Blood Empire -2

Chapter Two

     January 13, 2015. Mister Ji’s words unleashed a storm. JangMi was freaking out because she had nothing formal to wear, while SaeHyun was worried about her presentation. After ten minutes, Mister Ji knocked on the door to inform us it was time to leave; he basically pushed us into the car. JangMi asked about a mall near Empire and Mister Ji pointed out one near the house. He dropped off JangMi in front of the mall. On the other hand, SaeHyun stayed in the car to work on both our presentations. After fifteen minutes JangMi open the car door and asked Mister Ji to ride in the front. JangMi threw the clothes she picked out for SaeHyun on her and grabbed the computer. After SaeHyun finished changing into an assemble, that was composed of a gray long sleeve dress, black leggings and short boots, she grabbed the computer so JangMi could change into her pale pink dress and red high heels. SaeHyun started working on JangMi’s make up while she worked on the presentations and then she worked on her own. Suddenly the car stopped and Mister Ji announced that we have arrived at Empire.

JangMi: Already?!
SaeHyun: Mister Ji!

　　Mister Ji exits the car and comes up to open the door for us. SaeHyun looks at JangMi and both of them took a deep breath before signaling Mister Ji to open the door. “Here we are at Empire” whispered Mister Ji. It was more glamorous that we could ever imagine, it had an open concept with a lot of floors. Mister Ji signaled us to ride the elevator. As soon as the doors opened we found ourselves face to face with the two CEO’s of the company; ByungHee and JongSuk. Both of them had a dark aura and it seemed as if they were in the middle of an argument. Mister Ji clears his throat and holds the door of the elevator. JongSuk steps back from ByungHee and looks straight at us. On the other hand, ByungHee smiled at us. He launched his arms around us both, but before he could embrace us JongSuk pulled him back by his collar. JangMi noticed JongSuk was frustrated and uncomfortable with ByungHee. JongSuk released ByungHee and said “Don’t get too close”.

ByungHee: Why not? (pout)
SaeHyun: Because we don’t like it (glares playfully at JongSuk)
JongSuk: (avoids their eyes) right...
Mister Ji: The conference floor is forty. I will return at four.
JangMi: Alright, be careful.

　　Mister Ji released the doors and walked away. Immediately, JangMi stretched her hand over to the numerical panel when she felt JongSuk’s arm reaching from on top of her to push the number forty. The elevator arrived at its destination and ByungHee pointed out to the conference rooms. JangMi grabbed SaeHyun’s arm for moral support and they walked over to a woman in front of the conference rooms.

JangMi: Good morning, we are Lawyer Go and Doctor No. We were invited to give each give a conference.
Luna: Good morning. I am Luna; President’s Cho assistant. We have been expecting you, please follow me

　　Luna was a very attractive woman between her early and mid forties. She led us to the conference rooms and assigned us each to an individual room. JangMi rushed to make copies of the presentations, while SaeHyun organized the presentations and opened them in each room. After all the hard work they waited in the hallway together for the people to arrive.

JangMi: I’m so nervous
SaeHyun: Me too!
JangMi: Oh! I almost forgot! I got the detective’s address last night. The police station provided me with that information. But they were hesitance to provide me with further information.
SaeHyun: After work let’s go find the detective. But, don’t you think this seems strange?
JangMi: What do you mean?
SaeHyun: His absence

　　All of a sudden a bunch of men in suits were heading our way; including WonBin. We bowed as they entered the conference rooms. Before entering our respective room we looked at each other, raised our arms and whispered “Fighting”. JangMi’s conference was a heated place; most men were arguing about the possibilities while she tried to explain her legal work plan. On the other hand, SaeHyun’s conference had a cold atmosphere; since most of the scientists were testing SaeHyun. JangMi decided to sit down with the legal team and discuss the terms of the lawsuits at depth. Her method proved effectively, but not before debating the issues with experienced lawyers. WonBin encouraged her to finish the presentation; and after nine hours the meeting was concluded. SaeHyun had to use her wits to get through the stuck up scientists. She started to get their attention by establishing their fatal errors in past experiments, such as the latest failure to Empire. She gave a list of possible discharges to several scientists. She had water and coffee thrown at her, but she ended up putting them in their place. After explaining the new medical protocols and procedures she ended up terminating the meeting after nine hours. Both presentations were a success, but sadly the truly difficult part was setting those plans into action. SaeHyun and JangMi found themselves in the employees bathroom to wash off the sticky coffee stains on SaeHyun’s dress. SaeHyun took off the dress and started cleaning herself in a stall with wet cleaning towels, while JangMi scrubbed off the remains of coffee on SaeHyun’s dress.
　　
SaeHyun: Today was fun! (she talked from within the bathroom stall)
JangMi: I can’t believe how imprudent Korean men are!
SaeHyun: You’re telling me! Haven’t you noticed that there is not a single women on both teams?!
JangMi: I did! Maybe that is why they were so hostile towards us!
SaeHyun: At least you didn’t have beverages thrown at you!
JangMi: At some point of my conference WonBin joined the legal team’s side and completely abandoned me!
SaeHyun: What the hell?!

