Chapter One
“Sonia, are you there?’ can you see him?” the voice in the walkie talkie asked
“yes sir, I am following him closely” she said firmly to her head department through her own walkie talkie ‘ I’m following him like a prey’ she thought to herself with hatred for the man who had killed her parents in a bank robbery ten years ago.
“Good keep a close eye on him. And be careful, he may be having weapon with him”
“Roger” she said firmly ‘who cares weapon…’ She thought fiercely ‘I have been waiting for this day, where I can destroy you like you destroy me…Park Sang Hyuk, I will hunt you down!!’
Sonia Park, is a twenty two years old young police officer which was considered brave or dare devil by her colleagues. Despite of joining the police for a solid one and a half year, she had managed to hunt down many criminals and involved in a lot of dangerous cases. All these she did it for the sake of hunting down one man who had killed her parents. She had been searching for this man for so long, and now that she was just a few meters’ away from him, she knows she has no time to waste. ‘Prepare for my revenge on you murderer’ she thought to herself.
Unfortunately, as she too focus in following him, she did not realize that a speeding motorcycle was making its way towards her. The driver horn at her, but she was too preoccupied with Park Sang Hyuk that she failed to notice or hear the motorist warning.
For a moment a loud friction of motorcycle skidding could be heard, followed by the screaming of the passerby’s as well as Sonia’s own voice as she screamed in terror.
“Miss, miss, are you okay? Can you hear me?” Sonia could hear a gentle voice calling out to her. However, her head was so heavy that she could not lift it up, nor opened her eyes.
‘Where is he…where is that guy…I’ve lost him’ Sonia thought to herself as she falls into a deep sleep.
Chapter Two
‘Where am I? What is this place? What is that smell? ...i have to find him…I have to find Park Sang Hyuk!!!’
Sonia opened her eyes to the sound of her own scream in her dream. She looked around her and was startled to find herself laying down in a place she hardly recognize
‘Where am I?” she thought to herself. Just then, sizzling sound of oil burning on a pan could be heard in a kitchen, followed by a man’s voice, “ouch…ouch…its hot…” he uttered with a little jumped as he moved away from the stove.
‘Who is that?’ Sonia wondered. She was about to get up, when her head gave a painful sting which caused her to let out a cry and falls back to the sofa.
Her cry caused the man in the kitchen to turn.
Sonia was shocked to see Park Sang Hyuk, the man she was hunting for standing in front of her; wearing just a white singlet and checkered boxer.
“You’ve awake” he said coldly looking at her. His voice seems to echo in his empty living room. “Are you hungry?” he asked with the same monotone voice.
Sonia looked at him angrily and turned around without uttering a word.
“Are you dumb? I asked you a question?” he asked again, with a tone of irritation this time, because of the rude attitude he was treated.
“What do you want from me?” Sonia asked angrily and was greeted by a pain in her head as she screamed.
“Don’t get so agitated, you just awaken, besides, I just offering you something to eat, there’s no need for you to be so rude. “ Sang Hyuk said turning around towards the kitchen.
Embarrassed, Sonia was silenced. “What happened to me?” she asked softly, still laying down.
Sang Hyuk told her what happened two days ago “and now here you are in my house, screaming at me, despite of the good deeds I did to you.” He said sarcastically.
“What are you doing in the middle of the road by the way?” he asked without looking at her, as his eyes were fixed on his scrambled eggs.
‘Trying to arrest you’ Sonia thought to herself but she decided to remain silent.
Hearing no answer, Shang Hyuk gave up the question.
Chapter Three
“Here eat this.” Shang Hyuk offered. Sonia looked at him, reluctantly. “C’mon don’t worry, no poison in it…besides it tastes good…if I make that.” He said and winked at her.
“Why…didn’t you take me to the hospital?” Sonia asked softly as she tried to get up
“Who’s gonna pay?” he asked coldly
His answer left her out of words. Suddenly, Sonia realized ‘freak, my police identity card…don’t tell me’ she thought to herself and started to search around her pocket.
As she found it deeply stuck in the pocket of her pants, she heaved a sigh of relieve.
“Are you okay?” he asked with a frown ‘weird girl’ he thought to himself.
“Yeah” she said quickly.
“Eat it while it’s hot, Sonia.” He said with a cheeky grin.
