Season two, chapter sixty-three

"Viridity
(n.) naive innocence"

THEA WAS DEEPLY engrossed in her own musings, while her fellow team members conversed about the events involving Mr. Ma. In a state of desperation, she clung to a fragile strand of denial, unwilling to acknowledge the undeniable changes he has experienced. Thea is resolute in her efforts to persuade herself that her own mind has deceived her, choosing to believe that she has misunderstood the chilling sights she has witnessed.

Nevertheless, Pil-gwang and Gelly were present; she had witnessed their presence. They possessed undisclosed information, unknown to Thea. Unknown to anyone else.

As her mind raced, she dared to entertain the shocking notion that Mr. Ma might be intricately involved in their clandestine actions. Bound by skepticism, Thea questioned the impossible synergy between their worlds. Could they truly be partners in crime, or was she simply being led astray?

"What will happen to him now?" Ms. Chu asked with concern, leaving Thea on the edge of her seat. Lost in her own thoughts, she had missed half of the riveting conversation

"We'll have to wait until the next trial. But he won't get a reduced sentence"Hana reveals, her words displaying both resolute conviction and hidden concern "If he refuses to change his attitude"

"Oh, dear"

Mo-tak revealed with one hand under his chin as if he was pondering "He looked dangerous"

Jangmul leaned forward, his eyebrows raised in confusion as he questioned, "Dangerous? What do you mean?"

"It's a hunch you have as a detective. 'This person shouldn't be let out' 'They're going to screw up sooner or later'" responded Mo-tak, Thea, despite comprehending his intuition, struggled with an unforeseen reluctance to reveal her personal thoughts. Concerned about the repercussions of making a false accusation, she is resolute in her determination to defend Mr. Ma

"That's how he came across as?" Ms. Chu tilted her head with a furrowed brow

"That's what my gut told me" Mo-tak crossed his arms and leaned back on the chair

"That's absurd. You know what kind of person he is" Ms. Chu exclaimed, and will stop at nothing to protect the honor of Mr. Ma "Of course, he'd want to kill those bastards. Why can't you empathize with him?"

Indeed, it was undeniable that the transformation of Mr. Ma, once known for his kindness, into a being filled with wickedness was difficult to fathom. Let alone an evil spirit.

"I wouldn't have believed him either had I not been there. He's been a good man all his life. But his faith in humanity came crumbling down in an instant" Mo-tak tried to make sense of it all

"Right. Where's Mun?" Jangmul questioned, directing his gaze towards Thea, who had remained unusually silent during the discussion

"He went to drop off Mr. Ma's mother and visit his grandparents" Thea explained, placing her hands on the table "He said his grandparents want to know about the trial"

"They must be so shocked" Ms. Chu expressed burdened by an overwhelming sense guilt, of her heart heavy with an unspoken responsibility for the unfolding events though it was not her fault

"Im back!" Jeok-bong exclaimed abruptly upon entering the hideout, a wide grin spread across his face. Joyfully, he began to sing "Im back, I'm back, Jeok-bong's back" as he approached the team with playful little leaps. With his hands raised in the air, he announced, "I am back," as a burst of confetti erupted from a lance "Counter Na Jeok-bong is back! Sorry to have kept you waiting"

As the red confetti swirls and captures the attention of those around her Thea can't help but feel a growing unease. Its meaning eludes her, but one thing is for certain – no one seems enthused about Jeok-bong's games.

However, in the midst of the lack of clarity, there is an even more disturbing element: the captivating existence of Mo-tak. The immense power he emanates sends a chilling sensation down Thea's back, forcing her to shrink back in anticipation of an impending confrontation.

"Hey! You think this is a party?" Mo-tak interrogated, raising his voice, which made Hana flinch slightly "Keep your voice down at night. You startled me, you punk"

Through the tight clench of her lips, Thea witnesses the bittersweet exchange that leaves Jeok-bong brimming with sorrow, while Mo-tak's fleeting glance lingers in the air as he steps away.

