The week passes with Bong-soon falling into this odd routine of spending her days at the PD alongside Guk-doo. He picks her up from Walnut Pie in the morning, drops her home at night and performs guard duties. Sometimes Do-young switches places with him.

On a random night, she catches a glimpse of some other detective friend of theirs, patrolling the streets, from her window at night and wallows in guilt for a long moment. It's strange how peaceful this routine has become though it's frustrating.

Her biggest concern is her art which has gone on a hiatus. At night when she tries to paint, she finds no inspiration at all. Her hands won't move, can't paint a pretty picture

That Saturday afternoon, she's inside the PD, twiddling her thumbs when it strikes her that she hasn't made use of the money Pa gave her. Hoping a trip to the art market and purchasing supplies will help her break her artist's block, she puts in a request with Guk-doo.

A trip down the streets looking at gallores of art and art supplies lining the art market would be fun. Guk-doo promised to be her escort the other day, but to her disappointment now, Do-young replaces him. Work has kept Guk-doo occupied; he hasn't glanced at her since morning. He's currently with Chief; as the ace of the team, his presence is required.

A tinge of bitterness makes its way into Bong-soon's heart as she returns to the PD. The trip to the art market has been fruitful but the fact remains that she missed having Guk-doo next to her. Why? Just last week she wanted distance. And now... this is absurd. Yeah, she only wants him as a friend though. The usual. Though she harbours feelings for him, she's only used to his presence as a friend. Not like she wants to jumpstart and make him her boyfriend. She'd like the idea one day. If he's serious about her as she was. Gods...

With a hefty sigh, she stocks the paper bags of her purchases under her desk, watching Guk-doo work around the PD again.

This is what she'll do. As he said, being here, witnessing his work is a privilege in itself.

***

The night is a thick, chilly cloak of darkness gripping the city when Guk-doo jostles awake in his bed with the realisation that he has hit the snooze button on the alarm a couple of times already. 11.20 PM? He has slept for not the scheduled two hours but two hours and twenty minutes.

He pulls on his jacket on top of his jumper. When he returned home to catch his evening break, he was so tired that he thrust his jacket aside and jumped into bed. And now he has to put it on, slip on his shoes and run back to the PD. This is what the life of a cop is like. Probably this is why he couldn't deepen his relationship with Heeji.

It doesn't matter. But probably this was why Heeji got tired of him. He didn't mind it. But what if Bong-soon also gets tired of him? What if she's tired already?

He's been hopeful ever since his talk with Bong-gi, ever since the day he and Bong-soon became acquaintances again that he could deepen their relationship one day. What if it never happens?

He's never understood what true love is. This must be it. This fear, the insecurity, the unease, the giddiness, all wrapped in a bundle. Doubtlessly, he'd hate to lose Bong-soon or for them to lose the bond they have. This is what craving eternity is. Despite the odds, he'd crave it for himself.

Nothing in life has ever gone easy for him. There's no proper clue linking the first bombing with the Black Wrestlers. All that hours of research boil down to nothing. The Chief has begun focusing on other cases the second unit is assigned. Like the dumb art thief's case. Theft of valuable art is a blow, perhaps to the rich, and the art society, but shouldn't the police prioritise public safety first?

The second unit is sloppy and doesn't get the work done, according to others. It's short on hands, with personnel on long leave or such. When Guk-doo joined the unit, he heard the same. He was prepared to shoulder all the burden alone but then found out that his only co-worker and boss are very much competent. Not at all like they were described by the rumours. If they take ages to solve a case, it's mostly because they tackle the most complex ones.

He was prepared for the negativity but it turned out to be a positive situation. This example should be why he should stop being pessimistic about his life. The things with the bombing case and Bong-soon, will fall into place with the time accordingly.

Having organised his thoughts, Guk-doo returns to the PD. A quick ride on the bike sanctioned to him which he sometimes uses.

The hours in the PD tick by as usual. He's been looking into Black Wrestlers. Old files — the hard copies saving him from the hours of eyestrain from going through the digitised archives on his computer.

So far no clue. He's been at it for two hours already. But nothing. Just then the screen of his smartphone resting atop his desk lights up with an incoming call.

A call from Do-young, who is patrolling the home outside Bong-soon's? Guk-doo's finger trances the text inside the file he's reading while his other hand brings the phone to his ear.

"Hello." He frowns, hearing cheery laughter from the other end and some munching noises. "Do-young, are you..."

Eating while on the clock? He trails off as Do-young interrupts him and updates the situation.

Huh, Do-young received a snack from Bong-soon? She thanked him for working hard.

Guk-doo's lips curl in disdain upon hearing that.

"Don't be jealous, Guk-doo-ah. She could as well be feeding me alongside the stray dogs."

