Dangerous Investigation Diary

Ep. 40° Strong Team 1, Those Who Couldn't Recover

I came home exhausted from a nine-hour office job, my first time, and the crying that followed. Sitting in the office, with no new work to do, and poring over documents and emails until my eyes were dry was even more exhausting. I realized that office work was definitely not for me.

As I entered the house, feeling weak, I saw a man who had just gotten off work and was taking off his coat. These days, I only see him on time, unless he's working the night shift.

하여주 [28]

"I'm back..."

윤도운 [35]

"Yeah, the heroine is here?"

하여주 [28]

"Yes... you're early."

윤도운 [35]

"The broadcasting station is quiet when there's no work to do."

윤도운 [35]

"Don't you work overtime these days?"

하여주 [28]

"Oh, I just did office work today."

하여주 [28]

"I've been having a lot of mental breakdowns lately... and things like that."

하여주 [28]

"I didn't have the energy to work overtime."

윤도운 [35]

"That's understandable. The department store bomb... not to mention this incident."

윤도운 [35]

"Now you finally understand the true value of Team 1?"

하여주 [28]

"I knew that from before..."

윤도운 [35]

"Have you eaten?"

하여주 [28]

"I was busy with office work, so I ate everything for the first time in a while."

윤도운 [35]

"That's good. Sir, I have to go out today because I have an appointment."

하여주 [28]

"A promise? With whom?"

윤도운 [35]

"I'm having dinner with my dad and the chief of police for the first time in a while."

하여주 [28]

"ah..."

As soon as I heard the words "Commissioner General," I remembered the time I'd pressed for a travel ban, and avoided the man's gaze. It seemed like his attention hadn't yet reached him. After watching me quietly, the man then brought up an unexpected topic.

윤도운 [35]

"Do you want to go together? Dad said he wanted to see you too."

하여주 [28]

"Huh? Oh, no...! I..."

윤도운 [35]

"Really? Normally, I would have gone right away."

윤도운 [35]

"And why are you hurting my eyes? You're suspicious."

하여주 [28]

"Me? Hey..."

윤도운 [35]

"Let's go, we're going to your favorite Japanese restaurant."

하여주 [28]

"...Yes. Just a moment, those clothes..."

If I resisted going any further, the perceptive old man might ask the Chief of Police himself. In the end, I trudged to the dressing room to change into my uniform. "Oh, I don't want to get in trouble this time..."

It was a high-priced Japanese restaurant, with tables and chairs that looked quite expensive, and shiny silverware. Luxurious lighting and soft music played. I often brought my husband here when he was having a hard time, but today couldn't have been more uncomfortable.

As I entered the Japanese restaurant, I was taken aback by the sight of the father of the man sitting in a corner of the restaurant and the police chief. I told myself I should just leave now, saying it was okay...

윤도현 [51]

"Yeoju is here too. It's been a while~"

My father recognized me from afar and greeted me, forcing me to smile awkwardly and try to run away. The police chief sitting next to me also raised his head at my father's words. I had no choice but to head to that table.

윤도운 [35]

"Commissioner General, how have you been?"

치안총감 [51]

"Yeah, Do-woon is here."

치안총감 [51]

"Well, I've been doing well."

I felt like I was sitting on a bed of thorns, and I wanted to run away at any moment, but I didn't have the courage. Looking at the deliciously plated Japanese dishes on the table, I didn't feel any desire to eat them. Instead, I felt like I'd vomit the moment I took a bite.

윤도현 [51]

"Do you like this restaurant, Yeoju? Eat a lot~"

하여주 [28]

"Oh, yes...! Thank you."

하여주 [28]

"Enjoy your meal, everyone..."

It was both funny and heartbreaking to see myself enjoying someone else's delicious meal when I felt like I couldn't possibly enjoy it myself. The man kept checking on me, asking if the food was bothering him or if I felt unwell, but I couldn't hear a word.

윤도운 [35]

"Hey, are you feeling unwell? Are you okay?"

하여주 [28]

"Yes, yes...! It's okay."