　　JangMi started drying SaeHyun’s dress under a hand drier. On the other hand, SaeHyun peaked her head out of the stall to continue with the conversation, she asked “Is he also an anti-feminist?”.
　　
JangMi: I think he is half anti-feminist!
SaeHyun: That doesn’t even make sense!

　　JangMi handed the dress to SaeHyun and noticed her cellphone was ringing. She took it out of her handbag to see Mister Ji’s name on the screen. She answered it “Hello?”.

Mister Ji: Miss JangMi?
JangMi: Yes!
Mister Ji: Can Miss SaeHyun and you come by the President office before leaving the building?
JangMi: Grandfather is here?
Mister Ji: Yes, please hurry.
JangMi: We have to go SaeHyun!
SaeHyun: Ok! (comes out of the stall looking like a hot mess)
JangMi: That will work for today! (giggling)

　　We rushed to the elevator and pressed the number fifty. On our way up we just stood there silently happy that grandfather was out of the hospital. We reached the President’s office were we stood until Mister Ji noticed us and opened the door. Inside was our grandfather sitting in a sofa eating kimbap (sushi) ferociously.

SaeHyun: Grandpa! Are you suppose to be eating that?
Grandfather: (looks up) I am going to die anyway. So I rather eat while I still can.
SaeHyun: (sighs) Can’t you eat healthier food?
Grandfather: If you make me a bento, I promise to eat it!
SaeHyun: Alright! We will be in charge of your food!
JangMi: Stop fighting... (glares at them both)
Grandfather: (clears throat) ... I have heard marvelous things from our fellow employees about you girls
SaeHyun: Did you also hear about the attack to my clothes?
Grandfather: They did what?!
JangMi: Forget Grandpa, we can handle ourselves
Grandfather: But!
JangMi: Is our job done here?
Grandfather: It is not! Tomorrow I need you both here at eight am sharp. I need your help
SaeHyun: Ok, we will do our best
JangMi: Is it ok if we go exploring a bit of Seoul?
Grandfather: Certainly. Mister Ji will accompany you.
SaeHyun: We would rather explore on our own.
Grandfather: I will not allow it...

　　JangMi and SaeHyun looked at each other in frustration. Life for women in South Korea was VERY different from the type of life we lived in New York. We were not allowed to walk the streets alone here. SaeHyun grabbed JangMi by the arm and bow towards grandfather.

SaeHyun: We will not allow your imprisonment

　　SaeHyun dragged JangMi towards the door, while Grandpa started shouting to Mister “Don’t let them leave the building!”. We ran towards the elevator with Mister Ji following us, but thankfully we reached the elevator in time.

JangMi: SaeHyun!
SaeHyun: We can’t let him control us, besides if we drive to the detective’s house he will figure out that we are investigating our parents murder
JangMi: Ah damn it! ... You’re right. But now how the hell are we getting out of the building?
SaeHyun: This is your part. I helped us escape the office!
JangMi: I was afraid of that (places a hand over her eyes)

　　A few seconds past and “ding” the elevator door opened on the first floor. JangMi signals SaeHyun to take off her shoes and they start walking towards the entrance. In a second the entrance was covered with a good part of the security team. They were all dressed in black suits and black shirts, so it looked like SaeHyun and JangMi vs the Korean Mob. SaeHyun and JangMi started to look desperately for a way out. Suddenly SaeHyun noticed WonBin covering the door to the cafeteria. He winked at SaeHyun and she swallow her saliva hard. “Should I trust WonBin?” she wondered, but they were out of time. SaeHyun nudge at JangMi’s side and she noticed WonBin. Without a doubt JangMi started running towards the cafeteria with SaeHyun following her. WonBin pretended that we pushed him to the door and stumbled towards the guards that were trying to catch making them unable to follow us. We sneaked through the cafeteria’s kitchen and exit the back door of the building. We started walking to the subway station, which was a few feet away from the company. JangMi answered her phone while walking.

