The next morning Jihye left for work to once again find the boy absent, and once more was left with a cheap kimbap roll in her hand that she would end up saving for lunch. Though she wondered where he went, her pondering was cut short as she remembered her train that would leave the station soon. She tucked the kimbap into her bag and trotted off.

 

Joong-gu 12:21 PM

Jihye's morning at the firm was more or less uneventful, filing reports, writing up drafts and summarising deposition transcripts (something she could have asked the first year intern to do but she took it on herself to do it, no matter how tedious). With Joonmyun out on business until after lunchtime, and all her tasks for the time being complete, she took a moment to lean back in her chair, phone in one hand, kimbap in the other.

She scrolled through trending news articles as she chewed, a mixture of entertainment, politics and business. At the top of the page was an article on a new Shinsegae department store planned for the city center, not far from the firm, featuring a photo of a smiling middle-aged man next to a computer-generated image of the new building. Jihye wondered what the point of that was for a moment, seeing as there were already a few in the area, before scrolling past it to a more interesting article on an actor's recent dating rumours.

 

Soon enough, her hour-long lunch break had ended and Jihye was now caught up in current affairs. The elevator opened to reveal Joonmyun, punctual as always, with a cup of Americano in his hand. He gave Jihye a friendly smile and a nod in greeting as he settled at his desk. Jihye pulled herself back into her desk and set her phone aside, returning to her to-do list.

It was only a few moments later when the elevator doors opened again. Jihye looked up instinctively at the ding to see a woman in her thirties, well dressed and with brows pinched together. The woman stepped over to reception, something about her gait conveyed urgency, perhaps it was the way she shook her leg and tensed her jaw as she waited for the receptionist to get off the phone. Jihye turned her eyes back to her laptop and pretended to work but kept her ears tuned on the conversation at the front of the firm.

"Welcome to Park and Partners, how may I assist-"

"I need to see a lawyer immediately, it's an emergency, please," the woman begged. At the sound of her frantic voice Jihye turned to her again to find her with her hands clasped on the counter, her arms shaking in her white blazer.

"Did you have a specific attorney in mind, ma'am?" The receptionist asked, a little taken aback.

"Your best associate, anyone." Jihye looked to Joonmyun, who also had his eyes trained on the woman at the front. The receptionist glanced at him, causing Joonmyun to nod in affirmation as he stood and approached the distressed woman.

"Hello ma'am, my name is Kim Joonmyun." He held out his hand and the woman weakly put out her own. Joonmyun grasped it and gently shook. "Why don't you come in and we can help you Miss..."

"Jeon Hyunjoo," she answered quickly once she realised what he was asking. Joonmyun let go of her hand and gestured for her step into the firm, leading her to a consultation room. He walked down the aisle Jihye's desk was in and she quickly went back to her work. "Jihye," he called. The sound of her name startled her but she tried to look calm as she faced him.

"Yes?"

"Could you get some tea for Ms. Jeon and then join us?" he requested as he walked by. Jihye gave him a 'yes sir' and quickly made her way to the break room. She quickly put together a cup of green tea and put it on a saucer before transporting it over to the consultation room where Joonmyun was conversing with Ms. Jeon, picking up her notebook on the way. She pushed the glass door open with her back and excused herself as she set the cup of tea down in front of the older woman and took her place next to Joonmyun.

"Thank you," said Ms. Jeon, picking up the cup and taking a tentative sip of the scalding hot beverage.

"This is Shin Jihye, she'll be assisting me with your case," Joonmyun introduced. Jihye bowed in her seat.

"How do you do." Ms. Jeon bowed in response, her hands still on the cup of tea. She noticed she was no longer shaking, with Joonmyun's help she presumed. He was always good at calming people down, in fact Jihye would argue that his very presence was calming.

"Now, what seems to be the problem ma'am?" he asked. Ms. Jeon pursed her lips firmly as she thought of what to say.

"You see, my husband... My husband he," Ms. Jeon took in a deep breath before trying again, "my husband's run off with all of our money. He withdrew everything and left me in the house with our kids... I haven't got a single won left and I have no idea where he is or what he's going to do with it all." Ms. Jeon was no longer looking at Jihye or Joonmyun, her eyes were focused on the cup of steaming green liquid. "I have to feed my children and pay the bills but there's nothing left, he took everything... I can't go to anyone else for help, it's too much...I don't know what-" her voice broke slightly- "to do."

"You did the right thing by coming to us, Ms. Jeon," Joonmyun comforted. "I think the first thing we should do is file for temporary support," he said turning to Jihye. She nodded and took note to file the paperwork and then addressed the woman sitting across from her.

"Temporary support is financial aid which will help you to pay your bills and keep your children fed while we locate your husband and money," she explained, earning a relieved sigh from Ms. Jeon. "Did he withdraw it all from a joint account?"

"Yes, although I only found out this morning since he was missing all of yesterday as well and I didn't realise he wasn't coming back..." She pulled out her bank book to show the two attorneys her transaction history. "Everything was here until yesterday afternoon," she said pointing to the list of names and numbers. The topmost record read 'Wdl WOORI, SEOUL CITY CENTRE -63,027,148 WON' in bold lettering, Jihye couldn't stop her jaw from dropping a little bit.

