The streetlights blurred past as Soo-jin stared out the bus window, her reflection ghostly against the darkness beyond. Her body ached in places she hadn't noticed during the adrenaline rush of the fight. Now, as the city lights crawled by, each throb and twinge demanded attention. A particularly sharp pain radiated from her ribs where one of the technical school students had landed a lucky hit before she'd taken him down.
She exhaled slowly, careful not to breathe too deeply. The bus rumbled beneath her, its rhythmic motion almost hypnotic as it wound through Seoul's evening traffic. The digital clock above the driver read 9:43 PM. Soo-jin leaned her head against the cool glass, allowing herself a moment of vulnerability now that she was alone.
Today had been overwhelming, to put it mildly. From the revelations at the café with Jun-ho, Seo-yeon, and Hee-chul to her fight in the alley, and finally, the confrontation with the mysterious muscular man who had effortlessly neutralized her attacks. Exhaustion settled into her bones like lead weights.
"Min-ah," she whispered, her breath fogging the window momentarily. "What did you get yourself into?"
The image of her sister lying in a hospital bed, tubes and wires connecting her still form to machines, flashed through Soo-jin's mind. Unlike what people believed, Min-ah hadn't died in her fall. She was in a coma, her prognosis uncertain. The school's official story about Min-ah transferring was just one of many lies Soo-jin had uncovered in her short time at Hankuk.
Soo-jin had told no one the truth about Min-ah's condition not even Jun-ho, Seo-yeon, or Hee-chul. It was her most closely guarded secret. As far as the world knew, Song Min-ah had either transferred schools or committed suicide, depending on which rumor one believed. Only Soo-jin and her mother knew she was fighting for her life in a private hospital room on the outskirts of the city.
The vibration of the burner phone in her pocket jolted Soo-jin from her thoughts. She pulled it out, squinting at the bright screen in the dim bus interior. A notification from an unknown number blinked back at her.
This is Jun-ho. Saved this burner's number from earlier.
Before she could respond, another message appeared.
Seo-yeon and I have already cleaned up the alley situation. Everything's been processed.
A photo followed, showing the seven technical school bullies huddled in front of a stern-looking police officer. They looked considerably worse for wear after their encounter with Soo-jin. They have bruised faces, one arm in a makeshift sling, another with a split lip that had swollen to twice its normal size. Despite their injuries, their expressions weren't those of defiance, but of defeat and what appeared to be genuine remorse. Whatever Jun-ho and Seo-yeon had said to them had clearly made an impact.
Soo-jin stared at the image, a strange mixture of satisfaction and unease settling in her stomach. Seeing the bullies face consequences felt right, but the ease with which Jun-ho and Seo-yeon had apparently manipulated the situation was unsettling. She couldn't help wondering what kind of influence they wielded to make things happen so quickly.
As if reading her thoughts, another message pinged through.
No need to worry about repercussions. With our connections, the police can be... flexible. For a good cause, of course. -Seo-yeon
The phone vibrated again, and Hee-chul's name appeared at the top of a new message. Unlike the others, his text was accompanied by a selfie. In the image, Hee-chul grinned and flashed a peace sign with the technical school bullies and the police officer visible in the background.
OMG! You're like a real-life action hero! Arrived too late to see the fight, but the aftermath was EPIC! Don't worry about a thing! Jun-ho and Seo-yeon have police connections that can make mountains bow! (Morally justified mountains only, of course!)
The message was followed by an animated sticker of a cartoon bear giving a thumbs up. Three more texts from Hee-chul appeared in rapid succession:
BTW, did you have formal training?Your technique is so cool!We should totally spar sometime! (JK, you'd destroy me)
Soo-jin sighed deeply, immediately regretting it as pain lanced through her side. She closed her eyes briefly, controlling her breathing until the sharp sting subsided to a dull ache. With deliberate movements, she slipped the phone back into her pocket without responding. She would deal with their messages later, when her mind wasn't so clouded with fatigue.
The encounter with the mysterious man in the alley replayed in her thoughts. His casual dismissal of her attacks had been humiliating. Soo-jin had trained rigorously for years, honing her body into a weapon. She'd taken down opponents twice her size, yet this man had barely registered her best strikes. His hand had caught her fist with the casual ease of someone plucking an apple from a tree.
"You're still too weak," he had said. Not as an insult, but as a simple statement of fact.
Soo-jin's jaw clenched as she recalled his words. She had never considered herself weak not since she was twelve years old and had begun training obsessively after an incident she preferred not to dwell on. But tonight, had been a harsh reminder that there were always stronger opponents.
The bus lurched to a stop, jolting Soo-jin from her thoughts. A few passengers disembarked while others climbed aboard, bringing with them the scents of the city—street food, car exhaust, and the distinctive petrichor from a brief evening shower.
Among the new passengers was a middle-aged man who moved with unmistakable purpose. His build was solid and muscular, not like a bodybuilder but like someone whose strength had been forged through practical application. He wore simple clothes dark jeans, a navy button-up shirt, and a lightweight jacket despite the warm evening. A baseball cap pulled low obscured much of his face, but what was visible spoke of experience etched into every line and scar.
Something about his movements made Soo-jin instinctively straighten her posture. The way he scanned the bus before selecting a seat efficient, noting exits and other passengers reminded her of her own habits. This was a man accustomed to assessing situations, to being aware of his surroundings at all times.
He took a seat across the aisle from Soo-jin, one row ahead, positioning himself where he could observe most of the bus while keeping his back to a wall rather than another passenger. Another habit Soo-jin recognized from her own training. He didn't look at her directly, but she could feel his awareness of her presence.
Soo-jin returned her gaze to the window, but her attention remained fixed on the man's reflection. There was something familiar about him that she couldn't quite place. Had she seen him at Hankuk? Around Min-ah's apartment building? Her mind raced through possibilities as she maintained her outward appearance of disinterest.
The bus continued its journey through Seoul's evening landscape. Neon signs from restaurants and karaoke bars painted the streets in blues, pinks, and greens. Groups of office workers spilled from buildings, heading toward subway stations or late dinners. Normal life continued all around, a stark contrast to the undercurrents of violence and conspiracy Soo-jin had been navigating.
Several minutes passed in silence. Soo-jin had almost convinced herself that her heightened awareness of the man was merely paranoia born from the day's events when he spoke, his voice low enough that only she could hear.
"You should get those ribs checked out."
The words hung in the air between them, simple yet loaded with implication. Soo-jin's eyes snapped open, meeting the man's gaze in the reflection of the window. She hadn't been clutching her side or showing any outward signs of the injury. Either he had remarkable observational skills, or he knew exactly what had happened in that alley.
Soo-jin gave a small nod of acknowledgment but remained silent. The electronic display at the front of the bus announced her stop was next. She gathered her bag, careful not to wince as she moved. The last thing she wanted was to reveal any more weakness than she already had.
As the bus slowed to her stop, Soo-jin rose from her seat, maintaining awareness of the man's position. He hadn't moved, hadn't given any indication that he planned to follow her. Yet something told her this encounter wasn't random.
The doors hissed open, and Soo-jin stepped onto the sidewalk. The night air was cooler now, carrying the scent of pending rain. She took a few steps toward her apartment building, then froze as footsteps sounded behind her.
The middle-aged man had also exited the bus.
Soo-jin didn't turn around, didn't give any sign that she'd noticed. Instead, she continued walking at a measured pace, her mind calculating possibilities and escape routes. Was this a coincidence? Had he always planned to exit at this stop? Or was he following her? All she can do for now is be cautious and walk towards home using another route just to be safe.