JangMi: Yes?
Mister Ji: Where are you Miss?
JangMi: We will be back by dinner. Please tell Grandpa that we are sorry.

　　JangMi hanged up the phone and turned it off. She told SaeHyun to do the same. We got on the first train to the Seocho-gu district. As soon as we go there we put on our shoes and started searching for detective Hwang’s house. An old lady pointed us to the house and we ended up knocking on the front door of a Korean Traditional house. A woman in her mid fifties answered the door.

Woman: Yes, how can I help you?

　　We noticed she was wearing black clothes and that her eyes were puffy. She smiled at us and encouraged us to talk.

SaeHyun: Is this Detective Song’s house?
Woman: Yes, how do you know Shin?
JangMi: We have been in regular contact with Detective Song regarding a murder case. Do you mind if we spoke to him?
Woman: Are you the two little girls from the Airport Mass Shooting?
SaeHyun: How do...?
Woman: My name is YooNa. I am Shin’s little sister.

　　YooNa invited us into the house where she served us some juice and homemade cookies. The living room where we were sitting was small and cluttered; there were clothes and paperwork everywhere. YooNa sat down in a chair in front of us and smiled weakly.
　　
YooNa: Why are you here?
JangMi: We need Detective Song’s help. We need to find out what happened to our parents. The real truth behind their murder.
YooNa: He has been helping you for years.
SaeHyun: We realize he may be tired, but its the only way for our parents to rest in peace.
YooNa: I am afraid that he won’t be able to rest in peace either. Not until you girls find the truth.
JangMi: What?
YooNa: He passed away a few weeks ago,
　　
　　SaeHyun automatically looked down and started saying she was sorry. On the other hand, JangMi stood there sobbing. “It was as we had thought” were the only thoughts in SaeHyun’s head. YooNa whimpered a little, but quickly regain her posture.

SaeHyun: We are so sorry for your loss.
YooNa: He had cancer, so it was an inevitable fate.
SaeHyun: I don’t even know what to say...
YooNa: I do. My brother would have wanted me to help you. But, the only person who can do that is my nephew ChangWook
SaeHyun: Do you think he would be willing to help us?
YooNa: He helped his father with your investigation. However, I am afraid he has been mourning his father in an unconventional way.
SaeHyun: What do you mean?
YooNa: He has been drunk since the wake and he only returns to this house to sleep.

　　JangMi finally dried her tears and asked YooNa “Where can we find him?”. YooNa gave us a photo of ChangWook and the address of a club he visit regularly, which was Club Answer. JangMi and SaeHyun embarked on the task of finding Song ChangWook. They took a cab to the club and waited a few minutes in line before going in. The place was packed with people dancing, drinking and smoking. We could not move without touching somebody else’s body, so it was extremely uncomfortable.SaeHyun scream to JangMi "Lets separate to cover more ground" and she pointed to the dance floor. JangMi nodded in frustration and started dancing the choreography to T-ara's little apple.

SaeHyun found her way to the bar with difficulty. She started waving her hand for the bartender to approach her and she asked him "Do you known a guy named ChangWook?”. The bartender shaked his head, but the girl sitting beside SaeHyun started laughing in a high pitch tone.

Girl: Did he sleep with you and never called back?
SaeHyun: Excuse me?
Girl: Did you sleep with him?
SaeHyun: No!
Girl: Good for you. He is an asshole!
SaeHyun: Is he here?
Girl: I saw him a few minutes ago in the second floor

　　JangMi was dancing her way through the dance floor. She escaped the crowd and rested against a wall. She wipes away the sweat off her forehead and decides to check the lounging area near her. She searched for ChangWook’s face, but instead she ended up finding JongSuk sitting with about five girls in a table. She stared at him for a moment to realize he was wearing a blonde wig and square glasses.

He stood out from the crowd. He looked inexperience and gullible, but at the same time he looked cold and heartless; like he always looks. JongSuk’s eyes found JangMi and he jumped up to become standing. JangMi turned away and started making her way into the satanic dance floor with JongSuk following her. JangMi found SaeHyun standing in the stairs at the same time JongSuk noticed that SaeHyun was also there and disappeared into the crowd.

SaeHyun: You ok?
JangMi: Yeah! Yeah!
SaeHyun: ChangWook is in the second floor
JangMi: Lets go look for him!

　　The two of them made their way to the second floor. They started walking though while looking for ChangWook, when all of the sudden someone grabs JangMi by the arm. It was ChangWook.

ChangWook: Play with me?
JangMi: You...

