Chapter 9 - The Chasing Begins: Part 2

(*Sunbae-nim - even more polite way to call an older or more experienced collegue in work or school.

**Noona - a polite way younger male call the older female, usually when they're close.)

When they finally arrived at the station, Soo Min Soo Min took the disc and went inside. Knowing the building well, she climbed the stairs to the 1st floor without hesitation, and Hyun Woo followed her like a shadow. They entered a corridor at the end of which was a door with the inscription 'Cyber Security Division'. Soo Min put her ID card on the reader located on the nearby wall and pulled the handle, opening the door. Hyun Woo came in with her, closing the door behind him. Several people in the main office said hello to Soo Min, and she replied, Hyun Woo bowed every now and again, seeing curious looks on himself. The first thing he quickly noticed was that definitely more women worked here. Soo Min finally stopped at the next door, this time described as 'Digital Forensic Section'. She knocked and pressed the handle, opening the door.

- Can we come in?- asked Soo Min, looking inside.

- Sure!- a female voice answered.

When Soo Min entered the room, Hyun Woo followed her and finally saw the owner of that female voice - short and terribly thin girl, certainly not more than 30 years old, who had long hair in a ponytail, dyed fiery red. The woman wore glasses, but it didn't bother her to keep the makeup fairly strong and her facial features were sharp.

- Hi, Hye Sun. Where is the rest? - Soo Min asked slightly surprised.

- Hey, Soo Min. They went to lunch.- explained Hye Sun, quite focused on the computer screen, not looking up.

- Is this already that time?- Soo Min was even more surprised and glanced at her phone.- In fact it is...- she added, but in a moment broke away from the screen and put the phone in her pocket.- Get to know each other.- Soo Min pointed to her partner.- This is Jung Hyun Woo, a new detective in our Section and my partner.- she introduced him, and the girl finally looked up from her computer.- Hyun Woo, this is Min Hye Sun, 27 years old and our IT and video footage specialist.- then Soo Min also introduced her colleague.

- I heard about you.- replied Hye Sun, and the tone of her voice got somehow sweeter, then she approached Hyun Woo and reached out her hand to greet.- It's great that I can finally meet you personally.- she added smiling flirtatiously.

- Nice to meet you too.- he replied, squeezing her hand lightly.

- Wow, Kim Soo Min, how lucky you are.- Hye Sun turned to her.- You will spend long hours with such a handsome man. I envy you, really. There are no such guys in my Section.- she added, slightly disappointed with this fact.

- Calm down, we're still at work, don't you remember?- Soo Min turned to her warningly, but with a bit of amusement.- Besides, from what I remember, almost every guy is handsome for you.- she sighed, then showed her the disc.- Besides, we have a job for you. This disc contains recordings from cameras in the area where a bouquet sprinkled with Choi Ye Eun's blood was found. We want you to check if you can get any details about the perpetrator and his car, visible on the recordings. Get as much information as possible from the footage.- Soo Min instructed her while handing over the disc.

- OK, no problem. I will take care of it today and then send you along with other materials.- assured Hye Sun.- I was just checking this girl's phone and I am waiting for her telephone billings.- she added, taking the disc.

- Okay, then we'll wait.- Soo Min replied.- Now we have to go, we still have some things to do. I have a guest list for this event Choi Ye Eun was in and we need to talk to them.- she added, heading for the door, Hyun Woo right behind her.

- Hyun Woo oppa, I hope we can talk again.- said Hye Sun, sending him as farewell a flirtatious smile.

He just nodded and smiled slightly, then sighed after being out in the corridor.

- She's fast, isn't she?- Soo Min asked him, slightly amused.

- A little bit.- admitted Hyun Woo and also smiled, pleasantly surprised by her tone.

Then they went through the office and left Cyber Security Division, went down the stairs and out of the station. However, before they drove off to question the guests of the charity party, Soo Min took Hyun Woo for lunch to one of the nearby restaurants.

- Wow, I didn't expect that we would go to such a nice place.- said Hyun Woo, looking around the place, when they sat down at the table.

- Well, maybe I'm a bit fussy for that matter, but when I eat outside, I don't like to eat just anywhere, I like to choose only good places.- Soo Min answered.- Let's order something relatively fast, because work is waiting for us.- she added.

He only nodded and they both decided on a bowl of kimchi ramen, some rice and fried fish.

- Wow, it's all really delicious.- admitted Hyun Woo.- Of course it won't beat my mother's cooking but stil, it's really good.- he added with a slight amusement.

- Nothing beats food made by a mother.- Soo Min agreed.- However, it is difficult for me to come to my mother for dinner these days. We are not on good terms lately.- she sighed.

- Hm? Why?- Hyun Woo asked, slightly worried.- If of course I can ask. I do not want to get nosy or something...- he assured right away.

