...before it revealed Seo In with a concerned mien.

SEO IN : What happened? Are you alright?

JAE RA : Yes, I am totally fine. Where's Uncle? Did he..?

SEO IN : No, he didn't suspect anything. Oppa took him to his room, to settle around.

Both the girls, with a relief in their hearts, headed inside the house.

SEO IN : What do you want for breakfast? I am going to make some for all.

JAE RA : Anything would do. But, is there any grocery in the kitchen?

SEO IN : Obviously there isn't. I am heading to the convenience store to pick up some easy to go breakfast.

JAE RA : Ah, then give me a moment. I will come down to tag along.

SEO IN : Oh, no. Take your time fitting in to your room. You can help me around the kitchen later. Alright?

JAE RA : Okay. I will take that.

SEO IN : (-dabs JaeRa's arm-) GO!

And before JaeRa had the space to turn around the conversation again, Seo In was on her way to the convenience store.

Unlike the very vintage look of the house, it was pretty much entirely in touch with morden decor inside.

Yet, there was the aging warmth of her childhood in the walls and doors.

With faint giggles here and there, bulbs of little memories glew up as she walked the path to her bedroom.

Gently pushing the door open, a vague but peculiar scent brushed through her nose. Quite symbolically as if unlocking the closed door of her lost memories, she entered her old room.

All the furnitures covered in heavy and massive white fabrics, a fine layer of dust coating the surfaces. And an overally spooky vibe, floated around the confined space.

JaeRa further stepped towards her bed and with one swift pull, unveiled the clean set bed. The suspended dust now flying into the air, caused her to cough a little and squint away.

Plopping her sling bag on the bed, her sight next fell on the shaded window. The murk in the room seemed too dull and glum. Thus, JaeRa walked upto the source of light and shoved the curtains, careful of the dust this time.

And with a little struggle, she opened the window only for a sweet zephyr to hug her skin. She had been longing for this familiarity. The ambience, the breeze- it felt home.
Jae Ra found herself smiling for no apparent reason as she inhaled the fresh morning air.

Completely relaxed, her sight next, landed on the lane. The one, that she was walking on with Taehyung, a few moments past.

Not a second had advanced, the flash of a blurry image of that same lane blinded her senses. The high contrasts presented her a silhouette of a male figure, looking up at her window.

Unlike other times where by now she would've been crippled to the ground with the headache. Seemingly, her medications were still strongly holding on to her pain receptors.

Thereby, JaeRa willed for a moment, to explore a little more. To watch, a little more of the scenes that these places tried to play before her.

She tried looking different directions, focusing on the lane. Gazed back inside, towards every corner of her room. Pulled down all the thick sheets of drapes from her furnitures. Yet- nothing more, but a puffed up breath and a tire, culminated from all the mess.

Totally exhausted, she plunged all the desire to recollect her lost memories and walked out of her room. There lied, her luggage along the door.

However, JaeRa noticed one of her mini bags aside the bigger suitcase, was missing. So, just as she turned around to go look for them downstairs. Sung Yeol reached her, holding that very bag with a straight face.

SUNG YEOL : Is this yours?

JAE RA : Yes! (-taking the bag-) This has the alternative medicine Dr. Mike prescribed me.

She sighed in a relief, quickly looking for the pills and finding them intact and safe in the exact place, where she had secured them.

SUNG YEOL : You'll be fine.

Sung Yeol passed on a warm smile. And even though, his words had no certainty she received the console and comfort in his care.

JAE RA : (-smiles-) Thanks.

For some reason, Sung Yeol would find her smiles very aching. He would feel a certain remorse towards her.

SUNG YEOL : Anyways, don't bother cleaning your room. I just contacted a cleaning agency. They are sending us a team at the soonest.

JAE RA : Wah, thank you! That'd be great.

SUNG YEOL : You're welcome. Did SeoIn-ie return yet?

JAE RA : Oh no. She left minutes ago.

SUNG YEOL : (-dailing her-) Okay, thanks!

Before Jae Ra responded, he was already talking to the other line as he retraced his way.

SUNG YEOL : Onh, are you in the store? (-pauses-) Okay, can you buy me a shaving cream then? I forgot mine at NY. (-pauses-) Yes, no any woul-. . .

○In the evening

Jae Ra, out of fatigue, sauntered around the backyard garden. Some plants dried off, while some sprouted new life from those.

She quietly admired those, squatting down as in a while, Seo In too followed her there.

