Glass Rose
author: Ji Eunie

The Beginning

I blew gently into my metal glassblower. The iridescent orb of molten silicone delicately flared and shaped into a rippling piece of beautiful glass. My assistants ran in and took over the cooling and fusing process.

"That's very beautiful." I heard someone say behind me. I turned around to see who it was.

"I'm sorry, customers aren't allowed in the workshops." I said as brisk and businesslike as possible. The handsome young man smiled and held out his hand.

"I'm not here to buy anything ma'am, I'm here because I want to ask you a couple of questions."

I raised one perfectly arched eyebrow.

"Oh....are you a reporter?" I asked as I scanned the young man up and down. There was something vaguely familiar about him.......

"Um...not exactly. I believe we have a mutual acquaintance though." he started to look nervous and pulled his hand back from my close scrutiny. I smiled and softened slightly. I had developed quite an Evil Look these past years.

"Who is this mutual friend and what is your name?" I asked friendly-like.

"My name is Lee Jae Won ma'am. I believe you know my uncle, Jang Woo Hyuk." Jae Won said tentatively. The name hit me like a rock. I bit my lip from gasping. I could taste the blood.

Woo Hyuk...oh God, how many years has it been since I've heard that name??... I wondered faintly.

"No, I'm sorry Jae Won. I don't believe I know who he is." I said stiffly, hoping he wouldn't see through my lie.

"Oh....it must be another woman then. I'm sorry to bother you." Jae Won waked away with slumped shoulders. I gazed in wonderment at how much Woo Hyuk's nephew resembled him.

"Wait.....Jae Won shi!" I cried out suddenly.

He turned around and grinned. His smile disarmed me and I burst out laughing.

"Oh you devil! You knew I was going to call you back!" I laughed and swatted him lightly on the arm. He was JUST like Woo Hyuk too!

"So do you know my uncle?" Jae Won asked earnestly. I instantly sobered up.

"Yes, I believe I do. Even though it's been almost 20 years since I've heard his name." I said with a far away voice.

"Would you let me buy you a cup of coffee and could you tell me more about him?" Jae Won inquired. I looked up and gazed steadily into his eyes.

"Yes, let's go sit down somewhere and I'll tell you all I know about Jang Woo Hyuk." I said softly.



Chapter 1

"It was 31 years ago in 1968....."

Pyongyang, North Korea 1968

"Sang Ha ya!" a young man wearing a blue and beige school uniform ran up behind me. I whirled around angrily.

"Ya! Jang Woo Hyuk! How many times do I have to tell you?! I don't want you to follow me around!" I snapped, my short school girl chin length hair swinging with my temper.

"Gosh, you're even cuter when you're angry." Woo Hyuk stood a nose away from me, grinning from ear to ear.

"ARGH!" I swung my book bag neatly into his ready hands. I struggled to make him let go but the infuriating boy kept on smiling!

"This is the fourth time this week you've swung that deadly projectile at me! Give me a chance Sang Ha shi~ I know your dad's a famous professor and you should do better than a looser like me but I'm good at nuclear physics too ya know!" he winked at me as I continued to struggle to free my book bag.

"Sang Ha shi~?!! Jo wha ha shi nae! (yeah right!) Gimme me my book bag!" I screeched. Just as I gave a mighty tug, he let go!

"OOF!" I sounded as I landed on my bottom very hard. I immediately felt him lift me up and I tried to dust off my bottom with the remains of my dignity.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to let go at that moment." Woo Hyuk had his head down and his voice had gotten croaky. His shoulders shook with silent mirth. I planted my hands on my hips and kicked him in the shin.

"Go on! Laugh! I know you're dying to! Am I that funny to you?" I demanded. His head shot up and I fell headfirst into his magnetic brown eyes.

"You're not funny to me at all. In fact, I think you're the most beau-"

"YAH!! SANG HA YA!!!~" my older brother Hee Jun yelled at the top of his lungs. I jumped and scurried away like a little brown mouse.

"Why are you talking to him?" Hee Junie oppa demanded. He looked very scary in his tan uniform.

"He..uh..helped me up when I tripped." I fibbed.

"You tripped? Onto your bottom?" Hee Jun asked skeptically.

"You know me Oppa." I smiled up at him prettily. He fell for it. He chuckled and ruffled my hair.

"You have a smile that could disarm the whole North Korean army." he laughed. He put his arm across my shoulders in a protective way.

"Oppa! You know the rules! No outward show of affections in the streets! Even though we're siblings." I squirmed out of his arm. I glanced around to see if any guards were around. Hee Jun oppa's smile slipped off his face.

"I know if I say this, I'll probably get shot. But, I think our system is wrong! All these censures, all this oppression, it's border lining brainwash!"

"Sh!" I lifted my finger to this lips. I slapped him lightly on the arm.

"We'll talk to Appa about this later!" I hissed as I tugged on his arm for us to go. I didn't notice Woo Hyuk still standing there on the sidewalk, looking solely at me.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Two weeks pass*~

"Hak gyo da nyuh o gae sup ni da!" (I'm going to school!!) I called to my father as I closed the door to my house.

"Sang Ha shi!" I heard the ever familiar voice of Jang Woo Hyuk call from behind. I ignored him and kept walking. All of a sudden, a bouquet of tulips were thrown right in front of my face!!

"Aah!!" I cried out surprised. Woo Hyuk's face peeked out from behind the bouquet. I gritted my teeth and grated out something really hateful. Woo Hyuk's face fell and his shoulders drooped. I felt so low!!

"Woo Hyuk....mian heh." (I'm sorry) I said with my face down, burning with shame. My father taught me better than to throw the poor boy's weak spot straight at his face!!

"It's okay....Everyone knows my parents hate me. Everyone knows that I'm a bastard of my mother and Kim Jong Il. Don't....worry about it." Woo Hyuk said quietly. I bit my lip and looked up at him.

"Well....I...uh...better go...I won't..uh bother you anymore. Now that I know exactly how you feel about me." Woo Hyuk threw me a lopsided grin and ran away, light on his feet. I almost started crying right there and then.

The rest of the day was just AWFUL! I couldn't think, read, much less study. I couldn't wait until school was over so I could go visit my mother.

*RING*

"Soo hup kkut!" (class dismissed!) my teacher said. I jumped up and gathered all my books in record time. My friends called to me but I waved and went on out. The buildings flew by as I quickened my footsteps. I insahed the school guards and ran all the way to my omma's place of residence.

"*GASP GASP* Omma! Juh what uh yo!" (I'm here!) I called out cheerfully as I bowed and plopped down on the grass. The large mound of grass stood silently before me. I talked cheerfully for about 10 mins, but it's very hard when your omma can't answer back.

"*SNIF SNIF* Omma, I did something awful today. I said something so very mean to this boy. I didn't mean to! It's just hard to be a gracious lady like you. I like this boy too. Why can't I act like a 16 year old Omma?" I sniffed as great big tears made a track down both my cheeks. I buried my face into my mother's grave and wept.......

"Sang Ha ya, wake up." I heard Hee Jun oppa call name.

"Huh?!" I woke up with a jerk, with dirt clinging to my face.

Oppa gently lifted my up and brushed the dirt from my face.

"Babo ya, if you're sad, why didn't you tell me?" Oppa chided. I looked up at my big brother's eyes and burst into tears.

"O...ppa!! I feel so bad! I miss omma, I did something awful today, and look! My school uniform is dirty!!" I cried louder. Oppa gathered me in his arms and rocked me back and forth.

"You can always clean the uniform, you can always apologize to whoever you put your foot in your mouth to, and as for omma...you have appa and me right?" 

Hee Jun oppa looked down at me. His smile made me smile through my tears. I nodded and hugged oppa tighter. Oppa chuckled and stroked my hair.

"Okay, let's go home. Oh, by the way...where'd you get the money for those tulips?? They look very expensive." Oppa asked me.

"Tulips??" I asked confused. I turned my head and saw the same bouquet that Woo Hyuk had thrown at my face. He had put it on my mother's grave. When I saw those flower, my heart felt like it was lifted of a HUGE burden. Woo Hyuk had forgiven me.

"They were a gift. From a friend." I said mysteriously. I skipped out the cemetery with Oppa. I knew I had someone to thank.



Chapter 2

"And that's when I first fell in love with Jang Woo Hyuk." I said softly, the cup of coffee cooling in my hands. Jae Won looked up from his note taking.

"I have a feeling something bad is going to happen." Jae Won said hesitantly. I looked up at him.

"Have you ever heard the phrase 'True love is bought only with great pain??' Well, I learned that so very painfully and suddenly....."

Pyongyang University, December 28th 1969

I quietly slid open the door to my father's lab.

"Appa!" I whispered loudly. Appa quickly turned around from the window he was staring out of and walked over to me. His face looked tense and he grasped my shoulders painfully.

"Sang Ha ya, I'm very glad that you came right away. You MUST listen to me carefully. I called you here because our lives are in the gravest danger."

"N...neh??" I asked, very bewildered.

Our lives in danger??? What in heaven's name??

"Get out of Pyongyang, no, get out of North Korea. Somehow, get to Seoul. Find a man named An Seung Ho. He is a professor at Yonsei University. He'll take you and your brother in." Appa's voice got more urgent. I looked at him with my eyes huge.

"I gave the United States information about N. Korea's nuclear physics program. It would've saved the world. North Korea is ready for World War III. Sang Ha ya, you MUST survive and tell An Seung Ho that the Black Knight is stabilized but won't be for long. Did you get that??"

"Neh Appa." I said dutifully but I was still confused. This was all so sudden!

"Good, that's my Sang Ha. You must remember, that I love you and even though I may not be with you, I'm always in your heart." Appa's eyes returned to normal and he hugged me tight. I was glad that his eyes were all fiery and scary anymore. He was back to being my loving Appa.

"Hee Jun's at the apartment." Appa told me. I nodded and just stayed in my father's embrace.

*BOOM BOOM BOOM*

"Dr. Moon? Are you in there?" the high nasal voice of Captain Lee came through. My father quickly pushed me to the back entrance stairwell.

"Go! And don't look back! Get Hee Jun and run to the border! I love you my daughter." my father whispered fiercely.

Suddenly, the truth hit me square in the face. Tears filled my eyes.

"Appa, jo shim ha sae yo." (be careful) I whispered back and turned around. I quickly ran down the flights of stairs.

*BANG!!* A gun sounded once.

I stumbled as sobs wracked my body. My appa, my sweet, honorable appa! The cold winter wind slammed into my body as I continued to run. Hee Jun oppa was waiting for me at the front of the apartment.

"Oppa! Oppa! We have to get out of the country! Appa's dead!" I spoke frantically as tears made me gasp and hiccup. Hee Jun oppa's eyes turned sad.

"So it finally happened. Com'on Sang Ha, I have your bag ready." Oppa pulled me inside and pulled out two small totes. He handed me the phone.

"Call Woo Hyuk and tell him it's a full moon out tonight." Hee Jun oppa said. I dialed Woo Hyuk's number.

"Yuh bo sae yo?" Woo Hyuk answered the phone.

"Woo Hyuk, there's a full moon out tonight." I said softly.

"Oh, is that so? Well, then, tell your brother that I'm very busy and to come visit me later." Woo Hyuk said cheerfully. All this gibberish wasn't making any sense!

"Woo Hyuk....what's going on??" I asked frustrated.

"Nuttin' my love, I'll see you later okay gong ju nim(princess)?"

*CLICK*

"What'd he say?" Hee Jun oppa asked.

"He said that he's very busy and to visit him later. Oppa, what going on??" I demanded.

"Woo Hyuk and I have known about Appa's double identity for a couple of months now. We knew something like this was probable to happen so we made up a code. He's going to meet us at the train station in half an hour. Come on, bundle up. It's extremely cold outside." Hee Jun oppa ran around, trying to get our id papers and some food.

"Why didn't you tell me?! I just....we just lost our father!" I stamped my foot and glared angrily at my 20 year old brother.

Hee Jun whirled around and grasped my shoulders painfully.

"We are all doing the best that we can. Now, Appa believed enough in a cause to die for it so let's see you show the same spirit!" Hee Jun growled. He let go of me and went on packing. I kept my mouth shut and got all my stuff ready. Oppa and I looked like regular people walking down the street instead of two refugees fearing for their lives. The distant roar of the train made us step faster. There, underneath the clock, stood my handsome Woo Hyuk. He had on a soldier's uniform! I walked up to him hesitantly.

