EPISODE 78 – The Air in Jeju
The initial shock of their arrival had worn off, replaced by the warm, bustling energy of Dohee's grandparents' home. The house was cozy and filled with the scent of a home-cooked meal, a stark contrast to the sterile, high-tech environment of their headquarters. Dohee led everyone inside, the warmth of the old wooden floors a welcome change from their long drive.
Minjae, ever the showman, was in his element, regaling the grandparents with exaggerated stories of their "adventures." "And then, Minu, my favorite grandson, saved the day!" he declared, earning a round of applause from the delighted grandmother. Micha, blushing furiously, just nudged him away, whispering, "You are so full of yourself."
Kevin and Guen, meanwhile, were more subdued. They were relieved to see Dohee, but the tension between Alex and her was a palpable force in the room. Kevin gave Alex a quiet, knowing look, a silent sign of support. Guen, more direct, watched Dohee with a mixture of sympathy and concern.
Dinner was a grand affair. The table was laden with local Jeju delicacies, and the grandparents, charmed by their unexpected guests, kept piling food onto their plates. Minjae, basking in the grandmother's affection, kept stealing Micha's homemade cookies from the dessert platter.
"Hey!" Micha protested, swatting his hand away. "Those are for everyone, not just for your big mouth!"
Minjae just smirked, a cookie already in his mouth. "What? Grandma said I can have anything I want. Right, Grandma?"
The grandmother just laughed, patting Minjae on the back. "He's such a naughty boy. But he has a good heart."
The Confession
After dinner, as the grandparents were clearing the table, Dohee excused herself. "I'm going to get some fresh air," she said, her voice quiet. She slipped out the back door and walked towards a small garden behind the house, the scent of wildflowers a comforting presence.
Alex knew this was his chance. He followed her out, his heart pounding in his chest. "Dohee," he said, his voice quiet.
She stopped, but she didn't turn around. Her back was to him, her shoulders tense. "Why did you come, Alex?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly. "I needed to be alone. I needed to forget."
Alex, with a new-found courage, did something he never thought he would. He knelt on the ground, his eyes fixed on her back. "I'm not here to make you forget," he said, his voice raw with emotion. "I'm here to face this with you. If you can't be with me, then let me be your partner. I'll take it. I'll take all of it. I want to be by your side. Because I... I love you, Dohee. Can you please forgive me? And can you be my partner? If you want to punish me, I'll take it. I'll take all your punishment with a smile. Just please... don't be sad. Don't cry. Don't break yourself for me."
Dohee's shoulders stiffened, and she finally turned around, her eyes wide with shock. "Alex," she said, her voice a mix of disbelief and tears. "Don't kneel down. Get up."
He stayed where he was, his gaze unwavering. Dohee, her tears now flowing freely, rushed forward and pulled him into a tight embrace. "Why did it take you so long to confess this, you dummy?" she sobbed into his shoulder. "You idiot... I was waiting."
The confession hung in the air, a devastating truth. They were finally a couple.
Evening Fun
The rest of the team, watching from a distance, saw them holding hands and embracing. A wave of collective relief washed over them. Minjae and Micha exchanged a small, triumphant high-five. Kevin and Guen shared a quiet, knowing look. They knew the hard part was far from over, but for now, they were a whole again.
Later that night, the team was gathered on the porch, watching the stars. Minjae was still teasing Micha. "Hey, Micha," he said, a glint in his eye. "You're so good at making cookies, but you're a terrible detective. You're always chasing ghosts."
Micha, her face flushed with a mix of affection and anger, retorted, "And you're so good at running, but you're a terrible person! You're always stealing my stuff!"
The conversation was interrupted by a sudden "Aaaah!" from Micha. Minjae, in a flash of mischief, had stolen her laptop's charger and was running away with it. Micha, in a fit of rage, chased him through the house, screaming, "Give it back, you jerk!"
He ran through the hallways, a playful grin on his face, while Micha, a blur of motion, tried to catch him. She finally lost him, and she stood in a dark hallway, panting, a frustrated look on her face.
Suddenly, a voice whispered in her ear. "Are you looking for something?" she heard, and a hand touched her shoulder. She let out a scream, thinking it was a ghost, and tried to hit him. Minjae grabbed her hands, a mischievous laugh on his face. "It's me, you idiot! You thought I was a ghost?"
Micha, flustered and embarrassed, pushed him away. "You're a demon, you jerk! You're more terrifying than a ghost!" she yelled, grabbing the charger and running away, a triumphant look on her face.
The Future
The night was a whirlwind of fun, laughter, and romance. Kevin and Guen, watching the chaos unfold, shared a moment of quiet understanding. Their own relationship was still a mess of unspoken words, but seeing Alex and Dohee, and Minjae and Micha, gave them a glimmer of hope.
The journey to Jeju was a journey of healing, a journey of forgiveness, and a journey of new beginnings. The CHIPER team had been broken, but now, they were starting to mend. The shadows of the past still lingered, but in the heart of Jeju, under the starlit sky, there was a glimmer of hope.