Season two, chapter sixty-one

"Above all,
try"

JEOK-BONG'S ABSENCE created a noticeable void in the place, reminding Mun of his own painful history when he was fired from his position as a Counter in the past. The atmosphere evoked a haunting sense of familiarity, yet this time, Jeok-bong had made a deliberate choice not to return.

Riddled with concern, Thea found this decision utterly foolish. The dire truth was that slipping into a coma carried the terrifying risk of never reawakening. Yet, despite their deep-seated worry, they had no choice but to honor his autonomy and refrain from interfering, intervening only if absolutely necessary.

"Do we really need to return these?" Mo-tak asked as he put the small boxes of pore strips back into the original packaging box "What did Yung say?"

"They said they respected his decision so I got mad at them. They said they'll give us an answer by today" After putting her glasses aside, Ms. Chu released a heavy sigh and furrowed her brow "They say you always feel the absence of someone who's gone. I miss that folksy accent of his"

"Darn it. They respect our wishes only in times like these. They said it's hard to find a Counter. But now, they're happy to let him go?" Mo-tak voiced his frustration, especially considering he was the one responsible for recruiting him "Going somewhere, Mun?" He immediately noticed Mun swiftly exiting his room.

Intrigue and suspicion instantly gripped Thea as she observes her boyfriend's peculiar hastiness. A flurry of emotions rushes through her when he abruptly stops, trapped by the weight of an embarrassed smile as he was halted almost as soon as he could left.

"I'm going to bring Jeok-bong back. I think I put too much emphasis on his power. I put too much pressure on him when he just became a Counter" Mun calmly clarified, elucidating the reason for his urgency "I'll go and convince him. I'll bring him back no matter what" he expressed his unwavering determination and certainty in achieving his objective. However, Thea could still perceive a hint of hesitation in his gaze

"Yeah, he shouldn't give up so easily. It wasn't his fault he lost his power. We can't put him back into a coma" Mo-tak affirmed, acknowledging by nodding and imitating Mun's facial expression

"You're right. So what if he can't smell? He has other skills too. Okay? Well..." Ms. Chu was at a loss for words; there wasn't much Jeok-bong could really do "I'm sure he can do something else. Let's go" Ms. Chu shook her head, with determination, willing to do whatever necessary to retrieve Jeok-bong

"Okay," Mo-tak agreed, copying Ms. Chu's movement, and both of them quickly got up from their chairs. Meanwhile, Thea maintained a gentle smile and stayed seated, as she wasn't particularly interested in going out today. Additionally, she was aware that Mun had different intentions

"No, I'll go alone this time" Mun quickly responded, preventing the two older individuals from proceeding any further. As a result, Ms. Chu and Mo-tak glanced at him with perplexity "He seemed a bit uncomfortable to have us all there last time"

Both elders remained silent, both aware that it was true. They shared quick but meaningful looks, affirming their understanding before reclining onto their separate chairs.

"Let's go, Mun" Thea said enthusiastically, getting up from her chair, which made a creaking sound as she moved it backward. Instantly, everyone's attention shifted to her, their faces displaying bewilderment

"What?" Mun asked, creasing his forehead in puzzlement. Although he couldn't argue that he wanted her to come along with him, he was intrigued by her sudden curiosity

Could it be...?

"You can't drive" Thea reminded him with a smug little smile on her face, hands in the pockets of her black hoodie. She walked by him, anticipating that he would come after her

Mun's eyes locked onto her, inexplicably gripped by her bewitching allure. A mesmerizing smile delicately danced upon his lips, while his heart surged with an exhilarating rush at the mere glimpse of her. Goodness, how was that even possible?

It can't be.

Mun sighed—a sigh that resonated not with weariness, but with the intoxicating elixir of love's enchantment. Eventually, unable to resist her allure, he went after Thea. He couldn't refuse to spend a little more time alone with her, specially when his heart yearns for stolen moments in her exquisite presence, Mun hesitates no longer—the grip of their love is too intoxicating to resist.