"Hello there young lady! You look lost, may I assist you?" Woo Hyuk winked for me to play along.

"Why yes, my brother and I were looking for a train that goes out of Pyongyang." I said casually. Woo Hyuk feigned surprise.

"Why, I have a pair of tickets right here in my pocket! Since my love is leaving me, I won't need these anymore. You can have these." he said slyly as he pulled it out of his coat pocket. I took them.

I gazed up at Woo Hyuk, my heart filling with love for this handsome, dashing, heartachingly kind young man. He must've read my mind because his face became serious and love softened his eyes.

"I...*ahem*...have to go make a call, I'll be back." Hee Jun oppa said as he walked away, giving us time.

"When will I ever see you again??" I asked as tears stung my eyes.

"We'll see each other one day. I love you, that's all that counts." Woo Hyuk said sincerely.

"I want....to thank you for everything you've ever done for me and oppa..." I faltered in my speech.

"Don't worry about it. It was all my pleasure." Woo Hyuk said jauntily.

"How can you be so casual?? I wish I was as strong as you Woo Hyuk. I would love to be carefree." I said as one tear trickled down my cheek. Woo Hyuk reached out and touched my tear.

"Carefree?? Casual? You make me what I am Sang Ha. I feel so wonderful with you. You are going to make it out of the country and get out of this cesspool. Maybe you'll find some handsome young man and break his heart like...you are breaking mine right now." Woo Hyuk said softly.

"Never...never.." I whispered as I shook my head. Tears were streaming down my face now.

"Call for Train 21! Leaving Pyongyang! Call!!"

A wall of people rushed by us. One rude lady pushed me and made me stumble into Woo Hyuk's arms. Feeling his strong arms around me was...so...RIGHT.

"I love you." I whispered.

His lips brushed mine as I gazed at him.

"I love you more." he said softly.

"Last call!! Last call for Train 21!!" the conductor cried out. I felt someone touch my arm.

"Sang Ha ya, We have to go." Hee Jun oppa said urgently. I broke away from my love's arms and followed my oppa's lead.

The sound of the closing train door sounded so final. I settled down in my seat and was looking out the window for Woo Hyuk when he popped up from below and made me almost squeal. He tapped on the window. I opened it with difficulty. He tossed a small white box onto my lap.

"I forgot to give you that! Sorry! Both of you! Go have fun! And God speed!" Woo Hyuk yelled because the train engine had started. I knew he was trying to make it light as possible. I smiled for him bravely and blew a kiss good bye. He motioned to catch it and put it in his pocket. The train moved out of the station. Woo Hyuk's figure became smaller and smaller. I felt my oppa take my hand and squeeze it.

"It's just the two of us now. All we have is each other now." Hee Junie oppa said. I smiled and looked up.

"Right." I linked fingers with him and put my head on his shoulder.

"Aren't you going to open up his present to you?" Hee Jun oppa asked.

"Oh...yeah...I think I will."

I opened the box and inside was a velvet jeweler's box. I opened the lid and gasped when I saw the contents of it.

A platinum chain with a delicate rose pendant was nestled in a bed of black velvet. I lifted it slightly and gaped at it while Hee Jun oppa whistled.

"There ARE benefits of being a child of Kim Jong Il, illegitimate or not." Oppa said dryly. My heart ached while it soared at the same time.

When I get to Seoul....when I get to freedom, I'll make a lot of money and send for Woo Hyuk. I vowed.

Then I can be with him and be happy.



Chapter 3

"I made it out of Pyongyang with my brother safely. The way down to Seoul took us almost a month. We had to dodge one thing after another. I was actually very scared for the whole trip down. My nerves sharpened and my face lost it's baby roundness.

But I never lost hope. I knew I had to live. For my father, for my brother, and most importantly...for my Woo Hyuk....."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Oppa! We made it! There's land!" I yelled as we peeked out from the stern of the smelly fishing boat that we had resided in for a week. Hee Junie oppa hugged me tight and we both gazed out to the lovely land that was to be our new home.

"I have Dr. An's phone number. We'll call him and tell him we made it safely."

I nodded happily as my hand instinctively reached for the pendant that was around my neck.

Woo Hyuk! Woo Hyuk! I made it ! My brother and I made it! I cried jubilantly in my mind. We landed by a beach.

"Here ya are...God Speed to you both." the old fisherman and his wife waved to us as we got out and stepped on new land.

They both had no idea that we were refugees. Perhaps that was the best for them.

"Sir! Where is Pusan...do you know??" I asked hesitantly. The old fisherman looked confused and scratched his head.

"I thought ya'll were headed for Seoul...but the city of Pusan is 35 miles that way!" I smiled prettily and thanked them again.

"Thirty five miles...it can't be that bad." I said cheerfully as I took my oppa's hand and started swinging it. We stepped up to the dirt road nearby the beach, and started on the long trek to Pusan. Our legs felt so good as we stretched them for the first time in a week. Land was so good. The farther we walked, the closer we were to our new lives...as uncertain as it was.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Thirty five miles!!? Incredible! Most people don't even walk one!" Jae Won exclaimed as he hastily jotted down notes. I chuckled softly as the waitress set down a fresh pot of coffee. Jae Won looked up at me.

"Did Mr. An Seung Ho pick you up?" he asked.

"Yes, we didn't have much money left so when we called him, he came that day and picked us up that night. Mr. An was a wonderful, magnificent man. Kind, generous, and most of all, loving. He hugged us both as he'd never let us go. And he didn't. He brought us to his home and treated us as if were his own. I told him about the Black Knight and he was very relived for some reason. I asked him about it but he avoided the subject. He was going to tell me later...but not now. Mr. An had been Appa's best friend since they'd been in diapers. But what made me kind of skeptical was that Appa had never mentioned him before. Turns out, Mr. An had studied at MIT for six years and his American name was Tony. I'd heard of TONY all the time but never an An Seung Ho. It made me very happy to be in reliable hands. The An's had one son, An Chil Hyun, nicknamed Kang Ta. He was wonderful too........"

Seoul University, 1975

"Class dismissed!" my World History professor said. I gathered up my books and walked out of my last afternoon class.

"Ya! Moon Sang Ha!" I heard Kang Ta oppa's voice call me. He jogged up to me and looked so very excited about

something.

"Hey oppa, you look very excited, did something good happen??" I asked curiously.

"Yeah, something good happened! Do you want me to tell you??"

"Sure, why not?" I said nonchalantly, pretending not to care. Oppa looked crestfallen. He was SO cute! I burst out laughing.

"I'm very curious, so tell me!" I kept laughing. His grin returned.

"Hee Jun made into Korea's most EXCLUSIVE intelligence program. He was weeded out of over 15,000 young men. Isn't that great?!" Kang Ta oppa crowed. I stopped dead in my tracks. My head felt light and my stomach felt queasy.

"He....made..it?" I asked, afraid I'll burst into tears.

"Yeah he made it!" Aren't you happy for him!? He'll be a regular 007!" Kang Ta oppa said happily.

"But..the test was so extremely hard..and all those physical tests...oppa's shoulder..." my voice trailed off. Kang Ta oppa turned around.

"Oh..I get it. You're scared for him right? Don't worry Sang Ha-my-Sang Ha, Hee Jun's the best of the best! Plus, my dad's backing me up too so I'll probably be in the same department as Hee Jun. I'll look after him." Kang Ta oppa said confidently. I looked at him sadly.

"I'll be strong....but only because it's for you and Hee Junie oppa. I won't cry..ever." I forcefully lifted my mouth into a smile.

Kang Ta oppa's face softened and he cupped my face in his hands.

"That's all I ask of you." he said, his eyes shining with love. I quickly pulled away from his gaze. I felt so guilty because I could not return his love.

"Sang Ha ya!!!" I heard Hee Junie oppa call my name. I quickly looked to where the sound was coming from. Hee Junie oppa came peeling down the campus at top speed. He broke momentum only when he picked me up and spun me around.

"Aah! Oppa! Stop!" I cried out, laughing.

"I'm going to Moscow!! In fact, all three of us are going to Moscow!!' Oppa shouted as he continued to swing me around.

"Wait! Moscow!?! What In heaven's name for?!" I asked.

"You are going there because of yoo hak (studying abroad), I'm going there because that's where my new station's going to be....and Kang Ta's going because......

WE'RE GOING TO BE PARTNERS!!!!" Hee Jun oppa whuped and put me down. In the midst of their whupping and cheering, I felt this bittersweet nostalgia.

Russia.....Moscow.....the Kremlin.....Russia's right by N. Korea......I realized. My hand reached for the rose pendant around my neck.

"Woo Hyuk...." I whispered softly.

What was he doing now? Please let him be all right!" I prayed.

*~*~*~*~*~

"Goodbye Uncle Tony! I'll call when we get there!" Hee Junie oppa called as the three of us walked to the terminal. I blew kisses to my dear "uncle" and "aunt". They were so wonderful. The plane ride was a blur for me because Hee Junie and Kang Ta oppa made it as cheerful as possible. The stewardesses kept on stopping by and making sheep eyes at Kang Ta oppa. It was very funny because Kang Ta oppa turned so red. They waved and blew kisses at him as we got off and arrived at the airport. It was chilly but not cold. Uncle Tony had bought me a mink bowler before I left so it was now set jauntily on my head.

It was rich black with a red trim so it brought out my hair and my pale skin, setting it aglow. They beautiful gothic/oriental architecture passed by me as I gazed out the window.

"This is our flat!" Hee Junie oppa announced as the car stopped. I stepped out to see an elegant brick building standing before me. The inside was elegantly furnished also. "Do you like it?" Kang Ta oppa asked. I glanced around my surroundings and nodded my approval. My own room was small but very cozy. There was also a space for an art studio for me.

"Here Sang Ha, here's your id card for your university." Hee Junie oppa handed me a handful of stuff.

"The Arts Academy of Moscow?!" I exclaimed as I gazed at my id card.

"SURPRISE!!" Kang Ta and Hee Jun oppa yelled.

"Oh my GOD!! THANK YOU!" I screamed as I ran and knocked both of them down with my hug. It was my dream school!

"Hey, this calls for a celebration!! I'm going to the nearby store to buy some food for us to eat and some of the traditional Russian liquor, vodka." Kang Ta oppa winked as he grabbed his jacket and left. Hee Jun oppa got up also and smiled at me.

"I know there's been a lot of stuff on your mind lately. I was hoping the changed in scenery would help you out."

My ever thoughtful big brother! I sighed and sat down on the sofa.

"Actually, there's been a lot on my mind. I dream of Woo Hyuk every night oppa. He also fills my every waking moment. Even though it's been five years since I've seen him....it feels like yesterday." I said quietly.

"My line of work deals with a lot of North Korean stuff. That's why they moved me to Moscow, it'll be easier to contact North Korea. I promise to let you know immediately if I hear ANYTHING on a Jang Woo Hyuk." Hee Junie oppa said earnestly. I smiled but shook my head.

"No thanks oppa. I don't want you to do that. for me. I just want to meet him one day." my voice grew far away. The front door opened with a bang and Kang Ta oppa struggled in.

"Hey! I'm back! Here's some authentic Russian food!" Kang Ta oppa yelled as he noisily opened up some McDonald's food.

We smiled at Kang Ta oppa. I also threw a smile at Hee Jun oppa. My eyes told him to just keep up the happiness. As for me.....I'm a very good actress.



Chapter 4

"Godfuckingdammit!" Hee Junie oppa exclaimed as he threw a whole sheaf of files to the ground. I got up from my pottery wheel, my hands still muddy, and approached my wild eyed oppa.

"What's the matter?" I asked.

"There is a rising new star in the North Korean intelligence program. He goes by the code name of Warrior and he's slippery as a fucking eel!! I've spent four months trying to track him down but there's always a fucking loop hole!! GOD! Everything I've tried doesn't WORK!" Hee Junie oppa ranted and raved out his anger. Kang Ta oppa set a cup of tea on Hee Junie oppa's desk.

"Where was the last place that they spotted him?"

