Season two, chapter fifty-two

"My love, my love"

THEA STANDS OUT as a true artist. With deft hands and unwavering focus, she delicately separates the guts from the succulent anchovies, her lips set in a purposeful line. Amongst her peers, she effortlessly wields the bulkiest metal fret, a testament to her extraordinary speed and unmatched skill.

"You saw it, right? Right in front of Jun-hui... Bam!" Mo-tak began to say, extending his hand out as he had done when saving Jun-hui "I stopped that shining blade. That's what a hero does. At the most critical moment, bam!" As one voice traces its path through the air, others find themselves utterly enthralled with their delicate culinary artistry "I knew something was odd. You could all do it. It was odd how only I couldn't, right?" He let out a big laugh "I was subconsciously waiting for this very moment. I, Ga Mo-tak—"

"All right. We get it, so enough gloating and help us with these anchovies" Ms. Chu finally reached her breaking point. Without missing a beat, Mun placed an exquisite metal bowl brimming with an abundance of savory anchovies before him

"Must we do this with our hands? Let me use my psychokinesis. Watch carefully" Mo-tak insisted, raising his hand, moving his fingers as if he was casting a spell "It won't even budge" He complained before moving the fret forward daring to make his voice resound. He unleashes a determined scream "It's time to rise, anchovies" He extended both of his hands determined to move the anchovies with his psychokinesis 

"Your nose is bleeding" Mun pointed out, his keen observation skills never fail to astound

"What? My nose is bleeding?" Mo-tak asked in disbelief plopping down onto the wooden table

"You can't use psychokinesis so recklessly" Thea scolded, putting the small anchovies with no organs into her fret

"No, I have to make it work. I can do this" Mo-tak refused, taking the fret in his hands before walking to another table further away from the team "I can"

"Sure"

"Don't we have more than enough stock? Is there a group reservation?" Hana asked, curious to know why they were preparing so many anchovies

"I think Min-ji has morning sickness. The only thing she could stomach was our noodles" Ms. Chu began to explain with a delicate smile on her lips "I'm hoping this will help her regain her appetite"

"Mr. Ma's going to be eternally grateful" Hana's infectious smile ignited laughter in the hearts of those around her. Every time the discussion shifted towards the enigmatic Ms. Lee that the air itself shimmered with electric anticipation and sheer bliss

"Don't stare. Just let him be" Ms. Chu exclaimed as Mo-tak started making a huge show, trying to move the anchovies with his psychokinesis

"He'll be at it for a while" Mun commented, but knowing Mo-tak very well Ms. Chu knew it would be much longer

"I give a couple days" Ms. Chu gambled on, being the one who knew the oldest the best

"I say longer" Mun added as Ms. Chu shook her head in disbelief

"We're working hard, and he's hardly working" Thea watched with a frown as he clung onto his youthful innocence, steadfastly denying his own potential

- -

"No! No!" Mr. Ma cried, leaning against the window that separated him from Min-ji

"Mr. Ma" Mun exclaimed in a low voice at the state in which the aforementioned was

"Mun, is she going to be okay?" Mr. Ma asked with a trembling voice "She'll be okay, right?"

"She'll be just fine. Ms. Lee will be all right" Mun comforted "She'll be all right"

"Please save her" Mr. Ma said with both of his hands together. Thea wrapped her trembling arms around his shoulders in an attempt to confort him, her gaze remaining glued to the woman behind the window "Please save her" Mr. Ma begged

"No..." Thea's voice quivered, her tears transforming her whisper into a symphony of raw emotion. The piercing sound of a machine echoed through the room, reverberating with the weight of a devastating loss

In an instant, Thea's world shattered. The woman she had admired as a beacon of strength, someone she aspired to be like, had found solace in the arms of the afterlife, cradling her unborn child.

- -

"Mr. Ma" Mun murmured, looking at the aforementioned who had swollen and red eyes from crying so much

Thea is no stranger to the depths of heartbreak. As she witnesses Mr. Ma's undying love for Min-ji and the profound impact her absence holds in his life, she finds herself empathizing in ways she never thought possible.

Their solitary act of placing a delicate, pure white flower on the weathered wooden table, where Min-ji's cherished photograph rests, speaks volumes about the strength woven within their bonds.

"All right"

Thea crouches on the floor, her hands pressed together, clutching onto the weight of her emotions. Around her, the air grows heavy with a chilling sadness, as if time itself has come to a standstill.

"Goodness" Jangmul's sorrow gaze lingers on the grieving husband. With a single out-of-place strand of hair, eyes bloodshot with anguish, and once vibrant lips now drained of color

In a delicate moment of heart-wrenching vulnerability, Thea's emotional resilience ignites a transformative connection with Ms. Chu, who finds solace amidst their shared tears. She linked her arm with the older one, guiding her to one of the tables covered with a white tablecloth.