“How did you know my name?” she asked startled.
“Relax. I knew it from your identity card” he said with a smile. “So that I can address you when you wake up.”
Sonia looked at him suspiciously. “Eat it” he offered once again.
She was about to reach out for the plate when her arm gave a blow. Causing her to cry out in pain. “Wow, you okay” Sang Hyuk asked concern. “I think you must have fractured it that day. I’ll take you to the doctor tomorrow.” He said as he reached out to give her arm a gentle massage.
“Whose gonna pay?” she asked coldly
Sang Hyuk looked at her, embarrassed by his own sarcasm and said “fine, I pay.”
Amused, the both of them began to laugh at each other in the quiet living room.
For a moment, Sonia felt her hatred towards Sang Hyuk seems to fade a little.
Chapter Four
“Sonia, where have you been?” the head department asked “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?” he asked looking at her bandaged arm.
“No. I was knocked down by a motorcycle while tracking him” she said weakly. That morning, she had just went to the hospital together with him, for her fractured arm and had purposely depart herself away from him on the way home so as to get to her office and report what she had found out about him. As she explained, the head department listened attentively to what had happened even at Sang Hyuk’s house. “I thought of informing you, but, my condition failed me, besides, it seems that I have lost my walkie talkie during the accident.”
“It’s okay, you will resume when your condition is better, for the time being, we will let Jack to handle this case.” He said sternly “Besides, we already know where we could find him, that’s a good information”
“Yes sir. Thank You” she said firmly. However, some part of her seems somewhat uneasy in revealing the information about him.
That night, Sonia was surprised to find Sang Hyuk standing in front of her house. “What are you doing here?” she asked nervously ‘This guy is creepy’ she thought to herself ‘how did he know my address.’
Without saying a word, Sang Hyuk hold up the plastic bag he was holding on, “ to send you this.” He said
“What’s that?”
“Food. You would probably hungry right? Besides, I bet you can’t cook with one arm.” He said looking at her lame arm.
Confused in the same time grateful, Sonia found herself in dilemma whether to laugh or cry. Things seem so irony. With Sonia, trying to hunt him down and punish him, yet on the other hand, he was being so nice and concern towards her. As if he had never done anything wrong before.
Quickly, Sonia grabbed the food from him, and after thanking him, brushed her way towards the front door to allow herself to go in. “Aren’t you going to let me in?” he asked as she was about to close the door on him. “err…” Sonia was reluctant and clueless of what to say.
“It’s okay, I’m just kidding. Good bye” he said and turned to leave.
Just as she was about to close the door, he came back, and hold the door with his fist. “Wait” he shouted “There’s something else.” And gave a quick search in his jacket pocket.
“Here, your phone. I’ve fixed it.” He said as he handed her the phone, before turning to leave.
Chapter Five
“How did you know my address?” Sonia asked over the phone
“And how did you know my telephone number?” he asked puzzled
‘Shit, I won’t say I got it from hacking it through our system’ she thought to herself. “I…got it from the hospital. You left your telephone number there” she lied.
“Oh really.” He said kind of surprise.
“So where did you get my address?” she asked again
“Same resource.” He said calmly. “You know when you filled up those medical forms.”
Sonia found herself boiling with anger ‘Freak. How could I be so careless to get knocked down, and now, I am involves in this shit. This man knows my house; soon he may know my identity as a police. Then there goes my chance of bringing him down.’ She thought to herself angrily.
“By the way, sorry if it seems like I am disturbing you.” He said apologetically
“It’s okay.” She said quickly.
“By the way, Sonia, are you okay?” he asked. ‘What the hell do you mean by that?’ Sonia thought “what do you mean?” she asked “well, it seems like you are so agitated every time you talk to me. That’s so weird.” Sang Hyuk said gently.
‘Because I don’t feel like talking to you, murderer.’ She wished to say, but decided to keep her cool. “Really, I don’t think so” she found herself replying.
“Then what are you?” A korean?” he asked
“Why do you want to know?” she asked curtly
“Just asking.” He said simply sensing the uneasiness in her voice.
“Well…I am a mix from a Korean father and a Chinese mother.” She said simply. Sonia didn’t know either why is she opening up on him suddenly, maybe due to his kindness, or due to politeness, she didn’t know.
