him 'Don't be reckless'.

Guk-doo apologises, bowing abruptly and tilting his head to the side. Only to grimace at the pain coursing through the muscles along his left jaw.

The Chief sends him an odd glance, pausing on his way towards his cabin. "Are you in pain? Wait, your jaw appears slightly red."

Guk-doo chuckles dryly and reaches for a sip of water from the bottle on his desk. "It's nothing, sir."

Do-young, Guk-doo's friend and colleague who's seated at his desk in the corner of the room, pokes his head up from his computer. "What, did you fall off your bed and hit your face, Guk-doo-ah? Or did a girl hit you or something? Tried to kiss her, did ya? And she punched ya!"

Guk-doo coughs violently, choking over his next sip of water. Do-young has to be perceptive and hit the nail on its head! Ugh! My throat is burning.

Chief tells Do-young that Guk-doo had a girl, not sure he has her now. "A police officer is better off without things such as those."

Do-young whines that it's a shame. "You're cruel, chief! Why'd you say that? You're married too."

"Right, because I found the right woman."

"Duh, I agree with you, Chief! Girls these days don't wanna date cops!"

The Chief lets out a good-natured laugh. Unlike the other bosses working around in the building, high up on the other floors, here is a kind man who mingles with his team and can be strict when needed. He now instructs Do-young and everyone to focus on work.

"You okay, Guk-doo?" Do-young asks once the chief is gone and everyone else has returned to their positions.

"Yeah," Guk-doo reassures him before occupying his chair and turning on his computer.

The Chief's parting words ring in his ears. Truly. A cop is better off without things such as love. He knew and yet...

Love is why his heart feels so hollow. He couldn't sleep a wink last night. His jaw hurt, the ring of the Bong-soon's slap echoed in his ears. Though not terrible, a dull, constant ache lingered — the remainder of what transpired between them. In several futile attempts, he stayed up trying to reach her phone in vain.

Even this morning, he was a mess inside and tamped it all down. He's been successfully focusing on his work. He had about 99% focus before his colleague joked and described what exactly happened between him and Bong-soon.

"I'll regain that one percent focus too. And then it will be a hundred percent." Guk-doo rubs his temples with a sigh.

He rereads the copy of the forensic report again, this time on his computer. How do we prevent another bombing? The public safety division gave us all the work. This is our job alone. We can't slack off.

Another bombing might happen anytime soon. Bong-soon... For a moment, his thoughts return to the unsafe streets and his dear friend.

"I will reassign Do-young as her escort. She won't want to see my face."

***

That afternoon, Guk-doo is seated in the patient's chair, facing Dr Bong-gi. Bong-gi is the same age as him and is a dear friend. Guk-doo doesn't find it odd that he's been inside for five minutes and he's already told Bong-gi what's weighing him down. Everything including the embarrassing details.

His jaw was bothering him while he tried to focus on his work. And by the lunch hour, before he could make up his mind, he was making his way towards the City Hospital. Here he is now, inside Dr Bong-gi's cabin.

"She hit me so hard. I didn't think she was capable of it. I always viewed her as a flower who needed our protection."

"Well, she loved you hard. For sure." Bong-gi lets out a laugh, applying a transparent pain strip that blends with the fair, flawless skin along Guk-doo's jaw. "She still does. I'm sure. Though the probability is high she won't ever admit it again."

"I know." Guk-doo allows himself to sigh. Earlier when the Chief said those things about police officers and love, he thought of giving up his love but now... being here with Bong-gi, hearing him reaffirm Bong-soon loves him, he doesn't feel like giving up.

"Honestly." Bong-gi steps away from Guk-doo and takes off his doctor's gloves. "I know your jaw hurts and you were having a hard time concentrating, but do you need to visit the hospital? It's all but a scratch for you. You're a tough guy, Guk-doo. I know you are."

"You also know I'm wary of painkillers, Bong-gi. Yes, this is nothing that requires medical attention. You could say I... wanted to see my friend."

Bong-gi breaks into a soft smile. "The best way to treat it was applying a cold compress."

"I can't when I'm working in the PD. Strange, not even a single perp laid a hand on my face during my five years as a cop and she did! My face is off-limits. I wouldn't let anybody get to my face no matter how bad the fight."

"Ah yes, your face. We need to protect that precious, handsome face of yours the girls adore so much. And sure you have an image to maintain in the PD."

Guk-doo raises a brow. Bong-gi elaborates with another chuckle.

"Back in the day, you had a fan club 'cause of that face and of course your towering height."

