The question has been lingering in Sari’s mind since the day Lim Inhyuk gave him Professor Park's last letter and old notes remained even after two weeks had passed. Only Sejin knew about the old notes for now, but the others already knew about the letter. It was a given that Seoha and Riyoung were shocked to find out that Sari’s father and Professor Park had some beef in the past. Whatever the reason for the falling out was, though, they still had no idea what.
She was in her apartment once again, reading more about the serial killer that terrorized Huijin in the past and also the recent reported killings of that presumably same killer. She still couldn't understand how her mother's death got linked to that person somehow. There was something she missed about the whole thing and she knew that. The murderer had been so elusive for too long. They just weren't catching up to him or his accomplices. If she could catch the culprits before any further murders occurred, then she would be able to put an end to this all at once.
"Yeah, right. As if I could do that. I'm already having a hard time trying to find my dad. And now I want to find a guy who's been out for blood for so long?" Something strange was going on in her mind that she ended up wanting to know more about the serial killer.
He had to have a story behind his actions, didn't he? It couldn't be so coincidental if it happened during her childhood. So why did she never think about finding out about him until recently? It wasn't something Sarina liked to dwell upon too much.
If there was a way for her to stop it before anyone else lost their lives, then she'd do it. "This is ridiculous."
Her phone started vibrating with notifications on her desk, startling her into dropping her book onto the floor. She quickly picked it up and checked it. It was from Seoha that made her frown.
'Weird. Why would he call me?' Sari knew her friend was supposed to go to her apartment that day to talk to her about the progress of looking over Professor Park's notes. Did something happen?
With a deep breath, she answered the call. "You sure have a lot of free time for you to call me at this hour. I thought you're about to head over here."
"If it means making sure you're safe, then I won't mind spending my free time on you."
Her eyes widened when she realized that the voice on the other line wasn't that of Seoha. But of —
"Professor Soohoon?!"
"Hello, Miss Yoon," his voice was smooth and calm. His greeting was almost as natural as someone talking to her on the street. "I hope I haven't caught you at a bad time," he went on calmly. He must've known that she was currently busy.
"Um... I-it's okay. I was... just surprised. I thought..." Oh, great! Why was she stuttering? She was almost like a giddy teenager who lost her composure as soon as her crush talked to her.
'Then again... that could be the case.' And now, her mind was starting to create a joke.
Sari heard Professor Soohoon's amused chuckle on the other line that made her cheeks warm. "About the call, it was Mr. Han who decided to play a prank on you. They were about to head to your apartment when I saw them. He said that I should... visit you, too."
'Seoha, what kind of idiotic thinking is that?' She had the urge to blurt that out to Seoha once she saw her friend. But at the moment, it was Professor Soohoon who was on the other line. She needed to calm down or she might end up embarrassing herself in front of Professor Soohoon — even if the man was on the other line at the moment.
"Thank you, Professor. But seriously, you don't have to do that. I know that you have other things to take care of." Sari was aware that the professor was still working on finding out the identity of that rider who attempted to murder him. And possibly some other things that he wasn't telling her.
"Don't worry about me, Miss Yoon. I want to do this, too. I want to provide any help that I can to you."
Her heartbeat accelerated slightly when she heard those words coming from the professor. Was he really serious? 'He wants to help me, that's true. But he can't. He doesn't have any good reason to do that,' Sari reminded herself, trying to convince herself.
But still, it felt nice. Being taken care of by a professor. Sari wasn't sure if she should feel that way, though. Not to mention, getting him involved in this particular affair could...
'Could what?' Was there something that she had to be scared about if he actually helped her?
"Miss Yoon? Are you still there?"
His concerned voice snapped Sari out of her thoughts. She hadn't realized that she had been lost in her own mind.
"Uh? Yeah. Yes, Professor. I'm sorry. What were you saying?" She cleared her throat, trying to get rid of that odd feeling.
She heard him chuckle on the other line, making her cheeks hot once again. Does he really have to give her such effects each time they would talk?
"I'll be visiting you there. Don't tell me otherwise. Okay? You shouldn't be shouldering such a task by yourself or you'll end up facing danger that you might not be able to get out of."
Sari couldn't think of something to say to contradict that. All because she knew he was right. There was indeed danger lurking when she decided to know more about the murders, especially the ones that had happened to her mother and now, to Professor Park.
Now Professor Soohoon offered to help her, for some reason. Somehow, she could feel that there was something more to that desire than just about taking care of her and keeping her out of danger. But what could it be?
Or maybe she was only overthinking Professor Soohoon's concern for her. Even so, it felt nice to have somebody caring for her and trying to protect her without knowing anything about her and why that was possible. For that matter, what could that mean that he cared about her?
No, Sari shook her head firmly and tried to make herself forget whatever that strange thought was inside her mind. It would be good if the man was actually capable of offering help. That could prove useful for later investigation into the cases.
Sari smiled softly. She hoped that this wouldn't change anything between them. Or if it would, that it wouldn't change too much for either of them.
"Thank you... for every help you're giving me, Professor. I really appreciate it." She could only say that with a smile, even though she knew he wouldn't be able to see, anyway.
"Of course." He sounded a little surprised. "Anything to keep you safe, Miss Yoon," he added.
She blinked and took in those words. How strange... she could've sworn that he didn't say those exact words to anyone else except for her. He could've said something similar in the first place. But... Why did that feel so familiar?
xxxxxx
Just as Professor Soohoon had said, he visited Sari in her apartment together with her friends. Apparently, Sejin mentioned the events with Lim Inhyuk that had transpired a few days ago to Seoha and Riyoung that same day. Of course, it was a given that they were worried for her.
And even if she told them that she would be fine, they wouldn't just let her be. They were definitely worrywarts, possibly because they still didn't have any idea what happened to her father. And then the Huijin killer struck again and killed someone connected to her. Or at least, connected to someone dear to her.
"I never thought you would actually decide to go here together with my friends, Professor," Sari started as she placed a cup of brewed coffee that Professor Soohoon requested on the coffee table. He was sitting on the only one seater couch of that room.
Seoha, Sejin and Riyoung were on the long couch and were just listening to her while eating the cookies that Riyoung brought.
"Miss Jo had already explained what had happened to me. Even though I still couldn't believe that Professor Park would go that far just to protect you in some way, at least we now know that Professor Park knew something that the Huijin serial killer doesn't want the public to find out," Professor Soohoon explained before taking a sip of the coffee. He smiled and looked at her after that. "This tastes good. I love it."
As expected, with such a compliment, Sari couldn't help blushing. She tried to hide it upon looking away and heading back to the kitchen to return the tray. Why does she have to start feeling this way again? At some point, she knew this was wrong. And yet, maybe she was the only one thinking that way.
"Miss Yoon..." Professor Soohoon called out, causing Sari to face him once again. "What do you think about all that you've found out from Lim Inhyuk?"
It was then that her friends stopped with their own discussions and faced her, as well. Sejin had a worried look on her face while Riyoung showed only curiosity. As for Seoha, she wasn't surprised to see him look stoic, even though she was aware of the worry that he felt for her.
Sari sighed before walking towards the empty chair beside the single seater couch and sat there.
"Honestly, until now, I find it to be a far-fetched story. But through the words I managed to read from Professor Park's notes, I knew he was telling the truth. Something had happened a long time ago before my father disappeared that made Professor Park seemingly hate my father. But at some point, since I arrived here and also the appearance of the Huijin serial killer after 20 years, the professor must have finally connected the dots for my father to suddenly turn his back on the life he had here to realize the truth. Whatever truth that both of them were able to uncover, it must be to a degree that their lives became the price for succeeding to discover it."
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