TWENTY-FOUR

“Are you sure this is the right location of the restaurant you are talking about?” Aki asked Donghae with an impatient tone. The boy glared at her, “We were almost there, Aki” he replied and then Aki stopped walking as she stared at the night sky

Donghae turned back as he noticed that she was not following him and he realized something when he looked at the sky and the snow was falling, “I didn’t know it will snow today” he mumbled. Aki called out his name and Donghae walk towards to Aki as he directly holds her hand, “We didn’t brought coat or jacket so we must go at the restaurant before we catch cold here”

Finally they are in the restaurant, Aki felt excited and she glanced at Donghae “Let’s find table for us!”

“I think we are going to take out since we are here” Donghae said as he saw there was no occupied seat for them. “Okay” Aki replied. Two of them were standing near at the counter “It seems this restaurant is so popular” Aki said to Donghae and the boy agreed on her “Especially this winter season”

A familiar voice called out their name and Aki grinned as she waved at that person “Can’t believe you are here Hyukkie oppa” she went at the table where Eunhyuk stayed. Aki sat in a chair beside on her brother and Donghae sat in a chair, front of the siblings “I bet the manager reserved a table for you”

Eunhyuk did high-five on Donghae “Shhh!! Keep quiet Donghae” he said and laughed on his best friend “By the way, this is Aki’s first time and good thing I already order a plate that good for 2-3 person”. Aki pointed Donghae as she was telling to Eunhyuk that Donghae will pay the bill. “Ya!” Donghae stood up as he placed his hands on his hips and the siblings laughed on his reaction. “I will only treat Aki not you, Eunhyuk”. Aki told them that she will go in restroom for a while and the best friends left in the table. The people in the restaurant gossiping as they talking about Aki

“Here comes the gossip” Eunhyuk muttered as he bit the straw “Hey!” he softly called Donghae “They think you were my sister’s boyfriend” he spoke softly that only Donghae can hear and the boy chuckled, “People these days” he replied on him. Eunhyuk smirked as he felt something on his best friend “Donghae, just answer yes or no okay?”

Donghae groaned, “If it’s all about Aki...I am not planning to—”. Eunhyuk cut him off by start asking him a question “Friends?”

“Yes”

“Courting her?”

“No”

“Is she special to you?”

“Yes”

Eunhyuk drumming the table by his both hands “Are you honest person?”

“Yes” Donghae answered Why he ask that kind of question? Donghae just don’t fall on his trap or else...

“Since you are honest person...are you willing to confess you true feelings on a person who was special to you?”

Donghae getting annoyed at Eunhyuk and said “Yes” without having doubts and Eunhyuk grinned “As expected, you like my sister” and Donghae jaw dropped then he hit Eunhyuk’s head “Y-You crazy” he paused in short before he continued, “Aki is my friend and that’s all”. Eunhyuk continued to tease Donghae until Aki came back from restroom

“Okay stop bickering you two” Aki said as she sat on a chair and Donghae listened to her. “Aki you know what, Donghae likes---” Donghae interrupted them by saying “Shall we discuss about the case?” and Aki cannot help but laughed on them

The waiter serves the food on their table. When they done ate dinner, they do a short chat and three of them exited the restaurant as Donghae paid the bill. Eunhyuk wore his coat and gloves “See you around, love birds”. Aki said “We are not love birds!” That’s not cool, Aki Donghae thought as he pouted

In front of Donghae’s house, Aki took a letter on the ground and it says:

Greetings Detective Aki and Donghae, Rin told me we will play hide and seek at you two. Fine I agree and let’s start the game tomorrow, make sure one of you doesn’t get caught at us. I have one condition: Do not tell this to the police. And if you do that, I have no choice to kill both of you – Minwoo

“Aki, is that electric bill or water bill?” Donghae asked her as he saw Aki was holding a letter and the girl slowly shook her head, “Minato send a letter to us” Aki replied and she pass the letter to him. After Donghae read the letter, he crumpled it and threw it on a trash can “Minwoo just waste his time writing a letter to us and if he really think we will do it then he is freaking idiot” he said in harsh tone.

