{8} "Romeo And Juliet."

—On the other side of town, somewhere hidden in the darkness...

"Please stop! I don't know anything! Please let me go!" A man screamed his mouth dripping with red liquid, his hands restrained behind his back as he laid on the floor of a basement of sorts, after being beaten and tortured.

"Useless." A much taller man grunted in disgust as he glared down at him, gritting his teeth.

"What should we do with him, sir? He doesn't seem to have the information we need." A younger man addressed the taller one.

"Kill him, he's irrelevant to me now." The taller ordered turning to leave the room. "Oh and please do it quietly." he added before finally taking his exit.

"Yes, sir." The younger man addressed taking out his gun from it's holster, adding a silencer before pointing it at the tortured man on the floor.

"No! No! I won't say anything! I swear! Just let me live!" The man on the floor whaled, trying to prolong his life.

"I'm afraid it doesn't work that way." The younger man replied preparing to take his aim.

"No!" The man screamed one final time.

The younger took his shot, nailing the victim straight in the head causing him to hit the floor deceased.

He then made a quick phone call. "It's done."

"Good." His boss smiled in satisfaction.

...

I opened my eyes, rising with the morning sun as the warmth of it's light gently kissed my skin. I turned on my side checking the time, it was 7.am. After Soo-ah left I spent the remainder of the day looking for various Art Museums and I finally settled on a reasonable one.

This Art Museum in particular displayed art that was predicted to be found in the Joseon era, some that may be connected with myths and legends so I thought it would be a good place to start.

I rolled out of bed with a grunt ruffling my own hair as I headed downstairs to grab some breakfast. When I entered the kitchen I witnessed Gokk do finishing up a conversation he was having on the phone.

"Who was that?" I asked making him jump.

"Sagwa you're awake." he stated meeting my gaze, slipping his phone into his pocket.

"Mhm." I answered taking a seat at the counter still in a drowsy state. "So who was it?" I asked again sleepily resting my cheek in my palm, eyes barely open.

"Oh, that was Okada he wanted me to tell you he's sorry about not coming home last night."

"So he didn't come home last night?" I asked as he brought it to my attention, I thought he would have been home after I dozed off, guess not.

"No, apparently whatever they're working on is taking longer to deal with than expected."

"Does it have something to do with the restaurant?"

"Not this time, no." he simply said not telling me anything else.

I looked at him to continue but instead, he gave me a look. "Oh no you don't, I'm not telling you anything."

I pouted for a moment then I thought about something that was bugging me. "Why doesn't Soo-ah like you?"

"I honestly don't know, there was never a time she ever did."

"There must be a reason, I mean she wouldn't just hate you just like that."

"Maybe but whatever it is, I don't know the reason." he replied with a shrug.

I nodded deciding to change the subject. "I've been meaning to ask, how come there isn't anyone walking along the sidewalk in front of the house? I've been noticing they don't walk past here it's almost like they avoid it."

"You are aware that I'm not the only one here watching you right? The others are outside around the house, so people probably avoid here because they know who lives here. The public tends to avoid us, if you know what I mean." he answered and I couldn't help but pout a little after hearing his words, it didn't seem fair at all.

He then handed me a cup of coffee, I hadn't realized he started making. "Why thank you. That's really sweet of you." I told him as I accepted his kind gesture.

"You're welcome." he said smiling as he stood in front of me, to which I gladly smiled back.

"So what's the plan for today?" he asked leaning his elbows on the counter in front of me.

"I was thinking about going to an art museum with a friend." I was then remind that Gokk do had to come with me everywhere I went.

"Hmm, do I know this friend?"

"I don't think so." I answered as sipped the hot coffee.

I then took my phone out and texted Namjun remembering I hadn't checked with him yet.

Sagwa:

Good morning Namjun, I was wondering if you'd be free today say around 9.am?

A few moments later I got a notification with a new message.

Namjun:

Good morning Sagwa, yes I'll be free around that time today, luckily I don't have to work. Why?

Sagwa:

Good, because I thought that maybe you and I could check out this Art Museum I found located in Seoul, maybe we'll find something useful.

Namjun:

Sounds like fun I'll see you there. Do you need a ride or...?

Sagwa:

No, I'm covered but thanks, I'll text you before I leave.

Namjun:

Great, I look forward to sleeping with you.

Sagwa:

?!

Namjun:

Oh shoot, I meant seeing! Seeing you! Damn auto-correct.

Sagwa:

Right... gotcha.

Namjun:

Thank god.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't just a tad bit disappointed that it was just a mistake, I couldn't help but smile down at my phone though.

When I looked up, Gokk do was looking at me with a questioning look on his face.

"I wonder who you're texting that's making you smile like that." he stated still eyeing me.

