Chapter 10 - Everyone needs hobbies

Next day, Do Sejin wakes up to the sound of clinking. His lips curl up in a smile when he recalls the last night. He walks out of the bedroom and finds Ahn Hana preparing for the breakfast. It's 9 of the morning. She didn't wake him up. Then, he remembers that it is supposed to be a holiday. He watches her move around the kitchen. Her movements are smooth and fluent. She tastes the soup and nods in satisfaction. Do Sejin suddenly realizes that the hardest task is coming now.

He finds his shirt and trousers folded neatly. He goes to the kitchen and kisses her on her forehead. The sudden kiss startles her. She presses her hand on her forehead. "What are you doing?"

"Good morning." He pecks everywhere on her face. Ahn Hana blushes. She can't control it. Her body reacts naturally to him. He looks at the soup with an indiscernible expression. "What are you making?"

"Shrimp soup." She checks the soup. "It should be ready by now."

"How about you rest and let me prepare breakfast for you?" Do Sejin decides that he wants to keep his taste buds. If she kills them with her cooking, how will he taste her or other women again? The crisis is real. If he is at her home, it's natural that he has to eat. Else, she will get offended.

"Do you know how to cook?" Ahn Hana looks at him doubtfully.

"I learned it." He gives her the best smile. "Relax. I will prepare it."

"Okay." She undoes her apron and hands it over to him. He ties the apron around him. She watches him with interest. "I feel like I have hired a maid."

"..."

Comparing him to a maid, what the hell? She could have said anything else. How about thanking him for breakfast? He opens his mouth to complain, but Ahn Hana is already out of the kitchen. She goes back to her couch and starts studying the case.

"Well, I will have my revenge." He mumbles to himself as he checks the soup. What soup? She is only boiling shrimps in water. There is nothing else. When he lived on that island, he did acquire a basic knowledge of food. He checks on his phone for the recipe. Shrimp soup. Couldn't she have chosen something easier? How about omelet and bread?

Ahn Hana calls Jung Kwang-Soo. He picks up after the first ring. Ahn Hana frowns when she hears someone's mȯȧns mixed with the sound of his deep groans. She is used to this.

[Hana, what do you want?]

"I don't know why you would pick up a call while you are fuċkɨnġ someone."

"It sounds like dogs are fuċkɨnġ each other." She looks at her ŀȧptop screen. "Did you get the approval? I need to meet Baek Han Sol."

[You are treating me like an ȧssistant. I told you to hire an ȧssistant already.] There is a pause. A low laugh. [Yes, babe...keep moving your tongue like that.]

"I should call you later."

[No, we can talk now. It's a public holiday today. You can visit him tomorrow.]

"I will start visiting the locations of murders from today."

[Hana, Darling, don't play a detective alone. I can't miss the excitement. Let's go together.]

"Do you have time? You are always busy with women."

[I lead a stressful life. Everyone needs hobbies.]

Ahn Hana realizes that there is someone else listening to the call. Do Sejin is leaning over with a concentration. His ear is close to her phone. He has heard everything.

"You!" She scolds him. She flicks his forehead. "Get away from me. Do you understand the meaning of privacy?"

"I wanted to know who will make you show that kind of expression."

[Hana, who is it? Are you playing around without me?]

"Yes, he is my plaything," Ahn Hana replies calmly. "Get your ȧss here. I don't have all day."

[I will be there in an hour, Queen Hana.]

***

"You have interesting friends, Ahn Hana." Do Sejin stares at her, hiding his irritation deep inside his heart.

Ahn Hana presses her palms together. "Leave."

"I want to see your friend." Do Sejin is sitting across her. "Was he your first?"

"Why is that information important to you?" She looks at the clock. Kwang-Soo will reach within 20 minutes. She doesn't want him to see Do Sejin. If he decides to dig into this boy, she can't stop him. Still, it is better if he doesn't meet Do Sejin.

"You talked about him in such a dreamy way." Do Sejin really wants to meet this guy. "I want to see him."

"I will show his pictures later." Ahn Hana's voice is desperate. "Leave now. Please."

Do Sejin stands up like a grumpy old man. If she is begging like that, he will listen to her. She walks him to the door. He turns around to look at her before he leaves. "Don't sleep with him."

"I won't." Ahn Hana pats his head. The boy is adorable. His jealousy is cute. "Don't fall in love with me."

"I won't," Do Sejin ȧssures her before he goes away.

***

Jung Kwang-Soo, as she had predicted, comes after fifteen minutes. She opens the door after a single knock. She doesn't even invite him inside. She is already ready to visit the crime sites.

"Did you send your lover away?" He tries to peek inside the house. She locks the door. "I am curious about what kind of person you will pick after Ong Han Bin."

"He is a temporary one." They walk to his car. "Like your women."

"Hana, you have finally started living." Jung Kwang-Soo snorts at her. "Who will be next?"

"I don't know. I will probably pick up one of the interns," She says to him. "I hope all of them are men."

"A workplace affair." Jung Kwang-Soo whistles. "Interns are best. They are young, full of hopes, and naive. The excitement is good for you."

"Looks like you already have an experience." She looks ahead.

"Why would I miss it if they offer themselves to me?" Jung Kwang-Soo grins at her. "Where are we going?"

"The last murder happened around three years ago at the district park. Let's start from there."