As Mun's gaze wanders, it locks onto Thea, captivated by her unwavering focus. Her hands delicately grasp the steering wheel, guiding them towards Jeok-bong's residence. With her eyes steadfastly fixed on the road ahead, Mun is lured into Thea's mesmerizing presence.

"How come you never told me you knew how to drive?" Mun asked, raising an eyebrow but genuinely impressed. "Moreover, how come I've never seen you drive until now?" He emphasized the word 'never' with curiosity

"Maybe because that's usually Mo-tak and Hana's job, and they rarely let me take the wheel" Thea explained, a smile forming on her face as her gaze remained fixed on the road. "Actually, I learned to drive when I was thirteen." she revealed, briefly glancing in his direction. Their eyes met briefly for a few moments before Thea redirected her gaze back to the road

"Aigoo, it seems like you have been remarkable since your early years," Mun acknowledged, reaching out to tousle Thea's hair, which elicited a playful giggle from her

"Hey..." Thea redirected her gaze to Mun, who swiftly concealed his grin as he observed Thea's eyes glimmering in a shade of blue momentarily before vanishing. "Yes, Hyun-ki? What? Now? Yes, yes, we're on our way."

"What? What's going on?" Mun questioned with consternation upon noticing the grim expression on Thea's face

"Aish, Jeok-bong, is in danger and we might lose him if we don't arrive on time," Thea exclaimed anxiously, gripping the steering wheel tightly

"We're almost there. We need to hurry" Mun asserted, gripping the handle above the window tightly, regarding the girl in the driver's seat with a furrowed brow. "Why do they always have to interrupt our moments like this?"

"Does Jeok-bong attract evil spirits or something?" Thea asked, tilting her head in irritation, pressing on the accelerator forcefully without second thought

Mun's urgency is palpable as he urgently darts out of the car upon reaching their destination, as though a matter of life and death. Thea's heart skips a beat, her hand instinctively hovers over the car door, rattled by the startling sight of two motionless figures in the distance—one of them none other than Jeok-bong's father.

"Mun, his father" Thea remarked, hastening her pace. Mun acknowledged her comment with a grave countenance and sprinted towards the small stadium. Meanwhile, Thea rushed towards the incapacitated individual sprawled a short distance away from the stadium "Are you okay? Are you okay?" she asked again, taking the unconscious man's head, who slowly opened his eyes in response. "Thank goodness," Thea sighed in relief before placing her hand on the man's face and putting him to sleep

Her eyes dart across the horizon, desperate to catch a glimpse of Mun and Jeok-bong. Taken aback, she leans against the railing, her eyes wide open as she watched Jeok-bong, who pitted against an evil spirit, emerging as an unlikely hero, his determination palpable as he fought for victory.

"All that dung..." Thea scrunched her nose up in disgust, shielding her face and choosing not to witness Jeok-bong filling the evil spirit's face with excrement. While she recoiled in revulsion, her boyfriend, Mun, exuded an unyielding confidence, leaning nonchalantly against a pillar with a hint of a mischievous smile playing on his lips

"Nice. That's right. He's strong too" Mun exclaimed in astonishment as Jeok-bong effortlessly lifted the man up in the air, tossed him, and swiftly ran towards him, almost as if he was a character in a video game

"His moves are old-fashioned" Thea remarked, arms folded, while they marveled at the spectacle before them. Jeok-bong's sudden display of skill caught them off guard

"He's much better than Mo-tak" Mun whispered, leaning towards her cautiously, as if he intended to keep it private from others. Thea raised an eyebrow skeptically

"I'm so definitely gonna tell him that" Thea exclaimed, her eyes gleaming mischievously. On the other hand, Mun was rendered speechless as he found it hard to accept that his girlfriend had decided to deceive him. He folded his arms across his chest, angling his head sideways while gazing at Thea with innocent and pleading eyes, indicating a desire to dissuade her from mentioning the matter

Thea on the other hand ignore his gaze and instead pointed towards Jeok-bong. Who had yet not seen them.