"I'll introduce you to them a little later and by later I mean like in an hour." I told him as I got up to raid the fridge in order to make myself a sandwich.

He just nodded in response watching me gather the necessary ingredients and laid them on the counter as I began my task of making myself breakfast.

"Do you want one?" I asked him when I finished making two ham and cheese sandwiches that laid on a plate.

"A sandwich from you Ma'am? I'll be honored." he said as I smiled and pushed the plate in front of him.

I raised my eyebrow at him. "The way you react to every kind gesture I show towards you... one would begin to think I was never kind to you." I said a little confused.

"Actually, if you don't mind me saying this without being killed... I've never seen you being nice to anyone below you. Before you treated me like I was your personal slave and less like a bodyguard, which is why I'm wondering right now, what's wrong with you, I'm a little worried." he said making me stop in my tracks as I was about to sip the coffee.

"Really?!" I expressed in disbelief putting the cup down on the counter. "That doesn't sound like me?" I titled my head slightly.

"You don't remember?"

"It's not that I don't. I just can't believe that I did that."

"You also absolutely had to have the most expensive things and a stylist plus a personal make up artist, you never said thank you to any of the servants and to top it all off you used the power you had to get what you wanted." he continued to explain to me what a terrible person I am or was.

My mind suddenly went back to the waiter who gave me champagne at the function a couple of nights ago and how surprised and confused his face looked when I thanked him and I immediately got this unsettling feeling.

"So, I'm a bratty diva is what you're saying?" I summed it all up with just two words.

"More bratty than diva, so yeah." he confirmed, taking a bite out of the sandwich I gave him.

"I see, then do you hate me?" I asked, looking at him feeling a little ashamed.

Based on his words I assumed my personality was different here, much different from mine.

"Absolutely not!" he said putting the plate down in a hurry waving his hands in denial. "I knew you meant well."

"Gokk do it's if you hated me a little bit, who doesn't hate a rude brat?"

"No I really don't. There were times I'd get annoyed with you but I could never hate you."

"I'm sorry. That won't be happening from now on. I'll be sure to treat you better, you're my body guard after all." I smiled.

"I'll definitely look forward to that." he said taking a sip of his coffee.

"I'm gonna take Koda for a walk after breakfast if that's alright?" I asked.

"Of course it is."

I had walked Koda for about a good twenty minutes before I returned to get ready.

After a bath, I wore a simple black pair of jeans, a white T-shirt, a forest green jacket and boots which matched the jacket. Afterwards I chose a black choker as my necklace, did my hair in the usual ponytail and applied light makeup and some lip gloss.

Then I went downstairs to see Gokk do sitting on the handle of the sofa flipping his car keys around waiting for me.

He stood up when he saw me. "You all ready to go?"

"Yup."

Koda sensing I was going out came up to me happily wagging his tail. "Aww sweetie, sorry but you can't come with me this time." I took his head in my hands and planted a loving kiss on his head. "Be a good boy while I'm gone." I patted him one last time before grabbing my bag off the table and heading for the door Gokk do close by me.

He locked the door behind us and I found my way to his car and got into the front seat and he followed.

When we were finally on the road he stated, "I never pinned you for the art museum type."

"There's a lot you have to learn about me Gokk do." I responded with a smile. "I actually love art."

"Really?" he asked almost laughing.

"Of course, how could you not? Art is a way for some people to express themselves and their emotions, sometimes when I look at an art piece I can feel what the artist felt when they made it. That's the real beauty in art the same with music. You also learn a lot about history and stuff I enjoy that." I explained, looking out the window at the passing scenery.

"Woah, I never knew that about you, it's like you're a completely different person." he said looking between me and the road.

'That's because I am.' I thought to myself before looking at him.

"Well, you'll just have to get use to the new me then."

"I guess so." He smiled.

After a few minutes of driving, we arrived at our destination.

We both got out of the car after he parked and made our way to the building's entrance where we found a beautiful interior.

"Wow!" Gokk do expressed from behind me.

"It is beautiful isn't?" Another voice commented.

I looked beside me to find Namjun standing next to Gokk do as they both stared at the same art piece in awe.

"How is it that you always arrive before me?" I asked him with a smile. He laughed at my question. "Namjun, I'd like you to meet a friend of mine, this is Gokk do, Gokk do this is Namjun." I introduced the two of them to each other as they shook hands.

"So, where do you want to begin?"

"We'll split up, just look for something that seems really unusual." I whispered the last part to him only.

"Why are you whispering?" he whispered back.

I made a movement with my eyes as I looked between him and an amused Gokk do.

"Oh he doesn't know?" he asked and I nodded.

"Okay, I'll go look over there." he said pointing in a direction before leaving.

I shook my head at Gokk do who was completely amazed by the pieces of art he came across he stared at them with his mouth open.