"Welcome back, Jeok-bong. Go eat something" Ms. Chu greeted warmly, getting up from her chair with an earnest face while still showing happiness for Jeok-bong's arrival

"Welcome" with a sense of obligation, Hana extended her arms wide and put on a strained smile, getting up from her chair simultaneously with the rest of the group

"All right. Why don't you clean this up?" Jangmul passed by him with no visible emotion on his countenance

Jeok-bong looked at Thea with a sense of sadness, anticipating that she, just like everyone else, would eventually abandon him in solitude. However, as their eyes locked, in that fleeting moment, Jeok-bong felt a glimmer of hope, as if the universe had conspired to send him a lifeline.

"Welcome back. Let me assist you with that," Thea offered, pointing to the small scattered confetti on the floor

Jeok-bong stayed quiet and observed Thea's graceful gestures, the allure of her ethereal charm bewitching him.

Why was she so kind to him? Why did she give him false hopes? Why did she make his heart race like that?

Those were all the questions he wanted to ask Thea, but he couldn't. He knew she and Mun were dating because he had caught them kissing a few days ago. And boy, that had hurt him, it had hit him right in the heart. Although he desired to intervene, he understood that it was not his place to interfere in someone else's relationship, and plus he would never do that to any of his friends.

"Why did they urge me to hurry back then?" Jeok-bong questioned with a furrowed brow, annoyedly dropping the confetti from his clenched fists onto the ground

"They're just frustrated about some things, but it will pass" Thea replied, raising her gaze to meet his "Don't take it too personally. Tomorrow they will probably throw you a welcome party."

"Do you think so?" His eyes sparkled with excitement. "That would be fantastic!"

Thea nodded with a smile while she meticulously returned the confetti into the confetti blaster being held by Jeok-bong. The slight brush of Thea's fingertips against his hand made his heart race. Blushing and relieved in the dimly lit room, Jeok-bong couldn't help but be drawn to Thea's oblivious charm.

"Thea, there's something I need to tell you," Jeok-bong began, his gaze locked onto the aforementioned girl as if compelled by an irresistible attraction

He knew that his upcoming actions were not right, but he couldn't contain his emotions any longer. Even if she rejected him, he had an urge to let her know. Taking a deep breath and closing his eyes, he acknowledged that Mun and Thea were both his friends, yet his longing to confide in Thea overpowered his rational thoughts.

"Thea, I believe that I like..."

"Very well. Goodnight Jeok-bong," Thea got up from the floor in a swift motion, completely interrupting what Jeok-bong was saying. "It's too late and I have to wake up early tomorrow," She smiled at him, but Jeok-bong could sense that it was forced

Great. Now he'd made her feel uncomfortable.

"Oh, yes, okay," In a single nod, his heart shattered into countless fragments as he watched her walk away. The distance grew between them, a poignant reminder of his unspoken desires left to fade

She detected the approaching reality hidden within his words - a reality she unwillingly prepared herself for. The thing she least desired was to directly face it from him, fully recognizing the intense pain associated with being betrayed by someone you deeply cherish.

"This is the cattle shed we went" Mun explained, drawing a red circle on the screen to indicate its location "This is the art museum and the reeds where we met the evil spirits. Jeok-bong could sniff them out within a three-kilometer radius. That means there were no evil spirits within the three-kilometer radius from our hideout"

"That's right. My nose feels okay right now"Jeok-bong exclaimed, inhaling the surrounding air as though attempting to validate his statement

"Then, we should look around the area up there" Hana pointed at the screen, her body leaning against the table behind her

Thea scrutinized her boyfriend's appearance with doubt as he displayed a changed behavior. Gone are the infectious sparks in his eyes and the cheerful aura that once defined him. Instead, she is met with a stoic facade, a silent cry for help veiled beneath a serious and distant tone. Something gnaws at the corners of his soul, and Thea can't help but be reminded of the harrowing moment he discovered his parents' tragic end years ago.

He was undoubtedly troubled by something, and he was certainly not alright.