"He was in Moscow just three days ago, talking to a drug lord named Petraov. It seems like they traded 200 million dollars worth of cocaine for something, most likely nuclear info. What I want to know is his stats.....his everything. BUT he doesn't exist on file! No profile, no bio, no nuttin! He's like a ghost, he doesn't exist! But he's always around." Hee Jun oppa rubbed his temples and sighed.

*BEEP BEEP BEEP*

"Oh! That's my cell phone!" Kang Ta oppa grabbed his belt and pulled out his cell phone.

"HellO? Yes, this is he....WHAT!?! Great! That's great! Thank you!" he closed his cell phone and turned to us.

"They found Mr. Katravinsky! He's agreed to talk to you about what happened at the Nuclear Weapons Development Center!

But....the only thing is...you have to bring along a witness to get him to talk to you." Kang Ta said hesitantly to Hee Jun. Oppa's expression furrowed. He expelled a breath.

"When?"

"Now, Hee Jun." Kang Ta said uncertainly.

"How am I supposed to find someone I trust as a witness? Kang Ta, you can't go, he already knows you're my partner...What about Agent Min? or..."

"How about your sister?" I asked.

Oppa's head shot up and his eyes turned angry.

"That's absolutely out of the question! No, no, I"m not going to allow that!" Oppa blustered.

"Be reasonable Hee Junie oppa, how much time do you have? Who do you trust here? And plus, this is a questioning, I'm not putting myself in the line of fire! Please, let me go with you!" I pleaded. Hee Junie oppa's face showed indecision and that's when I knew that I had won. He was so strong...unless it came to giving me what I wanted.

"Oh...all right! Just this once though! And you are to be my secretary, not my sister okay?!" Hee Junie oppa yelled. I smiled and gave him a big smack on the cheek.

"It'll be exciting! My first detective work!" I said, delighted as I ran to get my coat. I was such a child then. I had no idea that the unspeakable horror was drawing nearer and nearer.



Chapter 5

The sleek Mercedes-Benz pulled up near us and a tall old man came out. He had a look of a scientist but his clothes showed panache and style. They snow fell in thick flakes from the sky. It decorated my hat with white crystals. Oppa and Mr. Katravinsky spoke in Russian while I patiently listened. Mr. K's voice was very low like a bass cello.

".....I was looking for some routine manuals when I came across some files that were unmarked and unauthorized. I opened them and saw information on a nuclear warhead operation named Black Knight....."

I jerked when I heard that name.

You must survive and tell An Seung Ho that the Black Knight is stabilized but won't be for long. I remembered Appa's very words. I shivered and looked at Oppa. He showed no sign of emotions.

"Just a couple of hours later, a troop of troop of twenty something men came bursting in and shot everyone and everything. I was inside the men's room at that time so I survived unscathed but in shock. The police searched the area and found all those files missing and the blueprints destroyed. My friends dead.....everything. One man survived but he died later on in the hospital.

They say he whispered Nikolai Petraov when they asked him who was the leader....but the man as delirious...."

Hee Jun oppa threw me a sharp look and I understood the connection immediately. The North Koreans were after the Black Knight once again. I glanced at our car where Kang Ta was secretly taping this. He looked at me and grinned. Hee Junie oppa shook hands with Mr. Katravinsky.

"Thank you sir, you have no idea--" Hee Junie oppa was cut off when Mr. K grunted and doubled over.

"OHMIGOD!! Mr. Katravinsky!" I screamed as blood poured from his stomach.

"Sniper! Get out of here Sang Ha!" Hee Junie oppa roughly pushed me. I heard a faint whistling noise and saw my oppa fall to the ground. It was all in slow motion. They white snow...the white...snow....turned a dark scarlet. I ran to Hee Jun oppa. I fell down on my knees and gently turned him over. Kang Ta and the other hidden agents ran around the area and tried to find the sniper.

"Hee Junie oppa! Oppa!!" I called out desperately. Oppa's eyelids fluttered and he looked up at me.

"Who will look after my Sang Ha?" he addressed me in third person.

"Don't worry about me oppa. I'm brave. You'll be okay." I said while my lips trembled from the dam of unhushed tears. Oppa smiled weakly at me.

"My brave brave little sister. Don't be so strong all the time. Let someone take care of you. Like...Kang Ta." Hee Jun oppa gasped.

"Don't worry about me oppa. You've always been so good to me. I love you." I said softly. Oppa smiled his understanding and closed his eyes. A shudder went through my body as I stood up and gently laid oppa's hands across his chest. Oppa's ring

glinted in the sunlight. I gently pulled off the ring of white gold and fitted it on my thumb. My shoulders remained straight as I remained where I was.

"I will find who killed my most precious object and take my revenge!! Do you hear me?!! I WILL avenge my brother!!!~" I screamed into the cold open air.

Until that day...until that day when I see my brother's killer, I will not be satisfied. I swore to myself.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The funeral was held in Seoul. Uncle Tony and Aunt Eun Mi were there. Kang Ta oppa was by me the whole entire time. I remained strong and did not shed a tear for my oppa. I think I raised some speculations but at least I knew that the people closest to my heart felt my grief. A huge chunk of my heart was missing.

"It's time to go Sang Ha." Kang Ta oppa said as he gently pulled me. By then, everyone else had left and we were the only ones there. I reluctantly let go and walked away.

A lone figure encased in black came up to the grave after everyone had gone and knelt in front of it. The figure laid down a bouquet of rare white tulips and stared out into nothingness for a while. A tear, shaped like a crystal of glass fell down this person's cheek and landed with a plop on a tulip.

"So, it has come down to this Hee Jun..." the person whispered to the wind.

"I'll look after her....I swear it." the man vowed out loud as he stood up and walked away. He would protect Sang Ha from everything...including himself.



Chapter 6

"NO! Absolutely NOT!! Are you crazy?!" Kang Ta oppa yelled at me. I stood with my feet apart and my hands on my hips.

"I already took the exam!" I said angrily.

"WHAT!?!" Oppa turned ashy white.

"I made it too Kang Ta oppa." I said softly, my mouth tugging at the corners. He just looked so funny. Kang Ta oppa looked about ready to faint.

"You...you...made it into Hee Jun's team?" Kang Ta oppa stuttered.

"I spent the last four months studying and training and I...made it." I said nonchalantly. Oppa grasped for a chair to sit down. He took a deep breath and looked at me.

"Look, I know you want to avenge Hee Jun....but isn't this a bit much?" he asked.

"No, I don't. If I even want a remote chance at finding the killer, I've got to pursue his type of work. Espionage. That's precisely what you and Hee Jun tracked down right? I'll take art as a hobby oppa. Good Golly don't look so pale! You're scaring me!" I cried out irritated. Oppa smiled sadly and looked at me. His eyes gently bore into mine.

"You're so casual about all this Sang Ha. I wish I was as strong as you." Oppa said sweetly.

Those were the same words I said to Woo Hyuk at the train station! My knees buckled and I felt so dizzy. I grasped a chair to steady myself.

"I'm not strong Kang Ta oppa. I just put on a good face. For you, for Uncle Tony, for my friends.....I don't want you to worry."

I smiled and pretended to joke while my heart bled inside.

"I feel like you're not telling me something Sang Ha. Please, it it's bothering you, please tell me. I really want to help you." Kang Ta oppa took my hand and pulled me closer to him.

"Oppa.....I...left something....back in Pyongyang.." my voice started quavering.

"Left something...or someONE?" Oppa questioned me. I lowered my eyes.

"I left my heart....to a young man...he was my first and truest love. I can't get him out of my head. Nor my heart because he alone possesses it. I can't tell you anymore than that. I just want you to know." I lifted my head and gazed steadily into his large eyes. Oppa smiled and hugged me to him. I clung to him, frightened yet soothed at the same time.

"Silly girl. Did you think I would love you any less if you told me that? This young man is extremely lucky you know. He has my Sang Ha's heart. He'd better not break it or hurt it in anyway. " Oppa mumbled into my hair. I could tell he too, was an extremely good actor. I pulled away.

"So you understand?? You won't treat me special when I go to work?" I asked. Oppa rolled his eyes heavenward and shook his head.

"Appa's going to kill me when he finds out you joined my line of work!" Kang Ta oppa moaned, but I knew he was weak and defeated. I smiled and thanked him by dropping a kiss on his cheek.

"Thanks Kang Ta oppa! I knew I loved you for some reason." I joked.

"I thought you loved me because of my devastating good looks and my incredible charm." Kang Ta oppa pretended to act like Fabio. I laughed out loud and smacked him with a pillow cushion that was on the couch. That started an out-and-out pillow fight which Kang Ta oppa graciously let me win. We lay gasping on the rug, our arms too tired to smack each other anymore.

"You...*pant pant* realize we're going back to Moscow next Sunday right?" Kang Ta oppa gasped.

"Really? What about this officetel? How will Uncle Tony and Aunt Eun Mi feel if we....*gasp* leave Korea now? *pant pant*

They're still grieving for Hee Jun oppa. They might not want you to go.:"

"I had a long talk with them. They said they couldn't stop me from doing what I wanted but only if I promised I'd be careful. I told them you were coming with me and they seemed really sad...but since you are so good in art, they wanted you to continue your education. It's too bad they're sending you as a spy huh?" Oppa's breathing returned to normal.

I felt at awful dagger of guilt when I thought about Uncle Tony and Aunt Eun Mi. They would freak when they found out. I pushed that thought aside and concentrated on the present.

"They'll just have to accept it I suppose...Don't tell them yet please..." I said earnestly.

"They have to know soon. You can't keep something like this a secret." Kang Ta oppa answered.

"I know but let me tell them myself. They'd want that more." I said. Oppa nodded and sat up straight. He grinned at me.

"You know what I just realized??"

"What did you just realize oppa?"

"I'm your boss...and you're sunbae." Oppa wriggled his eyebrows and cackled an evil laugh. I rolled my eyes and snuffed him out with the pillow. We resumed our pillow fight.



Chapter 7

"So it's been six years since you've seen my uncle right?" Jae Won's voice echoed because he was sipping the last of his coffee.

I smiled because Woo Hyuk used to do that also and got in trouble for it by the teacher. How could the past show up so vividly? Woo Hyuk's mannerism, smile, lilting speech, EVERYTHING was now Jae Won's.

"Yes, six years. Six long years where I never forgot him for one day. But my work took up alot of time. I loved it though. With Kang Ta oppa to guide me and supervise me, I became the head in my department. For two years, I was in the same department as Kang Ta oppa, but after my 25th birthday, they moved me up to level five. That was the real 007 stuff. These were the actual people who went chasing after ruthless druglords and greedy military officers who'd sell their mothers for a ruble. It was the special force team. Kang Ta oppa was asked to lead it, but he declined. I think it was because of me. I'm not sure of that, but he stayed the leader of the witness relocating and fingerprints. We saw each other quite a bit." I took a breath and gave Jae Won the chance to catch up. He'd forgotten a tape recorder.

"Can you tell me about this...Black Knight Program??" Jae Won asked. I sighed and tucked a couple of my graying hair strands behind my ears.

"The Black Knight is a nuclear warhead program which was established right after World War II. It started in North Korea but by 1970, it was in the USSR.(or what is Russia now)

It consists of three mega nuclear warheads. They were planing a surprise attack in 1968 but my father told the United States and depite the Vietnam War, the US paid enough attention to stop the attack. The Black Knight was supressed for a while but it was back again. That's how I lost Hee Junie oppa too. I lost most of my family by the Black Knight. The plan of the Black Knight was to bomb three strategic places on Earth and destroy the three cities that bothered the USSR the most. Namely Los Angeles, London, and Seoul. It sounds crazy but that was the plan." I said seriously. Jae Won's jaw dropped and he looked shocked.

"What about...the nuclear clouds afterwards? The rain...the destruction.." Jae Won mumbled.

I chuckled. " The Russians are a rather suicidal group. At least the government is. Plus, just having the power to do that was a huge power trip in itself."

"I get it now..so, you are an agent now. What happens? How do you meet up with my uncle again?" Jae Won looked extremely eager.

" I took up my brother's passion to finding and destroying the Black Knight. No one knew about it except for Kang Ta oppa. It was not a business mission...it was a mission of the heart."



