After Dark (Prompts)

Confidential Assignment - 28

Note: For those who don't know, the back story of Im Cheol-ryung is the same back story in Confidential Assignment. =) If you haven't watched the movie, I am so sorry to spoil it! Go watch it though! Hyun Bin is unbelievably handsome in that one.

Double update before this very busy week starts. Hope you all had a great weekend!

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It was after midnight when the call came in.

Baek Jang-mi never left the business phones they had at the safe house as soon as she found out that the detective was trying to locate Min Tae Gu. She also kept her mobile phone close to her in case he contacted her there.

Every time one of the phones rang and Im Cheol-ryung picked up, she would be leaning in, trying to listen into the conversation, uncaring even if the detective was giving her annoyed looks.

Luckily, he empathised with her and never pushed her away, but just requested, "I will tell you if there's any news but please don't eavesdrop on every conversation. I still have a job to do and I can't compromise any information."

Baek Jang-mi was inspecting the photographs she was allowed to see. Her heart clenched when she saw photos of the hotel room where she last saw Min Tae Gu. Strangely, there was also a sense of pride in knowing that he saved the other man. Still, her hands shook when she gazed at the photos of the potential location of his death.

Massaging her chest, she jumped when another call came in.

"Yes, this is Detective Im Cheol-ryung."

The way his eyes darted to Baek Jang-mi knew it was something relevant to her, which made her heart leap.

"Which hospital?"

Jang-mi's eyes widened.

"I understand. Will you be able to tell me the patient's condition? I see. Yes, I will bring his girlfriend with me. Thank you. Goodbye."

"WHAT???? How is he?!" she asked as soon as he hang up.

"All the nurse would tell me is that he is stable. He's on medications right now so he's resting," Im Cheol-ryung informed her. "Before his procedure, he instructed the doctors to call me and have me bring you because you're his only family."

Baek Jang-mi blinked her eyes rapidly and jutted her lower lip out. Her emotions were all over the place.

Elated that they finally found him.

Worried that he's alone in the hospital and hurt.

Delighted that he still thought of her and called her family.

Terrified that if they waited for the morning, bad news would meet them.

"Is he safe there? Are we certain that no one would come and hurt him? If we know where he is, the others might find him, too," Jang-mi pointed out.

"There are cops posted to guard his room," Im Cheol-ryung assured. Studying their ward's face, he told her, "Rest. I promise we will leave early in the morning. I just want Ha Chae Yoon to rest longer."

Baek Jang-mi agreed. "I'm sorry to take up so much of your time."

Before Im Cheol-ryung disappeared to their bedroom, Jang-mi called out, "Will he make it to the morning? Won't he... won't he..." Unable to finish articulating the terrible thought, she bit her lip and hoped the detective understood what she could not say out loud.

The detective looked at her kindly. "I can't tell you how these things would turn out but the nurse assures me he is looked after. You have to rest, too."