"Here comes my finisher!" Jeok-bong shouted as he sprinted towards the man, leaped into the air, and forcefully collided his hand with the man's stomach, who was still lying on the ground

Thea's smile was gentle, indicating her clear admiration for Jeok-bong's skills, which she had greatly underestimated. He had been underestimated by everyone else as well.

Mun expressed his delight with a wide grin on his face, applauding enthusiastically, while Jeok-bong rejoiced by jubilantly raising his hands in celebration.

"My goodness, Jeok-bong! You were terrific! Come on" Mun exclaimed, surprising Jeok-bong with their unexpected presence. Jeok-bong turned around, feeling amazed. Thea, upon catching sight of Jeok-bong, also joined in applauding before leaping over the railing before her. "You were the best" Mun continued, further boosting Jeok-bong's confidence

"What? When did you get here?" Jeok-bong asked surprised, his face covered in excrement and the repugnant odor piercing into Thea's nose like microscopic blades

"We saw everything" Mun remarked, directing his attention to the motionless individual sprawled on the floor

"Did you? How embarrassing. Right. He and I... I mean, this evil spirit—"

"Be quiet" Thea interjected, lifting her finger and scrunching her nose once more upon detecting the odor

"Right. I got my smell back" Jeok-bong proclaimed, firmly clutching Thea's hand, causing her to recoil with repulsion. She wrinkled her forehead and swiftly withdrew her hand from Jeok-bong's grip, intending to strike him "Dont hit my nose!" he hastily shielded his nose with his hands

As she gazes upon her hand, tainted by the repulsive touch of dung, an unsettling feeling throws her into a whirlwind of emotions. The surge of nausea threatens to overpower her, yet she remains determined to conquer it. Swallowing her disgust, she clenches her jaw and shuts her eyes, desperately warding off a surge of revulsion that threatens to consume her entirely.

"Come on. You caught that evil spirit. So you should summon it" Mun said with a furrowed brow, noticing Thea's reluctant demeanor and her reluctance to approach, similar to his own hesitation

"What? Summon? Do you think I can do it?" Jeok-bong asked with a joyful expression and an eager anticipation in his sparkling eyes

"Okay. Put his hand on his chest" Thea gave way for Jeok-bong to move forward as she spoke. At the same time, Thea made sure to keep her hand aside from her face, concerned that she might feel nauseous

"Like this?" Jeok-bong inquired hesitantly, gently placing a hand on the man's chest

"And then, put your right hand on top" Jeok-bong followed Thea's instructions and placed his right hand on top, as she had advised

"Jeok-bong. See you later" Mun smiled and as he waved his hand, Jeok-bong's hand radiated a brilliant white glow. The person underneath him forcefully moved their head back and forth, eventually succumbing to unconsciousness, which led Jeok-bong to also lose consciousness while still on top of him

"Aish, how disgusting," Thea commented, shaking her hand in the air as if that would make the dung come off her hand

"I wouldn't want to touch that," Mun scrunched his nose up in disgust, scrunching his nose, causing Thea to raise an eyebrow in response. Alarmed by her reaction, Mun abruptly stood up and swallowed nervously. As Thea narrowed her eyes and prepared to attack, Mun started to retreat cautiously, stuttering "I mean..."

"Are you rejecting the affection of your beloved girlfriend?" Thea asked in a threatening tone, slowly walking towards Mun, who started waving his hands in front of him

"No, no, of course not, but first you should wash that hand," Mun responded, a mischievous grin emerging on his countenance

"Yah!" Thea exclaimed as she sprinted after her boyfriend with her hand raised in the air

"Wait!"

"Come here!"

In a small stadium, their laughter echoed through the air as the couple gracefully danced around each other, their vibrant smiles painting the scene with pure joy. These stolen moments of unbridled bliss were like precious gems, rare and treasured in their love story.

Those moments that will soon come to an end...

Author's note;

So I'm officially on Christmas break!! 🥳🥳. I hope to make the most of this break by posting chapters more often. Maybe I can even complete writing this season within the next two weeks of the break.

Question of the day: What would you choose if you could travel to the future or the past? 🫡

I would choose to go back in time in order to change several things that I deeply regret. However, we'll see each other in the next chapter!💕