PROMPTS

Bad Omens - 3

Min Tae Gu scoured the market for lucky charms. "No dead animals, no dead animals," he muttered, reminding himself of Ha Chae-yoon's expressed dislike for the rabbit's foot. He avoided those shops with any kind of preserved animals. Although, when he had been going around for close to half an hour and didn't find any thing, he lamented not purchasing a rabbit's foot he found earlier. He could just keep that in his pocket and not tell Ha Chae-yoon.

Shaking his head, he chuckled at that thought. He doubted he could get that past the inspector. 

As he turned the corner, he found a quaint little shop that had tarot cards, palm reading services and charms. The kind of place he was looking for!

Heading in, he greeted the elderly woman behind the counter. "Hello Ma'am. Would you have some good luck charms I could buy?"

"Oh! I have many!" She said kindly. "Is this for work or for love?"

"Love," Min Tae Gu replied, shyly. "I like this woman and I'm hoping for charms that would surround us with luck."

The woman clapped her hands gleefully. Then, opening one of the display cabinets in front of her, she handed him a bracelet with pink beads. "Rose quartz for your lady. The rose quartz is a symbol of love. Give that to her so her heart would open itself to the love around her."

Min Tae Gu took the bracelet. "Oh! She definitely needs that. Hopefully, she opens her mind, too."

The woman laughed and then took out another bracelet. "For you. Tiger's eye -- for wealth, money and good luck."

"Oh, I need those! Is it possible to add one rose quartz to mine so that it matches hers?" he asked.

Luckily, the store owner was willing to customise the bracelet. Once the items were finished and the payment settled, the store owner bid him farewell and wished him luck. "I hope she loves you back. You seem to be a good man."

"Thank you," Min Tae Gu said, gratefully.

"No, thank YOU. You're my first sale for the past days. My earnings here go to feed the three young children who lost their parents and are now living in the streets," she shared.  

"Oh." Looking at his items, he excused himself for a little bit, promising to come back after making a call. "Hi there, Inspector."

"Oh, hello! Any luck with charms?" she teased.

"Actually, yes. I found some and was hoping to drop by but something came up and I would be interviewing the store owner. Do you mind if we push through with tomorrow? I'll hand you my gift then," he said.

"Of course. No rush. Tell me the story when I see you?"

He promised he would. "Would lunch work for you? Or is dinner better?"

"Lunch is fine. I'll see you then. And, Tae Gu?"

"Hmm?"

"When you see a black cat on the street..."

"Yes?"

"Consider calling the shelter for strays," she said.

*

Min Tae Gu ended up spending hours talking to the store owner, asking about her life, how she met the children who she was now helping, and then shouting out in the streets asking people to buy from her store. 

"Hello Madam! We have rose quartz that would look beautiful on you! I myself got one for this woman I like," he shared. "Maybe it would work. Would you mind helping our store out? It's for a good cause!"

By the end of the night, he was exhausted after spending almost 8 hours at the store. After helping the store owner clean up and close the shop he finally headed home and collapsed on his bed. He was so worn out he didn't wake up early but luckily woke up at 11. He could still make it. "I'm sorry! I'm running late, Ha Chae-yoon! Would you mind meeting me somewhere? I might take awhile if I have to drive up to your place. I'm really sorry about this. I promise to explain later," he rambled on, worried that she might think he wasn't serious about her.