"Wow, he really took every last won," Joonmyun blurted under his breath. The comment went unnoticed by Ms. Jeon but Jihye looked at him in surprise, it was rare to ever see him not composed. He cleared his throat before looking over the rest of the records. There were regular withdrawals of up to 300,000 won every Friday from ATMs in various places dating back a few months. "Did you know your husband was making these other withdrawals?" Ms. Jeon shook her head.

"He was always very secretive about money, he wouldn’t even let me check our bills- I only managed to get these transactions printed this morning... But since looking at this it makes sense," she said lowly.

"What do you mean?" Asked Jihye.

"I think- no, he has a gambling problem. I'm sure of it."

Ms. Jeon continued to divulge about her husband's suspicious behaviour regarding money as Jihye and Joonmyun took down notes.

"Lately he's been... unpleasant. For the last few months he’s come home in the middle of the night, aggravated, and sometimes he seems..." she looked off behind Joonmyun as she tried to articulate herself, "over-confident?" She nodded at her word choice. "But always distant," she added.

"At first I thought he was just coming home from company dinners, but then I started finding stacks of cash hidden around home... And now looking at this," she gestured to her bank book disgruntledly, "I know for sure."

Joonmyun hummed in acknowledgement. Jihye could already tell he was forming an argument in his head.

"Has he been... violent, at all?" he asked carefully. Ms. Jeon turned back to her cup of tea as she thought about the question, a frown appearing on her face.

"He's been drunk more often than not... and his temperament has become... disagreeable," she started. "He takes out his frustrations on me- sometimes even our children too. He won't hurt them, but I can't say the same for myself," she said, voice cold and almost sneering. Ms. Jeon shifted in her seat, taking her hands into her lap. Jihye couldn't see them past the table but from the way her arms began to tremble she imagined she had them clasped together. Joonmyun hummed as he allowed her to speak freely.

"Anytime I try to confront him about the money he lashes out at me, threatens to take me off the joint account." The woman's eyes had turned hard, Jihye noticed. Her gaze on the teacup had become a glare, and her brows were pinched together again. It was then that she realised that Ms. Jeon was no longer distraught- she was furious.

"I see," said Joonmyun.

“He’s been gone for a long while now,” she said, more to herself than to the pair across the table. Jihye’s head tilted as she tried to understand- hadn’t her husband only been missing for two days? “He’s not the same anymore, it’s like I’ve lost him completely. I’m not sure I’ll ever get him back- or if I’ll even want him back after all he’s done to us,” she scorned.

Jihye pressed her lips together hard. She looked to Joonmyun who gave her a nod of approval before she spoke.

"Ms. Jeon," she started gently. "Depending on how much information you can give us, and what you wish to achieve, we may be able to get your money back." Ms. Jeon's head jerked up at the prospect. "But I'll have to ask you something a bit confronting."

"Go ahead."

"Do you want to stay with your husband after this?" She asked. Ms. Jeon looked down, the cup of tea had been left alone, still full but no longer hot. She looked Jihye in the eye with a determined face.

"No." Jihye let her shoulders relax as she jotted down another note.

 

Gwangjin-gu, 5:42 PM

Sehun lurked by the gates of Daewon FLHS, eyes scanning the dozens of students filtering out through them. He ducked his head down, pretending to check his phone- which had run out of battery days ago- whenever he thought someone was looking at him. He had combed his hair back with his fingers a million times in order not to look like he had spent almost a week sleeping on the streets, spending almost half an hour in the station toilets trying to look presentable. And although he'd checked his reflection a hundred times he couldn't help but be nervous since his trousers were still creased and his shoes were scuffed. He would have nit-picked some more if he hadn't sighted the familiar face out of the corner of his eye.

"Hey!" He said in a stage whisper. The figure didn't hear him, but he was coming closer. Sehun quickly jogged up to him. "Hey! Jongin!" The boy turned at the sound of his name and his eyes widened.

"Se-" Sehun shushed him and dragged him by the arm out the gates and off to the side out of plain sight.

"Dude! Where the hell have you been?" Jongin asked frantically. But Sehun ignored his question.

"Jongin, I know this is weird but I need a favour," he pleaded.

"What happened to you? You disappeared for like four days and you haven't been answering your phone or anything..." Jongin looked Sehun over, he seemed thinner than last week, and kind of scruffy. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. But uh," Sehun stalled for a moment to think up an excuse for his request. "So, our washing machine broke the other day, and I've run out of clothes to wear..." He gauged Jongin's face, he didn't look like fell for it completely but luckily his friend knew not to press any further and just nodded slowly. "Do you think you could lend me some?"

"Sure." Jongin checked his watch before continuing, "but I gotta go to tutoring, do you wanna come ‘round my place later tonight?"

"I can't go then," said Sehun. "I have to uh... catch up on all the work I missed." Jongin hummed in understanding. "Do you think we could go now?" He checked his watch again.

