Dark Blue - 深蓝の魂 by 珊


Chapter 31

Once again, the Autumn sky darkened and prepared for evening to arrive. Half of the parking lot remained deserted, and sitting alone far off from the office doors was Mike’s new car. He’d set to work the next day after returning from the hospital.

He’d pondered the previous night mostly about Ji Yun. What if she really was the person he thought her to be? What if she was not? He didn’t know the source for his behavior around her, but something changed him from that coma. He wondered to himself for hours, trying not to fall asleep as his workers lingered in the doorway, waiting for his answer for their jobs to be conducted.

Though he may not remember dreaming, the paper flower that stood for him at home had burned and turned to ashes long ago. Perhaps history may take its turn on him, he did not know. Life wasn’t the same as it was before. Such a sudden rush of painful memories occupied him for more than half the afternoon. He felt betrayed, lost, and even yet, envious.

Pushing the glass doors open, Mike stepped out of the corporation with Junjin by his side, still trying to stack the papers in his hand neatly into a t manila folder. Junjin bid him goodbye, then walked the other way.

He changed the song playing from his CD player as he exited off the highway, down a small street, then turned the corner to a part of town he’d hardly visit. Mike didn’t know what he was doing there, but in truth, he knew he was there to see somebody, still unsure if that one person existed.

He stopped the car and parked on the side of the busy walkway, slightly occupied by the people walking by. In the little crack of two large buildings stood a small one, looking tight of space. There was only one glass door with writings painted over it. He walked up to it and read the name of the doctor there. It wasn’t her name, but he went in anyway.

Mike entered the small but clean office area. Nearby the window was a comfortable chair and across from it was a couch. A coffee table stood in the middle, and on the walls were decorated with pictures of waterfalls and moons.

“We’re closing,” a quiet voice called out from nearby. He turned his attention to where it came from. A woman behind the desk who was picking up scattered pencils, hastily tried to hurry in order to talk to him. Mike walked in closer, afraid to speak. A nervous feeling rushed through him. What if it was her? Would she know him?

The girl stood up, brushed her hair aside and took a deep breath. Mike stood there, a bit taken back that it was actually Li Ann. Although her hair was a bit shorter, and her complexion lighter, she was Li Ann. She placed the pencils in a cup back on her desk, straightened her shirt and smiled at him with a sigh.

“Hi, what can I do for you?” She looked at him with wondering eyes, innocence covering her like powder.

He couldn’t think of what to say. “Li Ann...”

She thought she didn’t hear him correctly. “What? You know my name?”

So it was so. She didn’t remember him, or didn’t know at all. “I...I know your brother, Dongwan,” Mike lied quickly. She smiled with a nod and walked around the desk.

“Li Ann–...”

“Dr. Kim,” she corrected, hoping he’d understand. “My patients call me Dr. Kim.”

He stepped back, hoping she wouldn’t feel offended. After all, if she didn’t know him, it would have to be a new start for him. It would be an awkward one, but at least he had a second chance to be with her.

“But I’m not your patient,” Mike managed to reply easily. She stopped what she was doing and took a second long look at him. Something about the way he looked at her made her wonder if she’d met him somewhere before. Surely she hadn’t. The man was smart to answer.

“Right . . . so what can I help you with, Mr.?...”

“Mike. Lee Mike.” Mike stuck out his hand to shake hers. She took his hand, a firm grip, and shook it.

“Are you here to schedule for an appointment?” Li Ann broke the silence between them.

“Ah, no. Actually, I came to see you,” he replied. She broke into a slow amused smile. Something about him felt comforting, like meeting an old friend of some sort. He had charms to his mysterious presence. He was rather attractive in her opinion.

“Well, you’re a little late Mr. Lee. I’m closing in two minutes.” She walked back to her desk and began packing her things into a small briefcase to store away.

“Would you like to...I don’t know, get a coffee before you go home or something?” Mike asked, stuttering through a bit, yet eager to still talk with her.

She laughed. “That’s very nice of you, but I can’t.”

“You’re married?” Mike asked, a bit surprised by her answer.

“No, but you are.” She glanced at the ring on his finger. Mike quickly took notice of the ring still around his finger. Of course, he was so thoughtless. Muttering a curse to himself, he looked at her again and thought of what to say.

“This–...” Mike opened his mouth to protest. “This, well, I am, but...”

“If you don’t mind Mr. Lee, I’ll have to be going now,” Li Ann said as she picked up her handbag. Knowing it would soon be dark, and she was in a hurry to leave, he decided to go.

“Nice meeting you, Li Ann. Maybe some other time?” Mike began walking towards the door.

