Chapter 12

Agent Choi Anna…


Im Yoona has crossed with that name several times before when she was working on this case. The Agent was definitely on the good side, but right before Yoona got a chance to talk to her, all hell broke loose.


So, when the man that took her said that Agent Choi Anna has her Yuri; she couldn’t explain how she feels. Was everything that’s happening right now just part of a twisted dream? Or is she finally waking up from her nightmare? She pinned her hopes that Yuri was still very much alive, in this little sliver of words, in this paper rose.


She looks back down on her finger, her engagement ring as if drawing some strength in it. Because she knew that if all of this was just a big lie, then she don’t know if she even have the will to survive it.


Flashback…


Just hearing the sound of her door softly creaking was enough to bolt Yoona awake. She thought that working almost 24 hours would knock her out good, but it seems like that was nothing more than wishful thinking.


The corpses she investigates have become her shadows looming in both her nightmares and reality. The bodies in their recent cases were brutalized to the point of monstrosity. What she thought she could only see in television shows and movies, have now became her reality.


This was one of those nights where just the faint sound has left her paranoid. But then she heard the familiar sound of footsteps, and her tense muscles instantly eased. 


She heard the metal clinking of the keys as it landed in the granite kitchen counter. A soft smile have grace Yoona’s lips as she sees Yuri walks in the bedroom, even her girlfriend’s silhouette was devouring.


Yuri always the thoughtful type, was now scampering in the dark. She could turn on the lights, but would rather not, since she don’t want to wake Yoona up. Yoona almost let out a chuckle as she hears Yuri bumping into the bed, whimpering softly in pain.


“I’m sorry I woke you up…” Yuri softly whispers before pressing a kiss in Yoona’s cheek.


“No… you didn’t.” Yoona answers back, playfully twirling Yuri’s dark locks around her finger. “I can’t seem to sleep nowadays…”


“That’s not good.” Yuri pouts worriedly “Let me just take a shower and I’ll get to bed with you.”


Yuri kissed her girlfriend one more time, but this time their tongues dance much longer.


After her shower, Yuri quickly finds her place in Yoona’s embrace. She playfully nuzzles her face in Yoona’s brown locks while her arms wrap around the doe eyed girl slim waist.


“Night baby…”


“Good night…”


A few minutes later, Yoona could hear Yuri softly snoring. She playfully fiddled with Yuri’s fingers before locking their hands together. She soon followed Yuri to sleep and this time no sound or noise, could wake her up, not when she’s wrap protectively around Yuri’s arms.


***


Yoona tries to stifle her giggles when the first thing she saw was her girlfriend splat in bed, sticking her tongue out at her in her sleep. The doe eyed girl starts to pat their bedside table for her phone, hoping to catch this moment in a picture. Yuri stirs a little bit at the sound of a flash, but continues to sleep.


Yoona smiles proudly at her new wallpaper, gushing inwardly at how adorable a sleeping Yuri looks. But nothing could compare to the real thing. She turns back to her lover, just letting seconds go by as she admired her.


She should really get herself ready to head out to work, but the sight of Yuri in bed was just too inviting. She could already imagine Taeyeon biting her head off at what she’s about to do. But with Yuri, everything is just so worth it…


***


“Y-yoong?”


Yuri was so tired that she even struggles to flutter her eyes.


“Hmmm?” Yoona answers lazily, while nipping the soft flesh in Yuri’s neck.


“Shouldn’t you be ready for work?”


“I called in sick… I want to stay home and take care of you.”


Yuri smiles softly at the sweet gesture. Truth was having Yoona home meant no rest at all for her. But who was she to deny the beautiful girl?


She could feel her eyes about to shut, but still she did her best to stay awake. She wanted to feel Yoona, and was willing to lose her last ounce of strength if it meant touching her girl.


Yoona’s kisses were sweet, sensual and at the same time electrifying. It felt like every kiss, creates a shiver down her spine, jolting her body back to life. Her gorgeous, long fingers were slowly making its magic, slowly peeling off Yuri’s shirt.


