Season two, chapter sixty-eight

"A thief and a liar"

MS. CHU'S BRIGHT yellow coat, which stood out, captured the interest of anyone who noticed her. The attire and sunglasses worn by both girls accompanying Ms. Chu were eye-catching, creating the impression that they were a typically rich-family. Ms. Chu, appearing affluent, seemed to be the mother of these two beautiful girls, who wore matching serious expressions beneath their opaque shades, arousing curiosity among onlookers.

The three women's demeanor changed as soon as they entered the elevator, as their entrance into the building they were investigating had attracted too much notice. Naturally, they wouldn't be granted access if they seemed ordinary, so they had to feign being a prosperous family seeking a tattoo consultation. Thea had to wake up exceptionally early to apply makeup and style her hair in order to appear more polished and convincing.

Even though Hana was not concerned about her appearance since she felt comfortable in any outfit, and this was a well-known fact, Thea groomed herself and repositioned her sunglasses while observing Hana's dedication to her role as a bodyguard.

"Do I look like new money who wanted to get a rose tattoo but was too scared so she brought her friends?" Ms. Chu nervously began to say as she adjusted her disheveled wig

"Yes, and were you bodyguards" Thea nodded, glancing around once the elevator doors opened to ensure Ms. Chu could safely exit

"This is so itchy" Ms. Chu complained while scratching her head beneath the wig she was wearing

"Hold on" Hana exclaimed, raising one hand in front of Ms. Chu, stepping forward to check the hallway as any bodyguard would. Consequently, Ms. Chu continued to complain about the wig, something that would not benefit her if she continued with that behavior

"Listen. I don't actually have to get one, right? Nothing scares me more than having my skin pricked" Ms. Chu frowned as she adjusted her oversized yellow coat draped over her shoulders, her facial expression revealing her anxiety

"Dont worry. We'll quickly look around" Hana assured, casting a confident gaze at Ms. Chu for a few seconds before thoroughly inspecting her surroundings with determination

"Okay"

"First... there are two managers" Thea took out two business cards from her pants, the ones Mo-tak had given her earlier this morning before leaving "Tommy and David. We just need to read their memories and identify who's number 37. Then we can reveal that Mr. Hwang and his group were involved in the scam" After showing them to both women, she carefully puts the cards back in her pocket

"Okay, let's go" Ms. Chu nodded confidently, putting on her sunglasses and taking a few steps forward "Let's summon and arrest them"

Hana warned "Stop scratching" before she knocked on the dark wooden door in front of them. As soon as it opened, the three adjusted their postures to appear more presentable

A man with a distinct look observed them with a wrinkled forehead and a solemn face. He had a headband on and dark marks under his eyes, giving him an unusual appearance. Hana tilted her glasses down a bit to examine him more closely, as if scrutinizing him, while Thea maintained a blank expression, conveying her clear lack of enthusiasm for being present.

She harbored no inclination to be present at that place, to be precise. Agreeing to rendezvous with SooAh for a leisurely outing, their carefully planned agenda was shattered when Mo-tak apprised them of the situation the prior evening. The most regrettable circumstance entailed his delegation of the responsibility to the three of them for investigating the site.

"Piggy's mom?" The man asked with a sudden smile, which left Ms. Chu and Thea perplexed, causing Thea to lower her glasses slightly and furrow her brow

"That's right" Hana quickly interjected with a look that conveyed 'Just follow along,' prompting Thea to not say anything and simply nod towards the man

"Come on in" the man stepped aside to let them in while Ms. Chu frowned with surprise and offense "Sit here" the man eagerly pointed towards the luxurious sofas in front of the counter "A jerk reported our parlor, so we decided not to receive new costumers for now" the man chuckled playfully before confidently heading behind the counter

"Let's say I'm Piggy's mom" Ms. Chu whispered hastily, approaching both girls who were examining the sofas for any evidence "He could've sent us away" she anxiously removed her dark sunglasses from her face

"You wanted to get it done by Tommy, but he's doing something urgent" the man whom Thea assumed was David began explaining with a wide smile on his face, which somehow made Thea feel uneasy about him

"I see" Ms. Chu nodded and took a seat while cautiously looking around, feeling uncertain about the location

"It's just a touch-up. Can I do it instead?" David eagerly volunteered

"Yes" Ms. Chu replied nonchalantly as Hana extended her arms protectively, safeguarding Ms. Chu from any nonexistent danger

"I'm better than him" David smiled, then his expression turned into one of confusion when he saw the other two girls. He asked "Which one of you is Piggy's mom?"

