Date? (2)
Anyone could tell at a glance that she was a foreigner. Red eyes, black hair with yellow inner highlights—probably dyed. The girl in front of me is trembling as she stares up at me. I speak in the gentlest voice I can muster.
"Lost? Where's your mom?"
"Mom? I don't have a mom."
"Uh... um..."
...I'd completely forgotten what to say. She's shaking so much that I just smile at her instead.
"Don't be so scared."
"Eek... ughhh..."
"Am I that scary?"
No answer. But her face is pure terror. I've never had a kid look at me like I'm a monster before—it's throwing me off. Just to check, I glance in a mirror. Not even my disguised face. I turn back, and those red eyes are locked on me.
"How'd you know I'd be here?"
"I didn't...?"
"Ha, I'm not an idiot. You think I'd fall for that innocent act?"
She's glaring at me boldly, saying weird stuff. On her cute face, it doesn't come off threatening at all. I hold out my hand.
"Your guardian's probably looking for you. You can't just stay here, right?"
"I, I'm..."
"If you don't grab on, your hand might fall off from the cold..."
Finally, she takes my hand. She's glancing around nervously—looks like a total lost kid. There's a lost child center on the first floor, so I'll drop her off on the way down. To show her I'm harmless, I chat her up.
"Who'd you come with?"
"Alone... no, with t-two people... yeah."
"Yeah? They'll be looking for you. Here for shopping?"
The girl stares right through me. She tilts her head for a second, then says,
"You really don't know...?"
"Huh?"
"N-no, nothing... S-Sis sent me on an errand, so I came to check if you did it right... yeah."
"On an errand? Good job."
My little sister from back in the day pops into my head, and I pat her hair without thinking. She flinches at first but lets it slide, thank god.
...Almost ended up at the police station.
Maybe a few chats loosened her up? Now she's chattering away.
"Sis said she was coming here, so I wanted to see. It wasn't far at all? Only took 10 hours. Haven't been out in ages, but outings are no big deal."
"You did great! So proud! Sis is gonna brag about you big time!"
"R-really?"
She giggles with a big grin.
...Gotta give cute critters like this something. No cash, so I think of what I have. We hit the first floor, and I hand her a gift.
"What's... this?"
"Lip balm. Winter's coming soon. Thought it'd be good for your lips... It's a gift, but if you don't like it?"
"N-no. Th-thank... thank you."
Right in front of me, she rips open the package and pops the cap. Doesn't know how it works, so I twist the bottom for her. She smears it messily around her lips. Those plum-like lips turn glossy. I'm smiling at her when I spot the lost child center.
"Hold on, lemme check if anyone's there."
"Okay..."
First time here, so I peek inside. Staff's on duty—good. I turn back to grab her.
...She's gone.
"Kid? Where'd you go?"
I scan around frantically. Maybe she bolted outside? Heading for the door when I hear a voice.
"Why're you here? Don't tell me... you don't trust me, so you came to check?"
Shay's talking to someone.
"N-no! I don't trust you, but I came to watch... Ow! Don't pull my cheek!"
The girl who'd been with me seconds ago is caught by Shay. Her cheeks stretch like mochi.
"Shay?"
"Oh, finished my shopping."
"Let go! It hurts!"
Shay releases when the girl squirms. She rubs her slightly swollen cheeks and says,
"You didn't do it right, huh? Still haven't given it yet?"
"As long as I hand it over by end of day?"
They clearly know each other. Recalling my chat with the girl, I say,
"The sis you were looking for is Shay?"
"Who'd call this gorilla-looking chick..."
Before Shay can grab her cheek again, the girl bolts behind me, keeping distance from Shay. Shay sighs and points at her with a finger.
"B2, you know this one, right?"
"Huh?"
...Know her? Only recent folks are Conal, Shay, and Blackie.
The girl glares at my response.
"So you did notice! Sneaky jerk! Pretending to be nice to trick me! Bet you planned to lure me with that gift!"
"Gift? B2, what'd you give her?"
"Uh... anyway, Blackie?"
"Playing dumb with lies... Just like Conal said, you're a bad... Kyaa! Hurts!"
Shay yanks her cheek again, annoyed by the squeaking. Never guessed Blackie was this young.
"I'm not a kid! I'm 19 this year! An adult!"
"Yeah, she starved as a kid and never grew."
"That's personal info! Spread it around a bit and that guy's onto everything in seconds!"
Blackie's eyeing me warily.
...What the hell did I do?
"Shut it. Here, B2—take this."
Shay cuts in and hands me something. It's the card she'd been swiping all day and a leather pouch.
"Yours."
"Mine?"
Shay grins like a kid who pulled off a prank.
