40 The Wrong Man

June 23, 2021

Super market

Emma cannot cover the excitement that is currently keeping her busy shopping at a supermarket after closing the store. Her shopping time this time was very different and felt good for her because she did not shop alone but was accompanied by Ian, who was walking behind her. After the young man's friends came home, Ian chose to stay to help until the store closed, then she invited him to accompany her shopping. The young man agreed to her invitation but chose to walk behind her.

While Emma was in front of him busy choosing and then putting the groceries into the trolley, Ian who had walked a few meters from the gumiho kept watching his mother. So far, there has been no suspicious person watching Emma, making her feel relieved. But Ian's relief lasted only briefly when he saw the appearance of a person in a gray hoodie. He sharpens his sense of sight and focuses it on the person. From his posture, Ian felt that it was the same person who was watching Emma in the store this afternoon.

Ian's pace quickened as the person suddenly started walking towards Emma. When he was near the man, he immediately held the man's hand so that it would touch Emma's shoulder. He also slammed the man's body into the ground with such force that visitors and Emma were taken aback.

"Who are you?" Ian inquired while securing the individual's body.

***

Seoul Police Station

Ian stared intently at the person he had slammed earlier in the supermarket. After the incident, the supermarket security officers immediately came, and they ended up at the police station because Ian said that the person was a stalker.

"He's a stalker," said Kim Ji Young. By chance, they come to the office where Ji Young works, and the case is taken by the man's team. "His criminal record is all about stalking."

"Could he be in jail?"Emma asked.

"He was just stalking, so maybe just paying the fine. If he were to commit a crime, he would almost certainly be detained," Ji Young explained to Emma's chagrin.

"Ji Young."

Sun Ho's call made Ji Young distract him for a moment. "What is it?"

"We found this at the suspect's home. Apparently he has been stalking Miss Emma all this time," Sun Ho explained as he showed a photo showing the walls filled with photos of Hwang Emma.

"That's not true!" exclaimed the stalker. "I swear. I just followed her today."

"Don't play with the oath, young man!" Ji Young exclaimed. "After all, the evidence already proves that you've been stalking Miss Emma."

"That's not true!" The young man objected as he pounded the table hard. "I must have been framed!"

"Sun Ho, take him into the cell." Ji Young ordered, as the young man seemed to be about to go berserk if not secured. The man sighed. "We will take care of it. You can go home."

"Thank you, Ji Young. I'll buy you something later," Emma said.

Ji Young smiled. "Thank you, but I refused. It's my duty as a cop to help you."

"Let's go home. I feel sick of staying here," said Ian. Although people have forgotten about his involvement in Soo Young's case, he still remembers clearly when he was brought to this police station for questioning.

"All right. We're going home," Emma replied. "Thank you again, Kim Ji Young."

***

Emma sighed with relief that the perpetrator who had been watching her had finally been caught. It seemed like she was going to sleep soundly tonight because there was no need to think of strangers entering his house secretly while he slept.

"Since the culprit has been caught, I will go home tonight," Ian said suddenly, making Emma immediately stop her steps.

"Can't you stay until the weekend?" Emma asked, which was answered with a shake of Ian's head.

"I'm starting to feel claustrophobic from living together with you," Ian answered honestly.

"Stay until the weekend, okay? I beg you," Emma pleaded, looking at her child like a puppy.

Just as Ian was about to answer his mother's persuasion, the sound of his cell phone ringing made him undo the intention. He took his hand from his mother's grasp, reached into his trouser pocket, and pulled out his cell phone. The screen of his cell phone showed if someone was calling him, but he didn't know who had called him.

"Who is it?" Emma asked curiously.

Ian did not answer his mother's question, he chose to answer the call a little away from Emma. "Hello? Who is this?" he asked after he answered and put the phone to his ear.

"You're wrong, Ian. He didn't do it. We'll see you soon. Hwang Ian."

"What? Hello?" Ian swears softly because his call has been cut off. He tried to call the number, but it was no longer active. "Damn it!" He ruffled his mane because he was upset that he could not call the number.

"What is it?" Emma asked, walking up to the son.

"I'll stay at your house for a while," Ian said without intending to answer the mother's question.

"Really?"Emma asked to make sure.

***

June 26, 2021

Jung Family Residence

The clock strikes nine in the morning, and Yoon Hee has just woken up. Today the girl has no classes, no activities at all, which is why she just woke up at this hour. Yoon Hee sits down on the bed, then looks out the window of her room, where the curtains are already open. The view of Seoul city is very clear from her room, which is on the twentieth floor of the apartment.

"It's beautiful," she marveled at the sight.

She got out of bed, tidied up her pillow and blanket before finally leaving the room. When Yoon Hee opened the door to her room, her sense of smell was immediately greeted by a delicious scent. The scent also managed to make Yoon Hee pull back the two corners of her lips.

"What are you cooking, Mother? Young Dae? Why are you still here? You're not working?"

Yoon Hee is a little surprised when she sees her brother cooking. She took out his dining chair and sat down to watch her brother cook.

"I'm on leave because I have something to do," Young Dae replied without taking his eyes off the food he was cooking.

"That's all," Yoon Hee said, nodding her head.

"Don't you have class today? Why are you still at home?"

"The class is closed," Yoon Hee replied. "What are you cooking? The aroma is very delicious." She approached the brother, who was still struggling near the stove.

"Kimchi fried rice," Young Dae replied. The man took a spoon, scooped the rice, blew it briefly, and then directed it at his younger brother. "Try tasting. How?"

Yoon Hee ate the rice on the spoon. She chewed it while feeling the taste of the kimchi bokkeumbap. "It's delicious," she replied, raising her thumb.

"Okay, take the plate. We have breakfast."