Old Friends and a Cigarette

“Tae-sik ssi…”

A man, decked in a black leather jacket, waited for him at the entrance of his apartment complex.

Detective Kim Chi-gon.

Him and his team were the officers on the case 8 years ago.

When they were on the hunt to expose a drug trafficking ring.

When they found out how So-Mi’s mother was trying to double cross the drug lords in return for more money.

When they saw how So-Mi was caught in the line of fire between her drug addict mother, the drug lord and his henchmen.

When they realised that Tae-sik was on a vigilante for So-Mi.

And how the latter was instrumental in bringing the whole outfit and more down.

In return for a solved case, they took care of So-Mi, found her a good home and watched over her through the years.

“Detective…” he greeted his guest.

Detective Kim smiled and greeted him like a long lost friend, albeit with caution.

“How have you been?” the forty-something year old police officer asked.

“Good, thank you,” Tae-sik answered. “You look well.”

Kim laughed as he patted his stomach, “well fed. I’m a husband and father now.”

“That’s good,” Tae-sik smiled.

This killing machine can actually smile, Kim thought.

The detective remembered the crime scene he found at the old abandoned mall, where Tae-sik had single handedly defeated So-Mi's captor and his goons.

And if Kim had not personally watched videos of Tae-sik in action, he would not have believed that this quiet man could be responsible for such a massacre.

But to the nationalist Kim and now father, going on a rampage in defence of your country and in rescue of a little friend, were somewhat acceptable.

“You, on the other hand, haven’t changed a bit,” Kim admired the Ahjussi only as a man would, acknowledging the quiet strength that Tae-sik so effortlessly carry. “I heard you got out, so here I am.”

Tae-sik simply smiled.

"How is Detective Noh?" Tae-sik asked.

"He's good. Moved up North and has taken up farming," Kim took a long drag on his cigarette, offering one to Tae-sik. "We did two or three big busts, before he decided to settle down for a quieter life."

Tae-sik nodded and accepted the cigarette the detective offered him.

“Would you like to come in,” Tae-sik offered in return.

“Nah, out here is fine, I have to go back to the station soon.”

They smoked in comfortable silence before Kim asked, “what are you doing nowadays?”

Tae-sik shrugged, implying nothing.

“Come. Come and join us.”

Tae-sik sighed. Not another one.

“Seoul must be sorely lacking with able bodied male nowadays,” he smiled softly. “Are you seeking my employment too?”

“Too? Who’s been…? Aah, the NIS got to you first, huh?” Kim nodded in understanding.

Tae-sik smiled again.

“Not interested, huh? Not that you need the money anyways,” Kim said again, knowing how lucrative being in the National Intelligence Service’s elite unit was.

“You want me to put a good word in for you at the NIS?” Tae-sik asked in amusement.

Kim laughed, thinking of how different Tae-sik was from the person he met 8 years ago.

“Which reminds me, So-Mi is all grown up now,” Kim supplied, not knowing that the subject matter was literally camped in her Ahjussi’s apartment the past weeks. “Has she visited you yet?”

Again, the query was met with a soft smile.