Agent 205

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 21

A week passed and I finally got my hands on the shop. After some more careful pickpocketing. I finally got the place.

I took Lily from Doctor Go which insisted that he should be called Ji-wan instead of Doctor Go.

We now feel more accustomed to each other and we're pretty close now. Lily has a best friend too.

We went out for lunch that day when I took Lily, and we had a good time. We laughed and told stories.

That night as we lay in bed, I realised that I've been more used to people now. And I've been lowering my guard slowly yet I'm still cautious.

I sold some of the furniture, and bought new ones. I took Ji-wan's idea of a renting place into consideration and I knew I had to make the place look more presentable in order for people to feel more at home.

Another week passed and I changed the pink walls to grey and white. It looks more professional and neat now, though it is sandwiched by other shops.

I named it "L's" for my name and Lily's.

Ji-wan often visits me and brings Lily gifts. I know that somehow he has feelings for me, but I'm just not into him, or into dating at all.

I just don't know how to tell him that I can't be with anyone. Especially with how I am. And who I truly am.

The Liua he knows is but a fake. If he sees the real me, he would turn away. He would run from me and leave for sure.

More weeks pass and I'm starting to get the hang of living here with other random people. I have three other people renting here now. I earn good money enough to live and support me and Lily.

A month has passed. Ji-wan now is getting more closer to me. He gives me gifts from time to time and asks me out on meals too.

I personally am feeling a bit of something for him too. But it's just not meant to be. I try my best to drown myself in work so that I don't have to think of him.

Until one day, I just can't do it anymore. I need to do something to get rid of our connection.

I take him to a park at night. We walked and talked for a while. He followed me wherever and bought me some stuff.

We ended up sitting and a bench, and I then found a puppy straying around. I lift it up and try to find who its owner was.

I need to do something to make him not like me anymore. I need to be distant. I need to stop showing him my good side.

I thought of that, but I just get too carried away. I feel like I forget who I am when I'm with him. And I'm not here just to do that.

But, what can I do? I'm in love with this guy.

I don't really know how this love thing works, but I can't help but let it control me somehow.

At night I still regret doing this and that with him. But when I wake up he is my initial thought.

I couldn't stop thinking about him, until I get an unexpected visitor.

Officer Park.

"What brings you by?"

I ask him, hoping he hasn't found anything to put me behind bars.

"You've done a great job on renovating the place. Is this legal?"

"Yeah."

I was pissed at the question.

"Just kidding don't get mad. I'm here to ask you something actually."

I gestured for him to go on.

"If you are a citizen of Korea, why were you with these girls?"

He slides a picture of my roomates on the table.

"There were no records of you riding a boat or plane or anything. But they said they were with you. So why ride a cargo ship?"

"I will not answer that one."

"Oh so you want to play hard to get?"

"I have my rights."

"Will a warrant get you?"

"If you can get me one. Now if you'll excuse me I'll need to get going. I'm-"

Lily bursts out of nowhere.

She stares at me and Officer Park.

"Mama!" She runs to me and hugs me.

Officer Park can see that I am clasping her tightly.

"So this is your daughter?"

"Yes. You can leave now."

He smirks and stands up.

"I'll be back. And by the way. What is your relationship with that doctor? I've been seeing you together more often now."

I remained silent and stood up too.

"Silent treatment I see. Okay I'll leave. See you soon."

He leaves with a grin on his face.

I couldn't calm down that night. I knew I have to have a plan to get out of here.

Ji Wan asked me again for dinner that night. I knew I needed to cut out our ties. And so I did.

"Hey. I have to tell you something."

I started off as he walks me back to my house.

"Go on." He smiles at me.

"I know you have feelings for me, but-"

"You don't feel the same." He said. Still with a smile on.

"I know, Li. And I've accepted that. I was just waiting for you to say it yourself. Thank you."

After that it was really really awkward. We didn't speak after that. Just good bye.

I closed the door behind me as I bid goodnight. And peeked at the blinds as he left.

He was just walking the same. Slowly with his short legs. He's a good man, but I can't put him over my goals.

Maybe if he still likes me after I achieve my goals. There maybe we can start. But until then we'll probably try to divert our attention to other stuff.

That night I couldn't sleep. So I just walked to the dock and watched as the moon danced along with the starts to the symphony of waves.