Chapter 8

My gunshots rang through the hall. When the machine pulled my dummy up to inspect my shooting, my leader whistled with admiration. I had shot a hole straight through the crotch. I had done that on purpose because there were new recruits around and I wanted to put them in their places. ^.^*~

"Golly Sang Ha...that's really good...but I'd hate to be the criminal if you were chasing after me." Dmitri said.

"Thanks." I said softly. I was pleased at my accuracy but it was just for show, it wasn't anything REALLY important.

"Sang Ha!! Come here..there's a man named Petraov for you on the phone." one of my comrades called. I quickly took off my gear and ran to get the phone.

"Allo?" I answered breathlessly.

"Miss Sang Ha?" a clear voice came through.

"Da, this is she." I answered.

"I..know you are in the Korean Embessy. You had uh...brother and father? No? Who were spies also?"

"My older brother was."

"Ah....but was your father not the head of the science department at Pyongyang University?" Petraov's heavy Russian accent was very evident.

"Yes...he was." I answered warily. He was playing cat and mouse with me.

"Ahh...so you don't know? No matter. Now that I am certain that you are Moon Sang Ha, I will tell you why I call you."

Petroav's voice suddenly dropped.

"You know of a North Korean agent called Warrior yah?"

"Da, I do." I felt my pulse race. Was he helping me?

"Well, he just left for Moscow and is headed to a villa nearby the outskirts of Moscow. It's called the Burgandy House. He has enough cocaine there to make the world high. This is a tip off. Trust me." Petroav's voice returned to normal.

"Why should I risk myself and my agents Petroav? You're one of the most wanted men in the world." I said dryly, not believing.

"Because I know your kind. You will go after I hang up. You're just that type. So was your brother."

The line went dead.

"Wait! Wait! What about my brother!? What does he have to do with this?" I demanded.

I stood with my thoughts racing, Petroav's words circling through my head. My comrades looked at me questioningly. I made up my that I WAS that type.

"Get about sixteen agents and head out to The Burgandy House. Warrior is there and with an assload of cocaine. Let's head out and use the highest caution." I spoke solemnly. Everyone looked excited and surprised. They efficiently headed out.

"Are you prepared Sang Ha?" a voice from the doorway asked. I whirled around to see Kang Ta oppa. I met eye-to-eye with him.

"Yes, I am prepared. To die, to live, to triumph, to fail." my smile didn't quite reach my eyes.

"For two years, I've been chasing Warrior around. I will find him and trap him tonight." I said gravely.

"When you get him, come back to my office. I have something to show you." The light in Kang Ta oppa's eyes were sad. I didn't notice it then. I was putting on my coat.

"Okay, I'll be back oppa." I said as I quickly headed out. In my haste, I didn't notice the folder that Kang Ta oppa had hidden behind his back. the big bold blue letters on the folder spelled out...W..A..R...R..I..

*~*~*~*~*~*

We all waited in silence in the cold. The house was dark and we were strategically place along the house. The worst part was waiting....waiting....waiting....

The bright glare of the headlights startled me. Three more pairs of headlights started me also.

"There are alot of men." Dmitri whispered to me. Black figures quickly jumped out of the cars and assisted in carrying in cardboard boxes. I motioned to my group of agents and we crept around silently. One man stepped out of the car and I knew immediately that this was Warrior. Just his stance and the way he walked indicated that he was not one of the grunt workers. I signaled and my agents took action.

"HALT!!~" Min Goon yelled as they cocked their guns at the black clad men. Everything happened so fast after that. In a minuete or so later, all the grunt workers were tied up and all these boxes containing pure cocaine were being held up for evidence. It had been a short and bloodless attack. All the agents walked around, giving each other high fives and congratulating each other. It would certainly put us in a good chance at being promoted. I felt this queasy feeling though, I did not share the good spirits that the rest of the agents felt. I had a feeling that this was given to us to feed our egos and that we will be careless the next time. The hold up had been way too easy. I warily scanned the area and realized my horrible mistake.

"Where's Warrior?!" I demanded.

The agent had slipped out!!~ I cursed myself and took off in the direction that I thought he might've gone. The cold air burned my lungs. Thank goodness the land was flat so I could seee for miles around.

There! In the distance! The man trudged lightly in the snow.

"Stop! Jang Gan Man! (wait a sec!)" I cried out. The man kept on walking but he slowed down considerably. I cautiously pulled out my gun.

"There's no need to do that." the man called out. His voice was deep, resonant, not what I expected at all. I put my gun back in its holster.

"I have a pressing engagement in about an hour so if you'd please, say what you need to now." the man talked but never turned around.

"Why was this drug bust so easy Warrior? You don't like giving up your drugs that easily. What are you trying to pull?" I asked urgently.

"I don't know that. You're just lucky Sang Ha." the man resumed his original speed of gait. He was gone talking to me.

How did he know my name??! I wondered.

"Wait!" I ran after him, wanting to know.

*CRACK!*

"AH!" I yelled as I slipped through the thin ice. I had not realized it, but I had stepped onto a thin but deep frozen stream. My running feet had cracked the thin ice and now I floundered in the water. The cold was excrutiating. Pins and needles of pain burned through my being. It was something I had never experienced in my life. I splashed around, trying to find a piece of ice to hold on to. Suddenly, I felt a strong hand pull me up by my collar. I gasped as my body contacted with the air. I could hear ice forming. He slid me onto thicker, more solid ice and crackled off my overcoat and removed my outer garments. I felt soft warmth surround me.

Did he..did he...put his coat on me? I wondered sleepily. I felt myself be shaken violently.

*SLAP!* my cheek stung.

"Wake up! Stay awake! You'll sleep and never wake up!" I heard his voice but it was so far away. Fingers of warmth and drowsiness filled my body.

"Phi gon hae...(tired)." I mumbled.

Warrior pulled his gun out and shot it into the air three times. Then he wrapped his arms around me and rubbed his hands up and down to stir up some warmth.

"Sang Ha? You still here with me?" he asked urgently.

"Why are..you..saving me?" I asked, my tongue thick, my voice hoarse.

"Because I'm human just like you. Here comes your comrades." he said as he got up. He saluted me smartly, turned on his heels and jogged away. He knew she was safe now.

"Wait...." I whimpered weakly. That was my last concious thought. Darkness completely surrounded me.



Chapter 9

The lights hurt my eyes. I opened one eye tenatively and saw that I was in a hospital room. Looking around, I saw Kang Ta oppa dozing on a chair nearby. I smiled and looked around my surroundings. I was immediately drawn to a folder on the dresser next to me. Oppa must've brought it with him. It must've been something he'd wanted to show me. I struggled to sit up on the bed. I leaned over and picked up the folder.

Profile: Warrior

My heart skipped a beat as I opened the folder. It had everything about him!!~

"Pyongyang University acceleration program....double bachloerete in Nuclear Physics and Organic Chemistry....Golly! What a brainiac!" I murmured.

"Leader in Great Bear project. Mission successful. Operation Red Dragon's leader. Mission sucessful. Geez, whatever this guy touches, he turns to gold." I was very impressed with Warrior.

"Recent project: Black Knight....retrieve the coordinance decoder so Black Knight can be set and ready to go...." I flipped through the pages. A highlighted paragraph made me stop and take a closer look.

"Wanted for killing six South Korean agents. Considered extremely dangerous. Last killing was secret agent Speed Racer (ie Moon Hee Jun)...." My breath caught in my throat. The folder and papers fluttered onto the blanket. A glossy picture glinted beneath the mess of papers. I pushed the papers aside with shaking fingers.

............Last killing was secret agent Speed Racer.......................

Tears filled my eyes when I thought of that day when I held my dying brother. The white gold ring was on the same chain as my rose pendant.

I will memorize this man's face and make sure that I know it as my own so I will not make a mistake. I thought as bitter anger filled my heart. I looked boldly down at the picture and felt the world stop in time.

"No....." I whispered, staring in disbelief. No this face..not this face....

The strong chin, the cold yet startlingly charasmatic eyes, the crest kid white teeth.

"No! no! no! no! no! no!" I expelled with every gasp. Tears fell like rain down my face. I could not help but weep. That's what I wanted to do so bad. Warrior...my brother's killer, the greatest threat to the human race...was my first love from Pyongyang North Korea eight years ago. The face I could not mistake. I just couldn't. His face had already seared in my heart forever.

"Woo Hyuk..how could you?" I whispered. He hadn't changed physcially too much. But his solemn look and grim tenseness around his shoulders indicated much change.

My mind swirled with emotions.

Shock, disbelief, betrayal, anger, love, just everything...

I heard Kang Ta oppa stir. I hastily wiped the tears from my face and shuffled the papers into some semblance of order. Oppa must never know of my relationship with Woo Hyuk. It would only hurt him. I made sure my face was settled.

"Uh! Sang Ha, you're awake!" Oppa stretched and stood up. He walked up to me and brushed the stray locks of hair from my face.

"Sang Ha-my-Sang Ha, you gave me quite a scare." Oppa murmured softly. I looked up and gave oppa my brave

I-will-not-cry-smile.

"Uh thanks for bringing this bio on Warrior. Now I know who to focus on to get answers about Hee Junie oppa's death." I said gratefully. Oppa nodded and took my hand.

"You have to promise me you won't go into an obsession mode over this. I'm helping you find Hee Jun's killer only because we both needed to know. I don't want you to let this eat through your sould okay?" Oppa gazed at me. I squeezed his hand and nodded. If he only knew.....

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The room was dark. The room was smoky from the cigarettes that had been smoked and the room reeked from the smell of bourbon and scotch. The immaculately clad man was sprawled on his bed, smoking a cigarette. All he could think about....all that ran through his mind was that snowy day..that snowy day...where he had poised inside a church bell tower and had shot two men. The killings hadn't bothered him, death was an everyday part of his life. It was just the scene after that that played through his mind over and over again. He sighed and scowled angrily. A girl, a girl had run to one of the falling men and despite the extreme danger of it all, she still ran to him and held him in her arms. He could've shot her too easily. She was right in his range. But he didn't. He couldn't. The grief in her body, the silent sobs that wracked her body yet showed no tears was just too much. When she turned her face to his field of vision, he dropped his gun from shock. It had been his Sang Ha and he, warrior, Jang Woo Hyuk had killed her brother. The horrible truth was now eating away at his soul and Woo Hyuk could not sleep, eat or think. His job, the one thing he had wanted to enjoy, was now his greatest burden. The expression on her face that snowy

morning was forever seared in his heart. He could not forgive himself. He knew she probably would not forgive him either.

Woo Hyuk twisted and writhed in anguish.

"Oh God! Oh God! Why? Why her? Why her brother?" he cried out. Even after time, the pain did not lessen. After...after she had left him that horrible day at the train station, he'd made up his mind to become famous so he could see her again. Once a barely passing student, he lead his class by the time graduation came around.

To work my heart and brain to pieces for this?!?

To become the killer of my love's brother?! Woo Hyuk thought furiously. He angrily sat up and threw a bottle of scotch clear across the room. The bottle cracked soundly and shattered to a million pieces. Woo Hyuk's bleary eyes gazed blankly into the open air. Last night, when she had chased after him...it had been the scariest experience of his life. But not as bad as the sound of cracking ice and her falling through it. He had been so scared, he had almost wet his pants! Thank God Woo Hyuk thought gratefully.

Thank God it had been too dark for her to see his face. If she had, he would've acted the coward and run away. He pulled the picture of her from his drawer.

What was she doing now? What was she thinking..?



Chapter 10

I sat moodily in my seat, brooding over the horrible situation that I was in. My love....yet my hate was somewhere near.

*RING RING*

"Allo?" I answered.

"Sang Ha ya, na da." Uncle Tony's voice came through.

"Uncle Tony! How are you? How's Aunt Eun Mi?" I exclaimed.

"We're just fine. We just wanted to know how our gongjunim was doing. Is that son of mine treating you well?" Uncle Tony playfully demanded. I laughed out loud.

"He's fantastic to me as always. I don't know what I'd do without him, he's always there for me." I said sincerely. I could just see Uncle Tony smiling that beautiful smile of his. Suddenly, I miss them both horribly.

"That's wonderful to hear. Is it too cold up there? Do you want me to send you a thicker coat?" Uncle Tony asked me.

"No, no, you've already sent me three overcoats. I'm just fine...Uncle Tony, may I ask you a question?"

