"Aren't I underage? Isn't this illegal?"

"Let's say it's a training."

"But—"

"Just don't tell your mother."

INSIDE THE FIRM'S office there is a small pantry where Park Seoyeon found herself staring at her cup of coffee. The young lady watches how the liquid follows the movement of her spoon over and over. Little drops are starting to splat on the flat surface but she couldn't careless, she was diving too deep into her own world that she doesn't know what she's doing.

The hue of the black coffee reminded the young lady of the first and last handgun she had handled. She remembers how her hand perspired as her father lifted her arm, teaching her to aim at the empty mug that was sitting still on a wooden log. Her mind recalls how light it felt in her hand, making her tighten her grip on the spoon she's apparently holding as if it was the handgun.

Trains of memories have suddenly entered her mind.

"In the count of three, you'll shoot." Said her father, holding onto her arm and corrected her posture. They'd trapped their ears beneath the thickened headsets and caused his voice to become slightly unheard. "Focus, okay?"

Unable to think of words, Seoyeon simply nodded as she kept her fingers tightly wrapped around the gun in her hand. In the count of three it is, she reminded herself kindly. Her lips parted as a deep sigh escaped whilst her eyes couldn't see anything but the ceramic mug at the distance. Any tiny massive disturbance can make the bullet fly.

To tell that she's not afraid to do things like this is a huge lie. It's even a big achievement for her to be able to hold one. Yet there she was, narrowing her eyes for a better view as she gulped her cowardness, trapping all of it inside her stomach. The handgun in her hand strangely became cold, accompanied by the cold breeze in the middle of the forest where they stood straight, doing the so-called training.

"Come on, let me see the future cop in you." Her father's eyes twinkled in excitement as he clasped his hands together, having high hopes in her performance. The thought of his daughter becoming a police like him is a dream come true. "One . . ."

Even though her eyes are locked on the target, she could tell how bright her father's smile was. She can hear it from his voice.

"two . . ."

His voice was filled with thrill. On the other hand, such enthusiasm filled Seoyeon's chest with guilt. How can he see the future cop in her when she can't see it in herself from the very start?

"three!"

Her father had finished counting but only silence went after. His eyes that were once filled with excitement looked at her with confusion. Thereupon the young lady let out a sigh, a heavy one, as she slowly brought her arms down. She gently held her father's wrist and placed the handgun on his palm after. Seoyeon couldn't look straight in his eyes, but she had to and it's to show her sincerity.

"Father." Seoyeon gulped the lump in her throat and had a hard time figuring out whether she should continue her words or not. "I'm sorry. I failed you."

"What's wrong?"

"I . . . I don't want to be a police."

It would have been lighter in her chest if he scolded her. It would have been more acceptable if he ranted his disappointment. It would have been easier if he got mad at her.

But he hugged her.

Seoyeon could not forget how warm his hug was, how cherishing the tone of his voice was. She remembers all of it.

"It's okay. You don't fail me, and I know you won't." He chortled, making his hug tighter. He gently rested his chin on the latter's head, tracing circles on her back with his palm. "Just follow your dream and be happy. It's enough for me."

And she did.

But look where she is now.

With one huge swirl in the cup, she was brought back to reality. A huge drop of coffee has splatted on the ceramic counter top, again. Tiny bits of the bitter drink bounced off of the solid surface, resulting art to her white torso. Seoyeon winced and scratched her head in frustration, letting go of the spoon as she grabbed tissue from a box near her. In midst of the attempt to remove the stain, she silently laughed as she realized how long she has been standing there, making a coffee. The coffee was not even hot anymore.

Then muffled chuckles from afar took over her inaudible laughter.

Her keen eyes landed on the slit of the curtains. Curiosity made the young lady lift her elbow and widened the gap between the two curtains with her fingers. Then and there she saw Mara laughing with their co-workers outside the four walls, even the manager is having it.

It wasn't the laughter nor the bond that builds between them is what made Seoyeon disappointed in herself, but it's the coffee cup that Manager Cheung is holding.

Seoyeon was too late.

Maybe Mara was right.

She has nowhere to go.

She will stay like this forever and be incapable to reach her goal if she doesn't act fast.

And if she doesn't act now.

Off to police station she goes after work.

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"It hurts!"

"Then you do it!"

Jeongguk took the bag of ice harshly and let his hand do the job. He couldn't even look at her in the eyes, only proving his guilt. Seoyeon heaved a sigh as she stood from the couch and made her way to the kitchen. Her hands traveled to a wooden cabinet above her head in which she got a small receptacle of medicines.

"What are you? A gangster?" Her voice was an epitome of sinister along with her dreadful eyes. Jeongguk gets nervous in every step she takes, and even more when she sat beside him on the couch again. "Are you?"

"It's not me who started it—"

"There, there! Excuses again."

"Again? It's the first time!"

Seoyeon gave him a piercing look, causing him to look away while pressing his lips together.

"We could've been eating at a restaurant right now." Seoyeon tsked. Though she is outraging, the young lady is unable to take off the stuck lid on the container and the young man noticed. Jeongguk lowered his elbow and placed the ice bag— "Not on the couch, on the table." —on the flattened surface in front of them. He insincerely rolled his eyes before he opened the container in which Seoyeon got the ointment.

"Was it Hongbin again?" Seoyeon questioned whilst she begun to apply treatment on the harmed corner of his lips.

"Yeah." Jeongguk answered under his breath and not doubtfully ashamed of himself after letting a hideous guy ruined his face.

"Man, that guy is undeniably loyal since highschool." Seoyeon chuckled as she kept her eyes glued on the wound, pressing his lips with her fingertip. The boy hissed not once, but more than thrice. "But I'm actually amazed at the chemistry between the two of you, and how silly you are to hide that plum with a fancy face mask . . ." Seoyeon continued the babble of randomness, chortling then and again.

