Geum Seong-je

You just got out of school; you'd had a strange day, you weren't in a good mood. The alley was half empty... they said it was dangerous to walk through that passage because fights were common there. A guy was inside the alley. You'd seen him before. The kid never gave off a good vibe. He was staring at you, without any shame... it was like he was undressing you with his eyes. Honestly, disgusting. She positioned herself in your path. Her intentions were evident in every step and gesture she made... she didn't hesitate to speak. He started asking basic questions with compliments. "Does this cutie have a name?", "That uniform looks great on you..." He tried to take your arm. As soon as his finger brushed against you, you decided to pull away. — Are you shy? I like that… —She murmured. You started walking. He didn't do anything to stop you. You walked with your arms crossed, that knot in your stomach still there, and the urge to cry too... you didn't notice that someone else had seen you with him. Hours had passed since that encounter; the streets were dark, though populated by people leaving parties or going out to eat. In one of those PC bangs filled with blue light, sweat, and cigarettes, Seong-je sat with one hand on the mouse and a half-smoked, unlit cigarette in his mouth. I wasn't playing, I was just killing time... The phone notification sounded. _He unlocked it as always, with your birthday password... even if things weren't serious yet, he had it on his phone. "Seong, you have to see this. It's from today. That girl you like was acting strange, uncomfortable. Look what that jerk did to her." He also showed her a picture of you with the guy from that alley. His face changed in an instant when he saw your face. Your expression. That way you were looking down, like you wanted to disappear... it chilled him to the bone.

Then there he was in the same photo, that idiot getting too close, with a crooked, confident smile. That's it. He's not bothering anyone anymore. Not you, not anyone.

seongje