Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Confronting the Creep
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If she thought her daughter had made a boyfriend while going to the academy and didn't like it, she could've just switched academies.
But calling the academy to complain and then hanging up without taking any action? That's weird.
'What if, that day, she mistook Seo Jae-kyeom for Ga-eun's boyfriend instead of her real brother?'
Looking back, Seo Jae-kyeom had never hammered it home to that guy with a firm "Stay away from my. Little. Sister!"
In those guys' heads, any boy and girl together must be dating, so they could've easily assumed they weren't siblings but boyfriend and girlfriend.
If he thought high schooler Ga-eun was dating a college guy, it's obvious how that man's thought process would've gone after.
"Kim Ga-eun!"
I practically tumbled down the stairs.
I shouldered open the academy building's glass door and dashed into the alley.
It was the same alley where I'd spotted Ga-eun last time.
"Kim Ga-eun!!!"
I scanned the surroundings with my eyes while shouting her name at the top of my lungs.
-Kang Da-hye, what's wrong?
Jeong Eun-seong asked from the other end of the phone, having heard the noise. Only then did I realize I hadn't hung up on him yet.
-Is something going on? Why are you suddenly looking for Kim Ga-eun?
"Jeong Eun-seong, could you call the police for me?"
-The police?
"Yeah. Here's where I am."
No time for a long explanation. I quickly gave the academy's address, the direction I was heading, and descriptions of Ga-eun and the guy.
"Ga-eun's house is in Pruda Oasis Complex 2... but she probably hasn't made it there yet. She just left the academy."
-Got it.
Thank goodness Jeong Eun-seong didn't hit me with annoying questions like "Why should I report it?", "Isn't this overreacting?", or "Tell me what's going on first."
-You think that guy kidnapped Kim Ga-eun?
"Yeah. They say he's even holding a knife. And make sure to mention we've reported something like this before."
-Where are you?
"Following the road to Ga-eun's house."
-What? Hey, you're in danger too...
"Please!"
I hung up abruptly.
I dialed the number for Ga-eun that I'd memorized beforehand.
-Even if you hide it, twinkle♪
A bubbly ringtone that didn't fit the situation at all blasted in my ear.
"Why isn't she picking up...!"
-It shows in your eyes♪
Yeah, make it obvious so people notice!
I hate this cliché where they don't pick up the phone right when you need them to, making you furious!
I hate how the streetlights in this alley aren't on, leaving it pitch dark!
I just hate everything!
I was cursing inwardly as I turned into an even darker alley where no one seemed to live—nearby houses all had their lights off—when it happened.
"High school girl... acting all high and mighty..."
"...seriously..."
"Out of pity for me..."
"So why... are you here! You little... slut!"
"This... bitch ignoring me?!"
Over there.
-I'm twinkle, it shows♪
I hung up on the still-playing Twinkle whatever.
"...says who!"
I glared toward the adjacent alley where the voices came from and dialed 112 this time.
Ring...
When they pick up, stay calm, give the location first.
Then yell loudly, "Mister, what the hell are you doing?!"
And since it's the police on the line, hand over the phone for him to talk...
"Let go! I'm seriously gonna report you!"
"Report? What for?! What did I do to get reported? Just trying to teach a rude little bitch some manners?! Go ahead! Report me! I'll smack you upside the head..."
That's what I'd planned in my head.
But in the moment, with this happening to me, staying calm was impossible.
-Yes, emergency report...
I confirmed they picked up at 112 and bolted.
Turning the corner, I saw a lunatic gripping Ga-eun's arms and shaking her violently.
"Report it! Go ahead and report me!"
Thwack!
"Let go!"
I slammed my whole body into the shouting guy's back.
"Let go! I said let go! Let her go!"
I bashed the corner of my phone into his arm—thud! thud!—desperately trying to separate him from Ga-eun.
"What the?!"