Thea gently tapped Ms. Chu's back, urging her to shift her attention away from her surroundings and concentrate on what really mattered.

"It's me" Ms. Chu stood up from the armchair with seriousness as she raised her hand in the air

"Then who are you?" David asked, staring intently at both girls suspiciously, causing them to nervously exchange glances. Were they caught? "Piggy?" he smiled before bursting into laughter, which Ms. Chu later pretended to do, prompting Hana and Thea to remove their sunglasses and coldly look at Ms. Chu as if they didn't find the joke amusing, leading the older woman to apologize with her eyes "You want to retouch the pig's smile on your right butt cheek, right?"

Hana and Thea stifled their laughter by covering their mouths upon hearing the unexpected remarks. Thea felt compelled to avert her gaze in order to withhold her laughter in front of everyone, as she perceived it could potentially disturb the flawless execution of the performance.

"Take off your underwear" commanded David as Hana and Thea pressed their lips together in a straight horizontal line with amusement, oh how they would remember this moment in the future

"Take off what? My right what?" Ms. Chu stammered with a horrified expression on her face at the thought of undressing right there, while Thea patted her shoulder trying to make her feel better

"Is it on your left side? Put this on" David displayed a dress while smiling

"I'll take it" Hana exclaimed as she took the dress off the hanger, tightly gripping David's hand as he struggled to free himself from her strong hold

David expressed his displeasure by saying "You're not my type" while soothingly massaging his hand after disengaging it from Hana's grasp. He directed a perturbed gaze towards Hana, who icily returned his gaze after having perused his memories

"So what?" Hana retorted with attitude, giving him a cold look before approaching Thea and Ms. Chu who were silently inquiring her with their eyes if she had witnessed anything. However, Hana gestured her denial by shaking her head

"I think I should wait until Tommy finishes" Ms. Chu expressed, as she took the dress in her hands and casually threw it onto a sofa "When will he be done? Sir?"

"David" A man unknown to them entered the room with a serious expression on his face

"Yes?" David responded almost instantly "Tommy," he approached the aforementioned gently but confidently

"You sure we can remove his tattoo? I think his gang got dismantled" Tommy initiated the dialogue, as the three women attentively eavesdropped in their conversation with keen interest

"Whats it to us?" inquired David, casting a dubious glance at the trio of women from the corner of his eyes "Better for us. We won't have to see them again. Piggy's mom is here" David pointed out, his lips suddenly curving into a smile. Instantly, upon Tommy redirecting his attention towards the women, Ms. Chu swiftly turned around and donned her sunglasses, with Hana and Thea providing cover to prevent their detection

"Bong-pal? You're Kim Bong-pal, right?" Thea asked excitedly, subtly urging Hana to lend her support in this endeavor, all while Hana swiftly comprehended her underlying intention

"Long time no see. I love your tattoo" Hana smiled before approaching Tommy in a friendly manner. She gently placed her hand on the bald man's head, as David observed their interaction with a gleeful smile, evidently deriving great amusement from the spectacle

Tommy softly murmured, "I am not Bong-pal," as Hana gently read his memories

"I need to come back next week?" a new voice asked behind the two men "Why does it take so long? Can't you be quicker?" The boy complained before Hana nudged the man's head to the side and looked at the boy earnestly upon his arrival

"Whats going on?" Tommy asked with confusion as Hana suddenly pushed him

"You came to remove your tattoo? Nice to meet you" Hana said seriously, encircling the boy and seemingly scrutinizing him from head to toe "Red Roses Gang number 37. That's you, right?"

