Strange Bedfellows

It was a gathering of strange bedfellows.

Sitting around a small kitchen table with soju and coke all around.

A cop, a retired agent, an ex-convict and the little girl they all had a hand in nurturing.

“So,” Kim Chi-gon asked, “why didn't you send the pictures to me?”

“And have you report my activities to Ahjussi. Or Appa and Omma? Bicheso?”

Kim shrugged thinking, that made sense.

“But why Lee?”

The question came from Moon Dalseo, Tae-sik’s ex-colleague at the NIS.

Now portly and retired; single and happy, running a garbage collection business.

“It's a ‘by the way’ kinda thing,” So-Mi said. “I met him by chance and just targeted him.”

“Again why him?” Dalseo stressed.

“I dunno. It just happened. He's young and ambitious, knows many influential people. Who could be more perfect?”

Already knowing that her mind was as intricate and instinctive as theirs, they did not ask her how she knew.

“You’re sure it’s not because he’s good looking?” Kim .

“Chi-gon-ahjussi…” So-Mi protested, looking at Tae-sik nervously.

As usual Tae-sik’s expression was unreadable.

Dalseo laughed at her expression, reading between the lines.

This is interesting, he thought.

“So, you gonna keep your promise to Tae-sik?” he asked.

“Eh?”

“Not to take anymore pictures?”

“Neh,” she smiled, nodding.

“You can take pictures, just not dangerous ones,” Kim suggested.

“Yaa, take mine,” Dalseo offered. “Then edit it and make me handsome like your Ahjussi here.”

Again he laughed at his own joke and nudged Tae-sik’s leg under the table.

Sitting beside So-Mi, the Ahjussi just sipped his coke quietly and smile.