"Of course, what is it?" Uncle Tony asked.

"Was...was appa a spy for...South Korea?" I asked softly. There was a sigh in the other line and I heard Uncle Tony mumble something incoherent.

"Because...because I knew he'd given information but I just thought it was a one time thing." I hurriedly said. Uncle Tony spoke to me in caring tones.

"Sang Ha ya, your appa was a fighter for freedom. He believed that freedom was the most important part of a person's life. I left North Korea because I could not withstand the oppression anymore. Your appa stayed because he truly believed he could make a difference. He did. He really did. All this life, he devoted himself to achieving freedom. He succeeded, I believe. Even though he passed away, his human spirit didn't. I'm so thankful his courage and love shines through in you Sang Ha. Both your father and mother would be very proud right now.

"Even Hee Junie oppa?" I asked, my throat all clogged up with emotions.

"Even Hee Jun." Uncle Tony said firmly.

I blinked back tears. My oppa...my oppa....HIs large laughing eyes, his teasing mouth, his funny hand gestures, and his hair that was always a little too long. Longing shook my being like a gust on a sapling. I reached for the ring that was next to my pendant.

"Oh! My meeting group is here. I need to go Sang Ha. But you will call me right?" Uncle Tony asked.

"Yes...yes I will call you soon Uncle Tony." I said quietly. I said goodbye to him and hung up the phone. His words had given me heart. I felt much braver. The world was taking on a new perspective. I smiled and was about to go back to work when---

*RING RING*

"Geez louise!" I exclaimed as I got the phone again.

"Allo?"

"So, I see you listened to my advice, Miss Sang Ha." Petraov drawled. My defenses immediatley went up. Why was this criminal calling me again?

"Yes, I did. Thank you..." I barely mumbled.

"It's such a pleasure to help out such a lovely young woman. How's your body? Has it recovered from the shock yet?" Petroav asked innocently.

"How'd you know I fell into the river?" I demanded.

"Now now, let's not be so naive sounding. I was asking about your OTHER shock." Petraov said slyly. I felt the blood drain from my face.

"Warrior..also known as Jang Woo Hyuk...North Korean spy..desperately in love with you, I can tell." Petroav said slightly snidely.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." I mumbled feebly.

"Oh come come! You can do better than that! Who do you think came to me and asked me to call you? Who do you think asked me to give you a tip off? He gave up his cocaine for you willingly. That's a sign of strong love." Petraov joked dryly. I felt sick to my stomach. How could he...how dare he?!!

"Petraov, don't ever call me again. Not for him, not for me, not for you." I said abruptly and hung up the phone.

I'll kill him!..I'll kill him! How could he undermine me like that?! Did he not think I would find him? I thought angrily as I shuffled some files around.

He's doing this out of a kind heart a voice inside me head mumbled. Suddenly drained of energy, I slumped down in my seat and cried silently and without tears. Just wait till I catch him!...just wait till I give him a piece of my mind.....and a hug too..even though he is my greatest enemy, that doesn't mean I still don't love him...I thought ruefully.



Chapter 11

"Wow~ what a fascinating predicament!" Jae Won exclaimed as he happily jotted down notes. I smiled. His enthusiasm was highly infectious.

"I'm so glad my life is interesting to you Jae Won." I said, highly amused.

"Oh! I didn't mean to sound like an eager beaver. I'm sorry ma'am. Please go on though, please." Jae Won begged me with his large brown eyes. I burst into laughter because he looked so cute.

"Well, since Woo Hyuk and I were in the same line of work, we brushed with each other quite a bit. What frustrated me was that I COULD not catch him! It blew my mind how he managed to slip out of my traps! That just made me more determined. I truly thought he had changed too much to love me anymore. He was a cold, calculating, ruthless man. Or at least that was his reputation.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Hey Sang Ha ya, Gwan jang nim wants to see us." Kang Ta oppa poked his head into my office.

"Oh, okay." I said, slightly alarmed. The gwan jang nim doesn't "see" anyone unless we goofed up bad or we were going to be assigned personal missions. I figured on the latter because I take extra care not to anger the gwan jang nim. I followed oppa to the room and knocked on the door.

"Dul uh wha! (come in!) the gruff voice of Mr. Suh called us. We walked in.

"Ah...you two are here. Sit down." he indicated the two leather chairs that were in front of him. We both hesitantly sat our bottoms down and shot each other cautious looks.

"I called you two here because I need you two to go somewhere for me."

We looked at him with large eyes. US?

"I know, I know, ya'll are in different departments but you guys always work very well together and cooperation is vital to this mission."

We nodded our heads as we both waited with bated breath.

"Okay, Good. Now, there is a small jelly making factory outside of Moscow which has come up several times in our evidence files. We have no idea why but by my instinct, I don't think it's a coincidence. I want both of you to go and check it out and give me a full report in 72 hours. Here is all the information you need to get there. Is there any questions?" Mr. Suh looked at both of us. 

We both shook our heads no. This was very strange and almost insulting. 

A jelly factory?!?! I shook my head as I got up and followed oppa out. Oppa chuckled and looked at me.

"Well, if you're not busy, you wanna go check it out?" he asked cheerfully. I resigned to make this a successful mission even though it was the SILLIEST I've been on.

"Let me get my coat and I'll meet you out in the lobby." I said. I walked to my desk and got my coat and hurried out to the lobby.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Hello? Is anyone here?" I called out into the empty office. Strange, there was no one here.

"May I help you?" a creaky voice asked them. We both jumped and turned around. An ancient looking bald man stared at me.

Even though Kang Ta oppa was there with me, the old man's piercing blue eyes were looking solely at me.

"Um yes..we're from the Health Board. We are here to perform the 6 month routine check. This is An Chil Hyun and my name is Moon Sang Ha." I said as convincingly as possible. The old man seemed to be even more shocked when he heard my name.

His hand trembled even more and his accent because even more pronounced.

"Well, then come on! We close in von our!" he cried out gruffly. We meekly followed the old man down the stairs to the working rooms below.

"Sir, you never gave us your name." I called out.

"Everyone call me Sasha. That what you call me!" the old man barked. I could tell the old man was suspicious of us but something stopped him. There were vats of preserved fruit, sending off a heavenly smell as we walked past them. We saw workers stare at us as we got on to "inspecting". As far as I could tell, the machines were in top condition and everything was very clean. Kang Ta oppa went off to inspect the storage rooms while I made small talk with Sasha. As I talked to him, I found out he'd been in the jelly business for over 45 years. All his life he had perfected the art of jelly making. Now that he was old and feeble, he had passed his secrets onto his grandson. He had no blood relatives left. I listened fascinated with this ancient man's story.

"You, would make good wife to my godson! He look like you! Dark hair, dark eyes, white yellow skin, he no Russian like me.

He look-a like uh...Mongols! Now, he handsome and you beautiful, make wonderful babies!" the old man cackled and I turned pink.

"Sang Ha ya! Come here!" Kang Ta oppa beckoned to me. I ran to where oppa was. He was kneeling by a bunch of finished jelly jars.

"Look what kind of jelly I found." Oppa said grimly. I took the jar from him and opened it. The sweet sticky smell of the substance inside clearly indicated it was NOT jelly. It was smoker's delight, also known as opium. Why, this whole crate, this whole ROOM was filled with opium!

"This "jelly" factory is just a face for a huge opium import and export operation!" I whispered. We had to take back evidence.

Oppa took a sample of the opium.

"Kang Ta oppa, I think Sasha has NO idea this is going on in the jelly factory. I think it's his godson." I said quietly. Kang Ta oppa nodded. We stood up and was about to head out when we heard a commotion. We silently crepty out to the front office.

I gasped. Woo Hyuk was out there. He looked very angry.

"Sasha! How could you let two strangers with no ID whatsoever come in?!?!?! Do you know how dangerous that is?! What if you got hurt?!" Woo Hyuk yelled frustrated.

"I'm sorry my son. I was not going to....but the young woman, the young woman looked just like the woman in your picture.

She also had the name..."

"What name?" Woo Hyuk snapped tiredly.

"The name you cry out so often in your sleep. The woman who is in all your nightmares. You look so mournful when you say her name my son. As almost as if you had done her a great wrong. You yell it so loud sometimes that it rings the rafters of this old house and factory." Sasha said with sympathy in his eyes.

Woo Hyuk turned white when he heard that. He ran up and grasped Sasha's arm painfully.

"Where's Sang Ha?! Is she here still?! Tell me Sasha!" he demanded.

"She is still here....with her partner." Sasha gasped in pain. Woo Hyuk let go and Sasha rubbed his arm. I watched all this with round eyes as Woo Hyuk started to pace the floor. I felt Kang Ta oppa touch my arm. He whispered in my ear.

"You have some explaining to do when we get back Moon Sang Ha." Oppa didn't sound too happy.

"Petraov is going to be here any minuete! What are we going to do about them?!" Woo Hyuk exclaimed.

"Do about what?" Petraov's voice came from the doorway. Kang Ta oppa pulled me back and we pressed our bodies flat against the wall. Oh were WE in a sticky spot. How were we going to get out?! North Korea's number one agent right by us and Russia's biggest druglord at the doorway with 20 armed men! Aigo!

"Quickly, let's go down and go out the back way if there is one!" Oppa whispered furiously. I nodded and we crept towards the stairs. It was just awful because it was so gosh darn dark! We couldn't turn on the lights for fear of getting caught. Oppa stumbled and his shoe must've fallen off because we heard it clatter the whole way down.

"Oh f**king s***balls!" oppa exclaimed under his breath.

"What was that?" Petraov asked startled.

"It must've been one of the workers going out late." Woo Hyuk lied smoothly. I thanked him silently and grasped oppa's hand and quietly went down the rest of the stairs. We jumped again when we heard the clank of shoe against metal. Petraov must be coming down! We scurried quietly behind some crates. The lights were suddenly turned on and there stood Woo Hyuk, Petraov and at least ten men.

"This is the opium supply that is to be shipped out tomorrow night. With this payment...the decoder should be able to be bought." Woo Hyuk said dully. Petraov examined the opium and set it down.

"I have three questions. First of all, why are you selling your own stock, your own business to do government work? If you had gotten the cocaine that you brought into the Burgandy House, you could've bought it with that..why are you so in love with her?

I admit she is cute but she is nothing special comrade..why waste time? You gave up almost a ton of cocaine so she could win that drug bust..why?" Petraov asked baffled at Woo Hyuk's behavior. Woo Hyuk squarely met Petraov's eyes and he went on business. He ignored all the questions that Petraov had fired at him.

"Fifteen percent of the profits from this operation goes to you. That is how you will profit. We've already cleared 250 million so just think of the possibilities Petraov." Woo Hyuk said crisply.

"When is the pick up time?" Petraov resigned to Woo Hyuk's stubborness.

"6:00 pm, you know where."

"Mr. Jang, you will see your opium delivered promptly and efficiently." Petraov drawled as he got up. He shook hands with Woo Hyuk and left with his men. Silence pervaded the room as the black Benzes drove away. My heart was sick! Sick and Heavy because Woo Hyuk had changed so much. I heard him sigh loudly and shuffle his feet. Then his clear cut voice rang through the room.

"Na wah Sang Ha ya..na nuh soom uh it nun ji al ral." (come out Sang Ha, I knew you were hiding there the whole time)

For some strange reason, I wasn't surprised at all. I slowly emerged from the crates and faced my love and my hate.

"Hello Woo Hyuk. It's been a long time." I said quietly.



Chapter 12

Time stood still as we gazed at one another. Oh my beautiful, handsome, wonderful prince. Where did you go? I wondered as I gazed into his bottomless brown eyes. Where did you go? I cannot see you anymore! I silently cried out. Woo Hyuk's face was haggard and tired looking. But there was the unmistakable sharp gleam in his eyes. He was like honed, chased wild animal. I suppose years of constant alertness would make anyone the way Woo Hyuk was now. He was like a violin string, tightened, ready to snap at any stimulus. He had an aura of animal savageness around him now.

"So, you found my home. Good job." he said shortly. His voice rang out like a shot.

"Don't congratulate me, congratulate my boss." I replied. Woo Hyuk's voice widened and a sarcastic grin was slapped onto his face.

"Is that tall handsome man your boss? Kang Ta or whatever?" he asked condescendingly. My temper started to rise.