"Mun. Are you all right?" Thea asked with concern, her eyes softening as Mun's distant gaze met hers. Her genuine concern piercing Mun's introspective bubble, offering a glimmer of hope

"No," Mun shook his head, genuinely surprised by how well Thea knew him "I feel uneasy. But Mr. Ma is in the dark, and his hatred is focused on Mr. Park. If we want him to know the truth before it's too late, we need to catch them soon"

"All right. Gosh. Worrying about it won't change anything" Mo-tak nodded, rising determinedly from the boxing ring "Those little vermin are all dead meat"

"What's that?"

"Jeez"

"No one can top me when it comes to getting top-of-the-line equipment" Jangmul's confident stride fueled anticipation as he effortlessly maneuvered a cart laden with meticulously sealed boxes

"Whats all this?"

"What are these?"

"Guns and bulletproof vests. Those evil spirits are quick to pull out guns" Jangmul explained as the others retrieved the equipment from the now opened boxes

"Try it on" Ms. Chu told Jeok-bong, who obediently followed her instructions almost immediately

"You need good equipment to do your job properly" Jangmul chuckled with amusement, marveling at every action of each team member; the way they were engrossed in their own world with the equipment he had brought was somewhat endearing to him

"Try it on" Ms. Chu repeated as she assisted Jeok-bong in putting on the bulletproof vest

"Is this really bulletproof? It looks so thin" Jeok-bong questioned as he adjusted the vest delicately

"Try it on"

"What about our heads?" Mo-tak reloaded his gun with lust, displaying an expertise in firearms

"Jeok-bong, let's test it out then" Mun aimed his weapon, just like Mo-tak and Hana, who menacingly pointed their guns at a terrified Jeok-bong, causing him to retreat in horror

"What are you doing?" Jeok-bong stammered, throwing himself onto the floor, curling up as if that would save him from the guns pointed at him

"Jeok-bong. Are you ready?" Mo-tak asked aloud, maintaining a serious expression while keeping his weapon pointed at a thoroughly terrified Jeok-bong

"You won't shoot me, right?" Jeok-bong asked nervously, protecting his face with both of his arms

"We need to see if it's really bulletproof"Hana explained, menacingly pointing her weapon at him

"Please have mercy" Jeok-bong pleaded, genuinely believing that he would be shot

"Jeok-bong!"

"Dont shoot! Help me!" Jeok-bong began shouting in horror, hoping for someone to intervene and rescue him

Thea clutched confetti blaster with a mischievous smile, playfully swaying it from left to right, catching Jeok-bong's fleeting glance.

As Jeok-bong's face was covered in a shower of vibrant confetti, the group burst into amusement and laughter, creating a loud uproar. At that moment, Jeok-bong's bewildered and embarrassed expression revealed the unexpected and comical nature of the situation.

"Na Jeok-bong. Welcome back" Jangmul exclaimed as he helped the aforementioned up from the ground

"Welcome back. Be thankful that we were too busy to plan something bigger" Mo-tak affectionately squeezed his cheek

"I'm glad you're back. I'll make you some tasty noodles later" Ms. Chu exclaimed with a smile, contrasting her mood from yesterday to a more joyful expression

"Jeok-bong, are you ready to go? Let's head out now" Mun asked, returning the weapon to its box, though a smile remained on his face

"Let's go"

"All right"

"Jeok-bong catch" Thea exclaimed before quickly handing him the confetti blaster

"Was that a welcoming ceremony? It was just a prank yesterday?" Jeok-bong inquired with a smile, skillfully catching the confetti blaster in the air "Wait up!"

Author's note;

Merry Christmas to everyone! 🎄🪅🎅 I hope you are having a wonderful time with your loved ones. I wholeheartedly wish you all the best in the world ♥️

Question of the day: Did you engage in or plan any activity during Christmas Eve? 🎄

My family and I played lottery, Jenga, and some other fun activities. I really had a good time with my family 🩷 See y'all in the next chapter! 💚