The Prosecutor’s Office’s Proposal Chapter 23

I felt a stinging sensation around my chest and quietly fidgeted with the cold glass, which had gathered condensation from the alcohol.

“Officer, it’s annoying when people nag you about getting married these days. Officer Lee won’t like it.”

“I’m fine. It’s okay to ask.”

I quickly waved my hand to answer. Chief Song skillfully took out the perfectly grilled meat and asked.

“Then here’s a different question. Which is more comfortable, the police or the prosecutor’s office?”

“It varies from person to person, but I find the prosecutor’s office a bit more comfortable.”

Hearing my answer, the legal assistant’s eyes went round.

“Oh my, was Officer Lee from the police force?”

“You didn’t know, Officer? Officer Lee is a genius who even graduated from the Seoul Police Academy.”

At Chief Song’s praise, Officer No’s eyes grew even wider.

“Really? Then why did you quit the police?”

Perhaps because of the alcohol, my mind went suddenly blank at the difficult question. It was a question I had received countless times at the prosecutor’s office, but for a moment, I couldn’t even think of a polite, routine answer. An awkward silence hovered around the oil-drum table.

Just as I managed to find words and opened my mouth, Prosecutor Joo Taeson surprisingly saved me. He picked up a green bottle of soju, cutting off the difficult flow of the atmosphere.

“Officer Lee, take a shot and pour me another glass.”

“Thank you.”

I turned my head, downed the drink, and held out my soju glass. Clear alcohol dropped into the empty glass. Until the clear liquid rippled and brimmed at the surface.

“Please have a glass of mine, too, Prosecutor.”

I said while holding the soju bottle, and he didn’t refuse, holding out his glass. The soju glass held in his large hand looked small like a toy. I poured a glass each for the Chief and the legal assistant as well, praying that I wouldn’t be an outsider in the prosecutor’s office, and officially completed my arrival report.

“I look forward to working with you all.”

We all downed our soju in one shot.

After one bottle of soju and three glasses of somaek (soju and beer mix), my face felt hot as I couldn’t handle the intoxication. It was no surprise, as my limit was a single bottle of soju. The tension of my first staff dinner with my new family barely held me upright. If not for that, I would have passed out on the floor right then and there.

We held the prosecutor’s wallet hostage and ate our fill of beef. The others had finished one more bottle of soju each but looked much more sober than I did.

Prosecutor Joo Taeson wasn’t just good at his job; he was also good at drinking. He had finished over two bottles of soju, yet his complexion hadn’t changed at all. I, having only had one bottle, was the most overcome by intoxication, and my flushed cheeks showed no signs of fading even as time passed.

We finished our short meal and said our goodbyes in front of the restaurant.

“Have a safe trip home. Thank you for today.”

I bowed my head deeply. The ground, which should have been solid asphalt, felt mushy under my feet. My colleagues accepted my greeting with warm attitudes, and Chief Song added with a regretful tone.

“You seem drunk, Officer Lee; I wish I could go to the official residence with you, but I have a place I have to stop by today.”

“It’s okay. It’s close.”

“Then I will go with the legal assistant today. Get home safe, Prosecutor. You too, Officer Lee.”

“Nice to meet you, Officer Lee. See you tomorrow. And you get home safe as well, Prosecutor.”

Chief Song and Officer No, who were heading in the same direction, bade us farewell and turned their backs first.

Joo Taeson remained by my side, heading in the same direction. Perhaps because of the awkwardness of being alone together, the wind brushing against my cheeks felt even more biting. Prosecutor Joo broke the ambiguous silence first.

“Let’s go now.”

“Yes, Prosecutor.”

I moved my feet, pretending to be as sober as possible. Prosecutor Joo shoved his hands into his coat pockets and walked a little distance away from me.

He was too far away to call us acquaintances, yet too close to say we weren’t traveling together. That ambiguous distance seemed to be a metaphor for the relationship between Prosecutor Joo and me.

As I staggered while crossing the crosswalk, Prosecutor Joo grabbed my arm. His grip was strong. I trembled, startled by the touch tightening against my skin, and a flicker of perplexity spread in his black eyes.