“Sure,” she nodded. “Maybe some other time.”

.................

“So what are you going to do now?”

“I don’t know. We were unlucky the first time. I don’t suppose we should try again. The risk is too high.”

“Then what am I gonna do? You can’t just leave me with him!” Bitterness flowed from her words, yet she was in a desperate state.

“I don’t know anymore. One of the guys said the cops are on the lookout for me, so I can’t stay here any longer. I’m gonna get away.”

“But what am I gonna do?!”

“I don’t know. You...you’re on your own. I mean, you couldn’t kill him, and you won’t do it again, so you’re on your own baby.”

“Hwanhee! I can’t believe you...”

“Look, we were very close to killing him, but fate wasn’t on our side this time. Unless you want to come along with me, you’re going to be on your own.”

“What? I’m not going to move? I have a good life here. Mike loves me very much, I...I don’t think we should...let’s just quit while nobody knows.” She took a deep sigh.

“He loves you? Ha! Come on Ji Yun, how stupid could you be. You married him for his money. We made this deal together and you’re going to stop?”

“Hwanhee, the cops already have evidence that somebody tried to kill him, so I’m not going to risk my chances for it. Either way, I’m bound to get what I want.”

“So you’re not coming?”

“Hwanhee...”

“No?”

“No.”

Without a goodbye, he hung up. Ji Yun fiddled with the phone as she started trembling. She didn’t know what else to do. Her secret companion had left her, but to a man of purpose, somebody who could actually give her what she wanted. Maybe killing Mike in the first place was not meant to be. She is married to him, so what could be better to her benefit?

Over and over again, she told herself it would be okay. As long as Mike didn’t know, she would pretend it never happened and stay with him. He did love her after all, even though she had loved Hwanhee instead of him.

She walked away from the phone and listened to the silent house. Only the dim lights from the kitchen bar were turned on. She walked towards it, then around to the other side where the drawers were located. She pulled a drawer out, then picked up Hwanhee’s gold watch.

With a last glance at the prized possession in her hands, she tossed it to the trash can. Losing Hwanhee wouldn’t be a big deal. Being with him for three years, and he couldn’t give her what she wanted. Mike, in contrast, gave her everything she wanted. He was rich, young, and powerful. She was sure she had him wrapped around her finger when she married him. Now she just had to make sure he would fall again.

Ji Yun jumped in surprise as Mike opened the door. Rain pounded on the doorstep outside as he shook the remnants off his jacket and hair. He tossed his keys to the lamp table and took off his jacket, then pulled down his tie knot. Ji Yun faked a smile as she walked over to him. Mike looked stressed and worn out, yet in a bad mood.

“Hi honey, are you hungry?”

He didn’t answer as he remitted to the couch. Ji Yun sensed his relentless attitude, but she still continued to question him. Mike slumped down on the couch, surrounded by misery and darkness. Ji Yun sat down next to him, being extra close so she could whisper to him.

“Why don’t we take a vacation? Huh?”

Mike turned over to face her. Her delicate expression mirrored back, and the angelic smile once again danced across her face. Though she had herself covered by her questioning looks, the devious cast in her eyes gave her away. She was no more than an imaginary life he once held.

“Are you okay, Mike?” Ji Yun asked, her voice becoming softer and quieter. She knew not to disturb his mood. She had to learn a lot of new things now.

“Tell me a story,” he said, his voice demanding in a sharp tone.

She leaned out of his view, her eyebrows questioning his request. “A story?”

“You don’t know one?” Mike asked. She dumbly shook her head.

“There was this man. He married this woman he thought he loved, but it was heartbreaking when he found out she was the one to kill him. He died and tumbled into a world that was falling apart. When he discovered why she did what she did, it was too late for him. It was so unfair, despite how hard he tried to say it wasn’t her.” Mike turned to face her again until they were eye to eye.

“As far as he went without turning back, he couldn’t. Now Ji Yun, tell me, why would a wife try to kill her husband, or even lie to him in the first place, to trick him into marrying her while she loved somebody else? You tell me.”

Ji Yun swallowed, but her throat went dry. Her conscious kicked in quickly, reminding her of her little scheme. She looked away, breaking eye contact as she pulled her hand away from his.

“What are you talking about Mike? Why such a...story?”

Mike didn’t take his eyes off her. The shadow in his face seemed to take over as he stood up, brushing her hand off his arm.

“Because it’s true.” He bent over the coffee table and pulled out some documents from his folder. Throwing them to her, he walked away.

Ji Yun looked at the header on the documents, neatly stapled together. Her eyes grew worried as she glanced toward Mike, who was now upstairs.

“Divorce papers?”