Chapter 3

"I see youngsters like yourself still watch the news," an old man giggling gets me to break focus. "I don't come around here often but you know with these murder cases popping up from left to right you can't blame an old man like me for wanting a drink." He looked like an average old man very short with gray hair and wrinkles but yet I felt so strange around him. Like I've seen him before.

"Haha yeah, you know it's good to know what's going on around you," awkwardly I laugh back looking down at the table that just so happened to be where his arm laid and I see a very shiny watch and recall his face. He was Min Seungha a very rich old man who lost his son a few years ago from today. I doubt he was drinking because of the murders. For someone that lost everything no wonder, he ended up dying at only 78 right around the time I got the job as an assistant for a company.

"You know you shouldn't drink so much it can be bad for your health," I jokingly say but I was serious offering to take the drink and he gives me a smug look.

"Kid don't worry about me if a little alcohol hasn't killed me yet it never will"

"I don't think that's how that works," Mr. Seungha continues to drink and I glance back at the tv to think. It really could be the killer I encountered but there was no way of knowing that unless I could get into the police department and get a hold of the case file. It should be relatively hard ass fuck but I need to know. Is this why I'm back at this time because this is when the murders first started?

"So kid what's your name," turning back around I see the large glass of beer empty and the old man unfazed as he lifts his hand up for another round. "You're staring so hard at me boy I would think you want me to order you one as well."

"No. no I don't drink," I say while thinking about how bad I would love to drown myself in some beer. "I'm Kang Kap-il but I just go by Kang."

"And I'm Min Seungha nice to meet you kid," the waiter comes over with another pint of beer and sets it in the man's hand and I stare in disbelief at how well this man could drink. It must have been hard for him to lose not only his wife but his child on the same day but he never disclosed how. "Kang you remind me so much of my son"

"Sir?"

"He was around your age and was always so caring. I'm his father and yet he would always tell me what is best for my health," he laughs and I follow.

"Are you okay sir," he nods setting down the empty glass holding his hand up for another round. "You shouldn't drink so much," I stand reaching into my pocket for my wallet and Mr. Seungha stops me before dropping a wad of cash on the table. Talk about overpaying. "You should really go home," I help him out of his seat and all he does is nod before handing me a folded-up piece of paper.

"If you ever need something, Kang, just call me," and before I could respond he had already walked away leaving me staring at the double doors. I thought about chasing after him to make sure he got home safely but the sound of the news channel catches my attention once again.

"This investigation will be taken over by Detective Cho Han and he is asking if anyone has any information that can help with the case to please come down to the department or call in this is Hee-ra signing off."

"Detective Cho Han," I say under my breath looking down to the ground with my hands placed on my hips then it hits me. Detective Cho-han was killed when I was only 25 by the so-called killer as he broke protocol and went after the man alone. It's really sad how much is voiced on tv.

The sun had begun to set as I finally decided to exit the bar and I see a classmate that I never thought I would see again Jae Kun shin. He died by suicide, jumping off the interstate bridge into the ocean below right before his third year of college. The cause was stress but the real reason was obvious.

"Hey," I wave walking up to Jae Kun shin who was surrounded by three other guys with big grins on their faces. Two of the guys had their arms wrapped around his neck practically dragging him along well another walked in front with his head up and hands in his pockets like some kind of leader.

"Who the hell are you?" one guy with a musty slick haircut and buckeyes shouts. He was one ugly guy I might add. Not to mention he smelt like he never heard of soap.

"You don't need to know who I am. I'm not your friend," I added looking down at him as he barely reached my shoulder. Jae was taller than him and somehow this guy was going around acting like a tuff guy. "I'm here to talk to Jae."

Jae points to himself in disbelief looking around for a second before getting shoved to the front making him stumble over into me.

"I'm so sorry, I- I didn't mean to-"

"It's fine," I help him back to his feet meeting him with a grin, and the other guys watched over us like an unwanted audience. Staring so hard at me that I thought they would burrow a hole in my head.

"Do you guys mind," I try to but on my best behavior with a smirk included as a bonus before continuing, "I need him for a sec if you don't mind, or did you have something important to do with him?"

"No, we were just heading to the game cafe," who I assume was the leader laughs before slicking his hair back with his hands. "It was his turn to pay so-"

"Here," I reach into my pocket pulling out my wallet and a wad of cash I was surprised to have. "Will this be enough to borrow him for today?" I almost cry seeing that I just offered three hundred dollars away. Money is not easy to come by but I guess I could do this to save a life.

"Yes this is more than enough you can have him for the rest of the week if you want," they spit out without thinking and I took that very seriously as I watch them snatch the money out of my hands and run off to the game cafe.

"Umm so who are you," once the boys were out of view Jae finally opens his mouth and it was all shaky filled with fear. Their bullying must have been going on for longer than I thought.

"I'm Kang," I offer my hand for him to shake and he only looks at it. It was very awkward as he just stared blankly before I just stuffed my hand in my pocket instead. "I heard that your major in college was hacking would you say you are any good?"

"Yeah but there is still so much I could learn so I wouldn't say I am that good," he answers and I just nod along. He was either very humble or just crazy because in just a few days he is supposed to get arrested for hacking into the bank and wiring around 5,000 dollars in his account. I would say that takes skill.

"So what did you need me for?"

"Well this might sound weird but actually I'm looking for some new friends," I think of something random off the top of my head.

"What's wrong with the old ones?"

"Let's just say they are still in the picture but I can't really trust him like I once did. They are still good people though maybe I will introduce you to them tomorrow if you want to meet up for lunch," I see his eyes shimmer and I can finally relax from answering so many questions. "So do you live around here I could walk you home since I need the exercise anyway," I joke and he laughs right along with me.

"So was there anything that you needed or-"

"No, just for you to eat with me tomorrow would be nice now let's go," I point towards a direction and feel dumb when he ends up going the opposite way. The entire walk was silent as I didn't have much to say other than when we were exchanging numbers and I turned around to walk away as he made it safely to his apartment.

"Thank you, Jae," I look over my shoulder and see him waving with the biggest smile showing his teeth. All my life I have only ever seen him with dull expressions.

"No thank you," I yell back, waving. "Have a good night and hopefully I see you tomorrow in the cafeteria," he nods and I finally walk off alone into the darkness of the street trying to figure out where I lived again.

"Jae," my name was being called but as I looked around no one was there as if it was coming from the wind only getting louder with my steps.

"Jae," the voice continues, standing on the sidewalk puzzled looking down at the ground. "This is your do-over. The chance you get to change and become stronger use this wisely or suffer the same fate," and as fast as it came the voice was gone.