The evening air hung heavy now as with humidity as Soo-jin made her way down the familiar streets leading to Min-ah's apartment building. Despite the warmth, a chill ran down her spine each time she registered the steady footsteps behind her. The middle-aged man from the bus maintained a consistent distance close enough to keep her in sight, far enough to avoid appearing threatening. At least, that would be the perception of any casual observer.
Soo-jin knew better.
Her muscles remained tense, ready to respond should the need arise. The burner phone weighed heavy in her pocket, its periodic vibrations indicating more messages from her new "allies" at Hankuk. She ignored them. All her focus remained on the man following her, calculating distances and escape routes should this turn into a confrontation.
After three blocks of this silent pursuit, Soo-jin had enough. She stopped abruptly, turning to face the man directly for the first time. Their eyes met briefly his expression revealing nothing, neither surprise nor concern at being confronted. Instead, he simply looked past her as if she were merely an obstacle in his path and continued walking, now passing her with no acknowledgment.
The casual dismissal left Soo-jin momentarily stunned. She had expected... something. A confrontation. A veiled threat. Perhaps even an explanation for his cryptic comment about her ribs. Instead, he walked past her as if she were a stranger, a random pedestrian of no consequence.
She stared at his retreating back for several seconds, confusion replacing her tension. He walked with military precision, each step measured and deliberate, back straight, shoulders squared. The kind of posture that spoke of years of discipline and training.
Was it possible she had misjudged the situation? That this man simply happened to exit at her stop and was heading in the same direction?
Soo-jin resumed walking, maintaining a greater distance between them now. Her instincts still screamed caution, but the immediate sense of threat had diminished. She observed him carefully as they both continued down the familiar route toward Min-ah's apartment building.
The neighborhood was quiet at this hour, most residents already home for the evening. A few convenience stores remained open, their fluorescent lights casting harsh white rectangles onto the sidewalk. A couple walked by, lost in conversation, a small dog trotting beside them. Normal life continuing while Soo-jin navigated shadows and secrets.
As they approached the apartment complex, the small playground came into view. It was mostly empty at this hour, the equipment standing silent silhouettes against the glow of street lamps. But not entirely empty, Soo-jin noticed. Two small figures darted between the swings, their laughter carrying through the still evening air.
The man ahead of her slowed his pace slightly, his attention shifting toward the playground. Soo-jin tensed again, watching carefully. If he had any malicious intent toward those children...
Her thought remained unfinished as the two small figures suddenly noticed the man and let out simultaneous shrieks of delight.
"Uncle! You're home early!" they called out in perfect unison, abandoning whatever game they had been playing and racing toward him.
Soo-jin froze in her tracks, watching as the two children, twins. Shenow realized as they flung themselves at the man with unbridled enthusiasm. They couldn't have been more than seven or eight years old, a boy and a girl with identical round faces and short, practical haircuts.
The man's transformation was subtle but unmistakable. His rigid posture softened ever so slightly, and a small smile barely perceptible but definitely there crept onto his face as he knelt to their level, strong arms extending to gather both children in a brief but genuine embrace.
"What are you two doing out so late?" he asked, his voice gruff but tinged with affection.
"Grandma Park said we could play for ten more minutes," the girl replied, pointing toward an elderly figure who was now making her way from a bench near the playground.
With a jolt of recognition, Soo-jin realized it was Mrs. Park, her next-door neighbor. The older woman walked slowly but steadily, her familiar floral-patterned jacket visible even in the dim evening light.
"Ah, Soo-jin!" Mrs. Park called out, noticing her standing a few meters away. "Finished with your studies for the day?"
Soo-jin approached cautiously, her gaze shifting between Mrs. Park and the man who now stood with a child clinging to each hand. Up close, she could see the family resemblance the same determined set of the jaw, the same observant eyes.
"Yes, Mrs. Park," Soo-jin replied politely, bowing slightly to the older woman. "I was just on my way home."
Mrs. Park nodded approvingly. "Such a diligent student, just like your sister." Her expression softened with sympathy. "Min-ah always studied late too. I worry about you young people pushing yourselves so hard."
The twins were now looking at Soo-jin with undisguised curiosity, their identical faces tilted at the same angle as they studied her.
"Are you the new lady Grandma Park told us about?" the boy asked directly.
"The one who moved into apartment 302," the girl added, as if they shared not just appearances but thoughts as well.
Soo-jin nodded, offering a small, awkward wave. Unlike Min-ah, who had always been comfortable in social situations, Soo-jin found herself ill-equipped for casual interactions, especially with children. Her training had prepared her for combat, not conversation.
"I'm Lee Soon-ah," the girl announced proudly.
"And I'm Lee Soon-hee," the boy followed immediately.
Mrs. Park chuckled at their enthusiasm before turning to the man. "Soo-jin, this is the twins' uncle I mentioned before. He's been caring for them since their parents are overseas."
The man turned his full attention to Soo-jin for the first time since their brief eye contact on the bus. His gaze was evaluating but not hostile a professional assessment rather than a personal one.
"Lee Soon-geon," he introduced himself with a slight bow. No handshake was offered, which Soo-jin found herself grateful for. She wasn't sure she could maintain her composure if forced into direct physical contact, not after the way he had commented on her hidden injury.
"Song Soo-jin," she replied, returning the bow with equal formality.
An awkward silence threatened to descend, but Mrs. Park, ever the social facilitator, quickly filled it.
"Soon-geon is in security," she explained, as if this information would be of particular interest to Soo-jin. "Very important work, though he never talks about it. Very modest, this one."
