章 3: Chapter 2
The boat's engine roared as Beom-ki guided it toward the shore, the familiar sight of his teammates waiting for him along the rocky coastline. The sun was low in the sky, casting a golden hue over the water, its reflection dancing on the surface as the boat slowed. Beom-ki's muscles ached from the fight, his knuckles still sore from the punch he'd delivered, but his mind was clear and focused as always.
As the boat's hull scraped against the shore, Beom-ki hopped off the edge with a smooth, effortless motion, his boots landing firmly on the sand. The salty breeze blew through his wet hair, pushing it away from his face as he straightened up, gripping a heavy, black briefcase in his right hand. His soaked clothes clung to his body, outlining every inch of his muscular form. The thin material of his shirt stretched across his chest, highlighting the ridges of his abs and the faint outline of his nipples beneath the fabric, still damp from the ocean.
Waiting for him on the shore was Nakwon, his teammate and long-time friend, along with several other agents, all of whom had been monitoring the mission from a distance. Nakwon stepped forward, his eyes scanning Beom-ki from head to toe, concern etched on his face. His gaze lingered on the briefcase, knowing full well the weight of what it contained.
"Shadow, are you okay?" Nakwon asked, his voice low but steady, using Beom-ki's codename with a familiarity only close allies shared. There was a hint of worry in his tone, though Nakwon knew better than to expect anything less than success from him.
Beom-ki, still catching his breath from the intense confrontation, gave a slight nod. "Yes," he replied, his voice calm, almost casual despite everything he had just been through. His hand came up, brushing through his wet hair, pushing it back as water dripped from the strands and down the back of his neck. He felt the cool air hit his skin, but he didn't care about the chill. His mind was already moving past the mission, calculating the next steps.
As he ran his fingers through his hair, his shirt tightened around him, sticking to his skin like a second layer. His chiseled physique was on full display—his chest rising and falling slowly, the defined muscles of his abs clearly visible through the damp fabric, glistening slightly under the fading sunlight. The faint outline of his nipples, hardened from the cold water, pressed lightly against the shirt, adding to the intensity of his presence. Despite the exhaustion, Beom-ki looked as composed and powerful as ever, the very image of control and strength.
Nakwon couldn't help but notice the way Beom-ki's presence seemed to command the attention of everyone around him, even in silence. His quiet confidence was palpable, radiating from him as he stood there, not bothered by his appearance or the weight of what had just transpired. The other agents exchanged glances but remained silent, knowing better than to interrupt when Beom-ki was in the middle of a debrief.
Beom-ki stepped forward, extending the black briefcase toward one of the agents without another word. The agent, a tall man in a dark suit, quickly stepped up, taking the case from Beom-ki's hand with a nod of acknowledgment. The briefcase was heavy, its contents valuable and dangerous, but Beom-ki had done his part to secure it, as always.
Nakwon glanced at the briefcase and then back at Beom-ki. "Mission accomplished?" he asked, though he already knew the answer.
Beom-ki wiped his hand across his face, brushing away the remaining droplets of seawater. "Mission accomplished," he confirmed, his tone unwavering. He glanced around at the rest of the team, making sure everyone was in place, his mind still on high alert despite the calm that had settled over the shore.
Nakwon gave a small smile, his expression one of respect and familiarity as he observed Beom-ki. "You never disappoint, do you?" he said with a mixture of admiration and humor in his voice. He knew that no matter the situation, no matter how dangerous or complicated the mission, Beom-ki would always emerge victorious—calm, collected, and unshaken. That was just who he was: Shadow, the team's most reliable asset.
Beom-ki glanced at him, wiping the remaining water from his brow, his expression still unreadable. "Since I'm done, I should get going now," he said, his tone carrying the same casual indifference that always followed a completed mission, as if jumping out of an exploding boat and taking down a criminal was just another Tuesday for him. There was no sense of accomplishment or relief, just a man who had done his job.
Nakwon raised an eyebrow, watching as Beom-ki casually made his way toward the parked cars a short distance from the shore. "Uhhh, okay," Nakwon responded, still processing how quickly Beom-ki shifted from mission mode to personal mode, as if the chaos of the day hadn't just happened. He watched Beom-ki's retreating form, his muscles still visible beneath his wet clothes, the definition of his back and shoulders standing out even from afar.
As Beom-ki approached his car, Nakwon couldn't help but smile wider, his thoughts turning mischievous. He's definitely going to see his girlfriend, Nakwon thought to himself, chuckling silently. Beom-ki's sudden hurry to leave, his nonchalant tone—it was obvious. The man never wasted time, and if he was walking away from the team so quickly, there was no doubt about his destination.
