Chapter Text
Gi-hun let out a long, tired sigh as he hung up his coat on the bed, his body swaying slightly from the alcohol he’d consumed earlier. His head was swimming, a dull ache starting to settle in behind his eyes. He shuffled toward the couch, feeling the weight of his thoughts pressing down on him. With a grunt, he sank into the cushions, grateful for the brief moment of peace. He unscrewed the cap on the water bottle Jung-bae had given him before he left, bringing it to his lips and sipping slowly. At least Jung-bae had been considerate enough to send him home with something to help counteract the sheer amount of liquor he’d drunk.
Gi-hun reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, the screen illuminating in the dimly lit room. He settled back further into the couch, one leg tucked under him as he stared at the app open in front of him. The bright blue icon for Sentre Anonymous stared back at him, almost mocking him with its simplicity.
It’s been ages since he’s seen anyone, and his ex-wife’s face flashed in his mind unbidden. The divorce still stung, a constant reminder of the life he had lost. He hadn’t been in a relationship since then, and with his age creeping up on him, he wasn’t sure he could even call himself a ‘catch’ anymore. The thought made him feel a little hollow inside.
Jung-bae had been persistent, though, insisting he give the app a shot. Sentre Anonymous was supposed to be a dating platform, but with a twist—it promised total anonymity. He’d entered a few details about himself when he signed up—his age, his interests, whether he was looking for a date or just to make friends, and a vague description of his job. The app didn’t reveal any personal details, not even a photo, only matching users based on the information they chose to share. You only knew each other’s usernames until both parties decided to reveal more. It was all about taking it slow and keeping things in your control.
You could choose to tell the other person as much or as little as you wanted, but that was the point, if you weren’t comfortable, you could simply move on to someone else.
It seemed like a weird concept, though. Gi-hun couldn’t shake the feeling it was something younger people used for fun, a way to pass time or flirt with strangers. It felt corny, shallow even. The more he thought about it, the more he wondered whether he was the type of person who’d even succeed on an app like this. But Jung-bae, ever the optimist, had swore up and down that it had helped so many of his friends connect with people in ways they never expected. “You’ve got nothing to lose,” he had said.
Gi-hun stared at the app again, the cursor blinking next to the “Start” button. He wasn’t sure he was ready for this, but he also wasn’t ready to sit in this quiet apartment for the rest of his life, alone. Maybe it was time to take a leap, even if it felt ridiculous. He took another sip of water and tapped the screen. Might as well give it a try.
He hits the button before he can change his mind, and the waiting screen begins to pop up. A soft, steady hum vibrates through the phone as it processes, the seconds stretching longer than he expected. His mind races, second-guessing his decision. But it’s too late now. With a heavy sigh, he leaves the phone on the kitchen counter and walks away, his thoughts still swirling with uncertainty. Deciding to distract himself, he opens the fridge and pulls out some ramen, putting them into a pot to make a quick meal. As the smell of it fills the room, and he focuses on the task at hand, trying to push aside the odd mix of excitement and nerves creeping up his spine.
Not even five minutes later, as he’s finishing up his ramen, a sharp ping breaks through the quiet. His phone screen flashes with a new notification. The notification is short but enough to grab his attention: You’ve been matched! He stares at the screen for a moment, his grip tightening around the bowl in his hands, the sudden rush of curiosity almost enough to burn his breakfast. Dropping the ramen into the bowl, he walks back over to the phone, heart pounding a little faster now. The chat window opens, and he sees bubbles appearing on his screen, he waits a moment, thinking that they may type a message. Before the bubbles go away.
He takes this as the initiative to say something first.
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
Hey, how’s it going?
He watches for a moment, the bubbles on the screen abruptly stop. His nerves start to rile in his stomach as he waits for a response. His thumb hovers over the keyboard, unsure if he should say something else or not, but sure enough, bubbles reappear on his screen, and after a long enough pause, he gets a response.
USER93559264
It’s alright. Drinking some tea. You?
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
Nice, I just got back from getting drinks with some friends. Glad we matched!
USER93559264
Yes, quite glad as well.
Though I see someone didn’t get the memo of anonymity
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
Excuse me?!