"Truth is, B2, that card's yours."
"No way..."
"Yup. Gotta have a payroll spot, right?"
I take the black card and pouch. Inside: bank book, several cards. Shay explains my salary's split across overseas accounts and local ones.
"Safer if they trace it later."
"Ah..."
"Need big cash? Hit the address or number in the notebook. I'll launder it fresh."
Says I could buy a car or house. I'm spacing out at the real-agent vibes when Shay nudges my shoulder.
"B2, you only think ops, huh? No interest in money?"
"Well... it'd be nice."
I love money.
...Hard for an employee to bug the boss about pay.
Fiddling with the card, I say to Shay,
"So you went nuts shopping with my money all day?"
"Yup! Hehe, was fun! Spending someone else's is the bes..."
"Feeling better now?"
"Huh?"
Shay's face stiffens at my words. She meets my eyes.
"...How'd you know?"
"You always get like this around now. Been knowing you over three years—how wouldn't I?"
"Ah..."
Shay's expression is one I've never seen. Ears red—pissed her thoughts got read? She mutters something, Chinese mixed in, unintelligible.
"Anniversary... wasn't on purpose. You hit like that sometimes..."
"Huh? What?"
"...Said it's gloomy sniper mutt behavior."
"You blew through my card, now you pick a fight...?"
We bicker at her jab. Meanwhile, Blackie's fidgeting. Argument heats up, collars almost grabbed—
Bzzz!
My phone buzzes. Check it: message.
I glance at Shay. This is from the one we've been waiting for. Looking at them both, I say,
"Wanna surprise someone who never blinks?"
"Surprise who?"
I grin, picturing the gray-haired girl by the cafe window.
...
"...B2?"
Conal looks shocked, as expected. But her wide eyes are on my face. Shay notices and slings an arm over my shoulder. Soft sensation hits my arm. Doesn't faze her, but I'm distracted.
"Conal, first time seeing this? This is Lee Suo—B2's usual disguise."
"Disguise? Ah, right. Lee Suo. Felt... familiar."
"Coooonal! I worked hard today!"
"Blackie? Why're you here?"
Blackie dives at Conal. She catches her smoothly, sits her beside.
...Like a nanny with a baby.
"Sit first. Menu... need extras."
Me and Shay take the opposite seats. Cafe serves instantly, as always. I reach for my espresso—Shay's arm snakes out, snatches it.
She grins.
"Conal, your usual—espresso you love. Drink up."
"...Indeed. Was getting tired."
I dodge Conal's odd stare. Her concept, so I stick to it. Instead, offer chocolate cake to her pained sips.
"Tried it last time—good."
"If you recommend, I'll have some."
"Thanks for the meal!"
"Kiddo, no coffee for you."
"No way! I'm an adult who needs caffeine!"
Four of us, and it's lively quick. Conal clears her throat after cake kills the bitterness.
"Ahem. Meant to do this in days, but today it is. Allow re-intros. I'm Conal."
"Suddenly? Shay here."
"Secret... uh, fine. Blackie."
Blackie starts weird, fixes under Conal's gaze. Eyes on me last. Like freshman year intros.
"B2. New guy."
"Pleased. We're the 'provisional Vanguard Korea branch' like this. Blackie."
"Huh?"
Conal pulls a paper from her pocket—same business card as mine.
"From today, Blackie's in Vanguard. By tenure, same class as B2."
"M-me too? Same class as... him?"
"'Him'? It's B2."
Blackie's eyes go weird at "same class." Intros and news done. Next: recent events.
"Cheonho Pharma okay? CheonKoster again."
"CheonKoster? Ah, stock plunge."
Conal gets my joke instantly. Gas explosion tanked shares to limit down.
"No worries. Cheonho'll transform soon. Needed a Korea base. Tech integration prepped."
"Ooh... So, Ibitu plans?"
"Ibitu CEO's working now."
Me working? Turns out someone's operating under my alias.
"Ryushin Gumi folded into our Japan subs. Manjae-stolen data..."
"Something?"
"B2, identical to yours. Nothing special."
Weird. Why risk life for it, get killed by Seibul? Conal's checking. Then,
"Maybe not just data. Seibul targeted the data... hmm, too soon."
"Huh?"
"This matters more now."
We three blank at the cryptic line. Conal pulls papers from her bag.
"B2 nabbing Seibul loose ends got us key intel."
"Those idiots?"
"Heh, grateful idiots. Seibul and shady forces massing in Korea confirmed."
I skim docs while she briefs: recent illegals, suspect groups, arms firms. Sipping sweet macchiato, nearly spit.
At Conal's sudden words.
"B2, you have to marry me."