Assessing the Competition

"You think you can do a search on Lee Min Sung."

"Lee Min Sung? Detective Lee?" Dalseo scratched his stubbed chin. "Hmm. I don't know. I’ll try. Wei?"

"So-Mi is dating him."

"Chincha? You ok with that?"

"Why wouldn't I be ok?"

"I don't know. Just because..."

You are in love with her? Dalseo thought silently.

(flashback)

"What's  this?" Tae-sik asked as he snatched the paper from her.

Cha TS and Lee MS - pros and cons...

"You're doing a SWOT analysis on us?" He asked incredulously.

He's been having that nasty habit lately.

Snatching things away from her.

"Ya, Ahjussi!" So-Mi shouted. "Give that back to me."

"No," he laughed.

Looking at the notepad held high above his head.

His other hand easily holding So-Mi at arm's length.

"Ok, even if i agree that we scored equal in the looks department, I think I can safely say I'll take his money on the hand to hand combat part," he said assessing the scores.

"Ahjussi!"

So-Mi screamed, jumping helplessly towards the paper.

"Ahem. Good evening," the shop visitor came in with his left eyebrow lifted at the sight of the bickering couple in front of him.

Both So-Mi and Tae-sik turned towards the voice.

"Dalseo-ahjussi! Make him give me back my notebook!"

(End of flashback)

"I actually felt jealous that day," Tae-sik smiled.

"And so you should be. Any man would."

"I did score higher in most parts of her survey," Tae-sik smirked and nodded.

Dalseo laughed.

"But Lee would be good for her. He can protect her," Tae-sik said seriously.

"You can protect her just as well. Or even better."

"I feel like a paedo around her," the Ahjussi retorted.

"Your old humour is back," Dalseo laughed. "I've missed it."

The two old friends sat once again on the old sofa outside Dalseo's trailer.

Smoking their occasional cigarettes together.

“You're not helping much.”

“She's not 11 anymore, Tae-sik.”

“She's still 22 years younger than I am.”

“Well, if it’s any consolation, you do look young for your age.”

If looks could kill, Dalseo would have snoring in his grave by then.

But he just grinned at Tae-sik's scathing look on him.

"Does she know you still keep your old apartment?"

"And risk her wrath?"

"You’re becoming like an old married couple, it’s hilarious," Dalseo snorted.

They sat in comfortable silence again, until Dalseo said seriously.

"Be happy, Tae-sik," he said. "Ha-ni would want that from you."

Tae-sik gave his friend one of his signature silent intermission.

"Do you miss her? Your sister," he at last broke his silence, staring into space again.

"Of course," Dalseo said sadly, remembering the moments how Ha-in met her death. "But not as much as you do, apparently."

Dalseo turned in his seat and put his big hand on Tae-sik's shoulder.

"Live Tae-sik... you have punished yourself long enough," he said. "As your brother in law, ex colleague and life long friend, I urge you to live again."

Tae-sik simply bowed his head, absorbing the words.

"Oh, by the way," Dalseo suddenly remembered. "You know the child traficking ring So-Mi exposed…"

Tae-sik looked at him.

"The kids were sent to a welfare centre, 5 of them."

"That's good."

"That's not the point."

"And what is?"

"It's the fact that they all disappeared, all at once, last week."