“Then, where did you get your brown hair and eyes?” he asked
“My grandmother. From my mother side, she is American, and so I am a mix of American Chinese and Korean, actually” she said with a smile as she reminisces about her parents.
“Interesting.” He said “Just like your face, is interesting. “
Hearing his remarks, Sonia found herself flushed. “Hey, is there anything else?” she asked.
“No. not really.”
“Good bye then” she said and hanged up the phone before he had the chance to say good bye.
In her own silent room, Sonia found herself crying uncontrollably without knowing why.
Chapter Six
Four Months later
“Everyone may I have your attention, now, we are faced with another problem Park Sang Hyuk is missing in action, and I want everyone to be alert in search of him…” the head department said one morning.
Sonia was surprised to hear the news that Sang Hyuk went missing. ‘Where is that idiot go?’ The last time they talked was the day he sent her food over to her. Since then, they had lost contact ‘Why would I contact him anyway’ Sonia thought to herself.
“Out of the four criminals involves, two had gone missing in action, while one had died in a car crash…” the head department continued ‘What…not only him?’ Sonia thought to herself. ‘but who cares, he is one of them too. He is a criminal.’
The moment they were release from the meeting, Sonia found herself clouded with a lot of thoughts.
“There is always no good ending for a bad guy eh?” Jack said behind her. “Somehow, that’s’ what they deserved isn’t it?”
Sonia was somewhat disturbed by his remarks “Criminals are humans too, they have humanity in them too, actually” she was surprised to find herself uttering those words to him.
“Sonia, are you okay? I thought you are the one who usually very negative about this issue” he said looking at her “especially to Sang Hyuk.”
“I don’t know.” Was all that she could say to him.
That night, Sonia went home feeling strange. ‘What’s wrong with me? Why am I speaking for him?’ she wondered. ‘But where did he go? That idiot’
Just then, Sonia was surprised to see Sang Hyuk sitting in front of her house, smoking dreamily as he puffed out the white smoke out of his mouth.
‘Oh great, here you are’ she said to herself. “What are you doing here?” she asked puzzled.
Sang Hyuk looked at her rubbed the cigarette on the floor, and said “I don’t know, I just feel like meeting you.” As he said, his eyes fixed on hers’ so intently that Sonia found herself feeling awkward.
Sonia opened the door and ushered him into the house.
“So, Park…” she paused “Yes, what did you say?” he asked
“I said… my name is Park Sonia, Sonia Park I mean...” she said quickly to cover things up. “I’m Sang Hyuk, Park Sang Hyuk.” He said with a smile.
***
Chapter Seven
“Okay, so, what do you want from me?” Sonia asked calmly this time “Oh, okay, I think I got it” she said suddenly remembering that she had not paid him back for her medical fees months ago. “Here, sorry, for taking so long to return it to you.” She said handing him the money.
Sang Hyuk looked at the money in her small hand, and rolled his eyes away from it “it’s okay, that’s not what I’m here for.” He said weakly.
‘What is wrong with this guy today?’ she thought to herself. “Sang Hyuk…are you okay?” she asked carefully so as not to say the wrong thing “is something bothering you?”
He looked at her with downcast eyes and shook his head slowly.
After a few minutes of unpleasant silence, suddenly Sang Hyuk settled himself on the sofa and said “The other days, I went to look for my friends…and I was told…that…never mind” he said reluctant to continue. “It’s not a good thing” he said sadly.
‘So he didn’t know what had happened to those friends of his.’ Sonia thought sympathetically. She decided to leave him alone, when he said “Sonia may stay here, for a few days. Or until I found a new apartment?” he asked embarrassed.
“Huh?” she looked at him wide eyes. “Are you kidding?” she asked in disbelieve.
“I know, it’s kind of shocking, but...” “What happen to your house?” she asked cutting him
“The rent had finish, and I was chased out by the landlord. Sorry. Well, it’s okay if you mind, I’ll just find my way out then” he said after a moment of pausing.
‘What the hell is this?’ Sonia thought irritated. “Well…Okay…” Sonia was puzzled of what to say. She decided to chase him away, but, to think that he had saved her twice, she decided to give up the negative thought. ‘Why should I involve in this shit’ she cursed. “Okay, you may stay here, till…you get the new apartment. Since you’ve helped me once, let me repay this to you. As an act of gratitude.” She said smiling, half heartedly. “Thank you, by the way, for saving me, and sorry for the troubles.” She said as she remembered that she had not thanked him ever since.
