up, wondering where Yena was now. Probably in an airport on her way back to berate Miyoung for all of her bad life decisions.
With a sigh, she pocketed her phone and walked without knowing where she was going. She just knew she needed air. And maybe a drink.
58
JIHOON PUSHED OPEN his front door so hard it slammed against the wall. He cursed at the sound as he fought to push off his shoes.
“Wow, you’re in a grand mood.”
Jihoon wasn’t even surprised to see Junu.
“You know, it’s bad manners to break into someone’s house. Twice.” Jihoon finally wrestled his shoes off and kicked them into the corner.
“Where is she?” Junu asked.
“Who?”
“The president,” Junu said in a blasé tone. “Miyoung.”
Jihoon ignored the worry and his bad mood and pushed past Junu toward the kitchen.
Everything felt a mess. Miyoung confessing what she’d done. Detective Hae appearing, telling her he was her father. She’d left. Just walked out the door without a word. Jihoon knew he should have stopped her, but he’d been so mad. And now he didn’t know what he was. He pulled open the fridge and stared at the measly contents.
“What happened?” Junu asked.
“Her father,” Jihoon said without looking away from the almost-empty fridge.
“What about him?”
Jihoon closed the refrigerator without taking anything out. “He’s here.”
Junu’s lips twisted into a scowl that looked out of place on his handsome face. “Something’s wrong.”
“What is it?”
Junu eyed him. It was clear the dokkaebi wasn’t willing to part with what he knew. So Jihoon put his cards on the table.
“Listen, I just found out my halmeoni gave her gi so I could live with Miyoung’s bead inside me. And it’s probably why I’m having seizures. So if something is going on with Miyoung, I kind of have a stake in it.”
Junu nodded. “Yena’s missing. I can’t get in touch with her.”
“So?”
“So a gumiho shouldn’t be missing. She’s the one who makes people disappear.”
“I’m well aware of that.”
“Yena would never just vanish at a time like this.”
“Time like what?” Jihoon didn’t like how the dokkaebi spoke in vague circles.
Junu ignored the question. “It’s important that Yena is here before the next full moon.”
“Maybe Miyoung is better off without her mother around,” Jihoon said.
The dokkaebi’s expression became sharp, like he had judged Jihoon and found him lacking. “Whatever your feelings are about Yena, she protects her child. Everything that woman does is for Miyoung.”
“I don’t care what Yena does.”
“Oh, you care,” Junu said. “You care because you think she took Miyoung away. You think that without Yena’s influence, Miyoung wouldn’t have left you.”
“It’s none of my business if Miyoung chooses her mother over me,” Jihoon said stubbornly.
“Miyoung chose you.” Junu flicked Jihoon in the forehead. “She left for you. She came back for you. And you sit here like a big crybaby because she has the audacity to love the mother that’s always been there her whole life. If anything, you should feel sorry for Yena. You’re the one destroying her daughter.”
“Now you’re definitely not making sense.”
“Do the math. You’ve had Miyoung’s bead in your weak human body for almost a hundred days.” Junu spoke slowly as one would when explaining algebra to a three-year-old. “If Miyoung doesn’t absorb it again and start feeding at the next full moon, she’s going to be in real trouble.”
“She hasn’t been feeding?” Jihoon asked. “If she goes a hundred days without feeding, she’ll die.”
“Ding-dong-daeng! Tell the boy what he’s won!” Junu announced like a variety show emcee, but his showman’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“Why didn’t she tell me this?”
“I don’t know. Maybe she was trying to protect you from the responsibility of choosing your life over hers.”
“She has no right to make that choice for me.”
Junu chuckled. “You know what? I might not dislike you so much after all.”
“What will happen if Yena suddenly appears again?” Jihoon asked.
“Then I’d find a suit of armor because she’s very likely to come right over and yank that pretty bead out of your chest.”
Jihoon’s hand rubbed against his sternum, which suddenly felt sore. “Why are you doing this? Helping us?”
“Because I’m getting paid.”
Jihoon rolled his eyes.
“If I can give you some unsolicited advice,” Junu said.
“What’s this been all this time?” Jihoon asked sourly.
Junu continued like Jihoon hadn’t interrupted. “I’d run if I were you. What’s the point of sticking around when two gumiho are after you and your only family’s a log.”
Jihoon’s fists came up, wanting to connect with Junu’s perfect jaw.
The dokkaebi danced back, lifting his hands for protection, but