"Yeah, okay."

 

Jongin couldn't help but stare at his friend while on the train to his place. Sehun stood in the corner of the carriage with his head down, he wouldn't speak unless spoken to, and even then, his replies were a few words at most. The last time he had seen him was Saturday. Sehun had called him the night before asking to sleep over since his parents had gone out of town urgently and he didn't have his keys. Jongin and his parents were fine with having him over, they had been best friends for long enough that it was no problem, but when he didn't show up to school on Monday, and the day after that, Jongin knew something was up.

"So how come you haven't been answering your phone?" Sehun finally looked up from his shoes.

"My charging cable broke," he said curtly.

"And you haven't bought a new one yet?"

"Nah, I've been pretty sick so I stayed home all week. That's why I haven't been at school either." He was surprised by how easily the lies came out, by this point he wasn't even trying. "I finally felt good enough to come out today but I don't think it'll last long."

"Man, that ," Jongin sighed, his brows furrowed in concern. He nudged his friend gently and gave him a small but encouraging smile. "Get well soon." Sehun couldn't deny that seeing his friend so worried made him feel guilty, Jongin was always genuine even though he knew Sehun wasn't telling the truth. But for now he could only smile in return.

 

"There's a pair of jeans, a T-shirt, a jacket and a sweater," Jongin counted off the items as he handed over a large plastic bag. Sehun looked inside to find the sweater on top, black and fairly thick, one he's seen Jongin wear from time to time.

"Thanks, Jongin. I'll pay you back somehow," Sehun mumbled.

"Anytime dude. Just fix your washing machine and wash them before you return them, okay? I like that sweater so don't mess it up," he joked. When Sehun laughed in response he took a step back and adjusted his backpack. "I gotta go now, see ya'," he said with a wave before running off towards his tutoring academy. He turned around and jogged backwards before yelling, "and get a new charger!" Sehun grinned and waved him off, walking back to the station.

When Sehun got back to the station the sky had turned grey and it was raining lightly. He would have to spend the last of the money he made this morning on the ticket back to Seongbuk-gu so he prayed the rain wouldn't get heavier.

 

Seongbuk-gu, 7:13 PM

Unfortunately, by the time he arrived at Gireum Station the light sprinkle had turned into a decent shower. With not enough money left to buy even a cheap umbrella, Sehun tightened the knot on his drawstring bag, now full of Jongin's clothes, ducked his head down, and ran through the rain towards the hot air vent under the eaves of someone's roof.

 

Half an hour had passed, then an hour, then an hour and half, and the rain was still falling steadily. Sehun stood with his back pressed flush against the concrete wall of the house, the air vent was blowing at this legs but with the cold night air made even colder by the precipitation, Sehun was shivering. His uniform was soaked through and his hair lay flat against his head. He hugged himself to stop shaking and hoped the kind lady would come back again with warm bread. Though she seemed later than usual tonight.

To his surprise he looked up to see the now familiar silhouette of the woman. She held a clear umbrella above her head, hands full of plastic grocery bags, running- if taking lots of tiny steps in her heels could be called running- towards him. She seemed to sense him looking at her since she looked up as well. Her eyes widened at the sight of the drenched boy and she quickened her fast walk to approach him.

"Look at you, you're soaked! Are you alright?" Sehun could only bow, too cold to say anything, he could only let out a surprised 'oh' when she brought him under her umbrella by his shoulder. "You should come inside, you poor thing." Sehun dragged his feet to keep up with her as she hurried him along around the corner and up the door of the house. He was shocked to see her press the passcode into the keypad and unlock the door to the very house he had been taking shelter under. She pushed the door open and closed her umbrella, "come in, come in." Sehun forced himself to find his voice as he remembered his manners.

"Sorry for intruding," he said as she slipped off her shoes and rushed to put her bags on the table before disappearing into one of the rooms. Sehun took his own shoes off but didn't enter, unsure of what to do about the puddles he leaving in her entryway. The woman emerged a moment later with her arms full of towels.

"Here, dry off or you'll get sick," she said as she passed them to him. "The bathroom's the door in the middle," she pointed to the doors at the other side of the living room. "I don't think I have any clothes that would fit you, though..."

"I have some," he said quietly, lifting up the bag stuffed with Jongin's clothes. He was thankful he kept them in the plastic bag for the drawstring bag was just as soggy as him.

"That's good," she smiled. "Have you eaten anything?" Sehun looked at the woman who was little more than a stranger but had invited him into her home to keep him out of the rain. She had given him food and showed him a decent place to take shelter and even given him towels, he couldn't possibly ask for a meal when he had nothing to repay her with. So he opened his mouth to fib, only to be interrupted by his stomach rumbling. Sehun froze in embarrassment but the woman only chuckled.

"Why don't you go wash up and I'll fix you something," she offered. Sehun was left dumbfounded as she took her groceries off the table and into the kitchen. After taking a moment to process what was happening he turned around, mopped up the puddles he made and dabbed the water off his trousers before entering the woman's home.