I would like you to know that I am the most anonymous and mysterious person around.
USER93559264
Yes of course, ‘Detective of Seoul’
Yet i seem to have achieved your employment and city in less than a couple seconds
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
Oh.
I forgot about that.
Hey you forgot the ‘best’ part!
:)
USER93559264
Did I?
If you're the best detective in Seoul..
Then I guess I have some competition don’t I?
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
You're a detective too?
USER93559264
It seems so
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
In Seoul?
That's so cool!
We must’ve seen each other before!
USER93559264
Perhaps we have.
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
What’s your name?
Maybe we know each other!
USER93559264
Oh but that defeats the purpose doesn’t it?
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
You're really not gonna tell me? :(
USER93559264
Nope.
Guess your outta luck.
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
Okay, but I have to call you something!
Not just ‘user’. That's boring.
Here, you can call me ‘Seoul’
get it? It’s where I live :)
USER93559264
…
Wow, very original.
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
Now you!
Come on, I know you have something!
USER93559264
Fine.
You can call me Young-il.
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
Well then.
Nice to meet you, Young-il.
:)
USER93559264
Likewise, Seoul.
Still a ridiculous name.
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
You're just mad you didn’t think of it first.
USER93559264
Hardly.
I have standards.
Gi-hun snorted as he took another sip of water, letting the light from the phone wash over his face in the dim kitchen. He should’ve logged off by now. But something about this Young-il person kept him engaged, despite the dry tone and subtle jabs. Or maybe because of them.
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
You know, for someone who claims they don't like these kinds of apps,
you’re awfully good at keeping the conversation going.
USER93559264
Maybe you’re just better company than most.
Don’t let it go to your head.
Gi-hun stared at the message. He couldn’t help the slight smile that tugged at the corner of his mouth. It was rare someone could match him like this. Most people either fumbled to keep up with his sarcasm or took things personally. But Young-il seemed to walk the same tightrope he did. Never quite letting too much show, but never truly cold either.
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
Too late. Ego’s already inflated.
I’ll be insufferable tomorrow. :)
USER93559264
Tomorrow assumes this continues.
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
Oh, you’re coming back.
I know your type.
USER93559264
And what is my type?
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
Lonely. Overworked.
Probably convinced no one understands you,
but you still act like you don’t need anyone.
There was a longer pause this time. Gi-hun almost wondered if he’d gone too far. But then:
USER93559264
Are you profiling me again?
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
Always.
USER93559264
...You're not completely wrong.
Annoyingly enough.
Gi-hun blinked. That was the first honest thing he’d gotten out of Young-il. Not sarcasm, not a joke… just quiet acknowledgment.
USER93559264
What about you, Seoul?
What's your excuse for being here?
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
I lost a bet.
Also, insomnia.
USER93559264
I see.
Reckless decisions brought on by bad sleep and alcohol.
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
Pretty much sums up my last decade.
USER93559264
Charming.
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
You’re still here.
There was no reply for a bit. Gi-hun got up and wandered to the sink, rinsing out his bowl, trying not to stare at the phone screen like a teenager. He wasn’t even sure what kept drawing him back in.
Maybe it was the comfort of not being recognized. Or maybe it was the way Young-il seemed to understand the tired version of him, the part most people didn’t bother to look at beneath the jokes and false bravado.
His phone buzzed again.
USER93559264
Can I ask you something?
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
That’s literally the whole point of this app.
USER93559264
What’s the worst case you’ve ever worked?
Gi-hun sat back down, surprised by the sudden shift in tone. He wasn’t sure what made him answer honestly. Maybe because it was late, or because no one knew who he really was here.
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
A little girl went missing.
Turned out her mom was the one who…
He stopped typing for a second, then finished.
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
…let’s just say it stuck with me.
There was a delay again, but not a long one.
USER93559264
I had one like that.
I Still have dreams about it.
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
We never really get used to it, huh?
USER93559264
No.
And I don’t think we should.
They sat in silence for a while, just the flickering screen between them.
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
So... are you always this depressing?
Or do I bring it out in you?
USER93559264
You bring it out.
Congratulations.
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
I’m honored.