"He's my adoptive parents' son. He is also my partner so I would appreciate it if you would be civil enough about it." I spat out every word. I turned my head and looked for Kang Ta oppa, but he was gone!

"I saw him go out the back door." Woo Hyuk drawled easily. I started walking towards the door to go after him but Woo Hyuk reached out and stopped me by grabbing my hand. Oh! The shock I got after I touched him cannot be expressed into words. Memories gushed out and I could not stop them. I jerked my hand away to keep my control. If I had held on, I would've started to bawl.

"Woo Hyuk, I need to go. There's nothing left between us and I need to go on with my life. Please, we'll just see each other whenever our professional lives cross...but other than that, I can't see you anymore." I blurted out, flusterd. I looked up and saw he was gazing at me. Stop! Stop doing that!! 

Do you want me to cry in front of you? To bawl like a baby? Our lives are worlds apart now Woo Hyuk! My eyes cried out to him.

"Nothing? Sang Ha ya, you're lying to me." Woo Hyuk said softly, only inches away from me. My defenses were crumbling rapidly.

"It could've been different..it could've...but how can I love someone who killed my other half?!" I cried out as a tear fought its way through my control and trickled down my cheek. Woo Hyuk backed away and he was SO white! Despair and agony rose to the surface and he turned away from me so I could not see his eyes.

"Hee Jun...Hee Jun was the worst mistake I've ever made in my life. I can't forgive myself for it. I know you can't either. All I can say is..I'm so very sorry...but that's not enough is it Sang Ha? It won't ever help will it?" Woo Hyuk's voie became very husky with emotions. I shook my head as more tears fell down my face.

Hee Jun oppa! I promised I would not cry..but this hurts so much!

I reached behind my neck and undid the clasp of the necklace. I slid off the ring and held the chain and pendant in my warm hand. I walked around him and faced Woo Hyuk. I took his hand. Woo Hyuk looked at me wide eyed.

"For our childish dreams." I said softly as I slid the chain and pendant into Woo Hyuk's open palm. I then walked towards the door. I was so close..so close to the doorknob when Woo Hyuk called my name.

"Just say the words Sang Ha. Just say the words and I'll quit all this for you. My life is empty, worthless without you. Please...just say the words and I will stop all this." Woo Hyuk pleaded. Sadness engulfed my heart.

"I don't want that much power over you Woo Hyuk. Only you can stop what you are doing right now." I answered him. His silence was all the answer I needed. I ran out the door with tears streaming down my face. I stopped in my tracks when I saw Kang Ta oppa ahead of me, standing alone.

What am I doing to this man? I'm twisting and tearing his heart in all directions I cried out in my head. I lifted my tear streaked face towards hiim and met hs eyes. Oppa opened his arms out to me and I ran into them.

"Oh oppa! I hurt so bad! Make my pain go away!~" I wailed as he rocked me back and forth.

"You are so strong Sang Ha. I had no idea what invisible steel you were made out of until I finally realized all the stress and pain you were under. My brave brave little dongsseng, my Sang Ha. Sang Ha-my-Sang Ha." Oppa crooned to me. We stood like this, under the blue russian sky while a lone figure stood numbly by the doorway, watching the scene. He had lost his part in it forever.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"WHY?!!!" Jae Won ranted and raved as he got up and paced my deep rug. We were now in my study. After sharing two pots of coffee, even I was slightly "strung up".

"Why? Because it was the only thing I could do then. I was a coward Jae Won. I realized that now. Actually, I knew it back then too but it just hurt so much! My mind was going through the greatest battle ever. All my morals, all my beliefs, were becoming void. That breakup was the hardest I've ever gone through. It hurt me infinately more than it hurt him. Do you understand?" I said gently.

"No! You loved him didn't you? Why would anything else matter?" Jae Won demanded.

"Please Jae Won..please calm down and try to understand." I asked softly. Jae Won slowly sat down. He looked embarressed.

"You see....Kang Ta oppa had my love also. Not the kind of love I had for Woo Hyuk. The kind of love I had for Hee Jun oppa was the same kind of love I had for Kang Ta oppa. Don't you see? Kang Ta oppa was Hee Jun oppa's best friend! If I ended up staying with my brother's killer, it would've hurt Kang Ta oppa so much. Also, I didn't know if I could deal with that fact! I would've had to choose between the two! And I could not do that. So I stayed safe. I stayed...the way my head was telling me to do, not my heart. Life was not generous enough to let me have both. So, I chose strong, solid Kang Ta oppa, my pillar of strength." I stopped to take a breath. Jae Won must've seen the pain, even after all these years, he must've seen the pain in my eyes for he took my hand and soothed me.

"You did what you had to do. You did what you had to do." he said softly. I wasn't soothed though. The memories came back more quickly now.

"Oh...you don't know the worst Jae Won. You have no idea." I said sadly as I looked into his eyes.



Chapter 13

I sat on the wooden stool to my pottery wheel. My hand idly turned the wheel.

....just say the words Sang Ha.....my life is empty, worthless without you........

"Is it? Is your life empty Woo Hyuk? Is it empty as mine? " I whispered out loud, talking to the air. I heard Kang Ta oppa's footsteps as he came up to me.

"Get your coat, let's go on a walk." he said. I numbly got up and put on my dark blue coat. The air was biting and the wind put a rosy color to my cheeks.

"I wish Russia would be warm for once. Really hot, like July in Pusan." Kang Ta oppa said cheerfully.

"Yeah, nice and warm." I mumbled quietly.

"What's the matter Sang Ha-my-Sang Ha? Are you still thinking of him?" Kang Ta oppa took my hand and looked deeply into my eyes. I broke from his gaze. Why was he so beautiful, so understanding all the time? It made things so much harder on me.

"You hate him don't you oppa?" I asked numbly.

Oppa looked thoughtful. "In some ways I do, in some ways I don't. I hate him for he has your heart, also, I hate him for killing Hee Jun. But I'm pretty sure in my heart he didn't do it on purpose....even though a mistake like that won't ever go away. I pity him. He had nothing after you had to leave the country. He loves you so much Sang Ha, I can relate with him on that." Oppa's lilting voice stopped. We had arrived in front of a river. The bands of purple, orange, pink and blue lined the sky where the golden ball with its rays of warmth was setting.

"Did you know? This river has a legend." Oppa broke the silence. I looked at him and smiled.

"Tell it to me."

Oppa opened his mouth and the words flowed out.

"Once, there was a young woman who was the daughter of an extremely powerful royal official. She had handsome men surround her everyday, yet she fell in love with the plain horse trainer. He had been thrown off more than once so he was not only plain, but he had a slight limp. But no matter. She loved him dearly for his warm smile, gracious personailty and loving manners.

All the other couters were always jealous and wondering about this young demi god who had captured the woman's heart. Then one day, one especially jealous courter saw the beautiful young woman with the horse trainer!! That's when he realized that he had been dissed for a horse trainer!! Not for a demi god/prince but for an ugly, limping horse trainer! He got so angry that late one night, he came sneaking into the stables and cut the saddle straps a little bit so that whne the horse was galloping, the horse trainer would surely fly and break his neck. Well, it worked, but on the wrong person. The person who got on the saddle that morning was the young woman. She rode side by side with the horse trainer every morning. Well, as they were galloping, the strap broke and the young woman was flung off and her neck was broken. The horse trainer never forgave himself and later he went mad and threw himself into this very river where the young woman's cremated ashes were thrown. And that's the legend." Oppa finished grandly. I smiled and looked innocently at him.

"When did you say this incident occured?" I asked.

"Oh...years..hundreds..of years ago." Oppa coughed to keep from laughing.

"Oh really? Gosh, for some reason I remember ths river being builty in 1921 to help in water and canal trade." I remarked nonchalantly. Oppa grinned and tried to keep his laughter in.

"Well....I think you're mistaken Sang Ha."

"I think you're making this up to keep my mind off things." I remarked as I grabbed him and tickled him.

"Okay! Okay! I made it up! I made the story up!" Oppa laughed as he got away from my tickling fingers. My heart filled with love for my oppa. I wrapped my arms around his waist and squeezed him hard.

"Thank you for trying. You succeded, I just wanted to let you know." I said as I gazed up at him. His face softened as he stroked my hair.

"Anything for my Sang Ha."

A strange sense of deja vu came over me when I heard him say that. A feeling of forboding came over me also. I shivered and let go of oppa.

"Let's go oppa. It's getting really cold."

"Com'on, I'll buy you a hot chocolate."

"With whipped cream? And chocolate sprinkles?" Oppa threw back his head and laughed.

"Yes, everything on it." he said as he hooked arms with me and we walked along, towards the cafe that was nearby.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Woo Hyuk sat in his little room above the jelly factory, poring over a faded, ragged photo album. The old photos showed him and Sang Ha together. Tears slipped out of the corners of his eyes and splattered onto the plastic covering of the album. He heard the steps creak and Sasha limped up to Woo Hyuk's bedpost.

"What is the matter my Warrior?" he asked kindly for he loved his godson very much and wished him to be happy. Woo Hyuk lifted his face and lifted the album up for Sasha to see.

"Do you see that angel Sasha? That beautiful angel? I killed her brother. I shot him straight through the heart and did not even realize it until I saw her rush to his side. I made the gravest mistake of my life Sasha and I can't ever get her back." Woo Hyuk said woodenly. Sasha shook his wise old head and sat down next to Woo Hyuk.

"Do you believe she still loves you, just a little bit?" Sasha questioned.

"I don't know Sasha, I truly don't. I suppose she might. But that's by a FAR SHOT." Woo Hyuk said despairingly. Sasha gazed deeply into the faded old grainy black and whites. It had been graduation day and Woo Hyuk and Sang Ha looked so happy. Sasha's old, weathered eyes took in her expression and he thought deeply for a moment.

"My son, I may be just a jelly man but I know a face when I see one. I believe she still loves you." Sasha said quietly. Woo Hyuk shook his head and remained silent.

"The look she has on this picture is still present on her face. When she met you down in the basement, I sure she had this face also. Just covered up with pain and indesicion because she loves that big tall man also. My Warrior, you must reach her somehow and tell her you love her. You probably did not tell her that yet."

"Yes I did Sasha."

"No, you probably told her you needed her. Well, needing and loving are two different things. You tell her you love her and things will be different. I know years of you killing and chasing has made you numb. I also know you probably doing things that get you and Sasha in trouble. Why do I stay quiet? For one reason. I love my godson. So now, what are you going to do?" Sasha asked.

"Sasha....I...oh- okay! I'll try to reach her and talk to her and tell her how I feel." Woo Hyuk sighed resignedly. Sasha clapped his hands once.

"Good! Now come eat the beef straganoff I make you. Good food to fatten your thin bones!" Sasha got up and shuffled to the stairs.

Woo Hyuk felt a little better and he knew Sasha had lived long enough to be this wise.

Will she still love me? Through all our misunderstandings and angers, will she still be able to love me? Woo Hyuk wondered.



Chapter 14

The morning was crisp and clear when I woke up. I took time to get ready because it was one of my free days and I had the time. Breakfast was leisurely and I left some food for Kang Ta oppa because he was still asleep.

*BUZZ* our doorbell rang.

Who could it be at this early hour? I wondered. I padded over to the door and peeked in the little peephole. All I could see was pink. I cautiously opened the door and all I saw was a bouquet of pink tulips at my feet. There was no one around. I picked up the bouquet off the ground and knew someone had to have been there to hold the tulips up to the peephole. But who? and why did they leave so fast? I wondered. An envelope was attached to the tissue wrapping so I pulled it off and sat down on the pottery stool to read the letter. It was in bold black handwriting.

Sang Ha ya~

I know these words should be said to you in person but I cannot muster the courage to do that so I'm doing this on paper.

When you handed the necklace back to me yesterday, a large void in my heart soon took over. Do you know what my birthday, Christmas, New Year's, new moon, or just any holiday or occasion wish was? Just you. You back in my arms happy and safe. I guess God didn't think my wishes were valid because that didn't happen. Do you remember that day at the train station before you and Hee Jun left? You asked me how I stayed so free. Well, my answer was that you made me free. It's still like that today. These past few years have been hellish for me and the reason why I kept face was the fact I'd see you. Sang Ha, I need you but most importantly, I love you. I love you so much that it's almost impossible for anyone to understand it. Fate has turned it so that I will be the sole keeper of this love. But, I will keep it and cherish it in my heart. Please, even though you may not love me anymore, please accept the necklace Sang Ha ya. It doesn't belong to me. It belongs to you. I love you.

