The morning sunlight streamed through the thin curtains of Soojin's apartment, casting long shadows across the floor as she winced, carefully peeling off her nightshirt. A mottled purple-blue bruise had blossomed across her left ribcage overnight, the discoloration spanning from just below her sports bra to the curve of her waist. She prodded it gently with her fingertips, drawing in a sharp breath as pain radiates outward from the touch.
"Not broken," she muttered to herself, "but definitely bruised."
She reached for the heating pad she'd left charging overnight, the memory of yesterday's fight still fresh in her mind. The technical school students had been easy enough to handle, but that strange man, the one who had blocked her strikes with such casual ease had left her with more than just a bruised ego. His parting words keep echoing in her mind: "You're still too weak."
As she pressed the heating pad against her ribs, a memory surfaced of Min-ah standing over her years ago, her face etched with concern after Soojin had taken a particularly hard fall during training.
"How many times should I tell you? You can't put heat on a fresh injury, Soojin-ah," Min-ah had scolded, removing the heating pad Soojin had applied. "It increases blood flow and makes the swelling worse. Cold first, for at least a day. Then heat. Otherwise, you'll just prolong the healing process."
Soojin smiled wistfully at the memory. "I know, unnie," she whispered to the empty room. "But I can't afford to be slowed down today."
She checked her phone and saw a new message from Seoyeon:
"Half day at school. VIP visiting campus later. Only 3rd and 4th years staying. Meet before class?"
Perfect. A half day meant she could continue her investigation sooner than expected. She quickly typed back a confirmation and continued getting ready, binding her ribs tightly with athletic tape beneath her uniform. The compression made breathing slightly uncomfortable, but it would help her move without revealing her injury.
After double-checking that Min-ah's journal was safely hidden beneath the loose floorboard, Soojin grabbed her bag, wincing slightly as she slung it over her shoulder. She'd need to be more careful today any show of weakness at Hankuk could be fatal to her mission.
Mrs. Park was already in the building's small front garden when Soojin stepped outside, her weathered hands gently tending to a cluster of chrysanthemums.
"Good morning, Mrs. Park," Soojin called, adjusting her grip on her bag to avoid straining her injured side.
The elderly woman straightened slowly, her spine crackling like dry twigs as she turned. "Ah, Soojin-dear! Off to school already? You young people, always rushing."
"Half day today," Soojin explained, moving toward the gate. "Some VIP visiting the upper classes this afternoon."
Mrs. Park nodded sagely. "That fancy school and their fancy visitors. In my day, education was about learning, not about connections." She peered more closely at Soojin, her eyes narrowing behind thick glasses. "Are you walking stiffly this morning? Did you sleep poorly?"
Soojin forced a smile. "Just stayed up too late studying. I'll be fine."
"You should take better care, like your sister did. Such a diligent girl, always—"
"I have to go, Mrs. Park. Have a good day!" Soojin cut in, unable to bear another comparison to Min-ah this morning. She pushed through the gate, only to collide with a solid mass of muscle that sent a jolt of pain through her injured ribs.
"Watch where—" she began, then froze as she recognized Lee Seon-geon, her mysterious neighbor.
He stood before her in a fitted black track jacket and joggers, a light sheen of sweat glistening on his forehead. Unlike their previous encounter in the playground, he was illuminated clearly in the morning light, revealing a face that was handsome in a severe, uncompromising way sharp cheekbones, a strong jaw, and eyes that seemed to catalog every detail about her in seconds.
Soojin nodded tersely, attempting to step around him without further interaction.
"Don't use heat pads for rib injuries," his deep voice stopped her in her tracks. "Try an arnica spray instead. Less swelling, faster recovery."
Soojin turned slowly, hiding her shock beneath a neutral expression. "What makes you think I have a rib injury?"
Seon-geon's eyes flickered briefly to where her arm pressed protectively against her side, a gesture she hadn't even realized she was making. "The way you're favoring your left side. The way you adjusted your bag strap. The slight hitch in your breathing when you turned just now."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small spray bottle, tossing it to her in a smooth arc. Soojin caught it reflexively with her right hand, another indicator that her left side was compromised.
"Professional knowledge," he added with a hint of a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Being observant is part of my job."
"And what job is that exactly again?" Soojin asked, pocketing the spray without looking at it.
"As I told you. Security." His gaze shifted beyond her to the school bag slung over her shoulder. "Hankuk Elite Academy... interesting choice for sure as someone with your particular skill set."
The implication was clear he knew about the alley fight. Soojin's eyes narrowed. "Thank you for the medical advice," she said evenly, stepping past him. "I'll be sure to consider it."
"One more thing," Seon-geon called after her. "If you're hunting, make sure you know what's hunting you first."
Soojin didn't respond, but every sense in her body was on high alert as she walked away. Lee Seon-geon was more than just a mysterious neighbor with twin nieces—he was dangerous, observant, and somehow knew details about her that he shouldn't.
Another player in this game I didn't account for, she thought grimly. I need to be more careful.
By the time the Hankuk Elite Academy came into view, its imposing modern architecture gleaming in the morning sun, Soojin had cataloged everything she knew about Lee Seon-geon: neighbor, guardian to twin girls, works in "security," has medical knowledge, possibly combat-trained given his build and awareness, and most concerning of all—he seemed to know something about her presence at Hankuk.
"Soojin-ah!" A familiar voice broke through her thoughts. Heechul was waving enthusiastically from the school's ornate gate, his academy blazer impeccably pressed, his hair styled in the latest fashion. The picture of a carefree elite student.
Or at least, that's what she'd thought before yesterday's revelation. Now she saw the calculated nature of his carefully disheveled appearance, the deliberate way he projected harmlessness.