“ACK YUL!” Yoona shrieks as Yuri flip them, and now she was caught underneath her lover.


Yuri pulls Yoona up, making the doe eyed girl sit on her lap. Her darling slowly wraps her arms around her shoulders. Yoona started making a mark on her girlfriend’s chest, traveling up to her neck, nibbling softly on her girlfriend’s earlobe.


Their kisses were starting to feel possessive now.


“I love you, my Yul…” Yoona whispers sweetly, with a hint of playfulness in her tone.


“Love you so much, my Yoong…” Yuri answers back…


And Yoona’s phone loves them too as it started ringing begging for attention.


“Don’t worry about it, babe…”


When their fingers slip through waistbands, clothes slipping away from their bodies and fingers slipping inside each other, nothing in the outside world ever matters.


The ringing phone fell to deaf ears as the lovers were far too absorbed in their own world. The ringing faded in the background as the sound of Yuri and Yoona’s moans echoes in the four walls of their bedroom.


The phone’s ringing finally stops. But not a few seconds pass, when it started blaring out again.


“Just pick it up…”


It was painful for Yuri to say, especially since Yoona was giving her too much pleasure. Yoona hesitated for a little bit, not willing to leave her lover unsatisfied. But she knew whoever was on the other line, was never going to stop.


“Doctor Im…”


Yoona could hear her boss’ low, annoyed growl from the other line.


“How convenient of you to be sick on the day that Detective Kwon has a day off?”


“But ummm Doc… I’am sick…” Yoona starts to fake cough, making Yuri chuckle a bit at her girlfriend’s naughtiness. “You don’t want me to get everybody at work sick, right?”


“Yeah right… Get your hornee off your girlfriend and get to work right now! We just discovered another body… We need everybody in the team.”


“But I’m sick…”


“ is not a sickness! I expect you to be here in an hour or I’m going to write you up.”


It was Yoona’s turn to groan “Ok fine… I’ll be there…”

“You have to go to work?”


“Yes…” Yoona soon followed. “They found another body again…”


The whole squad was on a trail for this mad man. Bodies of unidentified girls are sprouting everywhere. As if the killer was taunting the team, playing a sick game of cat and mouse. And just when they thought this crime already made them sick to their stomachs, they found out that the suspect was devouring the victims.


“Well… how about this? How about I drive you to work?”


The annoyed frown in Yoona’s face quickly left at her girlfriend’s sweet gesture.


“You will do that? You will get out of your comfortable bed to drive me to work?”


“Now that you put it that way… I think I’ll just stay home…” Yuri snuggles in the covers, curling up into a ball as she pretends to sleep.


“Yuuuuullll…”


Yuri playfully starts to snore.


“Baby… c’mon… please…”


Yuri snores some more, but Yoona won’t be denied and instead retaliate by tickling the girl in the sides.


“Take me to work!” Yoona commanded before tickling Yuri more…


“Babe… you know I will…”


Yuri just ends up wrapping Yoona in a sweet embrace. The two giggling softly as they just playfully roll around in bed.


“Babe?”


“Mmmmm?” Yuri mumbles, as she was too busy placing a gentle kiss on her lover’s hair.


“I know you’re tired right now. I’m just teasing you, babe. You don’t need to drive me to work.”


Yoona turns to face Yuri and couldn’t help but feel guilty. She brushes the loose strands of hair falling in Yuri’s face, and she saw how haggard Yuri looks. She shouldn’t have just let the girl sleep, instead of bothering her like this.


“You have been so tired lately. I could drive myself to work, I want you to rest…”


Yuri shakes her head, smiling wearily at the other girl.


“No… I’d get plenty of sleep when I’m dead. We haven’t been spending too much time together…”


“Thank you…” Yoona lays a couple of sweet kisses in Yuri’s lips, before pulling away from Yuri’s arms.


“I’m like thinking maybe tonight… ummm…”


Yoona bites her lower lip at how cute her girl was acting. It was adorable for Yoona that even if they have been together for quite some time, Yuri still has the tendency to stammer a bit when trying to talk to her. Yoona just loves the idea that she still makes Yuri weak in the knees.


