Season two, chapter fifty-five

"My love, you are
worth it all"

THEA'S NIMBLE fingers danced across the vibrant array of farm-fresh vegetables. With precision and finesse, she effortlessly wielded her razor-sharp knife, sculpt culinary masteringpieces that rivalled those of seasoned chefs.

Just another ordinary day at the bustling restaurant, filled with laughter and joy. Thea hurriedly helped Ms. Chu in the kitchen to prepare the orders. That all came crashing down when the place suddenly began to shake, the once harmoniously arranged pans and spoons gracefully tumbled from their hooks, crashing onto the floor.

As dust delicately drifted from the pristine ceiling, Thea's knife hovers above untouched vegetables, her inquisitive brown eyes fervently seeking answers to the enigma that surrounds her. Yet, an overwhelming and acerbic emotion pulsates in her chest, compelling her to relinquish the blade.

Thea flees from the kitchen, her face etched with fear. Startled, her wide eyes lock with the indistinguishable figure of Mr. Hwang, seated calmly before Mun, both engaged in an intense gaze. With every passing moment, Thea's very essence freezes in terror, her eyes mirroring the predatory instincts of a cat, dilating sharply.

"It's him" Ms. Chu murmured with a voice barely above a whisper, she vigilantly surveys the room, her eyes brimming with apprehension "Hana, Thea. Brace yourselves. No matter what happens, let's protect the kids"

"Yes, ma'am" Both girls nodded, fully aware that the safety of the innocent children in the restaurant is their paramount concern

As Hana and Ms. Chu tend to the oblivious children, Thea's intensity never wavers, her vigilant gaze locked onto her boyfriend and the suspicious figure before him. With every fiber of her being, she stands ready to defend, to protect, and to unleash her incisive resolve against any threat that dares to cross her path.

Thea's intense determination radiated from her clenched fists, while the grimaces etched on men the's faces mirrored the brewing tension. As her piercing gaze fixated on the window glass, an electrifying energy crackled, shattering the fragile barrier between them. A silent battle commenced, fought solely with their intense eye contact.

In the blink of an eye, Mr. Hwang defied speed, saving a fragile glass cup from shattering against the floor, his movements oozing an otherworldly finesse. Yet, his piercing gaze fixed upon the innocent little girl before him, igniting an electrifying tension that hangs in the air.

"Are you okay?" Mr. Hwang dons a seemingly innocent smile, concealing the monstrous power lurking within

"Yes" The little girl responded, certainly intimidated by the mesmerizing gaze of the man draped in a flowing ebony suit

Hana's instincts ignited as the man stood up from the ground. But just as she braced herself for action, Ms. Chu quickly stopped her by the arm.

"You have so many things you need to protect" Mr. Hwang exclaimed, looking at Mun in a mocking manner, although when Mr. Hwang's taunting gaze lingered on Thea, something indescribable shifted within Mun

Thea, oblivious to the gathering storm, she clenched her jaw, her fury at the unwelcome visitor palpable. Finally Mr. Hwang turned around to leave the restaurant.

And once the man disappeared from sight, Mun crumbled to the ground, clutching onto the table as his sole lifeline.

"Mun" Thea dashes to her beloved boyfriend's side. With a heartwrenching mix of anguish and concern etched across her face, her very existence became intertwined with an all-consuming worry for the man she holds dear

Thea felt an unsettling pang as she witnessed the boy, wracked with pain, his strained breaths echoing in her ears. A gust of urgency surged through her veins the moment crimson droplets tainted the floor, escaping Mun's nostrils. Determination surged within her, grounding her on solid foundations, poised to confront the man who dared to disturb her world.

Although Mun's strong arm stopped her from taking another step towards the glass door. With Mun's powerful grip restraining her from the glass door, Thea's gaze meets her boyfriend's pleading eyes, silently vying for her to stay.

Thea was a whirl of fury and anxiety, her emotions practically radiating from her very being.  Yet, as the bustling restaurant finally quieted down and the last customer left, a rare moment of stillness settled in. Everyone took a moment to process what had happened.

"He came to us willingly, but I let him go" Mun began to say, certainly feeling guilty for letting him go "I should've punished him for murdering Ms. Lee"

"You had no choice. You had to protect the kids" Ms. Chu comforted, patting his shoulder

"How in the world did they find us here?" Thea murmured underneath, she certainly had to admit that they were very clever

"This may actually be for the best. They can see the territory" Intrigued by the delicate fractures on the windowpane Hana couldn't resist joining the enigmatic gathering at the table "Unless they make a move first, there's no way to locate them"

"We have to find them at all costs. We need to find and catch that bastard" Mun's visage contorts with a grave, his intensity words dripping with venom. Trembling with disbelief, he shows a folded coin left behind by Mr. Hwang

"I can't believe it's happening. I knew one day it would but still" Mo-tak fussed letting out a long tired sigh

"What can we do? They know where we are now" Jangmul remarked, shrugging his shoulders

"That's the worst of all," Thea mentioned, helping Hana put glasses and chopsticks onto the table

"Here are your noodles" Ms. Chu announced, balancing a tray adorned with colorful bowls of steaming noodles, and just a step behind her Jeok-bong followed with another tray in his hands

Thea, with her sleeves rolled up in a vibrant red hoodie, rushed over to help Jeok-bong. Both determined to avoid any mishaps, they carefully place the tray on the table.

