Chapter 32: THE WOMAN IN BLACK

Midday at the park not far from Kai’s apartment. The sun was at its peak, illuminating the trees with bright light that penetrated through gaps in the leaves, creating dancing patterns of light on the ground. Birds chirped in the distance, and occasionally a gentle breeze blew, carrying warm air that felt pleasant on the skin. The park was small and simple, with a few old wooden benches and a gravel path that meandered among the trees. Some wildflowers grew along the path, colorful in shades of red, yellow, and purple.

In one corner of the park, right under a large shady tree, Kai sat on a park bench that looked rather worn but still sturdy. The bench was made of old iron with paint peeling in several places, revealing rusted reddish-brown metal underneath. In some spots, bolts were starting to loosen, making the bench wobble slightly, but it was still strong, still able to hold weight, still able to provide a place of rest for anyone who needed it. Another bench beside it was empty, waiting for an occupant who might come and go without leaving a trace.

Kai sat with his body slightly hunched, his elbows resting on his thighs, his hands gripping his head tightly. The pain throbbing at his temples wasn’t too strong—not like this morning when he almost fell in front of the shop cashier—but the pain came continuously, without pause, like a small hammer pounding with a constant rhythm. Enough to be annoying, enough to keep him from thinking clearly, enough to make him feel uncomfortable on what should have been a bright midday.

From a distance, he could hear children playing in the park. Their laughter sounded cheerful and free, like they had no worries in the world. Their voices echoed among the trees, creating a melody of life that contrasted with the pain he was feeling. Kai envied them—envied that they could laugh without pain, envied that they could enjoy the day without disturbance. A thin layer of sweat started forming on his forehead, and he wiped it with the back of his hand, frustrated that the pain wouldn’t subside.

"Ugh..." he groaned softly, his eyes closed. "This pain is so annoying."

He tried to find a comfortable position for his head—tilting left, then right, then lowering forward, then leaning back—but no position really helped. The pain remained, kept throbbing, kept bothering him. Kai let out a long sigh, frustration starting to creep into his chest. His right hand pressed hard against his left temple, hoping the pressure would ease the pain, but his efforts were in vain.

"Seems like I need to find the nearest pharmacy soon," he muttered to himself, his voice almost a whisper. "But where... I don’t know this area well. I only know that small shop and my favorite minimart. Other than that, everything feels foreign."

He remembered back when he was still a mercenary—times when pain was normal, when wounds and injuries were part of the daily routine. Back then, he never thought about pain. Back then, he only focused on the mission, on the target, on survival. But now, even a small headache could make him feel helpless. Something had changed in him, something that made him more vulnerable to small things like this. Maybe it was because he’d started living, not just surviving. Maybe it was because he’d started having something worth protecting—and the fear of losing that made him more sensitive to any disturbance, no matter how small.

He kept trying to find a comfortable position, moving his head slowly, hoping there was an angle that could ease the pain. But his efforts were in vain. The pain remained, kept bothering him, kept making him feel uncomfortable. The wind blew, carrying the scent of grass and wet earth, but Kai barely noticed it. His closed eyes saw darkness behind his eyelids, and in that darkness, he imagined himself somewhere else.

Suddenly, a voice from the side made him lift his head slightly. A woman’s voice, very soft, gentle, and elegant—like a calm river flowing in the morning, like music played from a distance, like the whisper of wind carrying a secret message. A voice that made anyone who heard it want to listen longer, a voice that was both soothing and captivating at the same time.

"Are you alright, Sir?" the voice asked, full of attention and concern. "It seems like you’re in pain."

Kai slowly turned toward the voice. A woman sat on the park bench beside him—the same age, the same worn-out look, the same sturdy build. But the woman sat on it gracefully, as if the bench were a throne worthy of her. No hurried movements, no restlessness, only perfect calm. Her slender hands were folded on her lap, and her upright posture gave an impression of rare elegance.

Without looking at her directly, Kai could already tell that this woman was no ordinary person. Her soft voice, the way she sat, the aura radiating from her—all of it showed that she was an elegant woman, a woman used to good things, a woman with secrets behind her calm appearance. There was something in the air around her, something that made Kai feel like he was in the presence of someone unusual. Something that made him want to know more, but also made him alert.

"Oh yes," Kai answered in a soft voice, still holding his head. "My head hurts. But my medicine ran out, so I’m having trouble relieving this headache. I’m looking for the nearest pharmacy, but I don’t know this area well. I’ve only lived here for a few years, and I’ve never really explored the surroundings."

The woman listened carefully, her hidden eyes behind the shadow of the black umbrella she held looking at Kai with full attention. The umbrella was opened wide, protecting the woman from the scorching midday sun. Its black color contrasted with the long black dress she wore, creating an all-black silhouette under the blazing sun. She wasn’t in a hurry, didn’t show any restlessness. She just sat there, listening patiently, like someone used to listening to other people’s stories. Then, with a smooth and graceful movement, she opened her small bag—a simple black bag with a long strap crossing her body, made of soft and shiny leather—and took out a small white medicine bottle. The bottle was simple, without flashy labels, but it looked new and well-maintained, like it had just been bought or always carefully kept.

