Chapter Text
Moonbyul meets Yongsun every Tuesday night to have dinner and a glass of wine and chat about life, recent job events and, anything interesting that happened at their respective line of works. Yongsun is the CEO of her own fashion empire. Moonbyul is the most sought out detective in her precinct.
One night, Yong seems particularly quiet. Her usual cheery attitude is gone with the wind. The bags under her eyes seem to be darker.
"I think he's cheating on me," she said and then took a sip of her wine, as she called for the waiter for another bottle. Byul didn't know what to say nor do but only sat and watch the woman pour the remaining contents of the bottle and thank the waiter for the new one.
"How did you know?" Byul asked after a while. Yong smiled and sighed, "I was looking at our finances the other night and he bought several pieces of jewelry, none were given to me." Byul's eyes widened at her statement. "Maybe he gave it as a gift to his mother?" She asked as she balled her fists underneath the table. Hoping that Yong's theory to be just that, a theory.
"I kissed him the other night and he tasted different," Yong answered. "He said that he went out to have a scotch with his friends, I tasted merlot," she smiled sadly.
Byul took a deep breath to calm herself. She knew how much of a perfectionist Yong is, she's the most detail-oriented person she met. Of course, she'll notice everything, no matter how minuscule it may be.
She didn't know what to do nor say but held Yong's hand across the table, hoping that it can be a sense of comfort. The eldest held her hand tighter and drank her glass of wine.
"I really think he did it but, I just can't prove it. Yet."
The following days went by and everything seemed normal. Both friends were busy with their respective jobs and only had small SNS chats. Byul was worried for her friend. Especially, when she has feelings for said friend. But she couldn't risk losing Yong. No, she can't. But at least she got her as a best friend.
Another Tuesday came and Byul was at their usual spot at the restaurant. She was waiting for Yong, who was a bit quiet ever since last night as well. 'Must be really busy,' she thought. After an hour and three batches of garlic bread later, Yong was nowhere to be found. Byul called her phone and it only went to voice mail. Something dropped within Byul's gut. She waved for the check and went out of the restaurant and drove to Yong's house. She turned her headlights off and rang the doorbell to the house. No one answered and she dialed Yong's phone again, it still went to voice mail.
After the eighth buzz, the door opened to reveal Yong's husband. His eyes widened for a bit, but Byul caught it. "Hello, Miss Moon. What brings you here tonight?" He asked. "Hi, is Yong here? She hasn't been answering my calls and texts. Just want to make sure she's alright." Byul replied. He frowned and opened the door wider to let Byul in. She thank him and was lead to the living room. He asked if she wanted anything while she waits and only asks for a glass of water. "I won't be long, I just want to scold her," she said with a small laugh. Unbeknownst to him, she was studying his actions. As he was about to leave, an unfamiliar female voice called out for him.
All heads turned to the source of the voice. A woman with short blonde hair was wearing a robe and entered the living room. One thing Byul's know for sure is that this woman isn't Yong.
"This is Maria, my secretary. She was, uh, staying for the night because we have an important meeting for tomorrow. Right, Maria?" The woman, whose face seemed to paled, only nodded and then muttered something about "returning to work" and went off her way.
Byul raised an eyebrow to the man in the room and he only smiled and went to the kitchen. Byul was not stupid, the secretary and Yong's husband were having an affair. But what's more important at the moment is Yong's whereabouts. Yong's husband came back with her water and seems to be also calling someone on the phone.
"I was trying to get ahold of Yong but she isn't answering too. Must be busy at the office. I remember her yesterday saying something about a big important meeting that they'll be having tonight," he said apologetically.
"It's fine! Must be really important, thanks for the water though. I must be on my way then," she thanked the man as he leads her to the front door. They said their goodbyes and the doors were shut.
Byul's gut still feels weird. She unlocked her car when she noticed that she has a flat tire. 'Damn, what is it with today?' she thought. She fetched the keys for Yong's garage from her bag and started her journey there. She can still remember when Yong gave it to her, just because Byul knew more about cars than her and would often be the one to fix her car there.
What was inside was something Byul didn't expect. She saw Yong's car. She ran to it and noticed that it has been cold, which means that it hasn't been used for the day. She also noticed a car on the other side, getting its tires replaced. She recognized it as the car of Yong's husband.
She looked at it weirdly. As if her hands has a mind of its own, she took her phone out to take a photo of it. She then grabbed the tools she needed and went to replace her tire, the weird feeling never leaving her for a bit.
A day passed and Yong was officially reported as a missing person. Byul kept on hoping that it was all just a bad dream, but seeing the news just affirmed that it was real life. Her best friend is missing. The woman she secretly loves is nowhere. But the weird feeling that got heightened after what she saw from the garage is still there.
Byul decided to visit Yong's house again and was surprised her by the person who opened the door, it was the husband's secretary, Maria. Byul swallowed her anger and smiled instead, "Hello! sorry for coming unexpectedly. Is your boss here?" Byul asked as she peaked in the house through the shorter woman. "Yeah, he is. Come in," Maria said, failing to hide the irritation in her voice. Byul came in and was lead to an office.
"Miss Moon! What brings you here today? Sorry for the mess, I've been working home ever since Yong's been missing," Yong's husband said as they shook hands, surprise evident in his voice. "Good thing my secretary is willing to accompany me here."
Byul fought the urge to punch him. How dare he move his mistress in? Just because his wife is missing. "Sorry for my unexpected visit, is there any news about Yong?" She asked, keeping her anger inside. "Nothing yet, sorry. We are doing everything we can," He answered. Byul was reading his facial expressions, categorizing whether if it's real or just an act. "Okay, let me know if something came up."
Byul's now sitting on her chair by the window, a bottle of soju by her hand and her phone on the other. Her theories have been confirmed, Yong's husband has something to do with her disappearance. She zoomed at the photos and the discarded tires have some slash on them. Yong must've slashed it for revenge. She also remembered how, on the same night, the secretary was there and wearing only robes and minimal clothing.
Yong must've caught him and wanted to immediately file a divorce. But, something happened and now she's missing while her husband is sleeping with her mistress, in her house. The audacity of that bastard.
But where did he bring Yong? Is she still alive? That mere thought sent chills down Byul's spine. She knows now who's the culprit, but she can't just prove it. No body, no crime.
What hurts most is that she wants to be in this case so bad because it involves Yong but her captain won't allow her because it may cause a "conflict of interest" since it is a bit known that Yong and she are best of friends. But she thinks that the husband has something to do with it.
She downed the bottled of soju and let out a groan of frustration. Byul was now looking down at the city when an idea popped into her mind. She quickly unlocked her phone and went to her contacts and dialed Wheein, Yong's younger sister. After only two rings, the other line answered. Byul paused for a bit before saying,
"I know he did it, but I just can't prove it."