“Ummm what?”


“Maybe I could take you out on a date….”


It felt like such a long time since they have been out together. Yoona reminisce back two or maybe three years ago, when she and Yuri just started dating. She was always the more outgoing one, taking the homely Yuri out and about around town. She could remember those jealous glares whenever they hit the dance floor. No one could ever stand a chance with either girl. They are too in love and too enthralled in their world that even blind people could clearly see how in love they are.


They were intoxicated with each other in the dance floor and in their bed til the wee hours of the morning. Sometimes they were too addicted, they couldn’t even make it home and just ends up devouring each other inside Yuri’s car.


But after some time, Yuri started showing Yoona a calmer side to life. Yuri would let Yoona pick the DVDS and menu and Yuri, always spoiling her lover, made sure Yoona got everything. Occasionally, they would go out to eat, watch movies and their new favorite pastime going furniture shopping for their home.


They were like an old couple now, who would rather hangout at home, but it doesn’t matter for the two… They were as in love now, probably more than ever before.


“That sounds like a great plan to me…”


“Great.” Yuri grins happily. “What time do you have to be there?”


“In an hour…”


Yoona answers absentmindedly as she makes her way to the shower.


“I could drive you there in 20 minutes…”


It made Yoona wonder how Yuri could turn into a blushing school girl into a seductress the next second. But who was she to complain? For Yoona, she had the best of both worlds.


“Why what are we going to do in the other half hour?” Yoona asks, her voice full of mischief and curiosity.


Yuri could only reply with a y grin before answering the other girl…


“Come back to bed and I’ll show you…”


***


“Unnie?”


Yoona calls out as Dr. Sunny Lee storms pass her in the hallways. The petite doctor either didn’t see Yoona, or was too seething mad to even care as she just pushed her way out.


“Sunny?”


Dr. Kim Taeyeon steps out of the superintendent’s office, looking over to Sunny’s direction.


“Hey! Hey! What are you so upset about?”


Sunny’s usual playful eyes were now the picture of stress and fury. The doctor was visibly shaking, in both anger and frustration. How could Dr. Kim as brilliant as she is, couldn’t figure out why she was upset?


“What am I upset about? Seriously? You are asking that question?” You didn’t back me up there! You made me look like some idiot!” Sunny finally snaps back.


“What would you like me to say? That I agree with you? That zombies did it?”


The mocking tone in Taeyeon’s voice only infuriated Sunny more. And truth was, right now, she was ready to smack the other doctor in the face. It was a good thing Yoona steps in and referees between the two.


“Unnie… Can we discuss this somewhere private?”


“Why?! Why can’t we discuss it here?!” Sunny’s voice was starting to boom inside the department, getting the attention of everyone who’s working. “Everyone is involved in this case, they have every right to know!”


Taeyeon raises her hand, trying to calm down the raging girl.


“You need to calm yourself down. All the boss wants you to do is take some time off. So, you can gather yourself up again.”


“I’m not going to work for someone who thinks I’m mental.”


Taeyeon arched her brow. “What is that supposed to mean? Are you quitting?”


“What? Unnie?!” Yoona tries to be reasonable “I know were all tired, maybe we just need a little break from this.”


The lead forensic agent could just sigh in exhaustion. “And that’s all it is, Sunny. Just a theory. You have no facts to back any of it up.”


“Yes, I do… I wouldn’t spew out something as ridiculous as this if I don’t have any hard evidences.”


“Dr. Kim… Maybe we should hear what Dr. Lee have to say…”


Taeyeon raise a speculative brow at the youngest doctor.


“Don’t tell me you believe her too?”


“Well… I think right now, we are at a lost. maybe Dr. Lee’s theory could enlighten us a bit. If it’s not the right theory then maybe it could point to us some facts that we might have missed.”


“You know what, Yoona? You don’t have to do this. If Taeyeon or anybody in the ranks don’t believe me…”


Sunny spun around, ready to leave her now former colleagues. She was about to go, but before she go she make sure she had the final word.