I could feel the stinging gaze of the Chief of Police, diagonally ahead of me, on my right, and I could feel my face gradually turning pale, unable to even notice where my food was going. I used to love sushi, but today it felt like I was chewing on a rock.

치안총감 [51]

"Officer Ha, are you okay?"

하여주 [28]

"Oh, yes... it's okay."

치안총감 [51]

"If you're doing this because you're thinking about what happened last time, then don't worry about it."

윤도운 [35]

"...What happened last time?"

At the Chief of Police's words, I instinctively jumped up and ran to the bathroom. It was so quiet, I thought he wouldn't finish, but then...

윤도현 [51]

"Do-woon, are you feeling unwell today?"

윤도운 [35]

"No... until I was at home earlier..."

윤도현 [51]

"What happened between you and Officer Ha?"

치안총감 [51]

"...No, nothing."

The chief of police finished his meal and said nothing more. Only Do-hyeon and Do-woon, left with a sense of unease, simply exchanged glances. After about ten minutes, Yeo-ju returned, her complexion still grim.

윤도운 [35]

"Hey, are you okay?"

하여주 [28]

"I... I'm sorry. I don't feel well, so I'll go first."

윤도현 [51]

"Oh, okay. Go and rest quickly."

윤도운 [35]

"Let's go together, wait."

하여주 [28]

"Oh, okay..."

윤도운 [35]

"I'm not okay."

윤도운 [35]

"I'm sorry, Chief. I'll contact you later."

치안총감 [51]

"It's okay. Go quickly."

치안총감 [51]

"Sergeant Ha, it would be nice to see you again next time."

하여주 [28]

"Oh, yes... good."

하여주 [28]

"See you tomorrow."

하여주 [28]

"I, Father... am sorry."

윤도현 [51]

"No, it's okay."

윤도현 [51]

"You shouldn't force yourself to eat it."

윤도현 [51]

"Go home and get some rest, I'll see you later-"

하여주 [28]

"thank you."

As Yeoju packed her bags and left the restaurant first, her eyes welled up, as if on the verge of tears, and her hands, holding her bag, trembled uncontrollably. Do-woon, watching, hurriedly packed his bags and followed her. It was because he was reminded of the precarious situation Yeoju had faced as a child.

Yeoju, riding in Dowoon's car, stared out the window in silence. Dowoon, unable to focus on driving, kept glancing at her. She felt old memories flooding back, oppressing her, and held back tears.

윤도운 [35]

"...My lady."

하여주 [28]

"...yes?"

윤도운 [35]

"Can you tell me what happened?"

윤도운 [35]

"I think you decided to tell me everything."

하여주 [28]

"...No. I just, really, feel a little uneasy."

윤도운 [35]

"But the police chief went to the bathroom as soon as he said that."

윤도운 [35]

"You throw up when you're stressed."

윤도운 [35]

"What do you think you can hide from me?"

하여주 [28]

".....It's nothing, really."

윤도운 [35]

"Please do it."

하여주 [28]

"I said that because you might get angry if you hear that."

윤도운 [35]

"So tell me that."

윤도운 [35]

"You again...!"

하여주 [28]

"...I tried to use it, but I couldn't."

하여주 [28]

“I didn’t do it because I didn’t want to keep selling your name.”

하여주 [28]

"Even after doing all that, the work ended without achieving anything..."

하여주 [28]

"Whenever I see the Chief of Police, I keep thinking about that incident and it's hard."

하여주 [28]

"I know it was all just childish tantrums and needless trauma, and I did something childish..."

하여주 [28]

"I'm having a hard time wondering if this is the kind of police officer I wanted to be, just..."

하여주 [28]

"What should I do..."

Finally, the female protagonist burst into tears and buried her face in her hands. Seeing this, Do-woon stopped the car on the side of a quiet road. Do-woon silently embraced the weeping female protagonist, making her sobs even louder. The burden the child, still young, had been carrying, burst out all at once.

윤도운 [35]

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry for rushing you without even knowing how difficult it would be."

하여주 [28]

"Sir... I can't do police work... Please help me..."