"Here, Sir," she said, extending the bottle toward Kai. Her slender, white hand held the bottle gently, like holding something precious. "I have some headache medicine. You can use this. It’s quite effective for headaches like the one you’re experiencing. The effect usually kicks in within minutes."

Kai looked at the medicine bottle hesitantly. His eyes moved from the bottle to the woman’s face, then back to the bottle. There was distrust in his eyes—not because he suspected the woman, but because he wasn’t used to accepting help from strangers. All this time, he’d always taken care of everything himself, always survived on his own, always solved his problems without anyone’s help. That was a habit deeply ingrained in him since his mercenary days—the habit of not depending on anyone, the habit of believing he could handle everything alone.

But the pain in his head kept throbbing, kept bothering him, kept him from thinking clearly. He had no other choice. He had to accept this help.

"Wow, thank you so much, Ma’am," Kai finally said, accepting the medicine bottle with still-slightly-trembling hands. "I gladly accept it. I really didn’t know what to do without your help." ℴℴ𝘮

He gave a small smile—a small smile trying to show his gratitude, a smile that still felt a little awkward on his face, a smile that rarely appeared and even more rarely looked sincere. But this time, the smile came out more naturally, because his gratitude was truly sincere. Quickly, he opened the bottle, took out one white capsule with a blue line in the middle, and swallowed it without water. A bitter taste spread on his tongue, but he didn’t care. What mattered was that the pain in his head could soon disappear.

Kai was very surprised because the medicine worked very quickly. Not long after he swallowed the capsule, the throbbing pain at his temples slowly started to fade. The constant pulsation now began to slow down, then subsided, then disappeared completely. The accompanying dizziness also started to decrease, and for the first time since this morning, Kai could think clearly again. His head felt light, like a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. The air around him felt fresher, the birdsong sounded clearer, and the sunlight that had been bothersome now felt warm and comfortable.

With the annoying pain gone, Kai could finally lift his head fully. He turned toward the woman beside him, ready to thank her more sincerely and more deeply. His eyes, which had been closed because of the pain, now opened wide, and he saw the woman clearly for the first time.

How surprised Kai was when he saw the woman clearly for the first time.

The woman was almost the same height as him—maybe only a few centimeters shorter. Her body was slender, with an upright and graceful posture, like a dancer used to moving with elegance. Her shoulders were not too wide but firm, and her long neck gave her an elegant and classy appearance. She wore a simple yet elegant long black dress, with a cut that wasn’t excessive but still captivating. The fabric flowed softly over her body, creating a perfect silhouette. In her hand, she held a black umbrella that protected her from the midday sun—an old umbrella with a wooden handle that had become smooth from frequent use. On her head, a wide-brimmed black hat covered most of her face, only revealing a sharp chin and thin lips. The hat was simple, without excessive decoration, but gave a mysterious impression that was hard to explain.

And Kai realized. He realized that the person who had just helped him was no ordinary person.

She sat before him with perfect calm, undisturbed by the heat of the sun or the noise of the park. There was something in her eyes—eyes Kai couldn’t fully see because they were hidden by the shadow of her hat—that made Kai feel like he was being watched carefully, being judged, being measured. The woman didn’t move, didn’t speak, just waited patiently while smiling slightly behind the shadow of her hat. There was a comfortable silence between them, a silence that didn’t pressure, a silence that allowed Kai to catch his breath after his pain disappeared.

"Thank you so much, Ma’am," Kai said in a calmer voice, his eyes looking at the woman with deep curiosity. "The medicine is very effective. I feel much better now. The pain is completely gone. I didn’t expect it to work this fast. Usually the medicine I take takes longer to work."

The woman smiled slightly—a smile Kai couldn’t fully see because it was hidden by the shadow of her hat, but Kai could feel it from the vibration in the air, from the warmth that suddenly radiated from her. There was warmth in that smile, warmth that made Kai feel a little more comfortable, a little calmer. A smile that wasn’t excessive, wasn’t forced, but sincere and natural. There was something soothing about that smile, something that made Kai feel like he could trust this woman.

"Glad to help, Sir," the woman answered in the same soft voice. "I happen to always carry that medicine because I often get headaches myself. So I know how bothersome the pain can be. Sometimes, even a small pain can ruin our entire day."

Kai nodded, his eyes still looking at the woman with curiosity he couldn’t hide. He wanted to ask who this woman was, where she came from, why she was in this park on a hot midday. But there was something holding him back—something that said this woman wasn’t the type to be asked many questions. That there were secrets behind her elegant appearance, secrets she didn’t want to share. There was a wall around her, a wall that couldn’t be breached with ordinary questions.

"Do you often come to this park?" Kai finally asked, choosing a question that wasn’t too personal.

"Sometimes," the woman answered, her voice still soft. "I like quiet places. Places where I can think without disturbance. This park is one of them. There’s a peace here that’s hard to find elsewhere."