Guk-doo scratches his head, a little embarrassed. "I didn't know that. I don't remember."

"Of course. You don't. I bet you don't know a fan club exists in your name in the PD too. Well, fan clubs exist. That's how girls have fun. Gossiping about hot men. That's how it goes in this hospital too. Good-looking doctors have their fan clubs."

Guk-doo guffaws. "Haha! Why'd you look sullen? Surely, they included you in the good-looking doctors' list, didn't they?"

He grimaces. "Ah. I can't laugh. Bong-soon put all her force into that slap, too."

Bong-gi shrugs. "Well, she still trains her taekwondo moves with me each day."

"You never told me."

"Well, it didn't come into our conversation."

"Yeah, it didn't."

"Even so, you realised you love her and went straight for a kiss. You have guts, Guk-doo. I like it!"

Guk-doo laughs. "Bong-gi! Wait, you approve? Even when I got Heeji?"

"She wasn't your proper girlfriend. And you guys parted ways. It shouldn't be a problem."

Guk-doo sighs. "Thanks. Bong-soon thinks it's a huge problem."

"Hm. I bet she does. Given what she said, it's possible she's thinking you're into her for another reason. Convincing her will be an uphill task for sure. She's stubborn as a rock when she wants to be."

"I know." Guk-doo nods. A new light of determination bleeds into his eyes as he gets off his chair. "I'm not giving up."

"I'll be rooting for you two." Bong-gi cheerily pats his friend on his back. "Your jaw won't bother you now. It will be gone. Don't think of how my sister slapped you. I'm sure it won't hurt bad then."

Guk-doo laughs again. He isn't the guy who gets easily embarrassed but he should've avoided regaling the 'going for the kiss' part. Who knows if Bong-gi would've punched him, he'd have had another jaw injury. Or if the doctor went for his vitals... A part of his brain says he'd have been able to dodge the attacks. Thankfully it wasn't needed.

"Thank you, Bong-gi."

He bows to Bong-gi formally. Soon he gets called to the PD.

His heart feels light when he hits work. The hollow feeling is gone to some extent. I spoke to Bonggi on an impulse but it didn't turn out bad. I'm glad I could speak of this with someone dear.

He pumps his fist, fingers tackling the keyboard of his computer.

"I'll go to Bong-soon by myself this evening. Once off duty, I will escort her home. We won't be anywhere far from yesterday. But I will start by apologising."

***

"You look terrible Bong-soon!"

Hana gapes at Bong-soon's grumpy retreating figure that has opened the door for her. The afternoon sun is warm. Outside the city life is ever the same. The girls step into the latter's new art gallery.

"Are you still unpacking your stuff?" Hana inquires.

Bong-soon lies face down on the couch and doesn't answer.

"What?" Hana presses on, putting away her bag and taking off her corporate blazer. She moves back to the foyer to line her shoes next to the shoe rack, and approaches her friend.

"I came to see you during my lunch break and this is how you treat me?"

"Suit yourself..." Bong-soon's half murmur sounds raspy. The girl doesn't lift her head from the cushions. "You should be satisfied with whatever I'm giving you."

A worried Hana plops on the edge of the couch and runs her hands through Bong-soon's hair. "What happened? Tell me."

"Nothing is wrong!"

"Bong-soon-ah!"

A little more coaxing has Bong-soon opening up.

"That idiot! The heartbreaker from my childhood tried to kiss me! He tried to kiss me! How dare he, when he has Heeji!" Bong-soon now sits upright, face distraught. Her voice is so loud Hana thinks it can be heard on the street outside. The latter gestures for the former with her hands 'Calm down.'

Bong-soon ignores the plea, brushes a stray tear of agitation from the corner of her eye. Her entire face is flushed red from anger. "When I mentioned her, he brazenly said they broke up! It's true I wanted him to kiss me from our high school days but..."

A smile nearly graces her lips as she mentally travels to those days. In a blink, reality hits her again.

"Ahhh... How am I supposed to act around him now? I can't even make art like this, I'm a mess. It's all because of him. Stupid, dumb, idiotic Guk-doo-ah!" With a scream, she buries herself in the cushions again. "I hate him! I hate him! No, I think I hate myself! I hate myself! I hate myself! Uhuhu...."

Bong-soon's shoulders shake as she sobs without tears flowing. Hana finds little relief in the fact that her dear friend doesn't shed tears. Guk-doo detested girls who cried. It was why Bong-soon trained herself to never shed tears. Over the years she has perfect control of the same. She was a strong girl, nonetheless, and very much in love. Poor thing tried everything in her power to gain Guk-doo's attention. But nothing worked.