“Then, I’ll find someone who will.”


***


Jessica grits her teeth as she saw her next assignment. She has to do a report about the local beauty pageant for little kids.


This wasn’t what she had in mind when she got in to the media industry. She expects to do groundbreaking news, news that will shake the world… Not little kids shaking it up on stage.


She hated that assignment. It felt like she was a pimp, trying to commercialize these little girls with caked up faces.


But she knew if she wants to keep her job and wants to advance, she have to deal with all the e work first. She just exhaled deeply and tries to finish getting her stuff ready, when her phone starts ringing for attention.


“Hello, is this Jessica Jung?”


Jessica paused for a little bit. This person could be nothing more but a telemarketer, but her reporter guts tells her that it’s more than that.


“Yes… I’m Jessica, who’s this?”


Even if Jessica couldn’t see the caller, somehow she could picture her with a devious smirk on the other line.


“I got you an exclusive news story…”


***


Yuri couldn’t help but chuckle at how corny it sounds. But there wasn’t really any other good explanation to why she was still so active now, except that Yoona’s love was better than any other energy drink.


She thought that after she dropped Yoona, that she’ll just drive back home and go back to bed. But instead, she wanted to spoil her girl and brought Yoona’s car to get washed.


Yuri didn’t even have breakfast. All she had this morning was that heated moment with Yoona, but it seems more than enough to wake up all her senses.


It was almost noon and her stomach was making embarrassing gurgling noises. Yoona’s car was still being washed. So she walks over to the waiting room’s vending machine, wondering what’s good enough to munch on, until she could get back home and cook something.


“We have breaking news exclusive to our station. Jessica Jung is on location to what is the crime scene for the third victim of this brutal murder.”


Yuri turns her attention to the TV mounted on the wall. It was that pretty yet too aggressive reporter again, and somehow it troubled Yuri on how the media got a wind of this.


The detective paid close attention to the report. The reporter is on the crime scene, doing a blow by blow account of the crime. Information that supposed to be strictly between those involved in the case, is slowly being spewed out for the public to see.


And then, the reporter said that one word that would surely launch a massive panic.


Zombies…


It sounded so ridiculous, something from a crappy B movie, but it send shivers down Yuri’s spine just thinking of it. Questions have now started to plague Yuri’s mind. What if the reporter was right? What if it wasn’t some demented person who’s behind this? What if it’s something beyond their control? What if it’s a monster?


The whole waiting room started buzzing in both fright and excitement, but Yuri’s eyes were still glued to the television. She was terrified that her darling was around that danger.


“Kwon Yuri… Your vehicle is ready…”


Right on time…


***

The tension in that office was seriously brewing that Dr. Im could feel all the air getting out of there. The chief was seething mad, walking back and forth in front of her and Taeyeon, before he finally stop, looming threateningly over the two doctors.


“You!” He points a shaky finger at the petite doctor. “Are supposed to be the head of the forensic department. Your job is to do an autopsy on the body, not create this mess with the media!”


Taeyeon ends up casting a guilty gaze on the ground, not knowing if she could ever face her boss.


“One of your best doctors have quit on you, not only that this reporter Jessica Jung…”


Jessica Jung. That name sure infuriates Taeyeon to her deepest core.


“Has made our whole city panic with all zombie crap she’s saying!”


“I’m sorry…” Taeyeon mumbles.


“Sorry won’t cut it. The mayor is already breathing down my neck! The whole city is starting to go on chaos. The mayor ordered for a press conference tomorrow.”


“I’ll make sure everything will be set for tomorrow…”

“You don’t have too… I’ll be leading this task force, and I’m making Dr. Im in charge of the forensic unit.”


Both doctors exchange a look of worry and confusion.


“But sir…” Yoona has finally step in and starts to speak up.


“No… Doctor Im…” The older doctor says reassuringly. “I understand your decision chief, and I’m going to help Dr. Im as much as I can.”


The chief sullen face starts to look calmer now.