“Thank you.” Sang Hyuk said with a smile, which caused Sonia’s heart to jump a little upon the sight of his smiling face. ‘He is a criminal Sonia, remember.’ She warned herself.
Five days later
“Have you found anything about that Park or his two missing friends?” the head department asked Jack one day
“No” he replied “I was having a hard time”
“Sonia, what about you?” he asked
“No…either.” She said lying. ‘Freak how am I supposed to say that I was keeping a criminal in my house.’ She thought to herself nervously. ‘I will try to look deeper into this matter” she said assuring the head department.
“Hey, are you okay?” Sang Hyuk asked as they were having their dinner
“yes” Sonia jumped to reality as she felt Sang Hyuk’s fingers on her cheek.
“Are you okay?’ he repeated his questions
“Yeah I think I’m fine” she said smiling. As she saw the man before her gulping his food hungrily, Sonia felt sick. ‘How am I supposed to clean this mess? Rather, why did you have to save me the other day? If Only, we were enemies, it will be easier to arrest you now. Sang Hyuk, I’m sorry’ she thought to herself sadly as she imagined the day she sent him to be sentenced.
That night, Sonia tossed and turned in her sleep. ‘What am I suppose to do?’ she wondered as she could not figure out what is this feeling she felt deep inside of her as it leapt so strongly under her ribs. It is more than just a feeling of sympathetic or gratitude, rather it is something greater than that. Something that could erase all the hatred she had been feeling for him all these years. If only, she did not want to deny it any longer that actually she had fall for Park Sang Hyuk.
On the other hand, Sang Hyuk knows that the only way to erase his guilt for what he had done ten years ago was to take care of their daughter.
Chapter Eight
One year later
By now, the two enemies had finally bridge the gap between them. As the days passed, they tend to depend on each other for company or comfort. Despite of the search, Sonia, assured herself that as long as no one knows about us, things will be just fine as it is, even thought she knows that she had done the worst mistake as a police woman.
Her involvement with Sang Hyuk had also thought her that all these while, her purpose of becoming a police is simply due to hatred towards him and not because of the justice in life. Thus, now that she had see the other side of him, she felt that she could not be so heartless so as to arrest him and put him imprison. Although she knows that she shouldn’t do this, and that justice had to be carried out. ‘If this is a mistake, let this be the worst mistake that I had to carry in my whole life.’ she thought to herself sadly as she betrayed her duty as a police.
“Sang Hyuk, why are you smoking inside the house?” Sonia shouted towards him “without opening the window. Are you trying to kill me?”
“Sorry. An old habit.” He said and stuck out his tongue to her.
“When are you moving? It’s already one year, for God’s sake and you are still staying in my house. You contract has expired okay.” She scolded playfully.
“You sure you want to chase me away? After all the dinner I cooked for you?” he asked sarcastically “You know, you are a girl, and yet, your cooking sucks.” He said laughing
“Shut up! Don’t be so rude okay, I was busy, unlike you.” Sonia said defending herself.
“Still…” he said raising an eyebrow. “You failed as a girl…” he continued laughing as Sonia leapt forward to hit him.
“So, aren’t you planning to get a job? And a house!” Sonia asked over dinner.
“No.” he mumbled while chewing.
“What do you mean by no?”
“I’m comfortable living here. Why should I move?” he asked
“C’mon. It’s my house.”
Laughing he wiped his mouth and said “I will don’t worry, I will leave you alone. I’ve found a house nearby by the way,” he said pausing to get a drink.
“Really? Oh…that’s good. When are you leaving?” Sonia said weakly.
Putting his cup before his lip, he asked “What’s with the face?”
“Nothing…just…the house will be quiet without you,” she said looking down.
“Sonia” he called out, She looked up, and was surprised to feel his lip on hers’
“I have not decided when to leave yet. Besides, I still want to be with you.” He said gently after the kissed.
As they stared deep into each other’s eyes, they knew that they had loved each other.
Chapter Nine
Sonia was awakened by the ringing of her mobile phone at her bed side table.