SEO-IN : I searched for you everywhere. What are you doing?

JAE RA : Seo In-ah, people don't really remember everything they do in a year, right? And they don't even seem to care about that.

SEO IN : Well, I guess so.

JAE RA : Basically, it's the same with me. But, I can't seem to make peace with the fact that I don't remember them.

SEO IN : If for instance, they turn out to bring extreme pain to you. Wouldn't it be better this way in that case? You are doing pretty well even without them, aren't you?

JAE RA : I know, these years were probably the most hurtful to me. Yet, I always find myself very bothered and restless whenever I recall something. My headaches are really bad. Yet, I seem to be really happy to simply get a little glimpse of those scenes.

SEO IN : Even if it hurts, you still want to recollect those memories?

JAE RA : Nobody likes hurt, Seo In-ah. I agree. But, when you don't know the reason behind that, it just makes it so much harder. (-looking at her-) And did I not have, even just one moment where I was truly happy in those two years? Something that was worth remembering?

While the two best friends carried on, Sung Yeol from a distanced hiding, quietly heard them. After having Jae Ra speak her heart, he was more determined to help her in all his possibilities.

SUNG YEOL : (-calling out loud-) Seo In-ah~ Jae Ra-ya~, where are you both?

Sung Yeol, giving them a few minutes to settle their emotions, walked upto them after a while.

SUNG YEOL : What are you doing here? Reconstructing your spying strategy?

The girls, chuckling at his comment, casually advanced towards him as well.

JAE RA : Talk about you. Why were you looking for us?

SUNG YEOL : Do I have a reason? No. I am just bored. Let's, I don't know... Wander the neighborhood maybe(?)

SEO IN : Onh! I like it. Let's do that.

JAE RA : Miss me with that. I will just stay home.

SUNG YEOL : Hey! I can't let you laze around the house.

JAE RA : I am on a vacation. I have all rights to do what I wan~

And while, the cousins bickered over fatigue and how it was bad for Jae Ra's health, Seo In recalled the nearby park they used to play in.

SEO-IN : (-cutting through their tooth-) Hey, do you both remember the "gohyangi park"? (-excited-)

They paused for a second and looked at Seo In, who was imparting glittery eyes at them to sound their accord.

JAE RA : Gohyangi park?

SEO IN : Yes! The one where we used to play every single day.

JAE RA : Ah, I do remember. (-smiles nostalgically-) It has been so long, I almost forgot about it.

SUNG YEOL : Let's go there then!

JAE RA : Now that I recalled it, I really seem to wanna go too. (-looking at their faces-) Lead on.

In a short while, the trio were seen ambling through the narrow streets, heading towards the park. They had a carefree and relaxed mood, teasing and poking fun at each other with embarrassing childhood memories.

SEO IN : Jae Ra, look! (-pointing on her right-)

Upon following her pointed direction, all the eyes were caught at an antique looking shop.

JAE RA : It's that shop!

With a faint echo of reminiscence relating to that shop, the three of them reached out to it keenly. As soon as they entered, they were welcomed by a little girl with her grandfather.

The customers were awed at the bond they shared and as the couple roamed their view around the house, JaeRa's sight fixed on a toffee. The toffee, that used be her all time favorite and available only in Korea.

Thus the longing for the taste, moved her to buy the rest of the toffees filling a forth of the jar.

GD. FATHER : You will take them all?

JAE RA : Yes.

Jae Ra noticed the glum in his face and overheard his hesitance at his little granddaughter, who also seemed to cherish that candy.

GD. FATHER : (-quietly-) Ha won-ie, I will stall her elsewhere, so you take some from the jar. Okay?

HA WON : (-quietly debates back-) Harabuji! It's okay. She is a customer. You shouldn't upset her.

JaeRa couldn't fight her urge anymore and unwillingly interrupted.

JAE RA : Ha won-ah, you like this toffee too?

HA WON : (-respectfully-) Yes. But, I like money more. You can take them all. We can always order a truck of things we run out of. (-smiles-)

JAE RA : Is that so? Pack them all for me, then.

Jae Ra was overwhelmed at that little one, valuing money more even at that tender age.

With the help of her grandfather, Ha won filled them into a cute pouch with her tiny hands.

Jae Ra paid the money and clutched out a hand full of the toffees from the pouch again.