　　ChangWook got very close to JangMi; he smelled like alcohol, tobacco and chocolate. He smiled at JangMi sweetly and said “Play with me”. SaeHyun looked at the guy holding on to JangMi angrily and asked him to release JangMi. Before he could answer SaeHyun kicked ChangWook in the leg.
　　
SaeHyun: Why don’t you play with me?

　　ChangWook examined SaeHyun with a surprise look on his face. “Who is this woman?” he wondered. ChangWook still had a hold of JangMi’s arms. “You are not letting go?” asked SaeHyun, but before he could respond SaeHyun kicked him again.
　　
JangMi: SaeHyun! This is ChangWook!
SaeHyun: What?!

　　SaeHyun bended over to see his face and compare it with the picture. Even in pain he looked exactly like the guy in the picture, which meant that she had assaulted a detective.

SaeHyun: I’m so sorry!
ChangWook: How do you know my name?
JangMi: We know your father
SaeHyun: (continues to bow apologetic)
ChangWook: I need air

　　JangMi grabbed his hand and led him through the second floor, to the first floor and finally to the front of the building. He started puking into a trash can, while JangMi patted his back. After puking for a while he looked back at us and asked us “Who are you?”

SaeHyun: My name is SaeHyun
JangMi: I am JangMi
ChangWook: The Mass Shooting Girls?
JangMi: Yes...
ChangWook: Leave me alone

　　ChangWook started walking back to Club Answer while tumbling around. JangMi ran after him and held him by his arm, which cause him to puke all over her shoes. “We will take you home” said JangMi to ChangWook. JangMi signaled SaeHyun to call somebody. It was late and SaeHyun feared that something may happen to them. “Call WonBin” screamed JangMi frustrated with the drunk man hugging her waist. SaeHyun hesitated, but she knew it was the right thing to do. She noticed JangMi was holding her phone in her hands and she took it away and dialed WonBin’s phone number.
　　
SaeHyun: WonBin?
WonBin: Yes, who is this?
SaeHyun: Its SaeHyun
WonBin: I knew it was you. JangMi’s voice is sweet, while yours is sour. And she uses formal speech. I was just wondering, why are you not using formal speech?
SaeHyun: WonBin we need a favor (formal speech)
WonBin: Of course, but only if you call me Oppa
SaeHyun: I’d rather die!
WonBin: Ok then, bye bye!

　　SaeHyun looked over at JangMi who was patting ChangWook’s back while he puked. She had vomit all over her legs and shoes. SaeHyun’s conscious suddenly divided into two; the angel and the devil. She was arguing with them for microseconds, before she smack her head and said “Wait... Oppa”. WonBin snickered over the phone with delight “What was that?” he asked evilly and SaeHyun responded “Oppa, we need you to pick us up at Club Answer”. SaeHyun took the phone away from her ear, since WonBin started yelling “What are you doing in Cheong-dam district?!” and she replied “I will explain everything when you get here!” while hanging up the phone. Not even half an hour passed when WonBin’s car appeared in front of the club. He exited the car with anger and walked over to us. He went straight to SaeHyun and said “Explain”. His eyes were very intense and SaeHyun started to stumble out words “We... You see... Oppa...”. She was a bit scared of WonBin. WonBin grabbed her by the arm and asked her once again to explain; he looked at her eyes without hesitation, which made SaeHyun's heart beat fast.

     WonBin looked over at JangMi and noticed some guy hugging her, so he walked pass SaeHyun and flying-kicked the guy off JangMi. “Get it in the car” he said to both of us and we stood in place “You don’t want to get in the car?” he asked with anger.

JangMi: Oppa, we need that guy
WonBin: Need?!
SaeHyun: He is the person in charge of our parents murder investigation
WonBin: Investigation? That case was closed twelve years ago!
JangMi: WonBin Oppa... We need that guy

　　WonBin threw his car keys over to SaeHyun, but they fell on the floor. WonBin sighed with frustration. “SaeHyun... drive” he said, while picking up ChangWook over his shoulder and throwing him into the back seat. “You...” he pointed at JangMi “...passenger seat” he growled under his breath. We decided to obey WonBin; he was usually such a childish/cute guy and it was weird seeing him truly pissed off. SaeHyun got on the drivers seat and looked over the instruments inside the car. On the other hand, JangMi was already sitting in the passenger seat with the seat belt on. WonBin was being squished by ChangWook and lets not lie it look so beautiful. SaeHyun drove the car slowly to ChangWook’s house. WonBin helped him out of the car, but ChangWook regained his consciousness so he decided to walk on his own.

JangMi: ChangWook...