It was a thoughtless remark. It was merely a sudden outburst of fear. Yeoju loved this work more than anyone else. Dowoon knew this, so he didn't agree with her words. Instead, he gave her strength and hugged her even tighter. So she wouldn't think of anything else.

After some time passed and Yeo-ju's trembling shoulders calmed, Do-woon pulled her from his embrace and wiped away her tears. Yeo-ju hesitated and hesitated for a moment before telling Do-woon she didn't mean what she said earlier. Do-woon nodded silently, as if he knew everything.

하여주 [28]

"...Can I come to work tomorrow?"

윤도운 [35]

"I'll do well once I get out there."

윤도운 [35]

"It's not for nothing that your seniors trust you."

하여주 [28]

"...Thank you, sir."

윤도운 [35]

"Just let me know if you need any help. Okay?"

Yeo-ju, who had been looking into Do-woon's eyes, filled with trust, soon smiled and nodded. Do-woon wiped away her still-tears-filled, sparkling eyes with his finger, comforting her once again and giving her the strength to tackle tomorrow's task.

Unlike the heroine of the past, who would hide her hardships, the current heroine, who cries and confesses her troubles, was growing without even realizing it. Unbeknownst to Do-woon, the heroine who yearned for growth was already achieving that wish, little by little.

Even after that incident, I continued to do clerical work for days, something I hadn't yet adapted to. Life in Team 1, where things were tough even when there were no cases, continued. But today, a day a little different from the typical routine, was the day I had to go to the hospital with Sergeant Jeong because of my arm cast.

Originally, Detective Kim and Patrolman Jeon were supposed to go with him for burn treatment, but unexpectedly, their schedules were canceled, so we ended up going out alone with Detective Jeong, who still feels awkward. Detective Jeong was still feeling somewhat out of it, which made me even more worried.

하여주 [28]

"I'm going to the hospital!"

전정국 [27]

"Ah... I'd rather go to the hospital..."

김남준 [30]

"What are you talking about when you were making a fuss about burn treatment being painful?"

김석진 [32]

"Sergeant Jeong, please come back from the hospital and speak with me briefly."

정호석 [30]

"...Yes, I'll be back."

Superintendent Kim, seeing Officer Jeong in such a state, assumed things would get better, so he left him alone for several days. But today, he must have decided it just wouldn't work out, so he finally requested an interview. Officer Jeong, his eyes blank, picked up his car keys and answered. I, too, felt the need to break the ice a little today.

After removing the cast, I examined the shoulder where Kim Hyun-seong had stabbed me and heard the doctor's opinion on future treatment. He said the cast could be removed, but that they would only apply a bandage and that I should return for further treatment. Separately from the treatment, I was taken to the hospital room and given an additional Ringer's solution.

It was Sergeant Jeong who asked me to leave, knowing I hadn't slept much in the past few days due to the unfamiliar office work. Even in his mentally unstable state, Sergeant Jeong remained affectionate.

While I lay on the hospital bed, receiving an hour-long IV drip, Sergeant Jeong sat silently. He wasn't looking at his phone or talking to me, just sitting there, completely still. Seeing Sergeant Jeong like that, I finally mustered up the courage to speak.

하여주 [28]

"I... Officer Jeong."

정호석 [30]

"...why."

하여주 [28]

"I... I'm sorry about last time."

정호석 [30]

"what."

하여주 [28]

"I rebelled last time... and when I was with this officer..."

정호석 [30]

"Okay, why are you apologizing for something like that?"

하여주 [28]

"...Aren't you having a hard time these days because of me?"

정호석 [30]

"It's not because of you. Why do you think that?"

하여주 [28]

"I stirred things up for no reason..."

정호석 [30]

"...No, absolutely not."

하여주 [28]

"But you keep avoiding me..."

정호석 [30]

"I never avoided it. I just needed a moment to gather my thoughts."

정호석 [30]

"It's true that the team atmosphere was ruined for a few days because it brought back bad memories, but that wasn't your fault."

하여주 [28]

"Then... you have to avoid me, right?"