But Jeongguk isn't totally there anymore.

With her right leg bumping his left one, this isn't the first time she positioned herself so close to him. Yet the latter felt alive more than everything. He observed her lips like science, slowly. Was it always reddish pink? Her voice turned into an English song of which he couldn't understand the lyrics, but its melody is what keeps him mesmerized and the hidden beat of his heart adds on the dynamic. It is music that only he can appreciate.

Indeed, he wasn't there.

"Guk, are you listening?" Seoyeon snapped her fingers at his face, bringing him back to reality almost instantly.

"Y-yeah . . . I just thought that . . . your hair is blocking your face— did you eat something sweet?"

"What?"

"I mean you smell."

"I smell?!"

"N-no." Jeongguk almost choked and wasn't able to hide his laughter. "You smell sweet."

"Oh. Vanilla?"

"Yeah . . . Is it your perfume? It's nice." Jeongguk ended his words with a quiet cough as he averted his gaze. His neck scratching only indicates that he doesn't know what he was thinking, what he was feeling. He even had no idea what a real vanilla smells like. If only he could slap himself right now, then he would do.

"I thought it was too sweet." Seoyeon couldn't deny that she was weirded out but still flattered. She puts the treatment back to its place and left the container on the table. "There's a pack of ramyeon in the cabinet, cook it if you want. Just don't burn my kitchen." Seoyeon turned her torso and stretch out an arm to get her laptop from the table onto her lap. She has a report to be submitted tomorrow.

Jeongguk got himself up to fulfill his hunger. "Are you sure you don't want me to buy another one?"

"I'm okay. I'm going to eat later." Seoyeon said, still focuses on her laptop. "And there's meat in the cooler. Have some of it too." By the time she says that, Jeongguk had already examined the fridge and shrugged.

"Why were you at the police station by the way?" Jeongguk queried while opening the certain cabinet, only to find an indeed single pack.

"I got some updates about Mister Jeon and father's case. And nothing's changed, the wanted posters are just wearing out." She said. Understandable, Jeongguk nodded and he thought she was finished.

"Also, I was looking for a young policeman."

Jeongguk cocked his head in the kitchen, peeping through the void of the divider to see the latter. "And . . . why?" He queried, feeling uncomfortable with her words.

"I want to write a novel, and the main protagonist is a police. Pretty late for my age if you ask me." Seoyeon sighed like a depressed furnace as she resumed typing on her keyboard. "But can you blame me? I just want to prove something. Wish me luck."

After hearing that, the young man smiled. He's happy to know that his bestfriend is finally doing what she loves. But there's one thing that puzzles his mind. "You were a daughter of a policeman for twenty two years . . ." Jeongguk furrowed his eyebrows in confusion while pouring cold water in a pot. "Then what's the need to meet one?"

"My protagonist is a young man, not a married one, Jeon."

"Then who's that particular young man you wanted to meet?"

"Min Yoonki."

Again, Jeongguk lost his track.

"Great." The only word he could utter while placing the supplied pot on the stove.

"Unfortunately, he is assigned for the night shift so we didn't meet." Seoyeon lifted her chin, moving her gaze from the laptop to Jeongguk's back. "You're close to him, right? You probably know his address too—"

"No, I definitely don't."

"That was . . . surprising." Seoyeon scrunched her nose when she couldn't believe it at first, but she trusts him. Then she was adding her finishing touch to her report when she confidently spoke. "Anyway, the police station gave me his number so I'll just contact him later."

──────────✧──────────

Yoonki yawned while stretching out his sugar-like arms. He rubs his eyes then and there as he sat on his bed. With hand running through his hair, he glanced at the wallclock. The young man is not happy about what he saw.

What fuckery is this?

The ringing of the doorbell got more annoying as the time goes by. It doesn't stop. Someone must be enjoying one's life by playing with it.

It's not funny.

Soon, the bell stopped, but numerous knocks on the door replaced it. Now it sounds like a drum being played by a twelve year-old boy who's auditioning for a school band. Though the person behind the wood loves music, this is getting out of hand.

His feet found its way on the dusted carpet as he finally gave in. This had never happened before. Since the neighborhood is informed by the tiresome work of the guy every night, no one has dared to break his sleep until today.

Who the fuck it could be?

Yoonki had enough and if by the time he gets to his door he finds no one, he will drastically find the prankster and sue to death. His hand messing his hair only indicates how unamused he is.

However, he was utterly surprised rather than angry when he saw the person who's responsible for the noise. Yoonki saw a young lady— probably few years younger than him— standing on his doorway. With her hands stayed balled up in the air, he confirmed that this miss is the certain drummer.

"Oh . . ." The so-called prankster smiled out of extreme awkwardness. "I thought you weren't home. You're a night shifter then." A number of nervous chortles escaped her lips. She descended her arms and picked up a seemingly overused guitar case on the floor.

"Wrong, I'm a nightmare." Yoonki replied whilst hoping that his coldness could make this girl turn around and walk her shoes away. "Do you know how easily I can charge you for creating such nuisance?"

"Woah, woah!" The young lady was taken aback. "I'm really sorry, and I really did thought that you're at work by the time you didn't answered the second bell ring, and I was bored— but you're right! I shouldn't have done that, it's stupid." The latter thought that putting her palm over her chest could make herself appear behave and sincere than she is, but it's not enough to convince him.

"Let's get this done." Yoonki sighed whilst he closed his eyes. "State your name and why you are here." A yawn was urging to discharge itself from his mouth, but he did all what it takes to stop it. Looking embarrassing in front of a stranger is not a good idea, he thought.

The young lady smiles and offers her hand for a handshake.

"I'm Jia, your new student."