JAE RA : (-handing them on Ha won's palms-) Since Ha won-ie and I love the same toffee. I can share some with her. (-smiles-)

Although the maturity she tried to bring to her demeanor, she was a little girl afterall. Ha won passed on her widest smiles to Jae Ra, as she expressed her finest gratitude with a bow.

Before long, the three customers exited the shop while Jae Ra plopped one of the toffee into her mouth.

JAE RA : You two didn't get anything?

SEO IN : No. We were just looking at you all.

JAE RA : SungYeol-ie, you too?

Jae Ra was trying to have an access of his face that SungYeol constantly attempted to hide.

SEO IN : And he almost cried. (-hugging him by the side-)

Jae Ra straight up burst into a huge laughter, running a few steps ahead to them to view Sung Yeol's face properly.

JAE RA : For real!? (-trying to control her laughter-) What's wrong? Why are you crying?

Sung Yeol still persistently hid his face, looking elsewhere and wiped the corner of his eyes.

SUNG YEOL : She is only a little girl, okay. (-sniffs-) It was hard seeing her give up her favorite candy over money.

Seo In gently rubbed his back, trying to calm him down and Jae Ra could finally settle down her giggle.

JAE RA : Ou~ you want one too?

Jae Ra palmed out a toffee towards him which to her surprise, he innocently clutched in his hand.

SUNG YEOL : Also, (-muching on it-) I almost cried but I didn't.

JAE RA : (-nods-) Yes, of course. We all know, you are a tough guy.

SUNG YEOL : You are not meaning it. I am tough! Ask Seo In.

The moment he ended his speech, Seo In hit his back sharply. Sung Yeol jolted at the sting and whipped at her, confused. Meanwhile, Jae Ra enjoyed the sight, as the awkward wife now tried to deviate the conversation.

SEO IN : Yah, I am hungry. Shall we go eat something? The convenience store is just two blocks away.

SUNG YEOL : (-buying her words-) Onh, I will go get something for you then. You two can head to the park.

With a mutual aggrement, they parted ways as the girls now walked the route to the park.

JAE RA : Sung Yeol is cute, isn't he?

SEO IN : Oh, I don't think so.

JAE RA : (-surprised-) Yaa, what happened to the Seo In who is always head over heels for him?

SEO IN : He annoys me. Sometimes.

Jae Ra grinned at their endearing little annoyed moments.

JAE RA : Why? Doesn't he treat you well in the bedro-

SEO IN : (-cuts her off-) Not you too! (-whines-) Why do you all hate me so much?

JAE RA : I wonder why.

Seo In wore on an irked and irritated expression at Jae Ra, quietly chuckling at her. But before it could get any worse, Jae Ra stretched out her arm to point somewhere ahead.

JAE RA : It's the park!

Seo In, with a frown, viewed at the sight and within seconds all her displeasure washed away.

SEO IN : It hasn't changed at all.

JAE RA : I know, right?

And as they headed towards it further, they noticed the park did not have a single soul around. On the same note, Jae Ra found the surroundings very quiet and deserted too.

JAE RA : It's safe here, right? People are awfully absent. Looks a bit spooky. Is it the setting sun though?

SEO IN : We probably picked a time when all the children went home. Moreover, Oppa would be back anytime soon. So, let's just wait here. It will be fine.

JAE RA : You have a point. See the slides are still there, where it used to be.

SEO IN : The swings too. Let's ride them!

Jae Ra readily came on board with the idea and both the girls in their late 20s, sped to their destined ride like little toddlers.

Reliving the childhood delirium for a while, Seo In now swung up high while Jae Ra climbled the slide ladder for the fifth time.

However, the peak of the slide sighted Jae Ra of a different view this time. Her smile immediately dropped as she discerned a little boy being abducted, by a few men with a black van, outside the park boundaries.

Therefore, she wasted no more seconds to slide down and sprint there before it was too late. Seo In, meanwhile, not as high as Jae Ra, couldn't access the scene and thus was startled by Jae Ra speeding away.

She tried calling out for her at the best of her lungs, yet met no answers. The swing momentum too high for her to jump out, she consequently attempted to dail it down little by little.

Outside the park, the thugs met a panting Jae Ra. The boy's struggle successfully brought her enough time to reach there.

"Emoo," cried out the little boy in tears. The familiar voice alarmed Jae Ra at once and her attention fell straight on him.

JAE RA : Jae Hyung-ah!

One of the two thugs, scoffed out, "Who the hell are you? His babysitter?" A smirk spreading his lips as he eyed her up and down,"Such a chic!"