“Good. Dr. Im you are going to accompany me tomorrow around 2 in the afternoon for the press conference.”


***


“Crap.”

Yoona cursed for the hundredth time that hour as she seems to be drawing in a blank for the entire case. She was in her office right now, surrounded by open case files while her fingers were madly typing words trying to search any link in the database.


No such luck…


Yoona heard her office door opened, glancing up to catch Dr. Seo standing by the doorstep.


“Hey Yoong… Me and Tiffany unnie are head out…”


“Oh ok…” The doe eyed doctor replied before returning her attention to the computer screen “Good night…”


“Don’t tire yourself too much, ok?” Seohyun says kindly


“I won’t… Thanks Seo…”


“Anytime…”


Yoona was lying, truth was she was beyond stress. Her fingers were stiff, her head was pounding, she desperately needed a break. But she can’t afford a single second of rest now…


“Yoong?”


Yoona gazes up and catches Yuri walking inside of her office.


“Yul… I’m so sorry that we couldn’t go on our date.”


“I understand…” Yuri sits down opposite to Yoona. The detective eyes Yoona admiringly behind the desk. She knew the girl was brilliant at her work, but to see her in this scene, sheds a different light to the girl.


“I know you can’t go on a date, so I… brought the date to you…”


Despite her weariness and stress, Yoona felt it all go away as she watches Yuri take out some Styrofoam boxes from the Chinese takeout bag.


“Thanks babe…” Yoona leans over to kiss Yuri in the lips.


“So, is there anything I could help you with?” Yuri asks, the chair screeching as she drags it beside Yoona.


“You’re on your day off…” Yoona pats Yuri on the lap “Just stay here and I’ll be alright.”


Yuri chuckles lightly as she looks at the photo frame of her and Yoona. It was a picture taken a few years ago, and it amazes both how they’re still as happy then as they are now.


“You’re such a cutie there…” Yoona giggles along.


“I’m not a cutie now?” Yuri pouts playfully


“You’re a hottie now…” Yoona plants a kiss on Yuri’s nose. “Thanks so much, babe…”


“Anything for you, love…”


***


“Sir…” Yoona chases after the director. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”


“Sure… Come in my office…”


Yoona didn’t waste any time. As soon as the door closes behind them, she was ready to pull out some facts.


“Our team has made some research on similar cases that might help us. It was three years ago in a small town, north of the city called Jirisan. A report is filed by an Agent Choi…”


“Dr. Im…” He spoke in a low tone, that Yoona didn’t hear it and continue to press on.


“But the case is restricted, so I have contacted the Agency and ask if they could send us a copy.”


“Dr. Im…”


Chief Park voice was much louder. And this time, Yoona heard him perfectly.


“After everything that happened, I would be the one who will be in charge of the press conference. Here.” He pulls a paper from his desk and handed it to the beautiful doctor.


Yoona skims through the paper, her eyes slowly widening as she saw the report.


“A result of a drug? Sir. We already did a toxicology report and there was no sign of drug in any of the victims. How about we pushed the press conference until later? Give our team a day, I promise we will give the-“


“That’s enough. Dr. Im…”


Yoona bite her lower lip, anything to keep herself from talking back.


“Yes sir…”


“Now go home… Relax, rehearse what’s in there and just remember to look pretty.”


He took a step closer to Yoona, making the doe eyed beauty flinched as he her cheek with his grimy hand.


“Y-yes sir. Excuse me…”

Yoona was ready to bolt out of there, cringing at how disgusted the man just made her feel.


Chief Park stares a couple of seconds at the door, still replaying the beautiful woman in his head. She was a bit too bossy for her own good, but her Goddess beauty makes up for it.


As soon as he knows it was clear, he picks up his phone. He didn’t expect someone would come this close to the case, I guess that what makes Dr. Im a whole lot more exciting.


“Hello? Yes… Please connect me with Dr. Jang Geun Suk.”


End of flashback…


“Are you ready?” Daesung whispers as he leads Yuri to the front steps of a two story building.