“Hallo” she said sleepily
“Sonia, where are you? We’ve found Sang Hyuk” Sonia jumped to her feet “Shang Hyuk?” she asked “where is he?”
“We saw him crossing the road at…” As Jack told her what had happened on the road, Sonia, found herself worried for Sang Hyuk. ‘That idiot, where did he go?’ she thought to herself. “Okay fine, Jack, I’ll leave him to you, as I made my way there.” She said hurriedly so as to hang up the phone and get a change.
She was about to change her pajamas when the front door opened.
“Sang Hyuk’ she called out “is that you?”
“Hey, you’ve finally woke up” he said smiling happily at her, but his smile quickly faded as he saw the tense expression on her face “What’s wrong?” he asked
This time, Sonia felt herself weak to the ground. “Sang Hyuk…run…run for your life” she said with a crack in her voice “Run for your life “she shouted with tears flooding out of her brown eyes.
“What do you mean? Sonia what are you talking about?” he asked confused.
“Sang Hyuk, I’m sorry, I should not have let you fall in love with me, I should not have let you...just run…those police they are after you.” She said sobbing.
Chapter Ten
Sang Hyuk looked at her in disbelieve. “I was one of them” those words kept echoing in his mind like mantra. “So you are after me…you set this up to get me?” he asked angrily. “After all I had done for you?’ he shouted, his face clouded with disappointment and sadness.
“I didn’t. I didn’t know I will be in love with you until…after what happened to us” she said “and now, all I want you to do is run…run for your life, please…”
Hearing the police siren from the distance, Sang Hyuk looked at her for the last time, before he turned to run without a second glance.
Sang Hyuk stopped to take a breath. In his hiding place, he thought about the time he spent together with her, and he began to cry.
One hour later, as Sang Hyuk made his way out of his hiding place; he came face to face with Jack. “Put your hands up” he commanded with his gun on Sang Hyuk’s face.
Sang Hyuk looked at him “Not so easy” he answered and ran. “Stop where you are.” Jack commanded and began to pull the trigger of his gun towards him.
In a while, Jack lost track of him.
In the rooftop of the building, Sang Hyuk collapsed to the ground. He placed his hand on his left torso and he could feel fresh blood gushing out of his stomach. “That bastard manage to shoot me.” He said to himself. Taking in as many air as possible, he tried to forget about the pain.
Just then, the policemen arrived and surrounded him with their guns pointed towards Sang Hyuk. “Park Sang Hyuk, put your hands up” they commanded. Sang Hyuk looked at them breathlessly as he tried to stand up. Sonia came to the scene a few minutes later and pushed her way to the front. “Why?” she asked
Sang Hyuk looked at her coldly still with his hand placed inside his coat, holding on to his wound. “What are you doing here?” he asked
“And what are you doing here?” she asked “I told to run”
“I don’t want.” He said looking at her deep into her eyes. “Because you love me, you allow me to escape, but let me tell you this Sonia, because I love you, I surrender myself to them. And let me tell you this, I didn’t kill anyone. I robbed, but I killed no one.” Sang Hyuk shouted breathlessly. “Sonia, “he called out after a seconds of pause. “Thank you…for everything, you allow me to find myself. I love you.” He said before collapsing into the ground.
“Sang Hyuk, Sang Hyuk, what happen to you?” Sonia shouted and ran forward to grab hold of him.
Sang Hyuk looked at her, and with much difficulty raise a hand to touch her damp face.
“I’m sorry…” he said weakly “I’m sorry…about your parents.” Finishing his words, he closed his eyes.
“Sang Hyuk, no…answer me, don’t go…Sang Hyuk please…wake up…wake up!!!” Sonia shouted. “Don’t leave me!!!!” she cried bitterly as she hugged him for the last time…
Epilogue
Ten years ago
“Everybody put your hands up and don’t move!!!” the robbery shouted as they fire their gun crazily. All the people in the bank were panic and tried to make their way out of the bank. Just then, a couple who were trying to make their way out for escape didn’t know that a bullet had been fired towards their direction.
“Watch out” a man shouted. But he was too late.
“Sang Hyuk what are you doing… Quickly,” his friend said as they escape away.
As he ran, Sang Hyuk looked at the deadly couple for the last time, feeling sorry, that he could not do anything to save them…
