die every day. But we are too beautiful to deny the world of our faces.” Junu shot her a mischievous grin.
Miyoung didn’t bother to explain. She knew Junu couldn’t understand. The idea that a gumiho could value human lives above her own. He was a dokkaebi. Everything he did was for his own personal gain.
Then she remembered her mother’s words. That her decision not to feed wasn’t a complete choice. She’d still run away. She was still a coward.
And finally she remembered Jihoon’s words from her dream. My halmeoni is sick. Please help us.
His halmeoni was alive? Miyoung had assumed she’d succumb to her lack of gi, but it seemed she was stronger than she’d looked. Still, if she was sick, then maybe the lack of energy was affecting her, just slower than Miyoung had assumed. How could someone come back from losing so much gi?
Jihoon’s plea rang through her mind over and over. Please help us. His desperation had been so thick, it magnified the guilt already clogging her chest.
Miyoung stared out the window at the city of Osaka, just waking up for the day.
“I guess the kitsune angle didn’t get us anything,” Miyoung said, still watching the cityscape. Bright signs lit the streets as the city waited for the sun to rise. It was beautiful and vibrant, and it wasn’t home. “I don’t want to go to Hong Kong.”
“You want to stay here?”
“I want to go to Seoul.”
“You know I can’t let you go there.”
“If my mother doesn’t find a solution, I don’t have much time left. Think of it as my dying wish.” She wouldn’t tell Junu the real reason. That if there was no way to save Miyoung, then maybe she could save another. Maybe this was the best choice. She already felt like a restless ghost. And Jihoon and Halmeoni were her unfinished business.
“Gumiho don’t get dying wishes.”
“This one does. I don’t want to be here or in Hong Kong or wherever else she thinks she can find answers. I just want to go home.” Miyoung let her voice lower in a plea, let herself look desperate. What was pride to a dying gumiho?
“There’s a flaw in your plan,” Junu pointed out. “Your mother would never approve of this.”
“That’s where you come in,” Miyoung said with a sly grin.
Junu laughed, shaking his head. “It’ll cost you.”
“I assumed.” Miyoung lifted a brow, waiting for Junu to debate his loyalties.
The dokkaebi shoved the rest of the bread in his mouth and dusted off his hands. “I’ll start packing.”
43
THE DOCTORS KEPT Jihoon in the hospital for a few days. They ran tests, took blood, poked, and prodded. No new diagnosis. No new solution. So they discharged him.
Somin rushed around the room, making sure nothing was left behind as Jihoon took his time pulling on his sneakers. It hurt to bend down, but it felt good to be wearing his own clothes.
“He wasn’t here that long. There’s nothing for him to leave,” Somin’s mother said.
“What if he forgets his phone?”
“It’s right here.” Jihoon lifted his cell in the air, sharing a look of mutual exasperation with Ms. Moon.
“What about your charger?”
“Here.” Ms. Moon held it up.
This was his friend’s coping mechanism. If she could fuss over Jihoon, she would worry less. As Somin checked under the bed for the third time, for what, Jihoon didn’t know, Detective Hae walked in.
Ms. Moon straightened in her chair, lifting her hands to smooth her hair. “Hello, Detective Hae,” she said sweetly.
“Soohyun-ssi.” He greeted her with a nod, and she blushed at his use of her name. It had taken him almost a month to stop calling her Somin’s eomeoni. “Jihoon-ah, you look ready to go.”
“Ready for a while.” Jihoon gave a pointed look at Somin, who opened the bathroom door to check inside.
“Somin-ah.” Detective Hae took her shoulders. “The nurses have the instructions for Jihoon’s medication, why don’t you go get those?”
She nodded, grateful for the task.
“Detective, you’re always able to get things in order. It’s a remarkable skill,” Ms. Moon said. “I would love to have you over for dinner, to thank you. How about tomorrow night?”
Jihoon was grateful Somin had stepped out. Seeing her mother flirt would be awkward; of course, it wasn’t fun for Jihoon either.
“I’d be honored, but I have a church event.”
“Your faith is admirable,” Ms. Moon said. Jihoon let out a snort and received a flick from her.
“I’m free now,” Detective Hae offered.
“Free for what?” Somin asked, returning with a packet of instructions.