Mianhe! here's an update :D (trying to make up for my absence hehe) this will be the start for more interactions from our girls :)

sorry i haven't been replying to your comments, i just don't want to spoil anything. hehe.

Hyomin went to a pub to drink her heart out. She is just thankful that Soyeon’s pub is not crowded. Losing the Ham trial story is too much for her especially when she worked so hard for it. Too much had happened today. She started to question why her luck seems to be running out. Another shot went down .

“Seems like you can use another…”

Hyomin looked to her right only to find Park Soyeon. Soyeon signaled her bartender to give her a drink and Hyomin another drink.

Hyomin gave Soyeon a glare before saying, “You know I’m still mad at you and your puny gang leader friend for wasting my time.”

Soyeon called her bartender over and whispered something. The bartender gave a signal to give them some privacy. “A waste of time? I thought you were brilliant.”

“I have been having a rough day and I could really smack you right now.” replied Hyomin who is not in the mood for Soyeon’s humor.

“Chill” Seungho said while pouring himself a drink.

“Glad you can join us, Seungho. Hyomin here thinks we wasted her precious time when we send her to Nana’s booksigning event.”

Seungho took a sip, “I thought you said she’s brilliant?”

“Enough you two. I’m just seating right here. And if you have something to say just say it. I’m in no mood for all these puzzles and codes.”

The gang leader put down his drink and said, “That would be a shame.”

Hyomin rolled her eyes. Soyeon gave the guy a look telling him to say it.

“Fine. You’re both no fun. Do you know who Nana is?”

“She’s pretty much in every tabloid.” Hyomin answered flatly. She knows since she has her share for tabloids recently.

“Of course you do. You had your share in tabloids recently.” Seungho teased. Upon seeing Hyomin’s frown, he faked a cough before continuing, “I mean what her real name is and who is her father. For someone who has been in the limelight, how come no one knows who she really is? She must really have some power to conceal her real identity.”

“So you are saying that you send me there (book signing event) for me to know that Nana is Im Jinah the illegitimate daughter of Im Tae Woo who is he chairman of Im Enterprises. That Chairman Im has been paying loads of money to conceal his relationship with Nana from his family and the public.” Hyomin finished with a smirk upon seeing the two’s surprised look.

“Wow, I take my word back. You are brilliant.” Says the gang leader.

“How come you knew?” Soyeon asked.

“We went to the same boarding school. She was there for less than a year then left.” Hyomin answered.

“I see… So I guess it was really a waste of time.” Soyeon said.

“My bad.” Seungho agreed. “Nana is far from the many skeletons he hides in his closet.” Peeking Hyomin’s interest, he took another sip before starting his tale, “Im Tae Woo a great man, good husband and loving father to the nation’s daughter Im Yoona, a great leader who started from his humble beginnings, build an enterprise, one of the biggest company in Korea.” The two cannot help but laugh at Seungho’s exaggerated story telling equipped with hand actions. With a serious tone, Seungho continued, “But Chairman Im has his dirty little secrets and one of them is being a member of a gang.”

“What? How?” Hyomin questioned.

“How would I know when I’m just a puny gang leader?” Seungho teased using Hyomin’s words against her making the reporter hissed.

“Every gang leader has a journal with them. They carry it with them every time and everywhere. It’s like their personal record of transactions. All records are in codes. Money transfer and other transactions are all written in codes. Old school but definitely hard to trace.” Soyeon started. The said gang puny leader tapped his chest saying that his is safely inside his jacket pocket.

 Hyomin is getting overwhelmed with this inside information. She knew that everything is connected but she couldn’t put a finger on it. The two watches Hyomin as she tries to piece it all together. “How does this prove that Chairman Im is a gang leader or member?”

“It doesn’t. All I’m saying is Chairman Im is not as perfect as the public seem him to be considering he is running for Mayor.”

“Are you saying that Chairman Im has something to do with Patrick’s death?” Hyomin asked. She knew that Henry Kwang, Patrick’s uncle, is also a candidate for Mayor. The reporter started to question whether this whole case is because of politics… dirty politics.

“Woah! Woah! Hold your horses. I didn’t say anything about that? How did we come to Patrick Kwang’s murder?” Seungho said while waving his hands in Hyomin’s face. “I don’t know how you make everything related to Kwang’s case. All I’m saying is politics is dirty and you don’t know who to trust in this world especially politicians.”

Hyomin went home feeling more alert and awake than ever. It was as if the alcohol has been flushed down her system. She immediately went to get a huge file. All information she gathered about Patrick Kwang’s death is in this file. She removed her shoes and set down her bag. She went to get a bottle of beer from the fridge. She decided to put down the painting hanging on her wall and started pasting all the files chronologically. News reports, police report copies, her own notes were all pasted on her wall. She took a seat on the sofa taking a good look. She has been staring at it for a while until the exhaustion, the alcohol and additional 6 bottles of beers took their effect on her.

The sound of the alarm woke her up. She has only slept for 2 hours. She rushed to wash herself and get rid of the alcohol scent from her body. She must have drunk a whole bottle of mouthwash just to get the alcohol smell off. She was running late for the trial.

--

“What do you mean I cannot go in?!” Hyomin asked the man guarding the door to the courtroom.

“I’m sorry Reporter Park but I have strict orders from the judge to not let anyone inside since the proceeding has started. If I let you in it might cause disruption in the trial and I would get in trouble. Besides the courtroom is already full.”

Hyomin heaved a deep sigh asking herself if she could get any luckier. “Fine.” She sat on the bench nearby thinking of a way to get inside. Or maybe she has to wait for a court recess.

“Liar! You are lying!” Shouts can be heard from inside the courtroom. Hyomin kept nagging herself for missing the action inside.

“What happened?” She asked the guard.

“Ham Eunjung is throwing a fit inside and the judge just ordered a 15 minute recess. I guess you’re in luck. You can get inside after the recess.” The guard answered.

Knowing that she can witness the trial, Hyomin can now feel her hunger. She decided to get a quick bite. Seeing the long queue in the women’s room, she went to look to the other floors. She found a vacant one two floors down. Still she will have enough time to make it into the courtroom.

Suddenly the door swung open and there came Ham Eunjung rushing towards her direction. Not being able to think fast, Ham Eunjung run past her hitting her on the process. She could not believe her eyes. It took her a few minutes before she registered what had just happened. Realizing that she just saw Ham Eunjung ran past her, she immediately went to follow where the escapee went.

--

“Freeze! Ham Eunjung! Stop or I’ll shoot you!” Park Jiyeon shouted pointing a gun at Eunjung.

Every police force and guards were alarmed that Ham Eunjung just escaped. She saw the suspect running towards the exit staircase. She ran to follow her until the exit alley.

Eunjung stopped her tracks and looked at the young detective. Park Jiyeon treated her nicely when she was locked up. She feels apologetic towards the young detective but she has to do what she has to do.

Jiyeon does not want to shoot Eunjung. Yes, she is the prime suspect but she can see the hurt and betrayal in the latter’s eyes. She gave another warning when she saw Eunjung about to run again. “I said stop! I’ll shoot you if I have to.”

Suddenly the exit door swung open revealing Hyomin. Jiyeon’s attention was diverted to the sudden intruder for a second and Eunjung used the opportunity to escape.

“Where’s Ham Eunjung? I thought you said you had her?” Officer Kim asked.

“She escaped.” Jiyeon answered with her head down. If only she hadn’t taken her attention away from Ham Eunjung, then suspect will still be in custody. She cursed herself for letting her guard down for a split second.

“She hasn’t gone far yet. Find her.” The officer tasked his men to different locations to find the fugitive.