Dark Blue - 深蓝の魂 by 珊

Chapter 9

A figure stepped out of the dark shadow stepped into view under the street lights. He was a young man with high features. Mike could clearly see him now; he looked human.

he figure managed a faint smile as he stood there long enough for Mike to realize that he was able to see Mike.

“You’ve been looking for me?” Mike asked.

“Who are you?”The figure stopped to think for a second. He glanced up towards the dark gloomy sky and looked back into the confused eyes of Mike.

He stood tall and stiff, with spiked hair and a diamond earring to complete the whole youth look.

“You know you’re dead right?” he asked.

“And you don’t know where to go or what to do, right?”

“Where are you getting at? I’m dead but I’m not stupid,” Mike replied back.

“Have you ever heard of...guardian angels?” he asked.

“I don’t believe in them,” Mike replied.

Neither man moved from their positions. The figure thought for a moment to choose the right words to explain. This was always the hardest part of his job.

“How about Angels of Death?” the man asked again.

“I don’t know. Who are you?” Mike asked tilting his head to the side.

“Name’s Joo Min Gyu, call me Brian. I’ll be your tour guide for this session.”

“What?” Mike asked in deliberate shock.

“Yes, I’m supposed to help you through this, but I couldn’t find you until now. I know Li Ann has agreed to help you, but there are some things you must understand,” Brian said thoughtfully.

“You’re supposed to help me?” Mike asked. He let out a small laugh, then regain composure and erased his smile.

“What do I need to understand? I’m obviously dead.”

“Li Ann cannot help you,” Brian replied seriously.

There was fog coming out of his breath as he spoke due to the cold weather. Mike glared at him and instantly didn’t like Brian.

“Well, we’ll just have to see about that,” Mike said as he turned and walked away. Brian sighed, then followed.

The busy street cars passed by with their rumbling engine sounds dropping streams of smoke a long the way making Brian choke.

“Look Mike, why don’t you just come with me alright?” Brian said as he tried to compromise with Mike.

Mike ignored him and kept on walking.

“You can’t force Li Ann to help you. It’s not part of the–...”

“Part of the what?” Mike interrupted.

“The system?!”

“Exactly,” Brian answered. Mike walked away from Brian again.

He walked faster to get away from Brian. He headed towards Li Ann’s house. Brian stopped following Mike. He knew Mike would be like this.

Many of the people he had to watch over before was as hard-headed and stubborn as Mike, but Mike was more determined.

Li Ann stood outside her door as Andy followed behind. She nervously bowed her head down to say goodnight, but instead of bidding her goodnight, he moved in closer to her.

He leaned his hand on the door to hold himself up closer to her. She moved all the way back until her back pressed upon the door. Her heart was pounding so fast and so loud she felt her cheeks burn as Andy smiled.

He knew the feeling he was provoking in her and was easily amused. This was all too easy. Li Ann would fall into his lure just as any other women had. Mike looked up and realized he was near her house.

He’d kept his head hung low all this time and didn’t realize where he was headed. He glanced up and saw Andy’s car, parked in the driveway, and a few feet across from that was Andy, moving in on Li Ann.

Mike took his time to walk up to Andy and Li Ann. Li Ann hadn’t notice Mike coming up behind Andy.

“How about another date?” Andy asked playing with the tip of her hair strand.

“Uh...okay...” Li Ann stuttered as she blinked.

Andy smiled and leaned his head in for a kiss. Li Ann squeezed her eyes shut. Mike wanted to laugh at how nervous she was. This must’ve been her first kiss perhaps, but she seemed terrified. Mike felt pity for her, so decided to step in for her.

Andy closed his eyes ready to press his lips upon Li Ann’s, but Mike walked around Andy and placed his hand right between then. Mike’s palm was against her soft lips, and Andy kissed the back of his hand instead.

Mike wanted to remove his hand disgusted, but he remained still until Andy stepped back. Li Ann opened her eyes and saw Mike standing there next to her, wiping the back of his hand on his jacket.

She realized that Andy didn’t see Mike, so was more relieved. Not wanting to seem crazy, she refused to say anything to Mike.

“Your lips...are so cold,” Andy commented, but then smiled to cover it up anyway.

“Oh...” Li Ann touched her lips. To her, it was Andy who had cold lips.

“Good night Li Ann, I’ll call you,” Andy said as he walked back to his car. She fumbled for her keys as she shot Mike a cold glare.

Opening the door, she waved goodbye to Andy and walked in.

“Had fun?” Mike asked from behind her. Li Ann jumped as she was putting her coat into the closet.

“Do you always have to come up from behind me and scare me like that?” she asked annoyed.

“I’m not trying to scare you,” Mike defended.

“Whatever, I’m off to bed,” Li Ann said in a tired way. She climbed the stairs to her room and ran into Calida.

“Hey Li Ann,” Calida smiled as she saw Li Ann.

“Calida? What are you still doing over here?” Li Ann asked looking at Calida, who was wearing Dongwan’s jersey. Calida blushed.

“I’m staying over with Dongwan,” Calida said as she rushed passed Li Ann into the restroom. Li Ann glared at Dongwan’s door, but ignored him and walked right to her room.