"You look like you're solving murder mysteries in your head," he said cheerfully as she approached. "Very serious! Very intense!"
"Just thinking," Soojin replied as they fell into step together, entering the main building. She noticed how he positioned himself on her right side, away from her injury. Coincidence? Or had he somehow noticed as well?
"About our friends from yesterday?" Heechul lowered his voice, eyes gleaming with excitement. "You should have seen the police officers' faces when they arrived! Seven technical school thugs sprawled across the pavement, moaning and groaning. The officer in charge nearly dropped his notepad!"
"Keep your voice down," Soojin hissed, scanning the hallway for eavesdroppers. "Do you want the whole school to know?"
Heechul just laughed, the sound so convincingly carefree that Soojin almost forgot the calculating person she'd glimpsed yesterday. "Relax! No one here cares about what happens to technical school nobodies."
They approached their classroom, the hallway growing more crowded with students moving with purposeful efficiency. Heechul's demeanor shifted subtly—his shoulders relaxed further, his expression became slightly more vacant, his walk acquired a barely perceptible slouch. Putting on his mask, Soojin realized.
As they entered the classroom, Soojin removed her bag, unable to suppress a slight wince as the movement pulled at her ribs. She caught Heechul's eyes flickering to her side for just a fraction of a second—so quick she almost missed it—before his face resumed its carefree expression.
So he did notice, she thought. But how?
The morning passed in a blur of lectures and note-taking. Professor Kang droned on about advanced calculus, his eyes occasionally lingering on certain students with an intensity that made Soojin uncomfortable. In the back of her mind, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about today—a tension in the air, perhaps, or the way certain students seemed to exchange knowing glances.
When lunch break arrived, Seo-yeon and Jun-ho approached their desks, perfectly coordinated as always.
"Half day because of the VIP visit," Seo-yeon said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Chairman Lee's son is touring the facilities."
"Lee as in Lee Enterprises?" Soojin asked, her mind immediately cataloging the information. Lee Enterprises was one of the largest conglomerates in South Korea, with fingers in everything from electronics to pharmaceuticals.
Jun-ho nodded. "Lee Jae-hoon. Rumor has it he's being groomed to take over their educational foundation, which happens to be Hankuk's biggest donor."
"Which means," Seo-yeon added with a meaningful look, "security will be heightened all day. Every camera operational, every guard on high alert."
The warning was clear not a good day for snooping around.
"We should meet after school," Jun-ho suggested. "I might have some information about who your sister was meeting in her final weeks."
Soojin's attention sharpened. "What kind of information?"
"Not here," he replied quietly. "Too many ears."
Before Soojin could press further, Heechul abruptly stood up. "Sorry, I just remembered something I need to do. Meet you guys after class!"
Without waiting for a response, he hurried out of the classroom, leaving Soojin staring after him in confusion.
"That was odd," she murmured.
"For his public persona, perhaps," Seo-yeon said with a knowing smile as she sighs. "But the real Heechul moves with purpose."
The rest of the classes passed quickly. True to Seo-yeon's word, security presence around the school had doubled, with uniformed guards stationed at key intersections throughout the building. As soon as the final bell rang, signaling the end of the half day, Soojin gathered her things, her mind already cycling through the questions she wanted to ask Jun-ho about Min-ah.
"Ready?" Seo-yeon asked, appearing at her desk with Jun-ho close behind.
"Where's Heechul?" Soojin asked, noticing his absence.
Jun-ho shrugged. "He texted that he needed to handle something and would catch up with us later."
The three of them made their way downstairs and out of the main building, discussing the man Soojin had encountered after the alley fight.
"If he knew about the incident so quickly, he must have connections," Jun-ho theorized. "Maybe with the technical school students themselves."
"Or with someone who watches that alley," Seo-yeon added. "There are rumors about people who control the territories around Hankuk. People who profit from the chaos."
"We'll be ready if he appears again," Jun-ho assured her. "We have resources too."
They parted ways at the school gate, with promises to meet the following day with more concrete information. As Soojin turned toward the bus stop, a familiar figure came sprinting toward her, slightly out of breath.
"Soojin! Wait!"
Heechul skidded to a halt before her, clutching a plastic bag bearing the logo of a nearby pharmacy. His usually immaculate hair was slightly disheveled, as if he'd been running for some time.
"What's this?" Soojin asked, eyeing the bag suspiciously.
"For your ribs," he replied, pushing the bag into her hands. "Use this, not those heat pads. It'll heal faster."
Soojin stared at him, a chill running down her spine as she recalled Lee Seon-geon's nearly identical advice that morning. "How did you know about my ribs? Or that I was using heat pads?"
Heechul's expression flickered for a moment, the facade of the foolish rich kid dropping just enough to reveal something calculating beneath. Then the mask slid back into place, and he grinned sheepishly.
"You winced when you took off your bag this morning. Classic sign of a rib injury. As for the heat pads..." he shrugged. "Lucky guess. Most people use them incorrectly."
Before Soojin could question him further, he gave a cheerful wave and trotted off, calling over his shoulder, "Use it! Doctor's orders!"
Soojin looked down at the pharmacy bag, then back at Heechul's retreating figure. First Lee Seon-geon, now Heechul, both men somehow aware of her injury, both offering the same advice. It couldn't be a coincidence.
The game at Hankuk was more complex than she'd imagined, with players whose roles and alliances remained obscure. As she walked toward the bus stop, Soojin made a mental note to be even more vigilant. If her injury was so easily detected, what else might these observers see?
One thing was certain she was being watched, not just by the school's security cameras, but by people whose motives and capabilities remained unknown. And in this dangerous game, such knowledge could mean the difference between uncovering the truth about Min-ah and sharing her fate.