I decided not to interrupt him and go on my way slowly backing away from him unnoticed.

The art there were mostly statues and paintings but nothing completely out of the ordinary. So I went inside an air-conditioned room that I hadn't searched yet.

There, something caught my eye, it was a beautiful diamond necklace that was contained nicely behind a glass exterior, it was sitting in the middle of the room like it was the center of attention.

I leaned in to have a closer look at it. "She's beautiful isn't she?" A voice said next to me.

"Yeah, she is." I responded smiling as I turned to look at them, that smile soon disappeared when I realized a red-haired Hanseok was the owner of that voice. Hanseok was everyone's favorite person, he was always bright and happy, if he noticed you were going through a rough time he'd try his best to make you smile and laugh, he'd always comfort his members and friends anyway he could.

I looked into his big grey almond-shaped eyes and naturally I began to trace his soft features; his tanned skin, diamond shaped face; his upturned nose and his pink smear lips that always had a contagious smile on them.

I was greeted by his own smile as he continued to speak looking back at the piece of jewelry. "Legend has it this necklace once belonged to a mermaid."

"A mermaid?!"

"Yes a mermaid, she was beautiful they say her beauty was hypnotizing."

"Oh, so what happened to her?"

"Well you see back in the Joseon era people they saw mermaids as a bad omen, so they convinced the king to capture her and lock her up. Do you know what happens to a mermaid that's out of water too long?"

"Not really, no." I answered anxiously, waiting to hear the rest of his story.

"When a mermaid is out of water too long they usually can become human for a while when they aren't wet, the prince was drown to her from the moment he saw her and he convinced his father to let her roam free around the village but still as a prisoner and this resulted in them spending a lot of time together so they eventually fell in love; the prince knew she was never going to be safe there so they were going to run away together... but..."

"But?" I urged him to continue.

"But that didn't go as planned, they were still some people who wanted to kill her, the prince knew she was safer in the ocean where she belonged, so he took her out to sea on a boat to set her free; however, those people caught up to them and the prince fought to protect her but he was killed with a staff and thrown overboard where the mermaid saw him. She was so heartbroken that she pushed the edge of the staff into her heart, killing herself, that necklace he gave to her as a symbol of their undying love." he finished finally meeting my gaze as we both stood up straight.

"That's so sad, it's like Romeo and Juliet." I sighed.

"Yes, very much so. I'm Jung Hanseok by the way." he said smiling, holding his hand out to me.

"I'm Min Sagwa, how do you know all of this anyway?" I asked after we shook hands.

"I'm the curator at this museum, it's my job to know everything about all the pieces here." he answered surprisingly, I wasn't expecting that job for him.

"So if I asked you something about an art piece you'd be able to tell me about it?"

"I would try my best to answer all questions you may have, so yes." he answered proudly and I smiled politely.

"Hyung?!" Someone announced from behind me. "Ah! It is you, when did you come back into the country?" Namjun asked and the two immediately greeted each other.

"I just flew back in last night." Hanseok said happily as I looked at them.

"So you guys know each other?"

"Yes, we're very close actually."

"Namjun is like a brother to me." Hanseok added, and I was glad to hear that their relationship with each other hadn't changed.

"What were you guys discussing before I so rudely interrupted?"

"He was just telling me that he's the Museum's curator and he says he can tell me anything about all the art pieces in this gallery."

"That reminds me, I actually came to find you because I think I found something." Namjun said as he lead us to a very old looking jewelry box.

"Hyung, what can you tell us about this?"

As I looked at it, I understood why he chose it, the jewelry box was empty but the shape and outline of the inside matched the artifact I had.

"This is an incomplete piece, the artifact on the inside was never found but what I can tell you is this piece wields a very powerful curse."

"You wouldn't happen to know the name of this curse would you?" I asked hopefully.

"Uh, I think it was called: Map Of something. I'm not sure." Hanseok answered putting a thoughtful thumb to his chin, Namjun and I sharing a look.

"Map of the soul?"

"Yes! That was it!"

"Um, Hanseok I think I have something you'd really like to examine."

"Really? What is it?"

I looked at Namjun before saying, "It's not here but how about we meet at my place and I could show you."

"Sounds good to me, Hyung?" Namjun asked looking at his friend.

Hanseok looked at Namjun then nodded. "Okay, that's doable, text me the address." Hanseok and I exchanged numbers quickly.

"Thanks for your help, it was nice seeing you, Hyung."

"It was nice seeing you too and meeting you Sagwa." he said as we all bowed and went on our way.

"I'm going to go find Gokk do he's probably wondering where I am so I'll be seeing you, thanks again."

"Anytime." he smiled and gave me a wave as I walked away.

I'm one step closer to finding a way to fix this mess.

...