The guy, terrified by my sudden appearance from behind, twisted his face viciously upon realizing I was just another girl like Ga-eun.
"What's this now? Damn...!"
Thud!
"Ah!"
The guy spewing curses shoved me hard. Full force against a girl student—I slammed back-first into the wall.
My body bounced, and I dropped the phone I'd been clutching.
"Unbelievable... Fine, today I'll teach you brats to respect your elders properly."
In the darkness, his flushed face was obvious as he huffed and puffed.
He figured he could easily handle two uniformed high school girls, acting all cocky. The guy who couldn't say a word to burly Seo Jae-kyeom.
"Gonna beat you till your ears ring and you learn some sense..."
He fully turned toward me and raised his hand high in the air.
He's gonna hit me!
That's when it happened.
Weeeeee!
"Huh?"
"Huh?"
The piercing sound echoing through the dark alley made both him and me freeze.
Weeeee! Wee-wee! Beep! Beep!
Ga-eun was blowing a whistle behind his back, her face beet red.
The guy, who hadn't flinched at my arrival, flinched at the noise loud enough to carry out of the alley. Seizing the moment, I scrambled up and stood beside Ga-eun.
"Ga-eun, you okay?"
"Yeah...! You?"
"Me too!"
Just standing next to my friend—why did it feel so reassuring?
We huddled together and slowly backed away. I wanted to grab her hand and bolt, but my legs wouldn't move. Ga-eun seemed the same, just blowing the whistle nonstop.
Beep, beep, beep...
Even that was weakening; her shocked throat couldn't muster more strength, now just feeble puffs...
"Ah, why..."
"Ga-eun. It's okay. You can stop."
Just putting as much distance as possible between us was the best we could do.
I glanced sideways at my phone on the ground. The call to 112 was still connected.
If the call's active, they can track the location, right?
Ga-eun clutched her necklace whistle tightly and muttered.
"They said this was the best self-defense tool... I bought it just in case. But things were so chaotic earlier, I forgot..."
"It's okay. You did great."
I took her trembling hand in mine.
Now there were two of us. No way that bastard could drag off two girls alone.
I yelled at the psycho, now an arm's length away.
"M-Mister... I already called the police, okay?"
My slurred, off-key voice sounded pathetic even to me. Hands shaking, and now my voice too.
Damn. I don't wanna shake.
Where was that boldness from when I was yelling and shoving him?
Pathetic against this nobody... so infuriating...
"Everything about you trying to drag her off... it's all recorded..."
The guy, swinging his arm to snatch the whistle, flinched at the mention of the report already made. As I kept threatening in my stupid, utterly un-scary voice,
Beep-beep. Wee-oo.
Short bursts of siren sounds.
At the same time, flashing red-and-blue lights flooded the alley.
Soon, two cops got out of the stopped patrol car.
"You there, sir! What do you think you're doing?"
"Are you the one who reported?"
"Ha..."
Tears welled up instantly.
We're safe.
I hated myself for being scared of this loser, felt pathetic and furious... but anyway, we're safe.
The rushing cops separated me, Ga-eun, and the guy.
"Step back, sir!"
"No, I..."
"Just back off for now!"
"Did the student report you?"
"Yes, yes... I did."
I pointed at the phone on the ground.
The cop who picked it up said something to the person still on the line and hung up.
I stood there, clinging to Ga-eun like one body, mouth agape in a daze, then words burst out like a dam breaking.
"That guy's been stalking my friend for a while now. We already reported it a few days ago..."
Me, who people say would just float with my mouth open if drowned—never thought I'd ramble so incoherently.
As I kept babbling nonsense even I couldn't follow,
"Kang Da-hye!"
A taxi pulled up behind the patrol car.
Bang! The door flew open with enough force to make the driver mad, and someone leaped out.
It was Jeong Eun-seong.
His face flushed red.
"Kang Da-hye, you okay?!"
"Jeong Eun-seong..."
How did you get here?