“Could you please explain to me what the hell is happening?” Shin Joonyeong who's sitting across the couch where Daehwan was, folding his arms and shaking the legs, contemplating the shocking finding at the beginning of the day.

He came by the morning as usual, all the lights were still on and there was a pair of shoes he didn’t recognize right at the doorstep. Evelyn’s room was half opened, there’s a strange man sleeping on the same bed as her, naked.

Evelyn was fully covered under the blanket and still soundly sleeping. Clearly she was also undressed judging by the look of scattered clothes on the floor, the underwear, the coat and dress she wore on last night’s dinner. So without making a scene, he woke that man up quietly and asked him to keep it shut and walk outside of the room so they could have a talk.

He's frowning now, with an intense judging glare on Daehwan. While the person on the other side of the sofa seems to be having a cold sweat. All the possibility feels like the world would flip upside down at the very moment.

“I can explain, Mr. Shin…”

Before he continues, Evelyn who’s just woke up and gets off from the bed walking out by the room. Casually greeting good morning to everyone. Yeon Daehwan, Shin Joonyoung, and her two bodyguards all have eyes on her at the quick glance.

“Good morning, my ass!” He scoffed at Evelyn’s nescience. She sat down beside Daehwan, folding her legs on the couch. Wearing only pajama tops and undies. Rubbing her sleepy eyes and leaning her side on the sofa’s rest.

“I’m going to report your schedule at eight. You’d better tell me quickly what you were doing last night?”

“What else?” She tilts her head. And then staring at Daehwan who’s pale as butchered chicken, a little naughty grin on her face.

“Duh, we fucked dummy.” She rolled her eyes.

She really intends to pick up a fight with Joonyoung but not at the right time that sends chills to the bones of everyone in the room. 

As guessed, he instantly raised his voice. “You’re a nuisance!”

“I told you to not cause trouble! Do you know what it could lead you to later? Your position in the company is still being considered!! If the board members knew you’re involved in a scandal again, you’re over!”

“Now I don’t know what I should say to your parents anymore…”

He was at his last words. Like giving up on Evelyn’s act and slumping down back to the couch, pinching his nose bridge. She remains thick to his nagging.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Shin.” Daehwan cuts in between the quarrel, as he feels guilty by causing him trouble. He bows multiple times to him, a very deep apologetic bowing.

“I won’t run away. I’ll take responsibility for my actions.”

Everyone’s in the room silent. None dares to make a reaction. Not even Evelyn.

“You better be, Detective Yeon.”

“Or else…” Shin Joonyoung declared a serious warning to him. Making his soul stay in the body.

***

The same journalist that reported the news about mutilated bodies behind the restaurant alley rushing into the police station and approaching Daehwan who’s also just entered the building. She’s about to interview him about the school boy’s corpse found at the Bangchon-ro Bridge riverbank case.

“The rumor says that the corpse belongs to a student who’s been frequently intimidated by his schoolmates. Is that true?”

Daehwan exhales a long breath, “ Who are they, to be precise?” He gives out an unpleasant glare to the reporter. With that irksome stare, she frowns. Unbelieving what she’s just heard.

“How can you be a police officer if you’re this ignorant, sir.”

“It’s all over the internet. Even there are kids who claimed they witnessed the kids picking up on the victim almost everyday.”

“Yeah, but do you have any proof? Show me so I could send them off to the court.”

“How can an ignorant person like you be an officer and serve the society, sir? You're so disappointing…”

She vented her frustration on Daehwan with cynical remarks. That didn’t take her long to be there together in the same atmosphere with the person she’s just randomly throwing bomb.

His eyes are twitching. He wants to shout at that woman. But she’s already walked out of the lounge room with her cameraman. He daresay, she’ll make a misleading narrative again on the news report later. What an indifferent way to ruin someone's career. However, he won’t be bothered about it too much. 

He’s already as good as dead with this morning's incident. That didn’t take him long to reminisce about the fatal foolish act last night. So he banged his forehead light on the desk while mumbling. In the early Monday morning, everyone is there in the room. Absolutely a way to catch instant attention.

“What’s going on with him?” Two of his teammates whispered with each other across Daehwan’s desk. Beside him, Woorim who’s also confused got a code from the Chief to ask what’s happening with Daehwan.

“Sunbae, are you okay?”

“I wanna die. Throw my body in the Chinese sea or burn it into ashes and scatter it in the Han river when I did, huh please?” He sniffles while buried his face on the desk.

Woorim was perplexed by his answer and shrugged to the Chief. So Chief Park asked Daehwan to come to his room and have a private conversation.

“What’s going on with you in the morning?”

“I did a stupid thing, Chief.” He covers his face with both hands. And sitting, bent over his knees.

“You reek of alcohol.”

“Did you come home last night? You didn’t even change your clothes.”

It looks like Chief Park isn’t worried about the stupid thing Daehwan is talking about. He takes a moment before continuing again.

“Whatever it is, as long as you didn’t murder someone, then it’s gonna be fine.”

“But I slept with someone…” Daehwan cuts off his talk.

“Who?”

“...That, Miss Evelyn Yang.” He stutters in scaredy tones trying to explain it to the Chief.

Strangely, Chief Park doesn’t give him the reaction he's expected to be.

“Tsk…” Chief Park stood up from his chair.

He doesn't want to say or show any expression that could cause misunderstanding. Daehwan is confused with Chief Park's response, he is supposed to throw a fit at him right now. On the other hand, he was too calm about the situation. So Daehwan ventured to ask, "Aren't you mad?"

"Why would I be mad at two adults sleeping together?"

"But you will get involved with the Yang family. They will trouble you in the future. Should I formally apologize to the family?"

Chief Park frowns, "Even though if you don't talk to the family, her family will find out soon enough."

"Sooner or later, they will hear about the news and make a call here to dig up all the information related to you." Daehwan continued, imagining bad things could happen that might ruin their reputation.

"Fortunately you haven’t had any bad images in this police station, you are also doing well so far. So there is nothing for you to worry about, Detective Yeon."

"Come on, get up!" Chief Park pats Daehwan's shoulder, cheering him on.

"If you're done, please make me some coffee, okay?" Chief Park chuckles and asks the confused Daehwan to leave the room.

***

It’s almost the middle of autumn, traffic is a bit jammed in the afternoon. People will be celebrating Chuseok festival with their families, so the streets are a bit congested. Daehwan just wants to go home to his flat and sleep. He cannot and is unavailable to return to his parent’s house. Apart from the distance, he forgot to take a vacation.

While queuing with other cars, the memory of last night flashed back to his mind. As crystal clear as he could remember all the details, even though he was half drunk at the time.

She suddenly sat on top of him, his eyes dazzled by the lights. So he sheltered them with one hand, confirming who was above him. Evelyn was there, still looking drunk with a flushing cheeks. But her eyes were wide open. She rested her head on Daehwan's forehead with her arms between his head and whispered, "You're here for that right?"

"What do you mean?"

Suddenly, he stuttered. Surprised by her blunt words. It might be just an alcohol talk, but she didn't answer, her lips pecked on Daehwan’s slowly. He startled and jerked Evelyn's shoulder, trying to get up and have a seat.

"Miss, I think you're still drunk."

"I'm going now. I'm starting to get dizzy too. It will be dangerous if I let you be."

“Stay.” She put her hands on top of Daehwan’s chest.