The Bad Man.
Seoul's neon lights are tempting and mesmerizing - the promise of the worldly pleasure lingers for its devoted worshipers. Seoul's night is even busier than the day - the same city knows no sleep.
Everything seems normal or appearing to be said a man subconsciously. His eyes are fixed on the road .His grip on the steering wheel is firm albeit his palms are clammy, reaction triggered by the rush of guilt down his every vein.
His chest tightens. Seconds move after another. If he still were a boy, he would be crying by now, hiding in a corner or in the closet or under his blanket thinking that no one would find him or his pocketful of sorrow. But many years later, the boy - a man in his early thirties now learns that his sobs can be settled somewhere inside if he chooses to.
He chooses to do that. He needs to hide his fragile self.
Just a glance to the passenger's seat says that he's helpless. The job he's about to finish, isn't the typical police officer's routine but this is not a high-profile criminal's case either. Nothing official, that is definite. Eight years back, being the high spirited rookie he was, he had never imagined anything like this. Day like today is far from anything he ever wished for. This case is never on his list of priority. It never was.
What he's about to do, will color his soon sleepless nights with ugly shades of nightmares. Until his very own last breath, the memory of tonight, armed with its strings of grudge will chase the man - hungry for revenge, thirsty for him to repent. The drive lasted long enough for both to lock themselves in separate dimensions. Silence watches as the older one lets out a heavy sigh.
One more time, he steals a glance to his right. Bad timing. His eyes meet with that beautiful almond shaped wonders. He diverts his gaze elsewhere on impulse.
The pair of eyes, the same pair he found himself accustomed to all these years. They were glassy - like shards of blame stabbing into his heart, wounding.
They’re accusing him of a betrayal. And guilty as charged, the police officer has no alibi to emerge guiltless.
{ part two } .