　　ChangWook turned around to face us. He looked like a broken child; soulless and empty. YooNa opened the front door to see her nephew shaking.

ChangWook: I apologize for tonight. I was out of line.
JangMi: Will you help us?
ChangWook: I will not

　　He passed his aunt and entered the house. YooNa decided to give us his phone number, yet she send us away. On the ride back we were all silent. SaeHyun noticed that WonBin was clenching his hands; almost to the point of breaking the steering wheel. He burst out like a bomb “Is this why you came back?!” he looked cold and distant. “This is not the reason to why we return to South Korea” SaeHyun said calmly. She noticed his hands relaxed after answering his question. “There is no way you could have been that heartless to grandfather” he said while putting the car to a stop in a red light. “Why are you still searching?” he asked us with melancholia and JangMi answered “We cannot remember it. It’s like a missing piece we need to understand. We need to understand why did our parents had to die.”. WonBin noticed JangMi turning red with anger and he sighed out loud “You want to search? For what reason? Somethings are better left forgotten.” he whispered with sincerity. “Even so... It’s worst never knowing” SaeHyun answered with her voice tone rising a bit. JangMi reached her hand to the back seat and held SaeHyun’s hand. “Do you want me to help you?” he asked while smiling. We both looked at WonBin with surprise and SaeHyun answered “This is not a joke”. “I was a cop” he stated proudly. “Maybe” said JangMi smiling weakly and continued by saying “Don’t tell anybody about this, please”. “I won’t” he answered with honesty. Trust was something earned normally by these types of moments; normally, but we cannot trust that easily. We got to the Cho residence at eleven pm. Obviously our grandfather was waiting to talk to us. He was sitting in the living room near the fireplace he had a frustrated look on his face.  We entered and sat beside him.
　　
Grandpa: I don’t think I can continue to fight you girl. I understand. But, I still worry. Everything that happened to your parents haunts me. And I don’t want the same happening to you. So I ask you “Is this how you are going to react to everything I am against?”
SaeHyun: Grandpa...
JangMi: We were together... (Grandpa still looked worried) ... We were with WonBin Oppa!

　　Grandpa lifted his head with hope to look at us. He turned his head over to WonBin who was standing in a corner with widen eyes. Grandpa smiled at him and nodded in approval.

Grandpa: Which of these two are you going to marry? (big smile)
WonBin: Excuse me
JangMi: Grandpa! No! It’s not like that.. ew...
SaeHyun: (mouth wide open)
Grandpa: (dissatisfied) Anyway, this is not a request. Tomorrow you will be appointed a driver (bodyguard)
JangMi: Grandpa!
Grandpa: Please, let it be for my peace of mind
SaeHyun: Are they going to be reporting back to you?
Grandpa: They will not. You will be there boss. I am too tired for this. (pretends to look tired)
Jang: Ok...
SaeHyun: We understand

　　The loss of life is torture for the living. ChangWook was experiencing the first stage of mourning, and he was doing it sober. He sat on the dinning room with his Aunt YooNa. It was the first night since his fathers death that ChangWook had spend sober. On the other hand, JongSuk was turning around in his bed frustrated “How can I have such bad luck? My first day in a club and I have to be caught by JangMi!”. Nevertheless, SaeHyun and JangMi were analyzing the resumes of the drivers. SaeHyun decided to make hot chocolate, so she lets JangMi in her room and descends the stairs into the second floor. Before she enters the kitchen she finds WonBin sleeping on the floor of the living room.

     He looked like he was having a bad dream. SaeHyun tried to sneak pass him, but he ended up grabbing her hand. She looks down and notices he is still sleeping. He was trembling and shaking his head. SaeHyun out of the habit pets his head and tries to calm him down.
December 10, 1996. WonBin was seven years old. "He was running through the house while playing with his blue toy car. He keep mimicking the noises of the car. He suddenly started to hear the breaking sound of glass hitting the floor. He curiously peaks his head into the kitchen and there he sees his father with a needle stuck in his arm. His eyes were closed and he was trembling (convulsing)".
SaeHyun kept petting his head and after a few minutes past he calms down. WonBin still had a strong grip on SaeHyun's hand. She decides to sit down to find a way to release his grip on her hand. But, ends up drifting into a dream.

After an hour JangMi was getting frustrated at SaeHyun for not bringing the hot chocolate. She goes downstairs to find WonBin and SaeHyun sleeping together. She starts to freak out and the first thing she does is go back to the room get the cellphone and take a picture of them. She smiles evily and asks herself “What is in store for us tomorrow?”.