But hey, maybe it means you trust me.
USER93559264
Don’t push your luck.
Gi-hun chuckled. He rubbed his hand over his face, the fatigue catching up to him at last. Still, his fingers hovered over the keys.
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
You wanna talk again tomorrow?
A beat.
USER93559264
Sure.
Unless I decide to block you.
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
I’ll take my chances.
USER93559264
Goodnight, Seoul.
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
Goodnight, Young-il.
Gi-hun let out a smile, placing his phone down before starting to get ready for bed.
Maybe Jung-bae was right after all.
—-------------------------
The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead as Gi-hun stumbled into the precinct, still chewing the last bite of his hastily stolen convenience store sandwich. His coffee was lukewarm, his shirt was wrinkled, and he hadn't even bothered to fix his collar. He shoved one hand in his coat pocket and pushed the glass door open with his shoulder.
And there he was.
Captain Hwang In-ho.
Already at the front of the briefing room, marker in hand, eyes narrowed in deep concentration as he diagrammed a suspect timeline on the whiteboard. He was dressed in one of his stupidly expensive suits, dark grey, crisp, probably tailored, and his hair didn’t have a single strand out of place. Like he’d ironed it.
Gi-hun’s lip curled.
“You’re late,” In-ho said flatly, not even bothering to turn around.
“Morning to you too, sweetheart,” Gi-hun muttered around his coffee cup.
Now In-ho did turn. Slowly. Controlled. Annoyed.
“You know the meeting was at 8:30.”
“It's 8:35, I'm not even late. And you know I don’t care.”
The room went uncomfortably still as the junior detectives and tech analysts all pretended to read their folders. Jun-ho audibly slurped his coffee just to break the silence.
In-ho capped the marker, jaw tight. “I don’t know how you’ve survived this long on sheer charm and stubbornness.”
Gi-hun plopped into the chair directly across from him, slouching like a man at war with the concept of professionalism. “It’s not charm. It’s raw talent. And caffeine.”
In-ho took a slow, deliberate step closer. “You’re holding up an entire task force because you can’t be bothered to show up on time.”
“And you’re holding up an entire task force because you need everyone to understand your perfect little theory.”
“I do have a theory, based on evidence, unlike whatever improvisational jazz you’re calling detective work lately.”
Gi-hun leaned back, arms out on the back of the chair. “Let me guess: the robber had a childhood trauma and now he’s projecting it onto high-end jewelry?”
“No,” In-ho snapped. “But thank you for reminding me that sarcasm is your only consistent skill set.”
A beat.
From the far corner of the room, Dae-ho whispered, “Ten bucks says they fight and then solve it together again.”
“Not taking that bet,” Jun-ho whispered back.
In-ho sighed. “Can we please be adults for once?”
Gi-hun raised a hand like a schoolboy. “I’d like to formally request to be tried as a juvenile.”
—-------------------------
Gi-hun flopped into his desk chair, exhausted from having to exist in the same breathing radius as In-ho all day. The two of them had clashed over everything, crime scene interpretations, interrogation strategy, even what song should be playing in the evidence room.
He hated how much In-ho got under his skin. How he always looked so composed, so smug . Gi-hun knew it shouldn’t affect him, but somehow it always did.
His phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out instinctively, expecting a work update, but instead saw the glowing blue icon from last night.
Sentre Anonymous.
Still open. Still active.
Still that chat sitting there like a secret.
He clicked into it before he could stop himself.
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
Hey.
Rough day already and it’s not even 2.
He tapped send and sighed, leaning back in his chair. He didn’t expect a reply right away.
Then the bubbles appeared.
USER93559264
Let me guess.
You're surrounded by idiots.
Gi-hun grinned before he could help himself.
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
It’s like a zoo here.
Except the animals have egos and degrees.
USER93559264
I relate more than I’d like to admit.
There’s one guy at my office who thinks he's some brilliant lone wolf.
Walks around correcting everyone like he’s allergic to being wrong.
Gi-hun laughed under his breath.
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
Oh my god. I KNOW THAT GUY.
Thinks sarcasm is “unprofessional.”
Probably dreams in case files.
USER93559264
YES. That’s exactly it.