"Understandable," Kai said, trying to chat casually. "This park is indeed quite quiet. Not too crowded, not too empty. Good for reflecting. I myself only found this place a few weeks ago. Before that, I never knew there was a park this nice near my apartment."

The woman smiled again. "Do you come here often too?"

"Not too often," Kai answered honestly. "But sometimes I need fresh air. My apartment is too stuffy, and sometimes I need a place to clear my mind. This park is good for that."

They were silent for a few moments, enjoying the comfortable silence between them. The wind blew softly, carrying the scent of grass and flowers from the park. Birds continued chirping in the distance, creating a soothing natural melody. A small child ran past them, chasing a butterfly with cheerful laughter. In the distance, a mother sat on another bench reading a book.

Kai felt something strange—a feeling that he had met this woman before. Not in this park, not in this place, but somewhere in a blurry past. Something about the way she sat, the way she spoke, the way she smiled—all of it felt familiar. Like a melody he’d heard but couldn’t remember where. Like a scent he’d smelled but couldn’t identify. There was a connection there, a connection he couldn’t explain, a connection that made him want to keep talking to this woman.

"Do you live nearby?" Kai asked, trying to find out more.

"Close enough," the woman answered carefully. "But I prefer not to discuss details about myself. I’m a private person."

Kai nodded, respecting the woman’s wish. "Sorry, I didn’t mean to ask anything too personal. I’m just curious. Sometimes I’m too inquisitive about things I shouldn’t ask."

"It’s okay," the woman said, her voice still soft. "I understand curiosity. But sometimes, not all questions need to be answered. And not all people need to be fully known. There’s beauty in mystery, Sir. Beauty that’s lost when everything becomes too clear."

Kai felt there was a deeper meaning behind those words. There was something hidden there, something that made him feel that this woman wasn’t just a stranger who happened to sit beside him. There was a connection he couldn’t explain, a connection that made him want to keep talking, keep asking, keep finding out. But he didn’t want to push. He didn’t want to make this woman uncomfortable.

"Thank you once again," Kai finally said, choosing not to ask further. "You’ve been a great help. Without this medicine, I might still be sitting here until evening. And I might not have been able to do anything today. I have many things to do, and this headache was really bothering me."

The woman smiled again—the same smile, the same warm and mysterious smile. "No need to thank me excessively, Sir. I’m glad I could help. I hope you recover quickly and don’t get sick again. And I hope your day goes smoothly after this."

They sat in silence for a few moments, enjoying the quiet midday atmosphere under the shady tree. The wind blew softly, carrying the scent of grass and flowers from the park. Birds continued chirping in the distance, creating a soothing natural melody. The leaves above them swayed gently, creating a calming rustling sound. An elderly woman walked slowly past them, smiling warmly, then continued on her way.

Finally, the woman stood up gracefully. Her movements were smooth and silent, like a shadow moving in broad daylight. She straightened her black dress with gentle movements, making sure no wrinkles disturbed her appearance. Her black umbrella still protected her from the sun, and her hat still covered her face perfectly. Not a single strand of hair was visible, not a single detail could be identified.

"I have to go now," she said, her voice still soft and calm. "There’s something I need to take care of. I hope you recover quickly and don’t get sick again. And if you need more medicine, I’m often in this park at the same time. Maybe we’ll meet again."

Kai stood up as well, feeling bad for staying seated while the woman left. "Thank you so much, Ma’am. I won’t forget your kindness. And I hope we can meet again. Maybe next time I can return the favor."

The woman smiled—a final smile that made Kai feel there was something deeper behind it. Then she turned and walked away, her steps graceful and calm, her black umbrella still protecting her from the sun. Her black dress swayed gently with her steps, creating a beautiful silhouette under the midday sun. She walked like flowing water—silent, unhurried, leaving no trace.

Kai watched as the woman disappeared behind the trees. Her straight back, her firm shoulders, and the way she walked—all of it was familiar, all of it made him want to chase after her and ask more. But he held himself back. He knew the woman didn’t want to be chased. He knew there were boundaries he shouldn’t cross. There was a mystery around that woman, a mystery he might never solve.

Kai sat back down on the park bench, his eyes still looking toward where the woman had disappeared. His mind spun quickly, trying to remember where he’d seen that woman before. Her face was still vague in his memory, but there was something that made him certain he’d met that woman somewhere, sometime. An elegant black figure, a soft way of speaking, a calming presence—all of it was familiar, like memories buried under layers of time.

Who is she? Why was she in this park? And why does something about her feel familiar? Something I can’t remember, something that makes me feel like I’ve seen her before.

But for now, what mattered was that the pain in his head was gone. He could think clearly again, could move freely, could continue his day without disturbance. And that was all thanks to the mysterious woman who sat beside him under this shady tree. The woman in black who appeared from nowhere and disappeared without a trace.

Kai let out a long sigh, then walked out of the park toward his apartment. In his heart, there was a curiosity he couldn’t shake. And there was one question that kept spinning in his mind.

Who is that woman really? And why do I feel like this wasn’t a coincidence?