Lisa lived alone in the old house at the police compound during the holidays. This was where Lisa's family lived before her father's death. When Lisa's mother remarried, they moved out and this house was left vacant.
It was already late evening, the lights in the compound were mostly lit up and the smell of food could be detected. Similarly the lights in the police office was also lit up while the police busied themselves.
Lisa unlocked her house door only to see her sister, Jennie lying on the couch and munching an apple while watching the television.
When Jennie saw that her sister was back, she turned around and Complained a little, "Why are you home so late? I waited alomost half a day for you."
Lisa tossed her bag at her sister and sat down beside her, "My interviews ended late. Besides I thought you will be home late? Weren't you going to catch some sleep over at that place?"
'By that place' Lisa was referring to her step father's house. Both of them spent quite a number of days there, resulting in a close relationship with their stepfather. However, her stepfather's house was rather cramped.
This was why Lisa choose to move out when she was of age. Jennie spent her time alternating between the two places. But during festives like Korean New year or such, the whole family would usually gather together.
Jennie was currently studying abroad at a university. It took her ten hours to get home which explains why she is looking rather haggard. However, once she hears the word interview, she sat up immediately, her eyes brimming with curiosity as she looked at her sister.
"So I heard from mother that you went THERE for an interview?"
Lisa gave her a smile before replying, "I did go over THERE for an interview." She briefly recounted what happened during the interview without mentioning the content of her translation work due to confidentiality requirements of the job.
Jennie's expression turned enigmatic, "So you haven't seen that... mr.Jeon yet?"
"No." Lisa looked at her and asked, "Why?"
"Well" Jennie suddenly patted her sister's shoulder and with a very dignified bitter tone said, "Sister you must be prepared. I think I might've seen him before. He is simply too frightening."
Suddenly an image of the man emerged in Lisa's mind. It was the image of the man which she had glimpsed on the second floor of her house. He looks scary?
Jennie immediately described to Lisa what happened.
Last year during the tomb sweeping festival, Jennie had went back home. One time when she and her friends went up the mountain to fish, she passed by the house and saw the man standing at the second floor.
During that time, Lisa was still working in the city and hence did not know what had happened.
Although this happened a year ago, Jennie could still clearly remembered what she saw.
She shivered a little, "He was all skin and bones, with sunken eyes and wrinkled skin - he resembled a skeleton. Actually he looked more like a monster! Later on another occasion, my classmates saw him in the street wearing a mask covering his face - he most probably did not want to scare anyone with his horrifying look."
After hearing that, Lisa remained silence.
"Just a piece of advice, if that person is really Mr. Jeon, do not ever look at his face." Jennie added after a while.
Lisa smiled and say, "It's okay. Come what may, he will not be able to scare me."
After chatting a while more, Lisa looked at the time before turning to look at the police office that was opposite of her house. There were still lights emitting from the office.
"Let's call Taehyung to eat dinner with us." Lisa said to her sister.
"I have to meet my friends." Jennie suddenly told her sister before leaving in a hurry.
Once her sister left, Lisa headed to the window and called Taehyung. "Taehyung it is me. Lisa. I am back."
Taehyung didn't reply her immediately and that was when Lisa spotted a shadow appearing at the police's office window.
"First stick your head out of the window, so I can verify your identity with my binoculars." Taehyung instructed her and Lisa could hear a hint of laughter in his voice, making her smile slightly.
The Kim's family and Manoban's family were very close friend, Taehyung and Lisa had known each other since childhood. Because of their family's close relationship, the both of them had often hang out together even though there was four years gap between the both of them.
After Taehyung enrolled into the police academy, they hang out lesser. When Taehyung finally graduated, it was Lisa's turn to head to the university and they had even lesser time to hang out with each other. Time passed and before she knows, 3 years had passed since Lisa last seen Taehyung.
The sky was already dark, the street lamps slowly lighted up one by one until the end of the street. Under the dark and hazy sky, Taehyung was in his police uniform casually leaning against one of the lamppost and a lazy smile on his face.
Lisa walked over to him, a smile was on her face. Once she was in front of him, Taehyung hugged her before she could open her mouth to greet him.
"It has been a long time Lisa." Taehyung said to her.
Lisa was rather surprised by his sudden action but she returned the hug after a while as her smile grew wider.
They headed to one of the restaurant nearby, Taehyung had chosen a table that was near the window. There was a screen that separated their table from the rest, secluded and quiet. While he was ordering food for them, Lisa simply looked at him.