Do-young's reassurances don't put Guk-doo in a good mood.

Ba...stard. Why'd you call to tell me this? You were only looking to torment me. Guk-doo mutters, putting his phone back on his desk. The screen has turned blank after the call has ended but his laughter rings in his ears.

"That Bong-soon. When will she learn not to approach strange men in the middle of the night? And this righteous anger. Is it jealousy as Do-young described? Nope."

With a huff, Guk-doo resumes reading the file. It only takes a moment for his thoughts to race in a thousand different directions.

Are the Black Wrestlers staying calm? They've been laying low but have been trying to show their might. No untoward sightings or happenings. Bong-soon is safe. But the police mustn't let their guard down.

Then the message from the MP... what about it? The Black Wrestlers must have found an alternate means of communication. But what? The telecom agency won't agree to tap the MP's phone. The higher-ups won't allow it either. I'm not stupid to consider it will work out. I have to try other means.

I know the clue to the bombings is in those documents. It's my intuition, mostly. But cops have to follow intuition sometimes when a solid lead isn't available. I must do something or this investigation won't progress.

***

Sleep must be away from her eyelids but she's shamelessly snoozing atop the couch in her room, amidst brainstorming ideas to make new art, no less.

She doesn't know how much time has passed. The shrill ringing of her smartphone wakes her up.

"Huh. Why'd I not put it on silent? Ugh, who's calling at this hour? Guk-doo?"

"Hey... I'm on night patrol outside your home."

If she isn't wide awake before his clipped voice is the wake-up call, she is now. Robotic utterances as usual. I've always loved how cool he sounded but now I'm annoyed.

Now seated atop her couch while hugging her knees, Bong-soon's brow scrunches as she nearly screams into her phone. "So what? What should I do?"

"Get me my midnight snack."

She falls silent checking the clock. It's a little after 12.

"Are you listening?" Guk-doo's voice pulls her out of her trance.

"Yes, but..."

"Why should Do-young be the only recipient of midnight snacks? I want tea!"

"Huh. Now you're making demands."

"Hurry."

Bong-soon stares at her phone after the call ends with a beep. Outside her home, Guk-doo smiles to himself. My midnight snack is seeing your face, he murmurs to himself, erupting into a chuckle. This isn't jealousy. I had enough of the brainstorming and I need to replace Do-young one of these days.

This is all but my selfish indulgence. And us having tea together puts me ahead of Do-young if this were a race. Doesn't it?

Guk-doo laughs to himself again. How silly he has gotten and all because of love. This is what love is, hm? How does he define it?

Sure enough, he's treated to her brief, albeit stiff smile,

her sulky face in contrast with the delicious hot tea she has brought.

They sit on a raised cement platform outside a neighbour's house, right under the streetlight, the tea tray between them. There's not a soul around. Just trees swaying around casting long shadows on the hard concrete.

Bong-soon is in PJs unlike him. Guk-doo rises to his feet, drapes his coat over her like the gentleman he is.

"Mom would be disappointed in her upbringing if I were to make you sit in this cold wearing only your PJs." He tells her when she sends him a disapproving look. "Even inside, you must dress warm."

Bong-soon doesn't reply. She was annoyed earlier, preparing the tea. But now she has these butterflies, dancing in her stomach. Guk-doo... This sudden demand. Were you jealous? And you're acting sweeter than honey in this green tea. This quiet is nice. Being in the room was suffocating. Now I wonder how I fell asleep. She muses, sipping her tea but doesn't breathe a word of it.

The tea well savoured, they sit quietly. Thankfully, there are no mosquitoes (thanks to metropolitan municipality efforts) and a pleasant breeze drifts by the streets.

"Sleepy?" Guk-doo asks her after a while. The silence so far has been comforting. Her company has been therapy, but he wonders how she feels about it.

Bong-soon stares at him, narrow-eyed, a small smile on her lips. Little does he know she feels the same.

"You should sleep inside, Bong-soon. Good night."

He takes his jacket back and motions towards her house, rising to his feet. Bong-soon can't help but be a little disappointed. The smile on her nonetheless doesn't diminish as she makes her way towards her room.

"Guk-doo-ah, you're so infuriating... Asking your friend to serve you tea. That was so unlawful as a cop. But I can't say I didn't enjoy that. "

Her smile widens to a grin as she returns to her room and buries herself in her blankets.

"So frustrating... Even more so... But... I... I..."

She cuts off before she can say I love you.

"Nope... I must sleep now."

Somehow cutting her thoughts off she drifts into a deep, dreamless sleep.

***

AN: Short chapter. More coming soon <3 Pls vote and comment. Thanks for reading <3