Yu Karina
I was pacing back and forth in my living room, restless.
My manager and PD-nim, who suddenly showed up on my doorstep a while ago were now on a heated conversation in my kitchen.
Fuck... I'm losing my mind!
They asked me, about that video. At first I was too stunned to speak because why are they bringing my trauma on the surface again, knowing that I want to forget it - bury it if it means it'll vanish along with that dead man, but FUCK, the reason made my mind almost malfunction.
The question they asked is:
'Karina, is there someone you know or remembered, that you mentioned about the video?'
Because it only means one thing - someone out there... are killing the persons involved on that video.
And NO.
I never, ever, will talk about my disgusting past to someone not even my reflection in the mirror. Who could do that? I don't want to embarrass myself neither private or publicly.
Just thinking, picturing myself on that position again- I will tell a person to just kill me, no doubt, than live, carry those scenes until my death comes. But I'm not like that, not anymore, not when I'm still holding to that warmth, to her warmth. As long as she's alive, I don't care about those things, all I want is to be with her, even though for now, I'm still stuck on admiring her in secrecy. She gave me this hope. That living in this world might not be that bad as long as she's here with me.
Three days.
Three whole days of searching.
That's what they told me.
To find Jang Won-young.
After I heard her name, I felt myself internally shaking.
I should be glad right...?
I should be celebrating cause they're already being chased with that anonymous serial killer...right?
Then without warning, I heard my apartment's door slammed open.
"UNNIE! SHIIIIT! WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING!"
Aeri was screaming, her voice echoed in my house that made PD-nim and Yoona unnie emerged from the kitchen, panicking.
When she saw them, she apologized, bowed then she started pointing at her phone, eyes widen, mouth open.
Horrified.
"Why? What happened?" The first one who spoke is our company's director. He's looking at Aeri curiously.
She move from her place, now standing on our center.
We, with our curious eyes looked at the screen of her phone.
She tapped the link.
It opened.
And a video appeared.
My eyes were squinting, desperately trying to recognize the person.
Then I froze.
"Heol... that girl - she's Jang Won-young..."
( heol - A korean word to express surprise,shock or disbelief)
I heard my manager whispered, disbelief was evident on her voice.
"Who posted that thing!" PD-nim roared. Making me flinched a little.
My eyes, still glued on the video, heart hammering inside my chest.
Then, an applause was heard, echoing from the phone's speakers.
It was mocking, taunting, dangerously frightening.
There was someone, other than Won-young in the video.
But that person was not onsight. Even though it seems like they were moving in the room.
The anonymous serial killer is a complete psycho-genius, they edited himself, making it look like he's invisible.
I squeezed my eyes shut, but the scenes were already burned into my mind.
I could almost feel Won-young's terror, her desperation, her silent plea for freedom.
And in the midst of watching her struggling.
I felt my lips, curving...in a satisfied smile.
This excites me.
Heart thumping, blood rushing - adrenaline out of control.
I opened my eyes.
Masking the eagerness with frustration and horror.
"Aeri..." I said, my voice low, trying to make it sound more steady, more convincing. "C-can you trace the video? Can you f-find out where it was posted from?"
She shook her head. "I already tried unnie, I bet some of these people did too, the owner or whoever this person who posted this might be an I.T. prodigy. Even the authorities were -"
A phone rang.
PD-nim's.
He immediately excuse himself, answered the call and about to walk back the kitchen - but instead, he turned around facing our direction.
Looking at me, straight in the eye while talking to the person on the other end.
"Yes officer - She was here - Yes - Almost two weeks since we officially announced her one-month hiatus - Yes - No, sir she was strictly monitored here - Yes - Not even once, you can checked all the surveillance footage here - Thank you, officer - Yes - We will gladly cooperate - Yes - Ye, kamsahamnida."
We all stood there, waiting for our director to break the news.
He sighed heavily, massaging his temples.
"It's the police officer who's assigned to you and Yeonjun's case. They will do a quick inspection to all the surveillance camera in this building."
Yoona unnie squeezed my hands, giving me an understanding nod.
"Aeri, can you please call Ms. Kim here? We need her presence."
Though Aeri's eyeing us suspiciously she still obeyed.
She's not aware about the video, and it's not the right time to tell her.
Not long after, Aeri came, behind her, there's Minjeong who's already looking at me, then suddenly, to my surprise - she almost run, her warm arms wrapping around me as her body pressed on mine.
I stiffened, caught off guard by her sudden display of affection.
I didn't pull - why would I?
She pulled back slightly, her eyes searching mine,
"Are you okay?" That gentle voice again.
I stayed silent.
Looking up at her. That same kind eyes were staring back at me, full of concern - just for me.
But even though I want to stay inside her comforting embrace, I don't want the audience to see us like this. Especially because I don't want them to think that I like this physical contact, that I'm craving for Minjeong's touch more than anyone else.
So I lightly pushed her away from me.
I saw - for a second - that disappointing look on her gorgeous-perfect face.
I glanced at PD-nim and Yoona unnie, silently urging them to take control of the situation.
Our director cleared his throat, "Ms. Kim," PD-nim said, stepping forward. "Thank you for coming quickly. We appreciate it."
"Of course, Mr. Lee," Minjeong answered, her eyes scanning the room. "I - I already seen that video. Jang Won-young, the girl..."
PD-nim sighed. "The police are on their way," he said. "They're going to conduct an inspection of the surveillance cameras."
"Why?" Minjeong asked, her brows furrowing.
"Just a precaution," PD-nim said, his voice dismissive. "Nothing to worry about."
Minjeong nodded, then she faced me, " Can I...talk to you privately?"
Why is she acting...differently?
Talking casually?
Even the formal 'Ms. Yu' were out of her line.
I led her to my bedroom.
Well, she said privately so... it's the first thing that came to mind.
She locked the door.
She turned. Her eyes were intense, searching, and there was a strange energy radiating from her that I couldn't decipher.
"What's wrong Minjeong?" I asked flatly, arms crossed over my chest.
"I saw the news. They found her body inside a dumpster...and -" she inhaled sharply. " She - she was drugged, sexually assaulted - " her words stuck as if she can't say it out loud.
She step forward.
Our bodies inches closer once again.
But now her gaze was on the floor.
Then I heard her trembling voice, "...Karina...- I didn't watch the video from Yeonjun...did - d-did..."
She lift her head, a tear streaming down her left cheek, her eyes red...watery. "Did Y- Yeonjun -"
"No. He didn't. We didn't. I'm clean. No sexual intercourse happened. I swear."
I know what she's about to say.
And I don't care if I sounded defensive.
I don't want her to think that, some horny guy did me.
Fuck I hate seeing her like this.
Vulnerable.
Emotional.
Minjeong nodded, head's down again.
"G-Good." Her voice cracked.
I was too focused on her, that I forgot to speak.
I flinched as I felt her hand on mine.
"Can you..." she let out a shaky breath. Her now puffy red eyes staring, sincerely, genuinely, and seriously right back at me,
"Can I stay here with you, to protect you, and be here for you...until the chaos ended?"