하여주 [28]

"I'm sorry, I'm just sorry for everything..."

정호석 [30]

"Okay, I'm sorry."

정호석 [30]

"So don't look at me."

하여주 [28]

"yes..."

After that, while I was getting the Ringer injection, not a word was exchanged, and contrary to my expectations, I felt even more awkward. It seemed like Officer Jeong was still having trouble calming down, so I couldn't say anything more.

In this situation, and in the state that Officer Jeong was in, I felt like if I spoke to him again, we would really fight.

정호석 [30]

"let's go."

After I finished getting the Ringer's solution, Sergeant Jeong personally removed the needle and even meticulously applied a bandage. After a few brief words, Sergeant Jeong left the room first, so I quickly got out of bed and followed him.

Meanwhile, as soon as Officer Ha and Detective Jeong arrived at the station, Superintendent Kim dragged Detective Jeong into the empty conference room. They sat in silence for a while, but Detective Jeong seemed completely unwilling to talk, so Superintendent Kim sighed and opened his mouth.

김석진 [32]

"How long are you going to keep doing this?"

정호석 [30]

"...sorry."

정호석 [30]

"I will make sure that there is no disruption to your work."

김석진 [32]

"hey."

김석진 [32]

"You know that's not what I meant."

Perhaps it was because of Inspector Kim's words. A chilling atmosphere formed in an instant, and Officer Jeong, who had been keeping his head down to avoid eye contact, finally raised his head and looked at Inspector Kim. Inspector Kim frowned and then continued speaking.

김석진 [32]

"This incident with the police chief reminded me of the past, so I worked like crazy for a few days, made a lot of mistakes, and ruined the team atmosphere."

김석진 [32]

"I understand, I can wait. But..."

김석진 [32]

"You're acting like a shell. That's what worries me."

정호석 [30]

"...Why are you worried?"

김석진 [32]

"Detective Jeong."

정호석 [30]

"As the team leader said... I make mistakes often, which interferes with work and ruins the team atmosphere."

정호석 [30]

“It all happened because I wasn’t paying attention, and it’s my fault, so why are you worried?”

김석진 [32]

"Hey, you're talking...!"

정호석 [30]

"Don't worry about me, everything will be fine once I'm okay."

김석진 [32]

".....Jung Ho-seok. Don't you speak nicely?"

김석진 [32]

"When have our kids ever not worried about you?"

김석진 [32]

"Apart from what you did wrong, I'm worried because you look so precarious."

김석진 [32]

"Stop talking nonsense and come to your senses."

정호석 [30]

"Once this sergeant's suspension is over, it's obvious that other officers will start a fuss over it. What am I supposed to do?"

정호석 [30]

"I really didn't think I could stand it then...!"

김석진 [32]

"So you're going to quit your job? No."

김석진 [32]

"I know you feel a great sense of loss after quitting your medical school studies and becoming a police officer, but I'll take care of you first."

김석진 [32]

"How long are we going to be stuck with this police officer?"

정호석 [30]

"Please don't bring up painful memories that I can't even tell my teammates."

정호석 [30]

"It might not be a big deal to you, Inspector, but to me..."

While speaking, Sergeant Jeong suddenly became overcome with emotion, tears welling up in his eyes. He paused, lowered his head, and left the conference room first. Left alone in the room, Inspector Kim's hands trembled, and a few tears fell onto them.

The members of Team 1, so consumed by their shared pain, were left unable to offer any comfort. Contrary to Superintendent Kim's intentions, the meeting ended up leaving them with deep wounds.

I'm sorry... 🥲 I finished writing the investigation log, but it took a while to plan the episode, and it seems like the long journey will start again like 'Family Arson Murder Case 🚒', so it took a little time to prepare 🥹

With a heavy heart, I'll reveal the name of the next case! 'The General Hospital Ghost Doctor Case 👻' It's quite a challenge for me too...! I'll work hard to write it so you won't be disappointed, so please look forward to it, and see you next time with a real case episode 🥰

Thank you for watching today and I love you, Adi 💙💙

_ Number of characters: 6691