I can’t even explain ONE thing to this guy before he's interrupting me
I nearly launched my pen at him.
The worst part is, he's actually a pretty good detective.
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
I feel you, mines an absolute ass. But he can solve a case if he needs too.
USER93559264
God, it's so annoying.
If he ever found out I said something nice about him I'd probably have to kill him.
And hide the evidence.
Gi-hun snorted again. Jun-ho looked over at him suspiciously from across the office.
He covered his mouth with his hand, trying not to grin like a moron.
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
I'll help.
I’ve got one here who acts like he’s the only brain in the room.
Sharp jaw, colder heart.
Probably reports his own reflection for misconduct.
Gi-hun pauses for a moment, looking around the room to see if anyone's watching him. He sees In-ho in his office, typing away at something on his computer. Gi-hun scowls before looking back to his phone again.
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
You ever think about transferring?
Finding somewhere less… emotionally constipated?
USER93559264
All the time.
But then I wouldn’t have someone to hate daily.
Keeps me grounded.
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
Mutual loathing is the bedrock of every healthy work dynamic.
USER93559264
Honestly? It's the highlight of my shift.
Though I guess now you are too.
Just don’t tell my coworker. He’d implode from jealousy.
Gi-hun blinked.
Was… Young-il flirting?
Or was that a joke?
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
If that was flirting, it was subtle.
Try harder next time.
USER93559264
You’d know if I was flirting.
You’d probably blush.
Gi-hun immediately covered his face, warmth rising behind his ears.
Damn it.
He was
definitely
blushing.
—-------------------------
Across the bullpen, In-ho glanced up briefly from his desk. Gi-hun was typing something on his phone, looking genuinely amused, for the first time all day. Not just sarcastic or smug, but almost… soft .
In-ho narrowed his eyes, jaw twitching.
He looked back at his phone. The message waiting from “Seoul” still glowed on his screen.
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
So…
Tell me one thing you do like about your work.
Something real.
In-ho stared for a second. Then typed:
USER93559264
…The quiet moments between cases.
When no one’s performing.
When people are just people.
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
That’s surprisingly poetic for someone who hates emotion.
USER93559264
Don’t get used to it.
I’m still a bastard.
BESTDETECTIVEOFSEOUL
I'm sure.
I gotta get back to work, ill talk to you later?
USER93559264
Sure.
And as Gi-hun got off the chat, he felt a strange weight in his chest, not heavy exactly, but not light either. Like he’d just stepped away from something warm without realizing how cold the rest of the room was.
He locked his phone and leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling of the precinct as distant voices and ringing phones buzzed around him. Something about talking to Young-il always left him feeling... steadier. Like he could breathe easier in a building that usually choked him.
He didn’t even know the guy, not really. But at the same time, he did.
The sarcasm. The guarded honesty. The subtle warmth buried under layers of disapproval.
Gi-hun couldn’t explain it, but he liked talking to him.
More
than liked.
Which was ridiculous.
The guy could be a
serial killer.
Or worse… someone like
In-ho
His eyes drifted across the room.
Speak of the devil.
Captain Hwang In-ho stood near the case board, arms crossed, lips pressed into that sharp, judgmental line he always wore when something didn’t fit into his perfect little world. He was talking to one of the newer recruits, correcting something, again, probably about protocol or evidence tagging. His voice was low and firm, every syllable clipped with precision.
Gi-hun rolled his eyes so hard it almost gave him a headache.
How was it that one man could be this annoying?
So
infuriatingly
self-righteous?
So
impossible
to ignore?
And yet…
He watched as In-ho scribbled something on a clipboard, then handed it off with his usual curt nod, precise, efficient, robotic. If Gi-hun hadn’t hated him so much, he’d almost admire how competent the guy was.
Almost .
Gi-hun rubbed the back of his neck and shook it off, forcing himself to refocus on the stack of files in front of him.
But even as he read through victim statements and suspect logs, his mind wandered.
To the sharp-witted stranger in his phone.
To the unexpected kindness in last night’s messages.
To the way their conversations lingered long after they ended.
"Talk to you later," he’d said.
And he meant it.
He already couldn’t wait.