Part 13

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Kate walked into the mall and looked around for the new toy store. Aaron, wearing fake glasses and a plaid shirt walked in behind her. "Wow, this place is huge," Kate said staring wide eyed at the mall. "How am I supposed to find a toy store and a restroom close to it. Koreans hardly go to the bathroom, they don't need as many bathrooms here than in America!" Kate said as they started walking forwards looking around.

    "What time did you say President Kim was going to be here?" Aaron asked Kate. "I'm not the one who heard the time you did. Remember, from his office." Kate said trying to fix her Bluetooth. "That's right, I have the recording on my phone." Aaron listened to the recording again carefully. "He should be here in half an hour. Let's go over the plan again."

    "You are going in the store and then tell me when he comes. From your phone you are going to blow a fuse and I will come in," Kate said while they go up an escalator. "I don't exactly understand what I do from there."

    "Did you bring your crossbow?" Aaron asked searching his phone. "And I have the message in my pocket." He dug in his pocket grabbing the paper then handing it to Kate. "Stick it onto an arrow, make sure President Kim actually looks at you, but before he does something shoot the arrow. So close to him that he shakes in his shoes with fear." Aaron whispered. They finally found a sign that said grand opening.

    "I found it, the store," Kate said and walked toward the store so Aaron could spot it. "What's our luck that there is a bathroom right next to the store," Aaron said motioning to the bathroom, literally right next to it.

    "Maybe kids go to the bathroom a lot," Kate said. "Or they get excited around toys," She laughed to herself.

    President Kim walked in the store with a man next to him. People slowly came in one by one looking at the toys. "Mr. Seo, you did a good job. It looks great." President Kim said. Aaron had a camera in his glasses so Kate could watch on her phone in the bathroom. She changed into a black sweater and dark gray pants. Just like the other night she wore a leather mask over her mouth with her hair tucked under it and her Alvina hat. So she waited patiently. She left her backpack in the vent and held her crossbow with the message tied to it close to her.

    "Thank you boss," Mr. Seo said. "Don't worry, I'll have everything paid back soon. Please enjoy our toy selection." He laughed with President Kim as they looked around. Aaron pulled out his phone. "Are you ready Kate?" Aaron said quietly. "I'm pushing the button...now" and he pushed the button. Kate turned off her phone and put it with her backpack and closed the vent. She looked over the stall to check to see if anyone was inside and then left.

    The lights suddenly flicker off and everyone looks around confused. "Mr. Seo, what's going on? Didn't you check the whole place out so this wouldn't happen!?" President Kim said. "Yes, boss, I don't know why this is happening, I'll go in the back and check." Mr. Seo said running to the back to check the electricity. President Kim put his hand on his hips and looked around the store at the lights and few people slowly walking out. His eyes got to the front door and noticed a suspicious silhouette. Aaron saw that President Kim's eyes met Kate's and smiled. The lights turned back on and President Kate looked at the person standing in the entrance way. He looked at the hat, the mask, the clothes, and the spiky boots.

    "Ah," President Kim said, standing more tall. "So what do you want from me?" President Kim said taking a few steps closer. He looked at the word on the hat. "Alvina," he said. "Do you want me to call you that?" Kate didn't move, barely even breathing and slowly lifted up her crossbow. President Kim stepped back in shock and held up his hands. "What's going on, Alvina?!"

    Mr. Seo walked back into the store and jumped at the scene. Kate walked closer to him, making him step back with every step. Soon President Kim was up against a wall with stuffed animals. "Boss!" Mr. Seo said beginning to run toward President Kim, to protect him, but Kate shot the arrow. It went right next to President Kim's head and into a teddy bear behind him. He was almost shaking when he turned to look at the arrow. He noticed the note tied onto it and started to question it. When he turned back around to look at Alvina, she was gone. "Boss are you okay?" Mr. Seo asked worryingly.

          

    "Do I look okay!?" President Kim yelled. He took the note and opened it up. Written in all English was the message KARMA COMES BACK TO BITE YOU. President Kim looked at it closely. He was trying to figure out what it meant, he could understand it since he is fluent in English, but he didn't know what it meant, why it was meant for him. "Mr. Seo, good luck on your first day, I have to go." President Kim said, he walked toward the entrance in a trance. He noticed people walking so he cleared his throat and fixed his sports coat.

    Aaron hurried over to the arrow and grabbed it. Mr. Seo wasn't paying attention at the time. Aaron looked at Mr. Seo who was pacing to the checkout desk clicking on the computer, Aaron assumed he was looking at the video of what just happened. He smiled and then walked out of the store and waited next to women's restroom for Kate.

    She came out a couple minutes later and walked passed Aaron without realizing. Aaron walked up and tapped her shoulder. "Good job," He whispered in her ear. Kate jumped a little, still nervous from what she just did. "You looked really cool, I was almost scared. But man, President Kim was shaking so bad when you shot the arrow." Kate kept walking toward the escalators without saying anything. Aaron could sense she needed to calm down a little before she could enjoy it.

    While they were heading for the exit, Aaron grabbed her wrist and they stopped. "Why don't we get ice cream first?" Aaron asked. Kate looked at him with soft eyes. "I know you really want to. Besides, this is our first time at a mall in Korea, might as well explore." Aaron waited for Kate's response. She finally smiled and nodded her head.

