NETIZEN

BIRTHDAY

Having GBanks reply instead of FIXXIT was rare. Soo Yeon imagined the Wizkid still frustrated with her decision to go to the concert and potentially blow her cover. For Soo Yeon, no one else could have taken her place.

As she arrived close to her apartment, a familiar figure stood close to his Hyosung bike.

"What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see you," Su Jung said.

"Why?"

"I missed you."

The sentence was direct and efficient.

"Neo mi cheo sseo? [are you crazy?]

"What, it's crazy to long to see someone?" The young man replied, furrowing his eyebrows as he reflected.

It was a long day for Soo Yeon, she wasn't in the mood for these lovey-dovey vibes, but like always, Su Jung didn't care.

"Su Jungー"

"It's your birthday, right?"

Soo Yeon had forgotten; it was her LINE avatar's birthday. It had already been ten days since she had gone to L'Hexagone and that Oh Seong Won had died. Soo Yeon was 18, and Hye Mi was a few weeks away from her birthday.

"Yes, and?"

"Let's grab a치맥 [chi-maek=chicken and beer] and drink the night away."

"Are you serious? I will not drink with you," Soo Yeon said, crossing her arms in protest.

The truth was her body ached. She dreamt of taking a long shower and a good night's sleep. Even though she was aware, her sleep found itself coated with nightmares, which would make her wake up drenched in a cold sweat.

Su Jung smiled, "why, are you scared of what could happen? Trust me; I'm more scared than you. You will probably paralyze my vitals if I try something."

"No, Su Jung, your thought is kind, but I'm exhausted, maybe another day."

"Okay fine, can I give you a present?" The boy said with a not-so-innocent smile.

"If I say no, you won't leave, right?" Soo Yeon asked.

"Right."

"Okay, give it over," Soo Yeon said, stretching out a hand.

"Close your eyes."

"I swear Su Sung if you do something-"

"Ssh," he said, placing his finger on her lips.

Soo Yeon closed her eyes.

Jun Ho stopped as he saw the boy lean over and turned around before the impact occurred.

Soo Yeon did not realize what was happening until she was wrapped in Su Jung's arms as he kissed her. She pushed him violently away and kicked him in the leg.

"Are you crazy, Su Sung? How could you do this to me? It was my- Oh,죽고싶어? [chukgu sipeo?=Do you want to die/do have a death wish?] Soo Yeon said before stamping her feet and leaving.

"I can die in peace now. You can kill me. It will be a pleasure to die from your hands," Su Jung yelled as he watched her leave.

"Jun Ho what a do doing,초딩 [choding=elementary school student] ga? The boy just kissed her. No big deal, why are you turning away?" Jun Ho said to himself.

With these words, Jun Ho regained his initial course walking to Soo Yeon's building arriving at the exact moment as the girl.

"No, this isn't possible," Soo Yeon said out loud as she entered her building. Frustrated by the combo the men formed, Jun Ho followed her.

"What do you want?"

"I need to talk to you," Jun Ho replied.

"About what?"

"That guy, Jared, is he the Black Moja?" Jun Ho said, getting on the lift with her.

"What is it with you?"

"We need to catch him, Soo Yeon."

"And you think I will help you?"

Two minutes later, they arrived at Soo Yeon's floor. Jun-ho stood beside her as she opened the door, insisting.

"If you know something, you should corporate," Jun Ho said, entering her apartment. He stopped, "where did you get the money for this?" Jun Ho said as he analyzed the 150m2 apartment.

"It's none of your business."

"Is it Jared? Did he pay for this?" Jun Ho pursued.

"It's me."

"Listen, I'm almost a 30-year-old, and like most Korean people, I live with my parents."

"I'm not Korean, remember, and I'm sorry if the almost thirty you are doesn't have the guts to move out on his own," Soo Yeon said sarcastically.

"Soo Yeon, I'm trying to help you. This case reeks; the Police won't stop till they find Black Moja. You are in danger if you carry on. Something might happen to you."

"It doesn't matter."

"You are wrong, Hye Mi. It matters to me," Jun Ho said.

"I have nothing to say to you, Jun Ho. Why do you care so much?" Soo Yeon said, going to her kitchen where she opened her fridge and took a water bottle.

"Becauseー, "Jun Ho let the word trail as he searched for an answer.

"Because of what? Your dead friend, a sick introvert, almost mute girl and her pimp of a dad." Soo Yeon advanced and made Jun Ho step back.

Jun Ho's hand lifted without his consent, landing on Soo Yeon's cheek. He slapped her, regretting his gesture a second too late. The man was shocked by his action, but what followed left him wordless.

"Kuré, Jun Ho, that's the spirit. That's where people like me are in the bottomless pit of rage. I have nothing to say to you. Get out." Soo Yeon said with a smirk as she opened her bottle and drank as if nothing happened.

Soo Yeon did not care much about slaps, she took punches, and life gave her more massive blows. Her heart and psyche were scarred for life, and Jun Ho's gesture was one of the countless stings she got.

Embarrassed by what he had done, unable to say sorry, Jun Ho left to go and take out his frustration on the steering wheel of his car, which he hit violently. He was supposed to console her. How could he lose control in such a way?

What was this facial expression she had?

Soo Yeon was cold and empty; there was no soul there.

Was it too late?

Jun Ho couldn't accept it, Hye Mi was there somewhere, and he had to rescue her.

Jun Ho's movements were followed by Jerome, who parked close by, "well, well, Inspector Kang, since when do you follow suspects home?" Jerome had not bought his explanation for the nightclub.

He had seen Jun Ho walk out of the club with Soo Yeon. Park Soo Yeon, the girl, was everywhere.

The haksaeng [student] was connected to NETIZEN, she fought Jerome earlier, and now he knew she would lead him to Jared.

Soo Yeon got under her shower. The fight was far worse than with Lee Hyun Gu's stalker. She ached, and so she cried genuine tears, and she knew Jun ho's sorrowful eyes were the cause.

It was only when Soo Yeon fell back on her bed that memory made its entrance bursting into the back door of her mind making her jerk up in horror. "I'm going to kill him," Soo Yeon muttered as the image of Su Jung's kiss repeated itself in an infernal cycle, and the boy's head appeared like pop-ups dancing everywhere around her head.  

Oh gosh, it's my birthday!

25th May