Soo-jin's eyes narrowed slightly at this information. Security. It explained the military bearing, the situational awareness, the way he had immediately identified her injury on the bus. But what kind of security? Corporate? Private? Or something connected to Hankuk Elite Academy?
"What a coincidence," Soo-jin said, her voice carefully neutral. "I'm interested in security as well."
Something flickered in Soon-geon's eyes recognition or perhaps amusement before it was quickly suppressed.
"Martial arts," he stated rather than asked. "I recognized the stance when you turned on the street. Taekwondo base, with some additional training."
Soo-jin didn't confirm or deny, but her silence was enough of an answer.
"Uncle is really good at fighting too!" Soon-hee announced excitedly. "He taught us how to punch properly!"
"Only for self-defense," Soon-geon clarified quickly, shooting Mrs. Park an apologetic look. "Basic protection techniques."
"Very practical in today's world," Mrs. Park agreed with a sigh but shot a look at Soon-Geon. "Though sad that children need to learn such things."
The conversation was interrupted by the arrival of two more figures from the direction of the apartment building a teenage girl with long hair pulled into a ponytail and a boy around ten years old who seemed unable to stay still, bouncing from foot to foot as he approached.
"Mrs. Park! Mom said dinner's ready when you want to come up," the girl called, then noticed the gathering. "Oh, hi, Mr. Lee." Her eyes traveled to Soo-jin, curiosity evident. "You must be the new tenant in 302. I'm Kim Ji-young, apartment 202."
Before Soo-jin could respond, the younger boy pushed forward. "I'm Choi Min-jun! Apartment 204! Do you like video games? I have all the newest ones! You can come play anytime!" His energy was palpable, a stark contrast to the controlled presence of everyone else.
"Min-jun, manners," Mrs. Park chided gently. "Soo-jin is a student at Hankuk. She has studies to focus on."
At the mention of Hankuk, Soo-jin noticed Soon-geon's attention sharpen, his gaze becoming more focused as he studied her. It was subtle a micro-expression most wouldn't catch but Soo-jin had been trained to notice such details. The school's name meant something to him.
"Hankuk Elite Academy?" Ji-young asked, clearly impressed. "Wow, you must be really smart. My cousin tried to get in last year but didn't pass the entrance exam."
"Smart and pretty," Min-jun added with the shameless directness of a child. "No wonder she got in."
"Min-jun!" Ji-young scolded, rolling her eyes. "Don't be inappropriate."
Soo-jin felt a flush creeping up her neck, uncomfortable with both the attention and the compliment. She wasn't used to being the center of a social circle that had always been Min-ah's role. Soo-jin preferred the shadows, where she could observe without being observed in return.
"It's just a school," she said quietly, though everyone present knew this wasn't true. Hankuk wasn't "just" anything it was the pinnacle of academic achievement in Korea, the gateway to prestigious universities and powerful careers. Or at least, that was its public face.
"A very demanding school," Soon-geon commented, his first contribution to the conversation in several minutes. "Makes for long days." His eyes briefly flickered to where Soo-jin had been unconsciously cradling her injured ribs.
The implication was clear to Soo-jin, if not to anyone else. He knew. Somehow, he knew about the fight in the alley, about her confrontation with the technical school bullies. But how? Had he been watching her? Or did he have some connection to the muscular man who had collected money from the defeated students?
"Well, I shouldn't keep you from your studies," Soon-geon continued, addressing Soo-jin directly. "Perhaps we'll run into each other again, neighbor." The statement sounded casual, but there was an undercurrent that Soo-jin couldn't quite identify. Not exactly a threat, but not innocent either.
"I'm sure we will," Soo-jin replied, matching his tone precisely.
Mrs. Park clapped her hands together. "Why don't we all head in? It's getting late, and these children should have been in bed long ago." She gave the twins a fond but stern look.
"Just five more minutes," Soon-ah pleaded.
"We're not even tired," Soon-hee added, though this claim was immediately undermined by a barely suppressed yawn.
Soon-geon shook his head. "Listen to Mrs. Park. Bedtime now, or no story tonight."
This threat seemed to work where others might have failed. The twins immediately stopped protesting, though identical looks of disappointment crossed their faces.
"Fine," they sighed in unison.
The strange assembly began moving toward the apartment building entrance, the children chattering among themselves while the adults followed at a more sedate pace. Soo-jin hung back slightly, observing the dynamic. It was strange to think that all these people—Mrs. Park, Soon-geon and his niece and nephew, Ji-young, even the energetic Min-jun—had been Min-ah's neighbors, sharing the same building, perhaps passing her in the hallways or at the mailboxes daily.
Had any of them noticed the changes in Min-ah before her fall? Had any of them suspected what was happening at Hankuk? Or were they all as oblivious as Soo-jin herself had been, content to believe in the school's pristine reputation until tragedy struck too close to ignore?
As they entered the building and gathered at the elevator, Soo-jin caught Soon-geon watching her with that same evaluative gaze. This time, she met it directly, refusing to look away first. A silent acknowledgment passed between them recognition that they were both more than they appeared to be, and that this encounter was unlikely to be their last.
The elevator doors opened with a soft chime, and the group shuffled inside. As they ascended toward their respective floors, surrounded by the cheerful chatter of children and Mrs. Park's gentle admonishments, Soo-jin couldn't shake the feeling that she had just encountered another piece of the puzzle she had come to solve though whether Soon-geon would prove to be an ally or an obstacle remained to be seen.