I rarely touched my phone since yesterday. If I did, it was only to check for messages from Jia. Unbeknownst to me, time had already brought bad news. My name and face had become hot topics, even though the circulating photo was blurry and I wasn't looking at the camera.
Two teenagers had clumsily snapped a picture with a low-quality phone. Perhaps to others, my face would be hard to recognize—but not to Soojin. She noticed every detail, especially since Jia appeared in one of the photos, standing not far from me.
"Sunday is usually Jia's free day," Soojin said. "She always keeps her whereabouts secret, even from Minjae. She's never taken me along. But who would have thought she'd go out with you?"
Her tone dripped with sarcasm, yet I chose not to respond.
"What about Jia?" I finally asked, trying to change the subject. "How did she react to the news?"
All I could think of was Jia. If Minjae found out, everything would collapse. I didn't care about myself; my worry was the potential fallout for Jia. I couldn't let her be dragged into the mess I had caused.
"Fortunately, your face isn't fully clear," Soojin said flatly, her gaze hinting at something deeper. "The media is more focused on Jia's situation and the story of the 'train hero.'"
Before I could respond, Soojin grabbed the collar of my shirt and slammed me against the wall. My body hit hard, and her piercing gaze made the air around us feel suffocating.
"If Minjae realizes this, the way I did, you're finished. Not just you, Jia will lose everything too. Everything she's built will collapse. So listen carefully," she said, cold and threatening. "Make sure everything stays under control."
Soojin's thin, condescending smile—a familiar expression—stayed fixed on her face.
"I, foolishly, gave you access to the chat group," she continued. "I thought it would clear up misunderstandings, at least so no one would regret anything. But apparently, I made a reckless decision, because it gave you room to get closer to Jia."
She released her grip on my collar, now staring intently at her phone screen as she scrolled with her finger. I didn't know what she planned, but the cold atmosphere she brought left me uneasy.
"Since you've already talked, you'll be removed from the group," she said, turning the screen toward me. Only two members remained.
"I'll also delete your number from Jia's phone," she added, as if the decision were final. "And you must do the same. After this, there's no reason for you to contact each other. If Jia tries to find an excuse to meet you, ignore her."
Soojin pocketed her phone, then, without warning, reached toward my pants pocket. Reflexively, I moved to dodge, but she was faster. Her aggressive move forced me into an impulsive decision, I pushed her with both hands, but what happened next surprised me.
Soojin grabbed my arm firmly, and in an instant, we lost our balance. Our bodies staggered, then fell together onto the cold floor.
Thud!
The impact sucked the air out of my chest. We froze, only our breathing filling the silent room.
For the first time, I found myself in a position I never imagined—on top of a woman. Soojin, with her tomboyish appearance and short hair, wore tight jeans that accentuated her curves, even though she made no effort to appear feminine. I tried to distract myself, but awareness of the situation only heightened my unease.
Soojin didn't react, yet her sharp gaze, now level with mine, felt like a silent challenge I couldn't define. The seconds stretched endlessly, and all I wished was to get up without leaving an awkward impression.
"My hope… will never be realized," I stammered, pushing myself away from her. "I've decided to pursue Jia. My choice is none of your business, even if it means fighting with blood and tears. Never tell me to stop hoping, because it's me who must hear it, not you."
I stood tall, facing her still seated on the floor. "You can delete my number from Jia's phone, or hers from mine, but that will never make me forget her. Do whatever you want, I will never give up."
Immediately after, I hurried out of the room, eager to leave the lingering tension behind. Soojin would no longer discuss my stubborn pursuit of Jia—at least, not after this encounter.
Yet what worried me more was Jia. The news of me spreading across the internet made me increasingly anxious. I wanted recognition, but not like this, as a train hero relying solely on luck to confront a criminal. That wasn't the image I wanted.
I checked my phone, eyes scanning the headlines discussing me. Comments were mixed, positive and negative alike. It was normal, public opinion is never fair.
"Speaking of the train hero…"
The voice came, and without thinking, I hid behind a corridor wall. I hadn't expected Minjae and his men to appear so soon.
"…From the short video showing only his back, he doesn't seem like a skilled fighter. This is overblown, making him a trending topic. You agree, right?"
"You're just jealous. Then why don't you fight the criminal yourself?"
"Are you kidding? He ran from a cockroach just now."
They laughed, and I gradually realized their chatter meant nothing. I stepped out of hiding, trying to steady my breath and remain calm. With my head slightly lowered, I walked past them, silently hoping their attention stayed on the empty chatter rather than on me.
"The most important thing is our boss's reaction to this phenomenon," one of them said, a hint of seriousness in his tone.
"What do you think Minjae will say? He must be grateful to the hero for saving his girlfriend. You've probably heard how his girlfriend was almost harassed on the train."
"Hey! Stop talking about that. Our boss doesn't seem happy."
"Just kidding, boss! Lee Jia's beauty is unmatched!"
"But… isn't the man in the photo familiar?"
"He does look familiar," Minjae said.
My steps froze in the middle of the corridor. The confidence that had accompanied each step turned into doubt.
One of them turned to look at me. Every muscle in me screamed to turn and escape, but my legs felt locked in place.
"Oh, isn't that Ian, trying to get close to our boss's girlfriend? He must have been living quietly these past few days, since we haven't seen him."
Minjae continued staring, eyes sharp and unyielding. I couldn't guess what he was thinking. From that look, I sensed he might be starting to recognize who was in the video.