"Our last bowl of noodles. Ms. Chu. Other noodles won't taste as good as these, right?" Mo-tak explained with a wistful tone as he admired the bowl of noodles in front of him

"Don't you know, Mo-tak? These noodles are unique and special," Thea confirmed, carefully placing her own bowl of noodles in front of her

"You're right, you're always right," Mo-tak agreed with her, wiping an imaginary tear from his cheek

"Is Mun not here yet?" Ms. Chu asked as she scanned the room, and realized that someone essential was missing from their designated spot

"Sorry I'm late" Mun reluctantly stepped into the sleek restaurant, as if he had just been summoned

"Come on in"

"Come and sit"

Thea's heart fluttered as her boyfriend walked into the restaurant, their connection evident in the way he hastily claimed his seat. With a warm smile, she rose from her own spot, delicately placing a steaming bowl of aromatic noodles before him. Mun's eyes sparkled with gratitude, a silent exchange of love and affection that bridged the divide between them.

Once everyone was in place, their hushed whispers melting into the air as they prepared to savor their last sacred bowl of noodles. However, just as they were about to indulge in this sacred ritual, Mun's anguished moans erupted, echoing the pain pulsating through his shoulder. Amidst the group, Thea's concern etched across her face, her gaze fixating upon the mysterious wounds adorning Mun's knuckles.

Lately, Mun's behavior has raised more than a few eyebrows among his teammates. As Mun frequently lingers outside the restaurant, suspicions swirl and intensify. Yet, driven by her profound empathy, Thea attempts to attribute his peculiar actions to stress or worry regarding to what happened with Mr. Hwang.

But the mere thought of Mun paying her very little attention sent her into a whirlwind of desire. Yearning for more intimate moments with him, she longed for stolen moments together, without the need for words. The sheer presence of Mun was a magnetic force, rendering words unnecessary.

"Mun" In the quiet embrace of Ms. Chu's gentle voice, a curious ripple of intrigue stirred among those around, who couldn't help but cast suspicious glances towards Mun's figure she beckoned

"Yes?"

"I won't ask you to stop training on your own. So just let me know if you ever get hurt"

"You trained again today?" Mo-tak enhanced, his expression turning to one of disbelief "You really don't listen, do you? It won't do you any good. So you're the only Counter? You'll catch them all yourself?" Mo-tak began to scold as the father figure he was

"No. That's not why. I just have a lot on my mind" Mun admitted stumbling over his words"The evil spirits can see the territory, so we can't find them. I just feel very anxious and frustrated" Mun detailed, crestfallen

"I can do it" Thea's voice pierced through the air, commanding everyone's attention in an instant

"Sorry?"

"What?"

"Isn't that your motto? I can do it!" Thea repeated, as she looked into the eyes of her companions, seeking support and encouragement, a glimmer of hope sparks within her

"Athena, the evil spirit hunter. I can do it" Mo-tak acknowledged, his lips forming into a smile as he played along with Thea

"We can do it!" Jangmul continued to say with inspiration in his voice

"We're not in sync. I can do It!" Thea raised one of her hands in the air, meanwhile Mun is captivated by the tenderness in her eyes, recognizing his extraordinary fortune to call Athena his own

"We can do it!" The others repeated loudly. And amid the chorus of their joyful voices, Mun couldn't help but smile, overwhelmed by the power of their united spirit

"Mun. If you feel anxious, we do too. And if you can do it, then we can do it too. That's us" Ms. Chu's heartfelt words echoed through the room, leaving Mun's eyes filled with gratitude as they sought connection with each member, finding solace in their mere presence. And amidst this symphony of appreciation, it was Thea's radiant smile that held him captive for a lingering moment "Our job's never been easy. But we'll still get it done no matter what. And we'll succeed. Isn't that what you said?"

Mun smiled, moved by her words, slightly nodding his head as Mo-tak caressed his head with tenderness.

"Once you see our new hideout, you'll have a change of heart. You should be excited. I made sure to pick the best spot" Jangmul boasted as the others applauded excitedly

"What? Judging by what you said, it must not be a noodle shop" Jeok-bong's spirited banter echoed through the air

"What do you mean?" Laughter rings out as Jangmul finds sheer delight in Jeok-bong's witty words

"I thought we were moving to another noodle shop. You see, my body digests rice better than flour. So I was hoping for a pho shop" As Jeok-bong weaves his narrative with exquisite detail, silence grips his audience

"Jeok-bong" A delicate harmony is disrupted when Hana's exasperated call pierces the air. As Thea catches onto the mischievous plan unfolding before her, she fights to stifle her laughter

"Yes?"

"You want to train or eat noodles?" Hana gave him a choice, but it certainly wasn't a difficult choice

"The latter... I should eat noodles" Jeok-bong said, avoiding the death stare that Hana was giving him

"Of course"

"Eat up, Jeok-bong"

"Eat up"

Thea's laughter cascades through the room, captivating everyone who hears it. As her eyes crinkle shut in delight, a certain raven-haired boy is powerless to resist the enchanting sight, his breath catching in a wistful sigh.

He dreamt of sweeping her off her feet with unforgettable and electrifying dates, a perfect embodiment of the love and admiration she truly deserved.

Author's note;

Hello! How are you? I know I haven't put many romantic scenes between these two lovebirds but I promise you that in the next chapter there will be more 😭 Anyway, leaving that aside, I wanted to tell you that I will be publishing a new story of the k-drama "Twinkling watermelon" in case you would like to stop by and check it out 😁

Question of the day: If you could have one super power, which one would you choose? 🤩

I would choose Telekinesis, certainly because I could do many things at the same time without having to use my hands, plus it would be super cool to be able to move objects with my mind 😉 See y'all in the next chapter! 💕