“You really like this Andy guy?” Mike asked from out of nowhere as she entered her room. Li Ann turned around and looked at him angrily.

“Hey! I’m sorry okay. It’s not my fault I just come from behind you and scare you,” Mike said throwing his hands in the air to surrender.

“Yes, I like this Andy guy,” Li Ann replied mocking Mike.

“He’s not a good guy,” Mike said bluntly.

“What?” Li Ann asked astounded. He continued the game in silence. She could tell he did not want to speak of this, but she kept the conversation going, because the pauses became filled with an acute expectation that unnerved her.

“Why do you say that?”

“I’m just saying, ya know,” Mike shrugged.

How would he put this into words to describe what he meant to tell her.

“Just tell me Mike. If you’re my friend, then you’ll tell me right?” Li Ann asked suddenly interested in what Mike had to say.

“Since when am I your friend?” Mike asked surprised.

“Well, since I am helping you, I just though I was considered your friend,” Li Ann said crossing her arms.

“I’m just kidding,” Mike smiled.

“Now, about Andy?” Li Ann asked again denying Mike’s attempt to change the subject. “He’s a corrupt company owner. Many people despises him and he has already started problems again with a band of thieves that had been harassing the area.

Basically, he’s just not a good person, and since you are my friend, I’m warning you,” Mike explained.

“Oh really?” Li Ann raised her eyebrows.

“Well, I don’t care,” she lied trying to stand up to Mike.

“Suit yourself,” Mike shrugged.

“He’s also a big time player.”

“Oh please, if he was a player, then why would he be such a sweet and charming man like he is?”

“Don’t you think he’s only doing that to get to you?” Mike replied. Li Ann looked at him frustrated, then decided not to argue with him any longer. She had only known him for four days and already is starting to argue with him over pointless things.

The next day, Li Ann and Mike took the same route to Mike’s house. Li Ann was fully dressed for her work already, but Mike guessed it was just in case she would run into Andy, that she would want to look good.

Li Ann stood in front of the house and looked at Mike. He nodded and encouraged her to continue. She sighed, then knocked on the door. A few minutes later, the door opened. Ji Yun looked down at Li Ann with dark eyes and then down her suit.

She didn’t seem to remember Li Ann from the other day. Li Ann brushed her hair back and tried to not stutter while speaking.

“Hi, um, do you remember me? The girl from the other day? The one you called a freak?” Li Ann asked trying to make Ji Yun remember.

Mike smacked his head at how stupid the situation was turning to. Li Ann was approaching his wife in the dumbest way she could think of. Ji Yun just looked at Li Ann blankly.

“What do you want?” Ji Yun finally spoke.

Her voice was as sharp as a metal scrape and her eyes pierced into Li Ann’s. Li Ann shuddered as she tried to speak again.

“I’m here to talk to you about your husband, Lee Mike’s corporation, it’s important,”

Li Ann said. She felt a bit relieved after her intro sentence.

“Come in,” Ji Yun said as she opened the door wider, allowing Li Ann to enter. The house was already remodeled. Mike couldn’t even recognize it as his own house.

Instead of white window curtains, and white carpet, the curtains had been changed to dark purple, and the carpet was black. The couches had been replaced with leather sofas. Everything was changed.

“What is it that you want?” Ji Yun asked with a bit of a rush in her voice.

“Um, I...well, it’s kind of complicated to explain. You see, after your husband died, he hung around, me, and he asked me to come explain to you that he doesn’t want you to sell the corporation to Shin Hyesung,” Li Ann said.

In between her words, she would catch a glance at Mike to be sure she was telling the right thing.

“What makes you think I will believe you?” Ji Yun smirked. She crossed her arms and pressed her lips together, with her eyebrows raised. Mike looked on.

“What do you want me to do? I mean, I’m just telling you the truth, you don’t have to believe me,” Li Ann replied cooly.

Mike pinched her arm. Li Ann jumped startled and shot Mike a dead glare. Mike bit his lips and motioned for Li Ann to keep talking.

He didn’t realize that even if he had talked, Ji Yun would have never heard anyway.

“I know what you want. If I give you some money, would you leave me in peace? You’re not the only one who comes up here with all kinds of bullshit,” Ji Yun said as she rolled her eyes sarcastically.

“Hey! I’m not doing this for money!” Li Ann protested. She hated when people looked down upon her like that. Li Ann had to stand up for her self-respect and dignity.

“Ji Yun, listen to her,” Mike pleaded as he came near his wife. Ji Yun walked over to Li Ann and looked at her like she was a piece of throw away trash.

“Listen, I know you’re just one of my husband’s ex-bitches, and you’re just too #### jealous that I married him instead of you, so you can just leave now,” Ji Yun spoke teasingly. She was getting on Li Ann’s last nerves.

If Mike hadn’t been beside Ji Yun warning her, she would have jumped in front of Ji Yun and choked her. Li Ann glared at Ji Yun and took a deep breath.

“Fine. Mike, you’re on your own,” Li Ann said as she picked her purse up higher on her shoulder, then with one swift turn, she walked right out. Li Ann started walking faster and faster down the hill that Mike lived on, angry and pissed off.