Thea's eyebrows arched in sheer incredulity as she scrutinized the individual before them; she admittedly found it difficult to believe that he possessed the typical characteristics of a gangster. In spite of his delicate demeanor and foolish behavior, he emitted an essence of purity and recognition. As Thea observed the abrupt change in the boy's expression upon the revelation of his true identity, she tilted her head to the side. His remarkably swift sprint caught everyone by surprise, leaving them utterly amazed.

Thea intentionally released her black sunglasses to the floor prior to pursuing him; her exceptional agility in comparison to her peers compelled her to undertake the demanding task. She skillfully navigated through a passage, ensuring she never lost sight of the young boy. Upon reaching the staircase, Thea effortlessly vaulted over the handrail, exhibiting a graceful landing before him, which left him astounded and prompted him to stagger backwards.

"What the..." The boy exclaimed in astonishment as he gazed at the girl before him. He was captivated not only by her stunning appearance, but also by the formidable gravity of her expression, causing him to feel a chilling sensation

"Why are you running away?" Thea inquired, approaching him with a serious demeanor as he nervously retreated, her hands confidently resting within the confines of her trousers, exuding a commanding presence

"What..."

"And why are you getting it removed?" Thea persisted with her questioning, effortlessly backing him into the corner as if she were hungrily pursuing her prey

"What's it to you? I can remove my tattoos if I want" He muttered , shrinking in his spot due to the girl's proximity

"Yes. As long as your memory is still in there" Thea nodded, squatting in front of him as she smirked sarcastically, before placing her hand in front of the boy's face and swiftly putting him to sleep within seconds

"That boy..." Ms. Chu began, with her slightly parted lips indicating recognition

Thea gracefully reached out her hand towards the boy's neck, as a plethora of recollections inundated her awareness in a fleeting moment. Meanwhile, Hana anxiously positioned herself on the staircase, eagerly awaiting the vital information they desperately longed for.

"Lim Jae-youl" Thea revealed, as she opened her eyes to meet the gaze of Ms. Chu and Hana "He's a typical thug. He exported money from arcades for Lee Chung-jae and participated in the scam" She closed her eyes once again, fragments of memories flickering in front of her until one particular image paused and began replaying like a cassette tape, prompting her to swiftly open her eyes

"What? What is it?"

"And not only that... Lee Chung-jae is alive." Thea exclaimed as she rose from the ground, observing the expressions of surprise and confusion on both women's faces

"What?"

Thea let out a tired breath while observing the motionless boy sprawled on the ground; how could it be conceivable for an individual of his character to associate with disreputable figures like Lee Chung-jae? What circumstances had led him to find himself in this predicament? He was Jun-seo's closest friend, they had forged a bond during their time in high school, hence making him familiar to her. On occasion, he would visit their home, bearing visible scars from the cruel beatings inflicted upon him by his tormentors.

Thea recalls Jun-seo's intense anger upon uncovering the identities of those responsible for harming his closest friend. This anger was particularly evident on a day when Jae-youl was hospitalized after being stabbed by one of his tormentors, yet his stomach wound healed miraculously and he had no recollection of the incident ever taking place. Though ever since the devastating slaughter at the Park residence, which left Thea in a comatose state, she had become disconnected from her friends and her brother's closest companion. Nevertheless, the previously kind-hearted boy had changed, adopting the roles of a thief, a swindler, and a manipulator, inflicting harm upon numerous individuals through his malicious endeavors.

Despite Thea's desire to intervene and assist her late brother's friend in handling his own problems, she recognizes the futility of her actions. She is aware that engaging in such assistance would only resurface sorrowful recollections of her dearly departed sibling.

Author's note;

Well, I hope you've been putting the pieces together, as I have been giving you too many hints in the last chapters about what is about to come 🥲

Question of the day: Sweet or savory? 🍬

I have a strong preference for savory stuff over sweet ones 🍭see y'all in the next chapter! 💕