Koala

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Chapter 15

Jae Jin ran to the dock as fast as he could, knowing that Si Eun would still be there waiting for him. Indeed she was. A smile of relief came to his face as he came closer. In just a few more minutes he would have Si Eun in his arms and they would leave this damned place behind. Just him and Si Eun, together forever.

However, the next few minutes were not what Jae Jin had anticipated when everything went into slow motion. He suddenly stopped in his tracks when he saw the cold look on Si Eun’s face and she pulled a gun out from her purse.

Si Eun fired the gun.

Jae Jin gasped and immediately applied pressure to his wound. He was trying to recover from the shock that Si Eun had just shot him. When he looked up, the shiny black gun was pointed directly at his face.

“Revenge is mine, Koala.”

Suddenly to Jae Jin’s devastating horror, he understood. Si Eun had just regained her sight and she did not know who he was. His eyes grew wide as he continued staring at her. She continued to speak.

“Tonight I’m going to make you pay for all that you’ve put me through.”

Jae Jin’s arms dropped limply to his sides. His whole life had just been torn to pieces, falling around him. He looked at Si Eun. He knew her life would be ruined as well if he revealed his true identity. He’d rather let her remember him as Lee Jae Jin and never let her know that he was the cold-blooded killer that helped murder her entire family. That would destroy her if she knew. Jae Jin couldn’t bear to do that.

“Do it.”

The gun nearly dropped from Si Eun’s hand when she heard him say that. “Kill him stupid,” said the little voice inside her head. “Kill him now.” All the while, Si Eun wasn’t able to take her eyes off of him.

“Look,” she said and was surprised to find her voice a little shaky. “You killed my family and I’m just making you pay back what you owe me. A life for a life.”

Jae Jin turned his face towards the light. He wasn’t afraid although he knew it was the end. In that short amount of time that he had left, he just stared at Si Eun, wanting to capture every distinct detail of her features. “Oh god, I love you so much,” he thought to himself.

“Yes, I understand. You’re right, this is the way it has to end.”

“I’m sorry,” she whispered and then closed her eyes for a brief second. She paused to breathe. “If I don’t kill you tonight, then you’ll continue to destroy many more innocent lives.”

She immediately felt angry at herself for apologizing. Why should she be sorry? However, she was very aware that she was shaking her head slightly as she was trying to explain it to him. There was an ache in her chest and tears in her eyes. There was just something about him.

“Yes.”

Si Eun could see the moonlight in his eyes as he held a steady gaze on her. “He’s not going to struggle,” she realized. She decided to make it quick and merciful.

“Any last requests?”

Jae Jin opened his eyes. “Yes,” he whispered. “Please let my fiancée know that I forgive her.”

“Who’s your fiancée?”

He didn’t answer and closed his eyes. A bemused smile danced on his lips as he waited for the eternal darkness. Anger and revenge immediately took over Si Eun when she realized how calm he was. She aimed the gun directly at his heart and fired. In that blinding instant, the man known as Koala fell down dead.

She came closer to the body and nudged it once for any implication of life still remaining. The body laid cold and unmoving. The gun dropped from Si Eun’s hand and she suddenly felt weak. Involuntary tremors coursed through her body and she felt her resolve draining away. Si Eun grabbed Koala and dragged his body towards the wharf. She threw his body overboard and he floated away.

Si Eun wiped her hands on her pants as she got up after she gave Koala his burial at sea. She walked back to the bench and reclaimed her spot. Si Eun placed a hand on her duffel bag and checked the time on her watch. Jae Jin is late but she’ll wait forever if she had to. When he does come, Si Eun will start her life all over with him with the wonderful news she had in store.

Jae Jin was going to be a father.

The End.

Or is it? Continued in Koala II…

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