Yuri just ended up nodding, even if she was feeling so confuse. She didn’t know why, if she was scared, excited or something else. It’s as if feelings have started crossing over each other and Yuri have no idea how to detangle them.


But as soon as the door opened, and she saw all those familiar faces all the confusion has started to fade. Now, it was her friend’s turn to be confused.


There inside the room, was her friends just have a look of such shock in them. Their eyes open, mouth gaping even more. They all exchanged confused looks, wondering if the other could see what they’re seeing. Did Kwon Yuri came back?


“Y-yul?” It was Sooyoung who was brave enough to talk first. “Is that you?” She took a step closer.


The girl right now looks so much skinnier than Yuri. But those gentle eyes, shy smile, no scammer could project that, only Kwon Yuri could possess that.


“Y-yeah… Hi… Soo…”


“YUL!!!!”


Yuri could feel her breath being knocked out of her as Sooyoung and Hyoyeon jump in her embrace.


“How… Where? What?!”


There were plenty of question in Sooyoung’s head but end up just patting her bestfriend at the back.


“Man… that dude shot you in the chest. You’re like James Bond or something… you just can’t die!”


Yuri chuckles embarrassingly, her shy smile warming up the room. It was their Kwon Yuri again…


“I got lucky I guess…”


Yuri searched among the face of familiar faces for the one she has been dreaming to see.


“She’s upstairs.”


Yuri bows thankfully at Tiffany before turning to the stairs. But before, she walks upstairs she turns back to her friends, showing them how much she missed them in her embrace.


*


Yuri told herself to slow down, but instead her heart was making decisions for her as she race upstairs. Not seeing Yoona for years, got her heart racing. But as soon as she was standing right in front of the door, she felt as if her heart just stopped.


Her hand was hovering in the knob. Her fear taking over, she was scared not of how she would react, but how Yoona will when she saw her.


It’s just two years, but being that far from Yoona feels like eternity for Yuri. Yoona was such a beautiful and intelligent girl, men and women were probably lining up to win her heart. And that thought scared Yuri. What if someone did win her heart?


She wouldn’t know the answer until she finds out.


***


Just hearing the sound of her door softly creaking was enough to bolt Yoona awake. She forgot how it feels to sleep soundly now, especially since Yuri was not there, wrap around her arms.


But when she saw the familiar silhouette standing by the door, her nerves finally eased.


“Y-yoong?”


Before Yoona could figure a word to say, her eyes betrayed her. She has cried so much over the past two years, her tears seem to be her only medication for her pain. But now she was crying happy tears, like she couldn’t believe what was happening. She couldn’t believe the girl who was walking towards her, kneeling in front of her, wiping her tears away.


“Yoong? Baby? Don’t cry…” Yuri says so softly, her hands cupping Yoona’s cheek.


The doe eyed girl quickly locks her arms around Yuri. When Yuri didn’t vanish like in her dreams, she knew that her prayer has been answered. That Yuri, her Yuri has finally came back to her.


Yoona runs her fingers to the ridges of Yuri’s ribs, slowly twisting Yuri’s dark locks around her finger, before running her hands on Yuri’s thin arms. Anything to feel Yuri close by…


“Baby…” Yoona’s voice was muffled, as she was crying in Yuri’s shoulder. “You’re back…”


“I’m here now, Yoong…” Yuri pulls Yoona closer to her.


Yoona’s lips were quivering as she were inches away from Yuri’s lips. It was this part, the part before she kisses Yuri when she would wake up. 

Yuri could feel the warm streaks in both her cheeks as she lays her lips on Yoona. Whose tears does it belong too? She didn’t know… But right now, it doesn’t matter who was crying, because right now, she was here to wipe away Yoona’s tears.


“I’m never going to leave again, never…” Yuri promised breathlessly, before kissing Yoona once again…


Her fingers tangled in Yoona’s hair as their kiss went deeper. Each kiss driving them breathless… But for Yoona it doesn’t matter if she runs out of air; Because right now, right here with Yuri, she found her reason to breathe again.



TBC