Who'd tell a girl to be brutal when subtle signs wouldn't work? Hana felt Bong-soon should've taken a stronger stance in her pursuit but never mentioned it. It didn't matter much. Why run after a guy who did not notice you?

"Remember how all those pretty girls in our class were after him in our high school days... he never gave them a second glance." Bong-soon's voice comes muffled by the cushions. "So why now? Did he change growing up!? Turned into a player?"

She sits up again and adjusts her bangs. All the while Hana watches with a conflicted expression on her face.

"He must have discarded Heeji as he's bored. And he came to me as he needed a woman on his arm on his day off." Bong-soon radiates so much rage. To Hana, she practically burns like those anime characters. "Why me! Why... He wanted me to keep him entertained, was it? He wanted to take advantage of our friendship as he wouldn't find a girlfriend on such short notice!?"

"Whoa, whoa." Hana throws her hands out hoping to calm her friend. "Slow down Bong-soon. You're jumping to a lot of conclusions, girl. As much as I'm not fond of Guk-doo. I won't judge him this way. Did you ask him why he did it?"

Bong-soon takes a calming breath. "No, I didn't ... Honestly I take back what I said. It didn't feel like he was taking advantage of our friendship. Not until that moment he tried to kiss me. And how does he even know? He didn't appear surprised when I told him of my feelings!"

"So then what do you think?"

"I dunno, I just... I can't process this. I'm so confused. He shouldn't have brought this upon me. What of Heeji!"

Hana pulls Bong-soon in a hug. "Calm down Bong-soon. It's okay. Just calm down and talk to him later okay? Maybe he genuinely is into you."

"What, it's so sudden."

"It's not sudden, isn't it? You guys have been friends for ages. Maybe it's only now he realised."

"Too optimistic but okay let's put this matter aside. Thanks for coming to see me. And sorry for the cold reception. I'm okay now."

Bong-soon shows Hana a bright smile. Hana's phone then beeps. "Ah, lunch hour ends early. Sorry, I should go. I will text you when I can."

Bong-soon nods. Once Hana is out of the door, she shuts it close and faceplants herself on the couch again. She dozes off and dreams of Guk-doo kissing her again. This time his lips do touch hers and in the next moment she lunges at him with a round horse kick.

"Ugh, what a dream!"

She catches her head and checks her watch. "But at least I got to kick him. I should've thrashed him some more. Five pm already. I've slept for two hours! That detective will be back as an escort. He was a nuisance this morning."

Bong-soon adjusts the pleats of her skirt and brushes off the creases in her leggings. She adjusts her hair next, grabs her handbag before locking the art studio and stepping out.

"Duh, new art studio and I can't even paint. And I have a police escort. The streets are unsafe, my foot!"

The main roads are busy as ever. The public isn't wary of the bombings as the police are. Before she knows her aimless stroll has taken her to the train station.

She purchases a ticket to North Seoul, wanting to visit the view tower again. Amidst the throng of evening goers, she spots an old woman caught between them. The good samaritan in Bong-soon has her ushering forward.

She uprights the lady just as she's about to go down. The old lady faces her with a kind, wrinkled smile. Then looking around cautiously, she whispers she has a favour to ask.

Before Bong-soon can say yes, an A4-sized envelope is thrust into her hands. She's to deliver this in West Busan? Sure, she's here to escape Mr Escort the detective. But she can help the old woman as well, right?

Oh yes, she'll help this woman even if it means going home late.

***

The MPD office is quiet as time is close to the witching hour. Only a sparse number of personnel are left in the main hall. Guk-doo is one among them, immersed in his research about Black Wrestlers.

A while ago, he took off the pain strip from his jaw, went to check on Bong-soon during his short evening break but she wasn't at her art gallery. he texted her and received no reply. He figured she'd have gone home. Though he wanted to confirm, he didn't want to visit her home and cause a stir. Hoping she was okay, he took a small nap at his house and then returned to the PD.

The pendulum clock strikes twelve in the PD. A constable ushers someone in a suspicious woman moving about outside the MPD complex.

Gukdoo's eyes slightly widen at the short haired woman who's hiding her face. His jaw tightens ever so slightly and he barks a command to unhand her.

***

AN: Hey ya all ... Thank you for reading. If anyone's reading this story pls vote and comment.

Thanks. Your support can keep me pushing forward to continue this story.