Next day, Donghae force himself to attend classes “I envy at Aki who was in police station and investigating the case” he pouted and kicked the empty can as he saw it. When he is at school, a familiar person who was standing in front of school gate and who was smiling at him “Good to see you, my friend!” Minwoo happily waved at him and Donghae wants to puke when he saw him. Donghae bumped him as he pretends that he didn’t saw him. “Where is Aki?” Minwoo suddenly asked him and Donghae stopped, turned back “None on your business, freak” he said and Minwoo softly laughed at him “I want to meet her as I will court her after Rin showed a picture of Aki” he showed the picture at Donghae “I admit Aki is prettier than Rin even though they are twins. If that happens, I will end my relationship at Rin”

Donghae grabbed Minwoo’s collar, “Don’t ever touch her, Choi Minwoo”. Minwoo removed Donghae’s hands from his collar “You sounded like her boyfriend Lee Donghae”

“Well it will be happen in future” Aki said as she sudden appeared and hold Donghae’s arm “Good thing I found you here, I thought you will get absent this day like what you said earlier” Aki said as she looked at Donghae and the boy widened his eyes “Do you have short term memory?! You just force me to go in school today” he said in shock tone

Aki scratched her head and did a peace sign to Donghae, “Did I really say that? Anyways, submit your today homework to your teacher and give this letter to your adviser” she said and gave the letter to Donghae. “You have to go with me in faculty room since you are here” he said. Minwoo cleared his throat in annoyance as he interrupted their conversation, “Detective Aki?” he asked the girl

“Yes, I am” Aki replied in serious tone “I know you so no need to introduce yourself” she added. Then the girl pulled Donghae and they entered the school and left Minwoo behind. Minwoo clenched his fist as he scowled at Aki who was rude to him on their first meeting. “Oppa!” Rin ran towards him “Hey, what’s wrong with you? Did you get involved in a fight or something?” she asked him in concern tone. Minwoo threw his bag to the ground “Damn them!”

Rin rolled her eyes, “Don’t tell me, you met Donghae and Aki?” Minwoo bit his lips and then he glanced at Rin, “I will make sure we will kill them by our hands”. Rin lazily clapped at Minwoo, “You getting sensitive these days”

“Shut up!” Minwoo yelled and left Rin behind as he went inside at the school

Rin cursed at Minwoo, “How could he--?! Well because of them, Minwoo’s behavior really changed” she muttered

In the faculty room, Donghae put his homework on a teacher’s table and Aki gave the letter to Donghae’s adviser “It’s okay if you are not agree on my permission” Aki said while the adviser read the letter, “You want Donghae as your partner in Andy’s case?”

Aki nodded and bowed at the lady as she pleaded, “Ms. Adviser! I promise Donghae will not forget his task as a student while he is helping in the case”. And Ms. Park laughed at Aki and asked her “What a high-spirited girl, tell me why you choose Donghae?” Aki looked at Ms. Park, “It’s all started when Donghae volunteered himself to help me solve the case and I choose Donghae as my officially partner in solving this case because he is only person I trust as I know he is responsible person”. And Donghae became quiet person when he heard it and did not expect that Aki will be serious on it. Ms. Park smiled at Aki, “Very well said, Detective Aki. I will deliver this message to the principal and get his approval” the lady stood up and went to the principal’s office

Donghae closed his eyes and crossed his fingers that the principal will approve Aki’s permission. Aki covered and laughed on Donghae’s expression, “Hey, Aki I thought Detective Park is your partner in the case”. The girl looked down and her expression changed into solemn “Detective Park got poisoned last night and he was in the hospital today and it happens when we were at the restaurant”. Aki paused in short before she continued, “Because of that, I have no choice to do this and it’s because you are only I trust when comes into this”

Ms. Park went back and smiled on them “The principal sign the letter and let Donghae help solving case”

Donghae and Aki bowed at Ms. Park, “Thank you so much!”

 Then they walk together in school hallway “Are you not going attend the morning ceremony?” Aki asked. Donghae put his both arms on his nape “Nah, not interested” he replied.

“Bad student” Aki said