Woo Hyuk

I sild my hand inside the envelope and pulled out the necklace. Oh, my heart ached so much! But there was one more thing inside the envelope. With trembling fingers, I pulled it out and looked at it.

It was a grainy black and white photo of another world, another life. It was a picture of us in front of the school's exercising yard, on graduation day. He held hands with me as we posed for a pretty picture. Our smiles were large, happy, wholesome. I felt tears run a path down my cheeks. This is my Woo Hyuk! This is my Woo Hyuk! My beautiful, endearing comrade, my love!! My mind cried out. I got up from my seat and ran to get my overcoat. The picture fluttered to the ground.

"Please! Please still be outside!" I frantically whispered. I jammed my feet into a pair of shoes, wrapped the overcoat aroud my body and stumbled and ran down the stairs of my flat. The wind was bitterly cold and sliced through my frame like a knife. I looked from side to side and ran to any direction.

"Woo Hyuk?!" I called. Silence. There was no one. I ran around for ten minuetes, searching for him. He must've left. I thought dejectedly as I sat down on a bench. The tinkling music of a man and his trained monkey filled my ears. I turned my head in that direction and watched as the little red coated monkey jumped around holding his little top hat out for people to throw pennies in. I smiled as the monkey approached me. It danced about prettily and frolicked so much I started laughing.

"Are you looking for someone pretty lady?" the monkey vendor asked kindly.

"No...I...lost something and I don't think I'll be able to get it back." I said sadly. I got up and thanked the man. Everything was so bleak, so gray all of a sudden.

I think I was expecting a fairy tale ending. He would be waiting for me and we would jump into each others arms in slow motion. He would love me and I would love him and everything would be peachy keen. Then reality gave me a hard slap in the face. It can't ever be the same, ever again. That photograph was a moment in time, captured forever. I slowly walked back up to my flat. The wind whistled through my hair and my coat. The flat was the way it had been when i had rushed out of it. The tulips and photograph were still on the ground. I bent down and picked them up. I also picked up the glinting platinum chain and held it to my heart. I walked slowly to Kang Ta oppa's bedroom and gazed at him from the doorway. He was a quiet sleeper and did not rumple his sheets like I did. He breathed deeply and turned on his side. Unknowingly, a tear slipped down my cheek. I had cried a river these past few day. I had tried to remain strong....but it was just so hard! I cried right there by the doorway, just let the tears fall. I left after a little bit to go wash my face. I did not see the tear that slipped out of of oppa's closed eye.



Chapter 15

"Woo Hyuk got his money from the opium deal. He was able to get the decoder for Black Knight but he needed to go retrieve it. It was in a submarine out in the South China Sea. It would be his most dangerous mission.........."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Sang Ha ya! The gwan jang nim wants an emergency meeting!" Kang Ta oppa stuck his head inside my office. I wasn't surprised at all. I knew North Korea was in its last phases of retrieving the decoder and South Korea and the United States were working hard to find out when, where, and how. I walked quietly into the meeting room.

"We were just ordered by the United Nations and the President of Korea to stop North Korea and its agent Warrior. They are in their last phases to retrieve the decoder from the Chinese so we need to work as fast as possible to find the submarine. I want the equipment on 24 hours and all the radios also. If we do not find the coordinance in 48 hours, we're going into Wild Card mode. Got it?" We all nodded solemnly.

"There are folders for you over there. Read it, memorize it, and be ready at any time. I think that's it. You guys may go. Kang Ta, Sang Ha, stay behind please." Everyone got up mumbling and talking excitedly. I walked up to the gwan jang nim. Kang Ta oppa was behind me.

"Yes sir?" I asked.

"I read your report. Are you POSITIVE there weren't any suspicious things going on?" Gwan jang nim eyed me. I gulped and looked at him squarely in the eyes. He despised liars and I did not want to do this but.....

"No sir, there wasn't anything out of the ordinary." I said crisply.

"Kang Ta?"

"Um...that's about all sir. There weren't any suspicious going ons." Oppa echoed me.

"All right. Thank you. You may go." he nodded curtly to us and we bowed and left. He still didn't buy us..but he had let us off the hook for now.

"Thanks oppa." I said gratefully.

"Last time dongseng, last time." Oppa grinned at me.

"Hey Sang Ha! There's an old hal-a-buh-ji here to see you." one of my comrades called.

"An old grandpa?" I asked surprised.

I walked steadily into the visitor's room and saw a neat little figure in an old fashioned suit and tie.

"Sasha! What are you doing here?!" I asked, shocked. He slowly got up and looked at me.

"I need to speak to you Moon Sang Ha, it's about my godson." Sasha said solemnly. I felt my knees weaken and I found myself a seat to sit down in.

"Do you know where he iz right now?" Sasha asked calmly. I numbly shook my head. I hadn't seen him or heard anything from him since that morning...

"Somewhere in China getting a ride so he cold go down to the coast. He did not have to go on this mission. He could've assigned someone else to go but he chose to keep the mission. Sang Ha, do yo know he left last night? Do yo know what I found out this morning? Do you??" Sasha's voice went up higher and I could not understand why. Woo Hyuk was an agent for North Korea. He's used to missions. Why does this one upset Sasha so much?

"Look Sasha, if you're angry about me lying to you at the jelly..."

"It's a suicide mission." Sasha's quiet whisper cut through me like a scream.

"Wh...wha...what?" I asked in disbelief.

"It's a suicide mission. He's not supposed to come back. After Woo Hyuk gets the decoder, he hands it to a rendevouz person and he has to blow up the submarine manually because of its anti automatic bomb system. He will die." Sasha said dully.

"How..do you know?" I asked weakly.

"I found his folders. He was in such a hurry to go...so I was very curious...he he.." Sasha blinked back tears.

"Sasha..I'm so sorry.." I said dumbly.

His piercing blue eyes met mine and I saw tears in the corners.

"Do you love him?" he asked firmly.

"Love him?" I asked, totally confused for a moment.

"By God and everything holy! Do you love him?!~" Sasha asked angrily. I met his eyes and smiled.

"Yes, dear dear Sasha, I love him. Very much indeed." I replied, knowing this was the honest to God thruth.

"Good, because he went on this mission because of you."

"ME?!" I exclaimed.

"He told me to give you this when I came to tell you." Sasha handed me a sheet of paper. Then he groaned as he got up and with the aid of his cane, walked out of the room.

"Sasha!" i stopped him. He looked over his shoulder.

"Thank you." I said simply. Sasha nodded and walked out.

I opened the sheet of paper and gasped at what I saw.

You once said that I had the control to stop all this. I guess I I do but it's something I can't achieve without you.

Woo Hyuk

Underneath that precious note were a pair of coordinances.

"KANG TA OPPA!!!" I yelled as I got up ran quickly to his office.

Thank you Thank you Woo Hyuk..I said inside my head as I rushed to the map room to find the exact location of the submarine that would change the course of world history..and mine.



Chapter 16

The helicopter's wings whirred as we headed towards the United States warship that would meet us and we'd discuss with the general on how to achieve the mission that we were on. Kang Ta oppa sat across from me, staring serenely out into the ocean. I stared down into my hands, looking at the lines that etched across the palms of my hands.

"You were so frightened that day Sang Ha." Kang Ta oppa broke the silence.

"What day?" I asked.

"That day when I met you. You tried to look as brave and confident as possible, but I could tell you were shaking in your boots." Oppa chuckled softly and looked over at me.

"That's when I started loving you Sang Ha, when I saw how hard you tried and how brave you were."

...........Maybe you'll find some handsome man and break his heart...like...you are breaking mine right now......................

I remembered when Woo Hyuk said that to me.

"Oppa, you can do so much better than me." I replied numbly.

"No I couldn't. How can I do better when perfect is right here with me?"

I laughed a dry laugh.

"Stop being corny."

Oppa shrugged. "I'm a corny kinda guy." he said lightly. I was looking away so I didn't see the hurt look in his eyes.

"Hey Sang Ha?"

"Hm?"

"There's probably a good chance that someone will die in this mission...."

"Oppa, there's always a good chance that someone will die in a mission. We're secret agents! Why are you speaking of death this late a date?" I spoke impaitently. I was so tense and upset that I'd taken it out on him.

"I'm...sorry. I didn't mean that. I'm sorry." I apologized.

"It's okay...I just wanted to bring that up because the one who doesn't survive could be Warrior."

"I realize that Oppa...and I think I'm prepared. But what about you oppa? What will happen to you?" I asked.

"To die for one's country is the greatest honor bestowed on a human being. Especially if it's South Korea." Oppa grinned. I smiled and shook my head.

"So much love for one country. South Korea is truly to have a citizen like you Kang Ta oppa." I said sincerely.

"We're about 10 mins from the ship." the co-pilot stuck his head in and told us. We thanked him. I turned towards the window and touched my pendant.

This is our greatest challenge Woo Hyuk. I thought. The faint gray dot of U.S.S Atlantica grew larger and larger as we got closer and closer. We could see fighter pilots taking off from the runway. I stared in awe at the graceful, sleek planes that cut across the sky.

*Bump*

We landed onto the metal airstrip of the ship. An officer was outside to greet us as we stepped out. We yelled some greetings over the noise and he picked up our briefcases and beckoned us to follow. We went up to a room by the tower where General Charles F. Fieldson greeted us.

"Hello Agent Moon, Agent An. I'm so glad you could make it in such a short time. Please, have a seat." The general gestured to two leather seats. We sat down and waited for him to speak.

"The U.N Council had just informed us of your mission. I commend you on your bravery. Now, from our watch of this submarine, we've concluded that it is the new prototype design that we had suspected the Chinese of patenting. So that is a downfall for us because we do not know of its capabilities. But, good news. We were able to intercept a plan of it. It is a very fascinating machine." The general went into a safe and brought out a blueprint. He rolled it out onto the table and we stared at it.

"This is where the main computers are and these are all compartments for air and storage. THIS is where we believe the decoder is." the general pointed to a small room near the back of the ship.

"The plan is nothing complicated. Very simple. One of you will go down and the other will guide up here with the plan. The submarine comes up everyday at 19:00. We have to disguise you a chinese officer to let you in of course. Can you make up a story Agent or do we need to give you one?" the general said this in a slightly disdainful manner, as if an american could make up a better story than a korean.

"No, we can think of one." Oppa said firmly.

"Good, then who's going down and who's staying up here?"

"I'm going down." Oppa said before I could even speak. I looked at him shocked. It almost guaranteed his death! The U.N or the U.S or even the WHOLE WORLD didn't know about the suicide part. I stared into oppa's eyes, frightened for him.

"Alright. We have three hours. Agent An, come with me to get uniformed and ready. Agent Moon, go with Lt. Louise to get briefed about the communcation system. We're leaving at 18:30. " the general nodded to us and we got up.

This was happening too fast! I had never been frightened so much in my life at the deadly efficiency these people used. Will I be able to have a few words with oppa before he goes? I knew I wasn't thinking professionally, but how can one be professional about the matters of the heart?

Before we parted, oppa turned and squeezed my hand.

"Be brave Sang Ha-my-Sang Ha." Kang Ta oppa whispered. Then he followed the general, away from me.

"Come with me." the Lt. said briskly as he led me down to the communications station. I squared my shoulders and lifted my chin. For Kang Ta oppa...for Woo Hyuk....and mostly..for my country.



Chapter 17

I whizzed by the communications briefing. I already knew all the equipment by heart. The Lt. saw that I already knew everything and left me alone after an hour. I sat in a chair by a corner and watched all the officers do their duties.

They worked like well oiled machines.

"Excuse me, is there any way I could make a long distance phone call?" I inquired. One kindly looking officer handed me a phone and told me to dial 1004 and the regular numbers.

1004? hm...that's good omen....Kang Ta chunsa? no..no...mustn't think of death...I reprimanded myself as I punched in numbers.

"Yuh bo sae yo?"

"Uncle Tony?"

"Sang Ha ya! Wen il ie nya?"