“Why are you so startled? I just grabbed you because you couldn’t even walk properly.”

He had returned to speaking informally before I knew it.

“…I think it’s because I’m timid.”

“No need to answer that. It was just a remark of annoyance. It’s a bit strange to answer such things.”

“I will correct that.”

“You’re not even a police officer anymore. You speak like a police officer often, Officer Lee.”

He had protected Officer Lee Chaeha when faced with Officer No’s difficult question, but he was acting quite cold toward the son of Lee Gilyoung when left alone with him.

As soon as we crossed the crosswalk, the weight on my arm dropped. His large hand had let me go. Prosecutor Joo continued in a still-indifferent tone.

“You’re very drunk, so I’ll take you to the front of your residence.”

“I can go alone.”

“It’s a slight detour, so you don’t need to refuse. It’s not a request, it’s an order.”

What else could I do when it was an order from my superior? I walked staggeringly beside Prosecutor Joo until I spotted a convenience store and stopped.

“I’m going to go buy some ice cream for a moment.”

“In this winter?”

“When I drink, I get a craving for ice cream. Shall I buy one for you too, Prosecutor?”

“I don’t need it, so just have it yourself.”

I pushed the glass freezer door open, picked a popsicle, paid, and came out. Since I planned to eat it at home, the milk-flavored ice cream went into my crossbody bag.

My home was right ahead, and the time we walked together couldn’t have been more than ten minutes. The residence was an ordinary villa located in a secluded residential area.

Parking was a serious problem everywhere in Danhyeon City. Like any other residential area, the entrance to the villa was packed with cars, so the gap was very narrow for two people to pass. We had to say our farewells in the alleyway.

I took one step between the cars first, then turned around and bowed.

“Thank you for seeing me home.”

“Go on in.”

I stood in the shadows where the streetlamp didn’t reach, while Prosecutor Joo stood in the white light. The moment Prosecutor Joo turned away from me, I reached out and grabbed his arm without thinking. It was the mischief of alcohol.

“Prosecutor.”

The streetlamp illuminated my hand clutching him. I hoped the desperation contained in that hand wouldn’t be visible to him, but the white light was far brighter than the moon hanging in the dark sky.

Prosecutor Joo looked back. I knew it was an action I wouldn’t have been able to commit if I weren’t drunk. Even knowing that this kind of behavior must be strictly restrained, I opened my trembling lips.

“Thank you. For believing in me.”

“…I’m not sure if that can be called believing in you, but I’ll accept the gratitude for now.”

The opponent’s face, backlit by the streetlamp, was not clearly visible. Conversely, my expression was fully exposed to Prosecutor Joo.

“Officer Lee Chaeha.”

“Yes.”

“Can I ask you one thing?”

Prosecutor Joo asked, loosening the tie that had been strangling his neck.

“Yes, Prosecutor.”

“Is what you said about respecting me still valid?”

“Of course.”

He flinched slightly at the answer without hesitation. His eyes were filled with perplexity.

“I know that you blew the whistle internally for your deceased colleague. I understand why you dislike me because I’m the son of a criminal. Everyone in the world felt that way, and I don’t expect you to be the exception. And didn’t you save me when I was framed, even knowing that fact, Prosecutor?”

“…That’s true. I knew it back then, too.”

I had wondered, but hearing Prosecutor Joo affirm it made my chest swell. Without realizing it, I bit my lower lip tightly. I wanted to hug him and say thank you, but I knew how to restrain myself to that extent.

I rubbed my own lips hard with fingertips dulled by alcohol and added,

“That alone is enough reason for me to respect you, Prosecutor.”

“That remains to be seen.”

“…”

“…I’ve thought about it; don’t do it.”

“Do what…”

“Respect. Stop doing that.”

Waves stirred by the wind crashed within his deep eyes.

“I didn’t do that out of any sense of justice. I just didn’t like that the Osong Construction corruption case, which Prosecutor Yoon Soyeon was investigating, was halted because of the Chief Prosecutor. Since we’re working together now, it’d be hard for you to keep respecting me even if I asked you to, anyway.”

“…”