- All right, it's not a secret.- Soo Min replied, glancing at him.- To put it simply, my mother wants me to get married as soon as possible. So much so that she arranges blind dates for me lately and makes me go on them.- she paused, sipping some water, then continued.- But I don't feel like dating, so I'm not going on them and that's what make the problem. Every time I won't go to the arranged date, my mother calls me with pretensions and grudge.- Soo Min sighed.- I understand that she can be worried about me and would like to have grandchildren because I'm her only child... But at times my mom really exaggerates.- she added.

- I understand.- Hyun Woo said after hearing her story.- My mother doesn't insist on marriage so much, but I'm a bit younger, and men are treated a bit easier about that. At least, I think so.- he noted.- After all, a man is required to earn enough first before he would be able to start a family. And of course after military service. That's what my father always says.- he added, plucking with his chopsticks the remains of meat from a fish-bone.

- I know that men do not have much easier life because they are just put to slightly different requirements... But sometimes I would prefer to be a man anyway.- Soo Min confessed.- Why, if a woman wants to focus on work and doesn't even think about marriage, then everyone look at her crookedly?- she continued, clearly annoyed.- I'm only 30, is it really that much? I can still start a family...- Soo Min stopped suddenly, realizing that she had already exposed herself too much to a new colleague.

- Sunbae-nim*, if you want to know my opinion...- Hyun Woo replied, looking at her.- You still have plenty of time, sunbae. There is no point in rushing with something just to please someone else, even if it's one of your parents.- he continued without taking his eyes off her.- Soo Min-ssi, getting married is a serious matter, which is why you need to be sure that you want it and chose the right person.- he summed up, causing by his words a clear surprise on her face.

- Jung Hyun Woo.- Soo Min said every syllable of his name slowly.- You are strange, but in a positive sense, of course.- she continued, still looking at him.- If all the people in Gwangju are like you, maybe I should move there?- Soo Min added with a slight amusement.

- It's not long since I moved to Seoul, but but after initial observation I think people in Gwangju are a little bit nicer.- Hyun Woo admitted.- But except you, noona**. You are really nice, pretty and I am glad that I can work with you.- he admitted slightly embarrassed because of his impudence, because he did not know how she would react to how he called her. Hyun Woo knew he should ask first, but wanted to get close to her a little.

Soo Min frowned at his speech.

- How did you call me just now?- she asked, clearly dissatisfied and her earlier smile disappeared completely.

- N... Noona**.- Hyun Woo replied, slightly scared by her face expression.

- You should ask first, don't you think?- said Soo Min, a little angry.- Maybe other girls like such boldness, but for me there is nothing cool about it. For me it's just a sign of disrespect.- she continued, looking angrily at him all the time.- I remind you that we are at work. And we are certainly not on friendly terms yet. I don't even let Jung Mo call me noona, though I know him much longer than we know each other. That's why don't call me like that anymore. For you I am sunbae or Soo Min-ssi, understand?- she added. Her expression now became almost completely unfriendly.

- I understand.- Hyun Woo replied, repentant.- I'm sorry, sunbae. This will not happen again.- he assured, lowering his head. Hyun Woo was sorry even though it seemed to him she was exaggerating... But he had to respect her decision.

- Okay then. Let's finish the food quickly, we still have work to do.- Soo Min announced and they ate the rest of the meal in silence. Hyun Woo saddened immediately but Soo Min didn't seem to care, though it was obvious she was a bit awkward in this situation.

Finally, when they finished eating, Soo Min asked for the bill and took out the card straight away.

- I will pay.- she said, seeing his surprised expression.

- Maybe we should at least split the bill... - Hyun Woo began, a little bit perplexed.

- I will pay, really. As a sunbae, I should at least buy you a meal for your good work, right?- Soo Min replied, trying to smile lightly.- Besides, you just started work, and I know how hard it is at the beginning. Even more that you came here from a smaller city.- she explained.- Besides, if you want, you'll be able to pay next time.- Soo Min added after a moment.

- Okay, sunbae.- Hyun Woo replied, his face brightening again. All his sadness vanished in one moment. Yes, her earlier words hurt him, but the fact that she paid for their meal said a lot. He watched her and saw that Soo Min clearly was a bit ashamed for attacking him so much and probably wanted somehow to ease the situation. It surprised him very much and confirmed only that his partner was indeed a really nice person. Hyun Woo hoped that someday Soo Min would be convinced enough that they would be able to speak in a slightly less formal language with each other. For now, however, he decided to speak formally so as not to cause further quarrels and misunderstandings. After all, if they were to be partners, they had to be on good terms with each other. Additionally, Hyun Woo could not stand her cold look and tone when she was angry. He preferred to see her happier and smiling more.