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What if when Choi Jun-woong woke up, he still has his memories of being a grim reaper, the RM team, their missions and misadventures, and Jumadeong, in general??? And it’s all because the Jade Empress wanted some form of entertainment as well as to reward the RM team (and somehow be Park Joong-gil’s wing woman, so that the JoongRyeon ship can finally sail, once again).
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After ensuring that his co-worker is indeed fine, and will no longer attempt to end his life, Jun-woong secured a promise from Yong-ho that he will dress up nicely for the upcoming Ryu Cho-hui concert, that they will be attending in two days. He was about to turn and go back into the building, when he noticed the three people who are seemingly watching him.
“Who are you?” he asked as he attempted to make his expression as confused as possible. “You don’t look like you work here.”
The woman in the middle smirked and happily said “We’re your old bosses.” as the man on her left, smiled teasingly at him, while the man on her right, just boredly stared at him.
Jun-woong inwardly sniggered at the word “old”, as he replied, “Old bosses? What are you talking about?”.
He tried to feign ignorance and confusion as he kept the conversation going and then the pink haired woman happily replied with: “You’ll find out when you die.” Welp, that made him mentally groan and he thought, ‘Same old, Team Manager Koo. Sooo cold’.
“I’ll find out when I die? What’s that supposed to mean?” Jun-woong stuttered in response as he unintentionally looked towards the bored-looking man. The man smirked at Jun-woong, and said “I could help you get there.”
As soon as the man said those words, he turned towards the pink-haired woman and smiled at her. Yes, it’s a small smile, but it’s still a smile nevertheless, and Jun-woong can’t fucking believe it. To add to that, the woman just smiled back at the man on her right. He gasps.
Choi Jun-woong, now a living person with a job and a somewhat happy normal life, is clearly shooktd. He can’t keep his composure anymore, so he blurted out, “Of all the things you can help someone with? You’re going to help them die?” as he stared at them accusingly.
The three people just looked at each other, and then smiled teasingly again at Jun-woong.
The woman was about to say something, but Jun-woong’s mouth is still at it with his word vomit, “Aishhh!!! I thought the RM team is supposed to help people realize that they want to live, Team Manager Koo. What changed?!?” he asked dramatically and the woman was stunned.
“I thought that people are supposed to fully live out until their given lifespan ends, Mr. Lim?!?” He pitifully asked as he looked at the man who opened and closed his mouth in surprise. Also, that man was about to pick his nose, but now, was too shocked to do it.
And lastly, he turned and tried to poke the other man on his chest, (keyword was tried, since the man quickly evaded…sheesh) “And what about suicide being a sin and a crime that is “oh so-evil”, Mr. Park?!?” Welp, that made the man just stare intensely right back at him. No effect. Nada. “Now you want to help me in dying??? Isn’t that ironic???”
“What the fuck happened in Jumadeung when I left?!?” he yelled towards the night sky as he slumped onto the floor.
Silence. There was complete utter silence, until a minute or so later, he noticed from the corner of his eye, that Team Leader Koo was slowly approaching him. He was anticipating a welcoming or a comforting hug of some sort, to be honest, ‘finallyyyy!!!’ he thought.
Only to feel her pulling his right cheek, as she continuously bonked him on his head. “Yahhh!!! Choi Jun-woong, is that how you talk to your superiors?!? You brat!!!” she yelled. “And how come you can still clearly remember us, huh???”
He tried to dodge Ms. Koo’s kick, and he ran around to escape her fury, “Come back here, Choi Jun-woong!!! Yahhhh!!!” only for her to furiously chase him (in her boots!!!) around as she hurl bodily threats at him.
Somewhere behind them he can hear Mr. Lim’s tsking and the sound of photos being taken…probably for blackmail purposes and whatnot.
And he can also hear a resigned sigh from Mr. Park. ‘Wait, was that him massaging his temples?!?’ “Ryeon-ah, please let Mr. Choi go.” That suddenly made Jun-woong trip and fall, fall face first at that, causing Team Manager Koo to catch him, once again.
The first thing that came out of his no-filter mouth is: “Oh my gosh, he’s calling you “Ryeon-ah” now, Team Leader Koo???” He said in amazement as he looked back and forth at the stunned woman, who’s now actually slightly blushing and the bored-looking man, who is now just observing them and probably silently judging them.
“Are you now friends??? Are you finally back together?!?” he continued with his eager happy puppy-look. That got him a light kick on the side, courtesy of Mr. Lim, this time, along with a hissed “Shut it, you idiot.”
Koo Ryeon, who is still slightly blushing and actually trying her best to keep her composure, turned to Ryung-gu, “Mr. Lim, please stay with Mr. Choi Jun-woong for a while, I need to report this oddity to the Director.” she commanded. “His memories of us and everything about Jumadeong should have been erased the moment he woke up from his coma state.” her brows furrowed in bewilderment.
She was about to turn and teleport out of there, when Park Joong-gil gently grabbed her arm and pulled her towards him. “No need for that, Ryeon-ah. The Director is already well aware of this occurrence.” he leaned down as he told her.
Koo Ryeon was kinda dazed at their proximity, and she can almost feel his warm breath towards her neck. She shook the kilig (meaning will be in the author’s notes below teehee) feeling aside, and turned towards him. She tried to keep her cool (yet again) and be professional as much as she can, “What do you mean? How come the Director knows about this already?” she curiously asked him as she took a glance back at Jun-woong, who’s now animatedly talking to a seemingly exasperated but amused Ryung-gu. ‘Oh, he’s inviting him to Cho-hui’s concert.’
Joong-gil once again smiled at her, with that small smile, as he explained, “You needed more department members, and you did say that you trust him. He has been re-instated as your team member, but only as a part timer this time, since he’s still alive and also have a permanent job right now.”
He gently let go of her to let her digest the information for a bit, as he walked towards the building railings to watch whatever is happening on the busy street down below.
“Count it as one of my long overdue apology gifts for you, and a reward courtesy of the Director, since she helped me in making this possible for you, Ryeon-ah.” he said with a wistful smile on his lips, as he glanced back and their eyes met.
She definitely can’t wait for the next apology gift then. He did say ‘gifts’ and they do have all the time in the world as reapers, after all.
END