Page 43 of Damian & Jun: Episodes 1-4
Julie seemed to collapse in on herself even more, her elbows tucked against her ribs. She played with the moisture on the outside of her drink. “I think… I think Bak keeps the passports himself. I mean, in his office. This isn’t a tax problem is it? You know where Jun is?”
“I don’t know where Jun is.” Gigi shrugged. “I am trying to help him.”
Damian inclined his head to Gigi. “It’s not a lie that we need to see his passport to fix paperwork. Jun seems to be tangled up in some serious business, but we’re not sure what it is.”
Julie pressed her lips together. “I want to help. I do. But my family… I can’t risk my dad’s job. Fine, I’ll tell you this much. Bak had me rent a very expensive private retreat. But not for himself. He made me put my name down. And he was on the phone with his police friend when he told me which one. I think his friend was planning to stay there. He promised him a good time. The dates were for December twenty-seventh through January third. And then he told me to clear Jun’s schedule until January fifth, that Jun would be taking some personal time. I didn’t think it was related, but now…he also wanted Jun’s last medical check.”
Heat, dark and vicious, burned through Damian. Only years of experience of threats leveled at his face kept Damian still and outwardly calm in his seat. If he had enjoyed supervising the filing against the ex of Collin’s office mate, the one who had spread the woman’s picture online without her consent, it paled in comparison to what he would feel taking Bak down.
Bak’s life as he knew it was over.
Damian leaned forward. “Do you know what sex trafficking is, Julie?”
She paled and nodded.
“This carries all the intent to sexually traffic a specific and known individual.” Damian pulled out his phone. “I can protect you, but you need to be prepared to testify.”
Julie paled. “I can’t. My life will be over. I can’t be involved…” She started to stand up.
Gigi grabbed her hand. “You’re already involved. All you can do now is choose how you want to be remembered.”
Tears rolled down Julie’s cheeks, and she trembled. “You don’t understand. You two can leave. You… This is the best job I’ve ever had. I’ll never work again. No one will want to marry me.”
Julie started gathering her things. “It’s dark out. I should leave.” She dabbed at her eyes. “Bye-bye, Gigi. Please don’t call me.”
Jun
Jun turned in place, arms out, for Mi Hi to observe her work. She’d dressed him in thick purple-burgundy tights and a pleated black flannel skirt just above his mid-thigh with low-heeled gray boots. For the top, she’d styled him in a chunky purple sweater with a big rolling collar and a heavy black cape instead of a full coat.
The face staring back at Jun from the mirror looked fem even to him. He was used to makeup but usually in masculine lines. Mi Hi had done him up but used the lines that a woman would favor, especially around his eyes. Given that he barely ever had to shave, she’d had an easy base to work with, something she’d commented on several times. With lash extensions and a deep, dark lip, his face had changed from young male to that of a woman in her youth.
“Shocking, isn’t it?” Mi Hi giggled.
“Uh, yeah.” Jun shivered. He couldn’t stop looking at himself and the stranger staring back. He blinked, and the stranger in the mirror blinked back, almost seductively. “No one is going to know me.”
Mi Hi chuckled. “That’s the point. I bet you didn’t think it would be this effective.”
“No.” Jun shook his head, at a loss.
Mi Hi picked up a newsboy cap in black to match his skirt with purple and silver accents. It looked like the kind of accessory girls often wore pushed back on their hair. In her other hand, she held up a wig of long black hair. “Ready for the final part?”
“Yes.” Jun dropped back down onto the stool, remembering this time to keep his legs together.
The hat and temporary wig combination was genius. Mi Hi had gone all out and gotten the highest quality hair she could on short notice. With the hat covering the top, no one would be able to tell that it was less than a professional wig from close up.
Mi Hi raided her supplies for a curling iron and added waves to the bottom of Jun’s new tresses. She settled the hat on top and gestured for Jun to look up at her.
“I just did that, and I don’t recognize you.”
Jun blushed and dropped his eyes.
Mi Hi giggled. “You make a gorgeous girl.”
“Uh…thanks?”
“No, thank you. Who else has ever gotten to turn a gorgeous K-pop star into a girl inside her own apartment? It’s like playing dolls in the best way.”
She checked the time. “Let’s practice walking in the hallway for a few minutes before we head out.”