She didn’t want to be humiliated like that. Her brother and herself had been in many situations like this before, ever since their parents had died.

“Ji Yun...I can’t believe you would say such things,” Mike said in a sad tormented tone as he looked at her with sorrowful eyes.

She was different. Just as the interior of the house had changed, so has she. He took a moment to recollect himself, then took at long look at her.

She sat down on the leather sofa and cuddled a pillow to herself. No matter how harsh she had been to Li Ann, Mike thought that she only said it because she was scared and defenseless. Certainly she was still his angel Ji Yun.

But he had to follow Li Ann. She was the only one who could help him. Mike ran downhill to look for Li Ann. He stopped by the bus stop as he saw her, waiting for a bus. She kept glancing at her watch. She’d notice him coming towards her, but ignored him.

She was too angry to even speak to him. Mike slowly walked up beside her and stood still. He faced the direction of the street as if he was waiting for the bus, too. He knew that she was mad, so he decided to wait to talk to her.

The bus came, and they both entered. Li Ann found a seat in the back rows. Mike sat down next to her and they rode down to her work place in silence. He shifted a bit, then watched her again with that unsettling gaze.

The afternoon sunlight had dropped down on her long strands of hair, enlightening the once light blond steaks that is now covered by brown highlights. Her soft petal colored cheekbones and her glossed lips matched her brown eyes.

Mike noticed her, again. He smiled then looked away. Too bad he was married. He thought about if he hadn’t married and died, Li Ann wasn’t a bad choice to go after. They arrived at her workplace and Li Ann walked into her office, not inviting Mike. He came anyway. The office had been clean from yesterday.

Li Ann made a quick phone call to a patient, then started filing away more papers.

“Still mad?” Mike asked from his where he sat. He was near slouching down and dying of boredom.

“Yes,” Li Ann answered not looking at him. She kept herself busy still. She had lied to him. She thought that she would have felt more angrier than she had before, but this really didn’t affect her as she thought it would.

The connection was always a possibility when she cared for the dying, or now the dead, but this had been more immediate than ever before. And now this. Different. Stronger. Somehow even dangerous. He wanted something more. She could feel his spirit stretching toward her to break the silence and tension building up.

Li Ann tried to ignore Mike further into the working day. His eyes seemed to trace her every step.Li Ann and Mike arrived home later than usual, but it had not grown dark yet. Andy called and said he would be coming over.

Li Ann asked him if he would like to stay for dinner, and Andy agreed. Li Ann set to work immediately in the kitchen before Andy would arrive. Mike leaned upon the wall near the kitchen to watch her work.

He hadn’t spoken to her all the way from her work place to her home.

“You two aren’t even married yet, and you’re already feeding him?” Mike teased as he stood there with a remarkable amused face crossing his arms.

“No, I’m making dinner for us,” Li Ann rolled her eyes sarcastically.

“Makes sense,” Mike laughed. His wonderful eyes sparkled. He smiled slowly.

“I think,” he continued, “that you do not know what you are talking about.” She felt intimidated and trapped by his attention.

An exhilarating sensation shot through her. She shook her attention away to focus on the cooking. A power emanated from him. Her won will and strength retreated from it, leaving her vulnerable and exposed. She took a deep sigh as she chopped carrots.

“You know Li Ann, you look very pretty when you’re angry,” Mike complimented out of nowhere to brighten up the mood. Li Ann raised one eyebrow to look at him. She didn’t seem to be buying his line.

“I’m sure that’s what Andy sees in you as well,” he continued.

“I wouldn’t mind if he got lost. Makes more room for me,” Mike teased.

“Don’t forget that you’re a married man. A dead one too might I add,” Li Ann shot back as she ignored him and continued her chopping from behind the counter where she stood. Mike laughed.

“Like that’ll change anything. If I wanted to, I’d rip off your clothes right now and drag you upstairs,” Mike said with a playful grin. She somehow did not find that as funny as Mike. She slowly walked around the counter, with her knife in her hand and walked up to Mike.

He gulped and suddenly stood up straight, still with a silly grin. She smiled back, a sexy smile, then placed the knife, in an inward position, in front of his heart.

“Need me to permanently remind you?” she asked, pushing the knife closer to his chest. The tip of the sharp blade was on the edge of his shirt. Mike’s smile faded as he looked into her eyes. Her eyes burned with a soft evangelic glare.

Mike moved in closer. She stood still. The tip of the blade pressed closer now against his chest. It was as if he was tempting her. She began to feel defeated.

“Go ahead, I’m already dead,” Mike smiled slyly. Li Ann stared into his deep eyes.

They were sparkling with a black fire. She gently extricated her hand and removed the blade away from his chest.

“Perhaps next time,” she said as she walked away, feeling strange and shaky. She was not insulted, just surprised.

She could tell that he was watching her.

That confused her.

Had she misunderstood?

She had forced her self to acknowledge what had passed between then, and stepped away.

A moment of silence passed again, followed by a sudden door bell ring.

It was Andy.

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[To be Cont]