"Uncle Tony...I'm on the U.S.S Atlantica and we are only an hour and 20 min away from a mission that'll change my life forever. I'm so scared for Kang Ta oppa, he's....your son is.....going down there." I was stammering now. I heard Uncle Tony sigh in the background.

"My son...my son....always so brave and so willing for his country." I could hear the pain in his voice. I then realized how selfish I was by telling him this. I felt so horrible.

"Uncle Tony, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to burden you like this. I'm sorry." I apologized.

"Why are you sorry Sang Ha? I am glad that you told me. I would've much rather heard from you than some postcard bearing some unknown man's condolences. Thank you my daughter." Uncle Tony sounded so old right then.

"I would get oppa right now...."

"No no don't bother. Tell him I send my love and your mother's too. I love both of you very much. You may not have been a part of my blood, but you are a large part of my heart and this family. Your parents and Hee Jun would be so proud of you." I blinked back the tears that were forming in my eyes.

"I have to go Uncle...but thank you. I love you too." I said. I hung up the phone and covered my face and wept a little.

"Here." someone handed me a kerchief. I looked up and saw that it was the kindly looking officer. I silently took it and wiped my eyes.

"He's your brother right? That agent that's going down there?" he asked. I looked at him surprised.

"You can understand Korean?" I asked astonished. The young officer chuckled and nodded.

"My parents were stationed in Dae Gu for a couple of years and I was there. I just kind picked it up. Can't speak it for my life though." he smiled at me. I smiled back at him.

"Yes...he's my brother. He's not my blood brother though. I had a blood brother..but he died. He's a wonderful adoptive brother. Always looking out for me." I reminisced the old days when we were carefree. Hanging out at the coffee shop, studying together at the library, going to the fairs and carnivals that came by, going to concerts, Oppa's graduation, my graduation....

"Sang Ha ya." I heard Oppa's voice call me. I jerked my head up and gasped.

It's Woo Hyuk! my head cried out. But it wasn't. It was Kang Ta oppa in a Chinese army officer uniform. He looked so much like the Woo Hyuk that I had left at the train station...so many years ago.

"Oppa~" I said weakly.

"Come here, I need to say something to you in private." Oppa beckoned to me. I got up and walked over to him. Oppa grasped my hands in his and brought them up to his chest. He held my hands against his heart.

"Pray for me. You and your heart are the only things that keep me going. I know you will guide me well...but I dunno if I can keep up my part of the bargain." Oppa looked solemnly down at me. I swallowed the large lump in my throat and smiled bravely for him.

" I am so lucky. So lucky that I have an oppa like you." I said sweetly. Oppa leaned down and brushed his lips against my forehead.

"Goodbye Sang Ha." he said so softly I barely heard him. I looked up at him wide eyed.

"Agent An, it's time to go."

"But it's not time yet~" I protested as I looked at Oppa, quickly trying to memorize his face.

"I give thee everything, I give thee my love..." Oppa started quoting from the poem that he wrote for me not long after I arrived in Seoul.

"but cannot I penetrate...." I finished the line for him.

"....the glass rose which thou holdest close to thouest heart." Oppa whispered the ending. He glanced down at my pendant.

"Now I know why." he said meaningfully. It took all my strength not to start bawling right there and then.

"I'll see you soon oppa." I said optimistically.

Oppa saluted me, turned smartly on his shoes and walked proudly away. My heart swelled and broke at the same time.

"Are you ready to go back to your communications area Agent Moon?"

I turned to face the Lt.

"Yes I am."



Chapter 18

I slid on my headset and set it on the right frequency.

"We'll now begin testing. Agent An, do you copy?" General Feidlson asked over the wireless.

"Yes, I copy."

"Agent Moon?"

"Yes, I copy."

"Good, then let us begin. It's all yours Agent Moon."

"Oppa? Can you hear me?" I asked.

"Yep"

"Okay, good. I'm going to have a seven min silence and let you go into the boat to get to the submarine. When you get in, let me know okay?"

" 'kay."

I waited paitently but I could not get the images of Oppa getting into the boat to go into that deep dark submarine by himself. Every second was tense.

"Sang Ha ya" Oppa came through again. His voice sounded strange.

"What is it oppa?" I asked urgently.

"There's something wrong. I'm right on their submarine but no one's out. Their sensors should've been going crazy by now. There's something majorly wrong." Oppa sounded tense and a little frightened. I gulped and a sinking feeling settled into my stomach. I turned my head around to look at the General to see what I should do.

"Agent An, I cannot put your life in danger."

"Oppa...dol ah wya (come back)" I encouraged.

"No....no..I'm going in. Just go on as we planned." I heard oppa heave open the hatch of the submarine. That's when I knew something was DEFINATELY the matter. NO submarine hatch was JUST left open. God, my heart pounded for him as he clinked down the steps of the submarine.

"Okay, I'm in. It seems to be clear. Tell me where to go."

"The...do you see the side pipes that should be to your...right?"

"Yep"

"Okay, Follow those until you get to an intersection and then take a right."

"HOLY FUCK!" Oppa whispered prayerfully.

"What is it?!" I asked, alarmed.

"Shit, this place is a fucking graveyard! There are dead crew members EVERYWHERE." Oppa said very seriously. My fear spread throughout my body.

"Oppa please. Something has obviously gone wrong. Please, please...come back to the ship." I begged, not caring how desperate I sounded.

"No hold on, I hear voices. It's in the direction of where you said the decoder was." Oppa whispered. I heard him clink slightly. I was so scared for him.

"It's Woo Hyuk..he's hurt." Oppa said quietly.

My heart dropped to my feet when I heard that.

"What? How..how do you know?" I asked as my lower lip started to tremble.

"I'm looking in on him right now. There's someone else in there...well I'l be damned. It's Petraov. Uh-oh. I think Petraov is running a one man show." Oppa said grimly.

"What do you mean? That Petraov gypped my Woo Hyuk?" I demanded.

"It looks like it." Oppa said.

"Oppa, please, check on him.." There was a silence.

"Oppa? Oppa? Do you copy?" I asked urgently.

"Hello Sang Ha." Petraov's silky voice came through loud and clear. My blood ran cold when I heard this demon's voice.

"My, what pleasant surprise that we meet in such a way. It seems as thought Woo Hyuk developed morals a wee bit late in his life. It's too bad he's going to pay dearly for it."

"Petraov, listen...don't kill them. How will that benefit you?" I asked him, hoping to stall time.

"Oh in everyway. You see, the North Korean gov't offered me his position because he wasn't going to come back. Also, all his opium trading will be mine and all the drug connections he has will be mine. I'll be the first Russian, first HUMAN to use the Black Knight. You see Sang Ha, I was Woo Hyuk's rendevouz to this mission and to make sure that he perished in the submarine." Petraov drawled.

I could not BELIEVE how evil this man was!!

"Say goodbye... " Petraov drawled.

"NO! Wait! Petraov! Wait!"

*BANG!*

*BANG!*

"NO! Petraov! Stop!" I cried out. Tears welled up in my eyes.

"Don't kill them! Please, they are all that I have!" I cried out. Then there was silence.

Tears streamed down my face. I could not believe it. Why was Fate so cruel to me?! It took away the remains of my happiness......My two loves were gone...I slid the headphones off my ears.....

".....Sang Ha?? ....Sang Ha??"

My heart leapt with surprise and joy.

"OPPA!" I exclaimed.

"I thought...I thought you were dead...and Woo Hyuk.....Woo Hyuk too...." I sobbed openly now.

"I pulled the trigger Sang Ha. I had Woo Hyuk's gun. Petraov is dead...but we're both hurt..bad." Oppa grunted in pain.

"General Feildson has sent boats already, we'll just get both of you out of there....." I stammered delieriously.

"No Sang Ha ya." Oppa's soft words silenced me. I was bewildered.

"What do you mean no?"

"I mean no as in picking me up. Someone's got to fix this decoder once and for all and it's gotta be me. Sang Ha ya, don't you remember what Sasha said? It's manual. It has to be. I'll help Woo Hyuk get out of the submarine but...I'm not going with him." There was a finality in Oppa's voice.

The truth sunk in. I was so cold, so numb.

"Oppa...isn't there another way? Why does it have to be you oppa?" I asked, my voice wobbly from emotions.

"Because, I am a proud citizen of the best country in the world. Because I am member of human kind. Because I love a beautiful girl from Pyongyang. Because I cannot live if I did not know that I had tried my best. And because I could not penetrate the glass rose which guarded your heart." Oppa said poetically.

"But oppa..."

"And Hee Jun's waiting for me up there."

That did it. My dam burst. I started bawling.

"Don't cry darling. You are the strongest soul I know. There's no need for you to cry." Kang Ta oppa said gently. His voice became weaker and weaker as his blood drained from him. His life....

"Oppa...dont' go. Don't go...you don't know how much I need you..." I whimpered.

"Ah...but I do know how much you need Woo Hyuk. You have a second chance now. Use it well." Oppa consoled me gently.

"Oh....they're coming. Sang Ha, I'm going to cut transmission now. I feel so bad that I must say goodbye to you like this...."

"Oppa...I love you...don't forget that...I love you."

The other end was dead.

I slid my headphones off and got up from my seat. I walked weakly over to the window. The night sky was dotted with stars...it was dark yet light...the few minutes of peace was beautiful....

*BAM!!!*

The night sky burst into flames as my love, my matyr was burned up to heaven. The explosion illuminated my face and the tears that were running down....down....down......

"It is finished." I whispered. My long war with Black Knight was over. The casualty lists were long and horrible, but the war was over.

"The North Korean and the officers are coming in!"

I rushed down to the lower level dock to help Woo Hyuk. He was leaning heavily on an officer as they led him to the infirmary. They bandaged his wounds, gave him some medincine and just left him alone. I stayed with him all through the night in the infirmary. I dozed by his bedside. I think it was a dream, but I dreamt that he kissed me passionately and held me in his arms. I also remembered his tears making a trail down my face. Dream or not, he was gone the next morning. All that was left of him were the rumpled sheets in which he had tried to straighten with one unhurt arm. He left me a note. The only words scrawled on them were:

I could not stay. You know better than me why.

Woo Hyuk

Yes...I knew why. I knew in my heart why. My heart that was guarded by the glass rose pendant.

The Finish

"....and that was the last I ever saw of him..." I finished, my throat raw from talking so much. Jae Won blew loudly into his hankie and wiped his eyes.

So much like Woo Hyuk........

"That was a beautiful story Miss Moon...thank you so much for telling it to me..." Jae Won hiccuped and stood up. I thought he was just going to leave but he surprise me by coming to my side of the sofa and gave me a big bear hug. I patted his head and squeezed him hard.

"I hope this helps you..in whatever project you are doing." I said softly. Jae Won pulled his head away.

"I'm not doing a project Miss Moon. You see, Uncle Woo Hyuk lived on. He immagrated to Seoul and be began a new life as a jeweler. His younger sister came down with him. That's my mother. Uncle Woo Hyuk was the best. Always loud and rambunctious, just like us kids. He was an avid collector of your glassware, especially your rose series. He alway told me that you were the damnest fine artist alive. He died from lung cancer just a week ago. He made me promise the night before he died that when he died, I was to visit Moon Sang Ha at this address. He said to ask if she knew Jang Woo Hyuk and whether she did or not....to give her this."

Jae Won handed me a thick, cream coloered envelope. The contents inside were light and rustly. A tear trickled down my face.

All these years....all these years...he's been by my side the whole time.....

"Well, I better head out now. It's dark and my parents will worry." Jae Won gave me one final hug and gathered his stuff and was about to leave when...

"Jae Won shi!" Jae Won turned around.

"Please....come visit me whenever you can...."

Jae Won nodded and clomped down the stairs.

I got up and went to the privacy of my room before I opened the envelope. I opened the envelope carefully and pulled the contents inside. Inside was a delicate, papery tulip blossom that had been lovingly pressed many years ago.

...........Ya! Jang Woo Hyuk! How many times do I have to tell you?!.......Woo Hyuk mian heh........I love you...........Just say the words Sang Ha..............I could not stay.............

Memories rushed back to me. I gently held the delicate tulip blossom in the palm of my hand and walked over and placed it next to a framed picture. An old black and white photo, that captured a moment in time.