chapter 17: Facade

(Note: Trigger warning; self harm)

Alex, faced with Taewoo's direct question, replied bluntly, "I'm sorry, but I don't know who you are or why you're asking me this."

Taewoo introduced himself, "I'm a detective, my name is Taewoo, and my team and I are currently investigating a case related to a map. Can you please cooperate with us?"

Chin couldn't help but choke upon hearing the word "map," but no one noticed. She now understood why Mr. Kate had urged her to find the map before the Korean government got their hands on it. Taewoo was a Korean detective here in England, and his mission was to find the missing map.

Alex responded, "I don't know which map you're talking about. Even though I booked a room in that building, my plans to visit England got canceled, and I was in New York. You can confirm it with my friend."

Chin nodded in agreement, confirming that Alex had been in America in June. Taewoo, however, glared at Chin with mistrust. He was about to say something to her when Hazel intervened.

"I'm so sorry. The three of you should enjoy your meal. Actually, I think the owner of the building has provided us with the wrong information," Hazel explained. "We came here because it was written in the records that he checked in on June 15, 2023, but I believe there must be a misunderstanding. I'm again very sorry, and thank you for your cooperation."

As Hazel turned to leave, Taewoo remained standing there, lost in thought. After a moment, he approached Alex and asked, "Can you confirm with evidence that you were in America?"

Chin held up her phone to show a picture of Alex standing in New York Square on June 15, 2023. Taewoo glanced at the picture and then looked at Chin ,"I never asked you to prove it; I'm asking Mr. Alex."

Alex calmly showed Taewoo his travel history, saying, "This is my travel history, and it's official. You can find it on the national airline's website. The last time I visited England was in December 2022, and then I came back in August 2023. I was not in England in June."

Taewoo inspected the travel history for a moment before handing it back to Alex. "Mr. Alex, you're right, intelligent and smart, but the problem is, I can't believe you. Your history shows your arrival in England but not your departure. It's possible that you left England after June 15, 2023, and then returned in August."

Alex smirked, "I don't know if you're mentally upset or what, but I don't have any other way to prove that I was not in England in June. But wait, I think I can prove it. I'm a student at Columbia University; you can check my attendance for that day. This is the last thing I can offer you, Mr. Cold."

Taewoo replied, "Okay, I will check that myself. You should enjoy your dinner now."

As Taewoo left, Elly rolled her eyes and commented, "I don't know why this detective is so cold and mean. Look, Chin tried to help him, but he refused it. The way he was interrogating you, as if you're a criminal."

Alex inquired, "Wait, do you guys know him?"

Chin attempted to speak, but Elly interjected, "How can we not know him? He's the person Chin loves, the one who made her wait for 3 hours in the café" and then she started laughing.

Chin held her cheeks, exasperated, and said, "Can you not stay quiet for a moment? I was going to tell him."

Alex joined in the laughter, saying, "Chin, why do you always love the most unlovable people? He is handsome and has a good personality, I admit that, but he is so bizarre, strange, obnoxious, and my whole strange dictionary isn't enough to explain him. But there are even stranger things."

Chin looked at Elly and Alex and said, "Stop this right now, or I'm going home. Why do you guys always make fun of me and my choices?" She started eating, but she couldn't help but smile as they continued laughing.

After dropping Elly off at her home, Chin and Alex were heading to their place. Chin couldn't hold back her curiosity and asked Alex, "I think it's the same map, don't you?"

Alex nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, at the base station, Hazel and Taewoo reviewed their files. Hazel pointed out, "Have you noticed that wherever we go for the map, that girl with the strange eyes is always present? I think she's related to the map."

Taewoo, without looking up, replied, "You girls always look from the surface, and men look from the bottom. There's something more than a map that she's up to, but she doesn't know she's surrounded by hounds that eat even the bones of their prey."

Hazel looked at Taewoo, processing his words carefully.

Back in her room, Chin started writing in her diary. Afterward, she took out a picture of a man from her diary , stared at it for some minutes,then she cut her hand, and let a drop of blood fall on the picture. She whispered to herself, "Just because of you, I love to give pain to myself. I hate myself, I hate my bones, I hate my blood, I hate everything related to me. But I'll end this hatred as soon as I find you."

The next morning, Chin called Mark to tell him about Taewoo. After several unsuccessful attempts, Mark finally answered the call with a cryptic message, "I know what you're calling me for, but still, you know nothing. There is much to be revealed. Keep in your mind, I already know everything that you don't, except where the devil is. So, remember, I will always be ten steps ahead of you. I'm busy now, call me when you come to know anything about the devil."

Chin was both surprised and aggravated by his cryptic behavior. "This man and his temper. I hate both. But is he stalking me? How does he know everything?" She then laughed, "Mr. Mark, the Chin you see ten steps behind you is an illusion. Actually, I'm not on the same path you're walking. All of this is just a façade, a network of fake mirrors where you forget your own identity. I wish you could live with these unrealistic thoughts for a little while longer because I love to play games."