Taehyung's looks belonged to those upright kind of handsome, neat and clean. Black brows, red lips and white teeth, everyone who looked at him would agree that he was extremely good looking. However Taehyung was rather arrogant since childhood, making it hard for people to approach him.
Lisa felt the aura was more evident now after he was in police force for these past few years. He was more solemn and more unapproachable.
After he had finished placing orders, he placed one of his arms on the back of the chair beside him. He was quiet for a few seconds staring at Lisa when he smiled, "Let's go fishing a few days later?"
When they were younger, the both of them would often run around in the mountains. Their activities included fishing and digging vegetables from the field.
"Sure." Lisa placed her hand on her hands. "I joined the fishing association when I was in school. My skills now is much better than before, you better prepared yourself mentally."
Taehyung laughed loudly when he heard her answer. After a while he asked, "Managed to find a boyfriend yet?"
"No. You?"
"Haven't. Too busy."
Not looking at her, Taehyung continued pointing at the dishes he wanted to the waiter, When he asked, "Why? There aren't handsome guys in your campus?"
"Indeed" Lisa answered him in all seriousness. A smile emerged when Taehyung heard her answer.
They were halfway through their meal when Taehyung's phone rang. Picking up his phone, his expression turned solemn when he heard what the other on the line was saying. After he hang up his phone, he took his wallet out from his pocket, "Something came up in the station, I have to go. You can take your time and eat slowly. Waiter, bill!"
"It is fine." Lisa took out her wallet as well.
When the waiter arrived at their table with the bill, Lisa was about to take out her money when Taehyung had grabbed her hands. His grip was surprisingly strong, making Lisa unable to move her hands.
After the waiter had given him his change, Taehyung immediately recalled about one of the cases he was handling. Waving a hand at her, Lisa moved closer to him. "Recently there is a human trafficking organization that is in the move over here, their targets are mainly teenagers. Even though you and your sister are too old to be called teenagers, both of you should also keep a lookout. This case is currently being investigated so it isn't made known to the public yet."
Lisa went blank for a moment when she heard Taehyung's voice again. "I was the one who found out what happened when I was sorting through the different cases. I found out that city as well as the area around here, there is a total of nine people who went missing. The number is higher compared to the previous year."
"Then?" Lisa frowned.
"I want to do a more depth understanding. One of the nine missing people, eight of them are teenagers and they went missing in the city." He paused for a while before continuing, "According to the records as well as asking some of the other police from other department, I found out there is indeed a human trafficking organization in the area. Those missing people are mostly likely sold."
Lisa's frown got even deeper after listening to what he said. Taehyung patted her on the shoulders, "I'll crack this case."
Lisa sent him to the entrance of the restaurant. Taehyung had walked off when he stopped and turned back. He saw that Lisa was rooted to the same spot, looking at him. At this time, the sky had already turned dark. The light from the moon as well as the street lamps' light had woven together, illuminating the streets.
Lisa was dressed in a pale yellow sweater coupled with a pair of dark jeans, her long black hair draped off her shoulders, making her even fairer than usual. Her bangs doubled her beauty like a refined doll.
"Go in!" Taehyung shouted and Lisa nodded in return. Turning his back on her, Taehyung rubbed his hands together, blowing some air on them to warm his hands up as he walked towards the station.
At night, Lisa relayed what she heard from Taehyung to her sister. Jennie had appeared to be nervous and had even made plans to buy some self- defence tools to protect herself.
They had chatted a while more before heading to sleep when Lisa recalled whenever there is a case, the station would usually be extremely busy with no motion of the time outside. This meant that the fishing plan with Taehyung had to be pushed back infinitely. She then suddenly thought of the interview, her priority is now that job.
The second day, Lisa was still in the kitchen, preparing for breakfast when the doorbell rang. Opening the door, Jennie saw a courier who handed her what appeared to be documents. Taking it from the courier, Jennie passed it to Lisa. "Same city from us."
Opening it, true enough, it was the contract that Jimin had told her about. Looking through the contract once more to make sure that she didn't miss anything out, Lisa flipped to the last page of the contract when she stilled.
The other party had already signed his name, 'Jeon Jungkook'.
Curious Jennie looked over her sister's shoulder, "The monster send this? His handwriting is-"
"His handwriting style is just like him." Lisa told her sister. "Even if he is a monster, he is a monster with character."
"Oh." Jennie didn't say anything more.
Lisa took out a pen from her bag and was about to sign her name when she stopped. Taking a piece of paper, she practiced signing her name on the paper over ten times. It was only then when she finally picked up the pen again, signing her name beside his.