Nakwon crossed his arms, leaning back slightly as he continued to watch. He had seen this play out before—Beom-ki would disappear right after a mission, sometimes without so much as a proper debrief, only to reappear hours later, completely recharged and focused. The team had long since suspected he was secretly seeing someone, but Beom-ki was as tight-lipped about his personal life as he was about everything else. No one knew for sure, but Nakwon was certain he was right this time.
He's definitely going to meet her. Nakwon could almost picture the scene: Beom-ki pulling up to some secluded spot where he'd meet his girlfriend, probably looking just as effortlessly cool as he did now. The woman, whoever she was, must have been something special. It wasn't every day that Beom-ki gave someone that kind of attention. Nakwon had never seen him let his guard down around anyone except during those brief, unexplained disappearances.
Nakwon turned back to the other agents, his smile lingering as he called out, "Alright, let's wrap things up here." The team nodded, moving swiftly to finish up the loose ends of the mission, but Nakwon's mind was still partially on Beom-ki, who had just driven off with that usual quiet confidence. There was something almost amusing about how a man who seemed so unshakable on the battlefield could be so obviously eager to get back to someone special.
Meanwhile, as Beom-ki drove, the tension of the day seemed to melt away. He let out a long sigh, the adrenaline slowly leaving his body, replaced by a feeling of calm. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips, almost imperceptible, but there nonetheless. His mind wasn't on the mission anymore. He was thinking about her—Ji-soo. The very thought of her warmed him, softening the hardened exterior he wore during the day.
The road stretched out ahead of him, the city lights beginning to twinkle in the distance as the sun dipped below the horizon. Beom-ki's hands gripped the steering wheel firmly, but his mind drifted elsewhere. He knew exactly where he wanted to go before heading home—a small, cozy chocolate shop tucked away on a quiet street in the city. It wasn't the kind of place he would usually frequent, but Ji-soo loved it. It was her favorite spot, especially for the white chocolate she adored.
"She loves white chocolate," Beom-ki thought to himself, the smile on his face growing just a little wider. It was a simple thing, but he knew how much it meant to her. Ji-soo always lit up when he brought her those chocolates—her eyes would sparkle with that warmth and joy that only she could radiate. The thought of surprising her with her favorite treat after such a long day made the drive feel lighter, almost as if the weight of the world was finally lifting from his shoulders.
The streets passed by in a blur as he approached the shop, the familiar glow of the storefront lights spilling onto the sidewalk. It was a quaint little place, the kind of shop that felt like a hidden gem amidst the busy city. Beom-ki had only discovered it because of Ji-soo—she had taken him there once, talking animatedly about how the white chocolate was "the best in the world." He hadn't understood what the fuss was about at the time, but seeing her excitement had made him a believer.
As Beom-ki parked his car and stepped out, he felt the cool evening breeze hit his still-damp clothes, the fabric clinging to his skin. He paid no mind to it, though. His focus was on the small bell above the door that jingled softly as he entered the shop. The smell of sweet chocolate immediately enveloped him, a comforting aroma that made him think of Ji-soo even more.
The shop was quiet, just a few customers browsing the displays of beautifully arranged chocolates in their glass cases. Beom-ki made his way to the counter, his eyes scanning for the familiar white chocolate bars wrapped in gold foil. He spotted them instantly, stacked neatly in a basket. Without hesitation, he grabbed a few, enough to make sure Ji-soo would have plenty to enjoy.
The cashier, a friendly older woman who clearly recognized him as a regular by now, smiled as she rang him up. "White chocolate, huh? Someone must be special," she said, her eyes twinkling knowingly.
Beom-ki gave her a polite nod, not saying much, but the small smile on his lips was all the confirmation she needed. He paid for the chocolates, grabbed the small bag, and left the shop, the bell jingling again as he stepped back into the evening air.
As he slid into the driver's seat, Beom-ki glanced at the bag of chocolates on the passenger seat, feeling a sense of satisfaction. It wasn't much—just a simple gesture—but he knew it would make Ji-soo happy. And after everything he had been through that day, that was all he wanted. To see her smile.
The drive to Ji-soo's place felt shorter than usual, and Beom-ki's thoughts were consumed with the anticipation of seeing her. He had pictured the scene in his head a hundred times—her opening the door, eyes brightening when she saw him, the familiar warmth spreading across her face as she reached for him. He wanted to surprise her, to make her smile after the long, exhausting day he'd had.
After parking the car, he grabbed the bag of white chocolate and made his way up to her apartment. Everything seemed normal at first. The building was quiet, the hallway dimly lit. As he approached her door, however, something caught his eye—a pair of men's shoes placed neatly by the entrance. His mind immediately went to her brother. She had mentioned he might be visiting soon, and the thought of surprising them both made him even more excited.
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