Quite unlike a typical thug, both the men looked pretty average and under trained. Therefore, with that quick scan, Jae Ra figured the best option was to lure them into a talk.

JAE RA : Although I do not know your intentions behind this. But, this is not the right way-

"Cut that crap!" The one holding Jae Hyung, expressed his needle through his gritted teeth. Jae Ra however, persistently tried stalling some time as she slowly advanced towards Jaehyung.

JAE RA : Life is hard. But, we must never opt to evil means to deal with its challenges. To the child, this day could turn out to be a forever trauma.

The long haired man from the driver's seat, gripping an eye on her movements, pulled out his knife. And just as she caught hold of Jaehyung's free arm, he whipped the back of his knife at Jae Ra's head.

Her grip on Jaehyung loosened for a second at the unseen attack, but she balanced herself with the support of the van.

JAE HYUNG : Emo! (-crying-)

"Wanna live here forever!" The one with the man bun, yelled out at his rather bald partner.
Jae Ra teetering from the dizz, held Jae Hyung's arm securely while the little one cried quietly.

In the process, Jae Hyung's nanny and driver came rushing to there. They had a definitive worry in their mein, as if they had been looking for Jae Hyung since quite a while.

"F*uck!" Exclaimed the man in the van and pointed his knife at the new arrivals."If you try to follow us, this knife will slide down this kiddo's throat."

The one outside, girdled with sudden anxiety to get caught, struggled to free Jae Ra's hand from Jaehyung.

"Just take this bitch too!" Yelled the long haired again, as he prepared to roar off.

Jaehyung's nanny in tears and fright, attempted to stop the thug in the back and was harshly yeeted away by the latter.

The long haired in further rile, pointed the knife at Jaehyung who was already put inside the van. "Shall I cut through him right here?"

Jaehyung's driver, backing a few more steps, showed his vulnerability and pleaded them not to harm his young master.

He supported the misbalanced nanny, while helplessly watching the van vamoose into thin air.

Jae Ra had been floating in the verge to lose her consciousness. Yet, she was firmly holding the terrified Jae Hyung who hugged her figure even tighter.

Meanwhile, Seo In witnessed the scene from the thug yelling to take Jae Ra along with the child. She noticed her stance and constantly reaching out her free hand to her head.

"Did she get hurt in the head?" Seo In mumbled to herself, anxiously.

She was so overwhelmed and petrified that she went absolutely blank and couldn't quite grasp the sight before the van was gone.

Jaehyung's nanny and driver, crossing the street towards their carriage, seemingly released Seo In's freeze. Without wasting any further second, she tried to dail the police station. Her trembling hands weren't helping her in the crisis however.

Seo In was soon experiencing a panic attack in the fear of all the negatives, gradually engulfing her. How she was aware that Jae Ra shouldn't get hurt, especially on the head and how that could be deadly if so- was dreading her each second.

Concurrently, Sung Yeol, noticing her shaking in terror and all pale and red, sped his way to Seo In. He immediately pulled her into a hug to calm her tremors, dropping the carrybag he had in his hands.

SUNG YEOL : Seo In-ah, please calm down. It'll be fine.

SEO IN : (-in a hawl-) Why are you so late?!

SUNG YEOL : I am sorry. I am sorry for being late. (-caressing her back-)

Seo In, unable to receive any solace, moved out of the embrace wanting to address the situation as soon as possible.

SEO IN : Jae- Jae Ra-...

SUNG YEOL : Yes. Tell me slowly. It's okay. You can do it.

SEO IN : Kid-...nap. She has been kidnapped. And I couldn't do anything to help her.

Although, the news came as a pure shock to Sung Yeol. He was mindful, not to scare Seo In further and talked to her in the best peaceful way.

SUNG YEOL : (-cupping her face-) Seo In-ah, look at me. She is going to be just fine. But before that, you have to calm down so you can help me find her.

Seo In inhaled a few deep breaths, trying to contain herself and speak with a clear voice.

SUNG YEOL : Alright. Do you remember any details? The number plate? Or color of the car? The model? (-softly-) Anything?

SEO IN : (-sniffs-) Um...

.

.

______________

Wait, did I miss one Sunday?😗
Feels like, it's been ages since I updated last.

Maybe I did miss it.

*sighs* Anyways, hope you liked today's update.
:)

And hopefully see you next Sunday without a fail lol.