Chapter Text
Once again, Kang Woo was “caught” by Kang Kwon Joo. While detective Park and Detective Goo were running up the stone steps with the Japanese cops to a ryokan, he had to sit still in the car. Not too boring either, because from here he can watch Kwon Joo who was standing next to the hood of the car with a map in her hand.
During 10 months in Japan alone, Kang Woo never felt lonely. Or maybe he didn’t really feel anything at all. He had only one goal in mind, and that one goal was enough to keep him busy. Running here and there with a purpose until Kwon Joo reappears to “save him” again.
10 months ago in Korea, Kwon Joo also saved him before he was put in prison, even giving him a new job as a Team Leader. A job he never thought he would like. Or actually he just feels at home in the Golden Time Team because of Kwon Joo. Only Kang Woo’s heart knows the truth, even though his head doesn’t want to admit it.
And just a few hours ago Kwon Joo returned to save him from a Japanese detective who always looked down on him. Somehow Kwon Joo could appear at the right time and save his life.
Kang Woo stared out the window, snorting at his own ridiculous thoughts. Save? Who is asking to be saved? Kwon Joo just got carried away because they had worked well together 10 months ago.
But it would be a lie if he said that at that time he didn't feel anything. He felt something, something his head refused to think too deeply about.
Kang Woo's gaze returned to the front of the car, watching Kwon Joo spread the map on the hood while giving orders through her earphone. She scanned the map quickly, instructing the call center agents in Korea to look for more information.
The night wind brushed Kwon Joo's hair, but the girl didn't seem to care at all. Besides, she has short hair now. Kang Woo squinted slightly. 10 months ago Kwon Joo's hair was short too, but now it's even shorter. Her skin was still white, her face was still cute, and especially her round brown eyes were still the same.
Just now when they got out of the hospital and Kwon Joo blocked his steps, Kang Woo's heart almost stopped beating. Although he was reluctant to admit it, seeing Kwon Joo as the girl looked him straight in the eyes made him think back to when he was a Team Leader.
Kwon Joo's eyes spoke more feelings than her mouth. Kwon Joo is always firm, speaks softly but full of leadership, gives orders with a cool head even in the cases of code zero, making all team members respect her.
Kang Woo remembers the way Kwon Joo answered the phone. How to set the task of each agent. Her way of calming panicked callers. And especially that sweet smile. Kang Woo has never forgotten the way Kwon Joo thanked him.
Suddenly conscious, Kang Woo slammed his forehead against the windshield, trying to get rid of his wild imagination. He just wanted to resuscitate himself, but apparently Kwon Joo heard the sound of the impact he made with his forehead and the windshield. Now Kwon Joo looked at him suspiciously.
To distract Kwon Joo from his forehead, Kang Woo deliberately spoke in a cold tone, “You're still the same. Don’t care about anything when you’re saving people.” And Kang Woo's plan worked.
Kwon Joo stared at him expressionlessly for a few seconds then turned her gaze back to her map. "It's better not to change, than to change 180 degrees after being gone for 10 months. I never imagined that you would be here as an illegal immigrant.”
“You never know what people think. So don't trust people so much."
Feeling annoyed to answer, Kwon Joo just focused again on the map. she frowned slightly when she heard something from her earphones, then said firmly without looking at Kang Woo. “Do Timjang-nim cannot interfere with this case. Agent Jin, look for information about the guest house application."
Kang Woo looked at Kwon Joo silently. It seemed like the agents at the Call Center had heard his voice and said something to him. He didn't wear earphones not because Kwon Joo doen’t allow him, but because he didn't want to get involved in this case. Whatever the case is.
But then Kwon Joo listened to the earphone connected to the caller, then seen from her body movements she heard something. She stood facing the stone steps next to the car, quickly saying through her earphones, “Do Timjang-nim. I can hear the sound of flowing water and a bamboo pipe hitting something. There must be where-- "
Kwon Joo looked back to the car. And make eye contact with Kang Woo.
Kang Woo's ears might just be ordinary ears, but he could hear everything clearly from the car. After all, the front door of the car was open, so there was no barrier whatsoever that restricted Kwon Joo's voice from his ears.
Kwon Joo looks shocked, like she just realized she shared information with Kang Woo, even though she herself ordered Kang Woo to stay in the car. On the other hand, Kang Woo feels a little touched because after all Kwon Joo still believes in him, even in her subconscious.
Not even two seconds after the eye contact, Kwon Joo has taken her eyes off Kang Woo again, starting to be busy informing Detective Park and Detective Goo who are looking in a ryokan. Although he didn't want to deal with the case, Kang Woo's brain had already started to think. Flowing water. Bamboo pipe.
Kang Woo was just thinking while looking out the window, when the corner of his eye caught Kwon Joo's odd movement. The girl looked quickly around her, then suddenly grabbed her head, bent over in pain, then gripped her right leg.
Then Kang Woo remembers Detective Goo's words, do you even know her struggle for rehab-- Do you know how hard she looked for you?
Rehab? What happened to her? There are no visible wounds on Kwon Joo, so when they first met, Kang Woo was relieved that Kwon Joo was okay. Because he was too relieved, he didn't even realize he had released his grip on the policeman he was threatening with a scalpel.
So the bomb explosion from that time. Kang Woo still remembers everything clearly. Even though he didn't want to think about it, Kwon Joo's current body language really worried him. Apparently that explosion actually injured her.
So without thinking any longer, Kang Woo opened the door, deciding to follow his heart just this once. He got out of the car, then walked over to Kwon Joo. He stood some distance away and said coldly. “That noise is from shishi odoshi.”
Kwon Joo immediately turned to him with a surprised look, but Kang Woo continued his words without looking at Kwon Joo. What Kwon Joo needs is information to take her mind off her pain, and for now only Kang Woo has that information.
He believes Kwon Joo must try her best to solve the case without thinking about herself. So Kang Woo, himself, will think about Kwon Joo's condition, making sure she's okay while she's on duty.
Kang Woo will only be worried for this particular girl. His partner.