In the wake of an unexpected loss, she finds herself standing at the precipice of a person's final farewell - a person who once occupied a deeply cherished place in her heart. As Mun's tender yet weathered touch delicately brushes away the teardrops that trace her flushed cheeks, her lids descend, carrying her into an unforeseen dark hole.

With closed eyes, she delicately yearns for solace, seeking the tender touch of her beloved. Without hesitation, her devoted boyfriend intertwines his fingers with hers, emanating unwavering support and strength.

"Why!?" Mr. Ma suddenly shouted, drawing the attention of the Counters team sitting around the white table

"Ju-seok, you need to calm down" The man tried to calm him down but the hatred and fury in his eyes was more than noticeable "I understand how you feel but—"

"What's the point of risking our lives to save others? Who will console us?" Ju-seok began to say, interrupting him "I won't forgive them. I'll never forgive the bastards who did this to her. I won't forget"

Thea sniffed once Mun got up from the ground, intending to turn to the man who saved his grandmother, the man who once seemed cheerful.

"Ju-seok" His voice faded halfway when the aforementioned made his way towards the exit with no intention of stopping

"Mr. Ma, I..." Mun started to say but he ignored him and continued walking towards the exit

- -

Thea unexpectedly finds herself drawn to a certain individual standing before her teammates. Mo-tak brims with uncontainable joy as he proudly presents this new addition to their team. His unruly cascading locks, adorned with delicate curls, add a touch of character to his disheveled charm. And though his attire may be reminiscent of a bygone era, it only enhances the irresistible allure that surrounds him.

"Hello, I'm the new Count" The boy in front of the team bowed "My name is Na Jeok-bong"

"Curly hair" Mun pointed to his hair with a warm smile on his face

"Gosh, it's nice to see someone with a pure soul" Ms. Chu exclaimed with a welcoming smile "It's nice to meet you. I'm Chu Mae-ok"

"Hello, ma'am"Jeok-bong greeted with a small bow as he took both of Ms. Chu's hands with delicacy

Thea had to admit that he had manners, it's not like that impressed her but nowadays guys like him were very rude, with no respect for older people.

"There's something old school about him" Jangmul pointed out with amusement "Look at that height. He'll catch those evil spirits all right"

"Hello, I'm So Mun" Mun was the second person to introduce himself, bowing respectfully to the new member "I'll consider you my older brother"

"Gosh, but I'm a total newbie" Jeok-bong finds himself caught off guard by the overwhelming warmth and acceptance from the members of his new team

"That's true" Mun responded with a superior smile, Thea could almost see him puffing out his chest to look more intimidating

"But elders come first in Korea, right?" Jeok-bong clarified with a smile that made his eyes close completely

"He knows our country's tradition" As Mo-tak proudly airs his audacious claims, the humble Mun bows in reverence

"Everyone knows the bonds and virtues of Korea" Jeok-bong exclaimed with a smile before it turned into a pained expression

"But that doesn't matter when we train" Mun exclaimed, his grip compresses Jeok-bong's hand with a bone-crushing intensity that resonates through an entire room "Anyway, I have high hopes for you." Mun's hand slipped away, yielding to a flurry of relentless blows raining down upon his shoulders

"He's already intimidating him" As Ms. Chu's laughter echoes through the air, she points to the interaction between Mun and Jeok-bong

"Okay. I'm sure you learned how important our job is during your time in Yung. Given the grave dangerous situation, you must prepare to undergo arduous training as a newbie" Jeok-bong finds himself captivated by the mesmerizing presence of Thea and Hana. As they skillfully perform their simple yet important tasks, a magnetic connection begins to take shape. Mo-tak, upon noticing this, grabbed him firmly by the neck, making him look deep into his eyes "Are you listening?"

"Yes" Jeok-bong nodded repeatedly

"Brace yourself, okay? Right. That's versatile Park Athena and obnoxious Do..." Mo-tak stopped when Hana turned to look at him with her typical icy gaze "I mean Do Hana. She'll be your mentor. You're the same age, so I hope you become friends. Watch out. Provoke one of them, and they'll bite..." Although he didn't finish speaking when Jeok-bong had already made his way to Thea

Mun's heart raced, his instinct to protect his beloved girlfriend kicking in. With bated breath, he stood his ground, his arms folded and determination etched across his face.

