Numbing the Pain

As it turned out, she went back to her Appa’s that evening.

At Choi-omma's anguished call.

So-Mi rushed home only to find her father dead.

Killed, mutilated and stuffed in a sports bag.

Left at her front door.

For Omma to find that evening.

"Ahjussi… please help us," was all that So-Mi could say when she called Tae-sik, numb on the floor of her parents' apartment door.

-----

The next few days were a whirlwind for So-Mi, Tae-sik and the rest.

So-Mi did not know many people came and went to visit, but those who mattered were by her side at most times.

Helping in all manners possible.

Tae-sik, Dalseo, Chi-gon and Lee too.

The only other important person to So-Mi who was not there, was Amber.

She was totally unreachable.

The police did a postmortem on Choi-Appa, finding out that apart from his eyes, they also took his vital internal organs.

So-Mi's CCTV recording showed a person carrying and leaving the bag by the front door.

At exactly 5.15 in the afternoon.

With Omma discovering the 'gift' at around 6.

"A guy? Or girl?" Dalseo  tried to determine.

"Can be both. Can't tell from this angle," Chi-gon answered.

"Possibly a guy, judging how he was carrying the bag," Tae-sik supplied.

"Or a very strong girl," Chi-gon argued.

The mystery still unsolved.

"How's the 'workmanship' this time? On Choi-ssi's body?" Dalseo asked again.

"Rough," was Chi-gon simple answer.

His face tout with worry.

"By the way, I checked the list you gave me," he turned towards Tae-sik. "The one with the spectrum access. They are all legit. No hanky panky apart from the fact that all those telcos charge us like crazy."

Tae-sik simply nodded.

"What's interesting though, is the fact that So-Mi's senator sits on the board of one of the private telco companies" a piece of information that peaked the interest of both Chi-gon's audience. "Her name is not registered but the company is."

"You think she's involved in any way?" Dalseo asked.

"I checked her out. Seems clean all the way. Besides I don't think she'll dirty her pretty hands in this one," Chi-gon snorted. "She has her lost children to find."

Tae sik remained quiet. Observing So-Mi's movements from afar.

So-Mi was a paragon of calm during the whole episode.

Upon arriving at the Choi residence at her frantic call, Tae-sik found her in a stunned silence at the front door, kneeling beside the bag and her father.

She had sent he mother safely in.

And was smart enough not to disturb the bag.

Yet she was sentimental enough not to leave it.

After that short stint of numbness that she allowed herself, she was a tower of strength for her mother and relatives.

And a constant source of information and resources for the investigations.

Which caused all the men to be both impressed and worried on her behalf.

"You ok, man?" Dalseo asked him, looking at Tae-sik's cloudy face.

"Yeah."

"Just worried, huh?" Dalseo asked again, following Tae-sik's glance towards So-Mi.

The latter was busy bringing drinks for the guests as her mother sat with her uncles and aunties.

And while her mother's face was marred with puffy red eyes and tear stained cheeks, So-Mi's was as smooth as porcelain. 

"Yup."

"She needs time to accept this."

"Uh uh."

"Be strong for her."

He just gave Dalseo one of his infamous little smile.

"Well see you tomorrow, then, for the wake."

"Yeah."

"Come on, Kim," Dalseo prodded his other friend. "Take care, man. Call if you need anything."

"Fireflies09. That's my new password, Ahjussi, should you need to use my PC again."

"09?"

"That was how old I was, when I first met you," she smiled.

And he smiled in return.

They sat in a semi quiet corner of the Choi residence, observing the activities of the relatives around the house.

He looked down at her beside him.

Wishing he could help her more to ease her pain.

Knowing she was hiding it well, for her mother's sake.

"Kwenchana?" he asked tenderly.

"Nope, not really," she looked up at him, shaking her head sadly.

And he seriously has no experience on how to deal with that.

Not knowing how to comfort her.

Other that having the same piercing agony in his heart, mirroring the ones in her eyes.

At the same time, he could not help but to remember their heated argument, surprisingly just a few days before.

"But it's ok, Ahjussi. At least you are here. So, thank you."

"You'll be ok tonight?"

"You ask me that every night, Ahjussi," she smiled again. "Yes, I'll be ok."

It was exactly 5 days since they found Choi-appa's body. 

And the cremation was to be done the next day.

He stared at his feet for the longest time.

Both of them sitting on the floor, in their corner.

"I'll be here first thing tomorrow morning, ok. We'll drive together to the crematorium."

"Neh, ahjussi. Thank you again. I'll see you tomorrow."

Tae-sik was reluctant to leave in actual fact.

But the Choi residence was filled with relatives.

So he had no choice but leave her.

Besides, Lee has also stationed his men to ensure security of the house.

"Ok then, I'll see you."

"I'll see you. Drive safe, Ahjussi."

And he left her with a soft smile and a sweet caress on her cheek.