    "I'm still nervous, ice cream popped in my head right before you suggested it," Kate said and they walked around looking for somewhere with ice cream. The day was filled with excitement, as Kate loved going to malls. She ran around looking at things like a kid at Disneyland. Aaron stayed behind her, enjoying seeing Kate so happy. If only they could stay in that moment.

    "What!" Kim Bong Soo yelled, making Joon jump. "You saw the whole thing?" he said jumping up from his bed.

    "No, I was just passing by, but I saw someone with a crossbow and I saw your dad. I was with my cousin so I had to keep walking, but I know I saw that. Do you know what it could be about?" Joon said. He went shopping with his cousin that he was very close too until he went to college. She was a couple years younger and in her last year of high school so they decided to meet up.

    "Uh," Kim Bong Soo said. He did know what could have been happening but he couldn't tell Joon. "No I don't. I'll figure it out," Kim Bong Soo said heading for the door.

    "Are you going to check up on your dad? You may not be close, but he is still your dad. Call him, okay?" Joon said and he went into the bathroom. Bong Soo grabbed his jacket and headed for the convenience store. It was almost nine at night and he walked slowly thinking. Could the person be Alvina? Could Alvina be planning something and starting to act quickly? How could they have known where he would be? These thoughts buzzed through his head as he headed into the convenience store. He looked around deciding what he wanted. Would they use the crossbow again? Did Alvina plan to kill his father?

    "I'm going to buy some kimbap then go back to my apartment. You can go ahead," Kate said as she pulled up to Aaron's apartment. "Are you sure you don't want me to go with you?" Aaron asked hopping off the back of her bike. "Yeah, I'm fine. I'll just eat the kimbap and go to sleep. I'm kind of tired. I know you are too, I dragged you around everywhere. But thanks for letting me," Kate said. She waved goodbye and drove to her apartment. She went to her apartment and changed into leggings and a hoodie then walked to the convenience store. When she got there she noticed Kim Bong Soo sitting by himself at a table looking at a can of beer, unopened. Kate stopped walking at looked at him, worried.

    Something must be bothering him again, but why is he just staring at the can. As she walked closer, Bong Soo opened the can and took a big swallow. Kate couldn't help but walk up to him. "Are you okay?" She asked with a quiet voice. Kim Bong Soo looked up at her and put his can down without saying anything.

    "Sorry," Kate said, remembering how irritated he got last time she was concerned about his drinking. She noticed this was the same Kim Bong Soo as last time. "Then..." she said and was going to walk into the convenience store until something grabbed her hand. "It's okay," Kim Bong Soo said softly. "Sit with me."

    Kate looked at him. She walked a little closer then sat down in the chair. She didn't know how to act in this situation. Kim Bong Soo took another big swallow, making Kate nervous. "I'm just," Kim Bong Soo started to say. "Concerned." he finished. Kate didn't understand what he meant.

    "Concerned?" She repeated. She had a heavy english accent that made Kim Bong Soo smile. "About what?" she asked. Kim Bong Soo still had a hold of her hand, but she didn't mind. "I don't have a good relationship with my father. But I am worried about him and don't know how to act. He knows I don't want to be acknowledged of his son, so I don't know how he will react if I try to be involved."

    "Why do you think that? Wouldn't he be proud of his son acting like a son?" Kate asked putting her wallet onto the table.

    "Because I was never really a son to him. I was more for his looks. To make him look good. He would tell me to not get involved that I am not capable of helping. And if I listen to him, I could maybe lose him."

    "You don't want to lose him even though you don't like him? He is your father, you just need to get to know each other, to understand each other."

    "He did something that I could never forgive him for," Kim Bong Soo said taking a swallow of beer. "And I think, someone whom I haven't seen in awhile and have been trying to contact, is doing something bad." Kate was surprised about the things going on in his life, not realizing she was the cause of it. She took her other hand and put it on top of theirs.

    "Just talk to your dad and to your old friend and try to understand them. Help them with as much as you can. If you need me I'll be here to help." Kate said with a sweet smile, patting his hand. "I'm tired from a long day so I'm going to get me some kimbap and go home. Be careful going home tonight, I'll see you on Monday." She said and she got up.

    "Emelyn, wait," Kim Bong Soo said making Kate freeze. Kim Bong Soo got up from his chair and walked up behind Kate. He grabbed her arm and turned her around. Kate looked at him wide eyed, surprised. He wrapped her into a hug, closing his eyes and resting his head on her shoulder. Kate was still for a moment and slowly wrapped her arms around him. "Thank you for comforting me." He said. They stood there for a moment. Kate breathed in slowly taking in the smell he gave off. Kim Bong Soo smelt really good and his warmth calmed her. She didn't want to let go of this moment. Kim Bong Soo let go slowly and studied Emelyn's face. "Good night," he said and picked up his can. He walked to the garbage and threw it away. While walking back up to his apartment he turned around to smile at Emelyn then kept going.

    Kate couldn't move, she could still feel the sensation of the hug. She wanted to keep it with her. She watched him walk away and smiled.


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