"Goodness, how could a lady like you take on such difficult tasks?" Jeok-bong's desperate pursuit of Thea, a woman ethereally elusive, her every step denying him a glance in return "Ms. Park, let me do the cleaning from now on. But should we talk casually if we're the same age? We're pretty much friends. Give that to me. Let me do it" Jeok-bong insisted, taking the yellow cloth from Thea's hands

In a serendipitous moment, the delicate touch of Jeok-bong's hand interrupts Thea's mundane task of cleaning the table.

In a moment that steals Mun's breath away, his heart momentarily halts as his fists clench involuntarily, revealing the intensity of his emotions. In the blink of an eye, a seething fire starts to flow through his veins, a bitter sensation taking shape within his chest. It's a feeling akin to that first taste of jealousy, but this time, it has nothing to do with SuHo.

"Who does he think he is to hold my girlfriend's hand like that...?" As Mun mutters under his breath, a simmering sense of urgency propels him forward

Ms. Chu's eyes widened in astonishment as Mo-tak's mouth opened, but no words escaped. The air crackled with tension as Jeok-bong's life hung in the balance, and Mun's fury ignited like a smoldering fire. The elders retreated, powerless to intervene as anger consumed him, unleashing a tempest that threatened to leave a trail of destruction in its wake.

Thea's breath caught in her throat as she witnessed a heart-wrenching transformation. The sweet smile adorning the man's face swiftly dissolved into a mask of agony, his body convulsing as he hopped helplessly on one foot. Gripping his injured leg, the source of his pain became apparent—a merciless blow delivered by Mun with the mop that Hana held.

With piercing intensity, Mun's piercing gaze dissects Jeok-bong's very being, leaving him on the verge of tears from the agonizing pain inflicted on his leg.

"Goodness. Okay, everyone" Thea courageously steps forward, leaving her duties and her makeshift cleaning tools behind. Mun's face twisted with a dangerous fury, making it evident that Jeok-bong's life could be in jeopardy "We have a new addition to the family, so let's take a photo"

- -

"Ms. Chu used to be a photographer" Mun's emotions are still raw. A tinge of envy clouds his judgement as he grapples with the fact that Jeok-bong remains oblivious to the fact that Thea is Mun's cherished girlfriend.

Thea couldn't help but find Mun's protectiveness endearing. Every time a stranger dared to approach her, his collective jealousy would send them fleeing. But on that fateful day, something changed. Witnessing Mun's fierce display of devotion, Thea's joyous smile seemed eternal. It was as if she had stumbled upon a secret, untamed side of him she had never seen before. Bewildered by a man who would go to such lengths to guard their connection, she realized that this act of jealousy was unlike anything she had encountered.

She cleared her throat, asserting herself between Mun and Jeok-bong. But it's not just her presence that commands attention, it's the vibrant hue of Jeok-bong's red tracksuit, an emblem of power and symbolism. Even Jeok-bong, now visibly aware of the consequences, respectfully steps aside, granting the brown-haired girl the personal space she deserves.

"Man, no wonder why she seemed so professional" Jeok-bong exclaimed in amazement, he watches in awe as the white-haired woman's skilled hands carefully place the camera, each movement filled with purpose and mystery

"He has a good eye." Jangmul pointed to the tall guy standing behind him

"Okay, let's make our promises" Ms. Chu began to say, as she takes her place beside Jangmul on the humble wooden chair

"Everything will work out since we have a new member" Jangmul began to say with a heart full of pride and immense relief

"Everyone in this photo will be alive until the end" Mun added with a small smile on his pinkish lips

"Three, two, one" Ms. Chu began to count as the camera's shutter clicks, she gracefully transforms the mundane into the extraordinary realm of numbers

"I can do It!" Mun exclaimed as a euphoric grin stretches across his face, he triumphantly thrusts his arms skyward, fists clenched in a symbolic gesture of unstoppable determination

"We can do it!" The others repeated, copying his action

"One more. Like friends" Ms. Chu suggested, striking a pose, as her teammates embraced their individuality and ignited their inner spark

Trembling, Thea felt the firm yet tender grip of Mun's hand encircling her delicately, drawing her closer to his comforting embrace. Meanwhile, Jeok-bong's desperate attempt to seize Thea took an unforeseen turn, his arm inadvertently finding solace on Hana's sturdy shoulders. In a swift retaliatory move, she unleashed a powerful blow to his chest, sending him hurtling backward.

Author's note;

I really fell in love with this chapter, I remember that some of you asked me for an scene showing how Mun would react in a jealousy scene and here you have it! It was so cute to imagine the scene while I was writing it 😭

Question of the day: Do you like jealous and overprotective guys or more reserved and calm guys? 👦

I prefer the second option, it's very annoying when they're way too jealous, I'm saying this based on my experience, those toxic relationships are the worst 😐 See y'all in the next chapter! 💗