Brave Citizen Award 3
We sat in silence for a while, sorting through our thoughts, until Kyung-soo broke the quiet with a single remark that made us forget all the recent chaos.
"Feels weird not picking up Joo-shin today..."
"Yeah, tell me about it. But with Gi-joo almost getting kidnapped, how could school run normally? Better to extend winter break a bit and start school early."
"True. Even if they extend it, it's just an extra week, right?"
"A week's a lot!"
"Once this winter break's over, we'll be high schoolers, huh?"
"Got any plans for break?"
"Plans? I gotta fix my grades first."
"Oh... yours tanked this time, didn't they?"
His smug reply made me pack a tight snowball from the cold snow and hurl it straight at Kyung-soo's face.
"Hey, you—?!"
In truth, it was payback for the emotional bruise he'd just inflicted. "Heh, that dumbstruck look suits you perfectly."
"You're dead if I catch you!"
Kyung-soo chased after me, but Jong-hyuk handed him a snowball from behind.
"You traitor."
"Traitor? This is for our alliance! To take down Joo-in! I made the ammo."
"Jong-hyuk's the best. Alliance forever."
"Enemy of single guys everywhere. Solo paradise."
"Why's that topic coming up here? It's got nothing to do with me and dogs."
"If that's got nothing to do with it, then my mom and dad are total strangers?"
"How'd the conversation go there?"
We couldn't even pack proper snowballs, just grabbing handfuls from the drifts and flinging them as we bolted around. The loose snow exploded in beautiful sprays, but we charged through oblivious, pelting each other fiercely without a care for the beauty.
In front of the Jungjangdong police station by the library, we clutched our sides, doubled over laughing at each other's snow-crusted messes.
The loud guffaws must've carried, because passersby glanced our way with smiles tugging at their lips. Snapping to my senses, I started shaking snow from my hair.
Judging by Jong-hyuk's head, mine probably looks like it's besties with a snowman.
As I brushed from my hair down to the snow clumps on my clothes, they came to their senses too—patting spots we couldn't reach, only to start playfully shoving each other. I grabbed Kyung-soo and Jong-hyuk to break it up.
"Guys, this is right in front of the police station?"
My words hit home, and out came Heo Soon-kyung from the station, greeting us warmly.
"Technically the police box out front."
"Oh, Officer Heo?"
"Call me hyung."
"Hey, cut it out—this is in front of a cop."
"Yeah, playtime leads to scraps, but cool it in front of police. Got it?"
He winked like the good guy he wanted to seem, but I positioned myself to block Kyung-soo's queasy grimace from view.
"Yes, hyung. Actually, I had a question about the Brave Citizen Award."
My mention of the award triggered an instant canned response from him, like he'd been waiting.
"Oh? It's tied to the year-end ceremony. Date overlaps your winter break assembly, so it's scheduled for afternoon. Come get your photo and plaque—it'll go in your school records, great for you guys. Everyone's eyes are on this case, so they're putting real effort into the event."
Under that not-so-subtle pressure, we chorused awkwardly.
"Thanks...?"
As we mumbled between gratitude and bewilderment, Jong-hyuk jumped in.
"Joo-shin's one thing, but I didn't think Kyung-soo and I qualified."
Heo Soon-kyung wagged a finger like he was correcting a misconception.
"Joo-in's getting it thanks to Kyung-soo and Jong-hyuk's help."
"Huh?"
"Joo-in beat those guys senseless, right?"
"They're still too messed up for statements at the hospital. Only reason no assault charges stuck is Gi-joo's dad."
"Gi-joo's dad?"
"You didn't know? He stopped by your room once, Joo-in."
"Just said hi and rushed off—seemed busy."
"Yeah, guy's got a lot on his plate. Red Brick House barely wrapped, now this major case blows up."
"Gi-joo's dad works in police?"
"News to you? An-nam Police Agency deputy chief. I heard while bouncing between detective units on this."
Kyung-soo grinned slyly.
"No promotion for you this time, hyung?"
He'd clearly been waiting for that, answering with a mix of bashfulness and pride.
"I'm up for next review. Was gonna treat you guys to celebrate. How about now?"
"Isn't it work hours?"
"Cops get lunch breaks too."
"Feels past lunchtime..."
"We rotate so not everyone's out. Saw you heading out for mine."
I got his kindness, but with Joo-shin home alone on break, I declined.
"Joo-shin's waiting at home, so I gotta head back."
My refusal got shot down.
"Then we'll grab him too."
What the hell—family outing after ages? Sounds good.
We piled into his personal car—not the patrol one—with Joo-shin, heading to eat out.
"Chinese restaurant for real? I could swing something fancier."
He flashed a thick wallet, set on feeding three growing boys and a voracious little one properly. But after Joo-shin yelled "Jjajangmyeon!" to "What do you want?", the menu locked in fast.
"I love black bean noodles."
"Can't live without 'em."
"Mom won't buy it—says it's bad for you."
We snickered like we knew his paycheck woes and picked our faves—which unified on black bean noodles, plus sweet-and-sour pork to fill the big table.
Black sauce painted Joo-shin's face, but he ate cleaner than anyone. I wiped it with a handkerchief from my pocket.
"Here he goes again."
"Dude... just use the napkins here?"
"You think your basic skin and Joo-shin's are the same?"
"Kyung-soo's skin is kinda rough."
"You're more annoying piping up from the side."
As we rowdily claimed the table, chowing down and chatting, Heo Soon-kyung slipped off to the bathroom—then paid the bill.
I followed and asked quietly.
"You okay?"
"With what?"
"Worried you're stretching your patrol pay. Car maintenance alone..."
"Oh, that's the chief's. Borrowed it for lunch."
"Where do you crash then?"
"No dorms for patrol guys—boarding house."
"Boarding houses still a thing?"
"Plenty near An-nam University."
"Ah... got it."
"But you followed for a private word, right?"
"How'd you know?"
"The way you lit up mentioning the award."
"Why'd Taeyeon get left out of the Brave Citizen Award?"
"Not official, but word got around 'cause it's huge."
"What happened?"
"Taeyeon—he's an adult now—turned it down himself."
"He refused?"
"Yeah. Baffling, but from admin's view, easier paperwork."
"Huh?"
"Rescuing you, Taeyeon, and Gi-joo was great, but those thugs were in rough shape."
"That..."
"No cop'd misunderstand. Scene turned my stomach. Can't prosecute the guy who saved the deputy chief's daughter—non-prosecution principle. But award got tricky. Then Taeyeon says you handled the beating, he just saved folks, and bows out."
"That's insane. Those guys..."
"Think we're all idiots? We know it's BS."
"Then why?"
"Taeyeon's infamous around here... you might not know."
"Infamous?"
"Wouldn't be if not for that incident."
"Huh?"
"His body's not normal. Limps on one leg. No way he rags those brutes like that. But admin processes as-is for speed—higher-ups signed off."
"Why the hell..."
"Beats me. You're tangled in every case."
"...?"
"Destined to be a cop, maybe?"
I shot him a told you so look. He ignored it, heading back to the kids.
"Lunch break's ending—let's roll. I'll drop you."
"I'm good. Drop at Jong-hyuk's."
Kyung-soo planned to hang there before home.
"Sure?"
Time crunch made him eager, and he led the way.
We filed out noisily into a slap of cold wind that sharpened my senses like a wake-up call.
Weasel. No, Song Taeyeon—what kind of guy are you?
My question got answered sooner than expected.