Chapter 40: Safety Zone (10)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 40: Safety Zone (10)
It wasn’t that I hadn’t thought about giving up and going home. I felt I had waited long enough and that this was as far as I could go, but the moment I tried to leave the park, the bruises on Green’s face flashed through my mind.
If I left now and Green arrived late, what would she think? Would there be anyone else to reach out a hand to her?
Surely there would be. It was arrogant of me to think that I was the only one who could help her.
However, it was a fact that Green’s demeanor had begun to change after we started talking. I’m not saying I was the only one capable of helping her; I’m saying there was no one else in her life actually offering that help.
I could leave this spot right now and go home, or even back to Headquarters. In fact, doing so would be much easier for me, free of any further burden. But what about Green?
I stopped my retreat from the park and turned back to look at the bench where I had sat and talked with Green for the past week. I’ve never considered myself a great person. Still, I believe I’m the kind of person who can help at least one other soul if I give it my all.
So, I sat back down on the bench and decided to spend the rest of the day waiting for her. It was only one day of waiting. If the day ended and she still hadn’t come, it wouldn’t be too late to accept that it was over then.
Time flowed aimlessly. Sitting in the park was exhausting, and though I went to a nearby convenience store to buy something to drink, I rushed back immediately, anxious that she might arrive in that brief window.
The long summer sun began to set, and the sweltering air gradually cooled. I grew hungry and bought a triangular kimbap from the convenience store to eat while I waited, but she still didn't appear.
The sun had already vanished. Even though I had made up my mind to wait, a corner of my mind kept whispering that it was already over.
Twelve hours had passed since our promised time. Having sat outside for so long, fatigue began to settle in.
I stepped away to the convenience store for a moment and returned to the park, only to see Green standing there, her head hanging low.
Her hair was a mess, and her clothes were disheveled. I approached her slowly as her shoulders trembled, and I picked up the wallet she had dropped on the ground.
The moment she lifted her head, our eyes met. Her face was a ruin of bruises. One cheek was swollen, and the corner of her mouth was slightly torn. Judging by how the wounds had begun to set, it seemed some time had passed since she was hurt.
Should I ask about her injuries?
No. I should just treat her normally, as if nothing were wrong.
My thoughtless sympathy might only serve to deepen her wounds—her trauma.
For the first time, we didn't sit apart on the park bench. We sat side by side, and I listened to her story, piece by piece.
Fury boiled inside me. Having suffered through domestic violence for nearly ten years, something inside Green seemed broken. She spoke as if being beaten was natural, and I found it difficult to find the right words.
But I had to speak. If I left things like this, she would surely face something even worse when she went home.
"Have you ever tried reporting it?"
"Huh? If I report it, my dad will..."
"What about you, Eunha? Isn't the important person here you, not your father?"
My tone grew a bit cold. At my rational, blunt remark, Green wore an expression that suggested she had never even considered that possibility. Until now, she hadn't realized that she herself mattered.
"It's not okay."
"No... it's not."
What could I do for her? I felt like finding that man she called a father and burying my fist in his face right this second, but that wouldn't solve anything.
"Wait here a moment."
Sensing this would be a long night, I stepped away from Green and pulled out my smartphone. After hearing her story, I realized it was already past midnight. Since I wouldn't be able to go home immediately, I needed to report in.
—Yeah, Oppa.
Yubin’s lively voice came through the phone; she wasn't asleep yet.
"You were still up?"
—I was watching a movie and lost track of time. Where are you?
"I'm out right now."
I couldn't explain everything, so I made an excuse about working with someone from a partner company and said I wouldn't be able to make it home. Yubin replied with a casual "okay," as if it were no big deal.
It was clear now—the reason she was angry last time wasn't because I stayed out, but because I stayed out without saying a word.
After hanging up, I looked at Green sitting quietly on the bench and wondered: Does Yubin know about Green's situation?
She probably didn't. It wasn't like Green was ever singled out for discussion, and before I really started talking to her, both Yubin and Yura just perceived her as "someone who's always a bit spaced out."
It was just a guess, but I might be the only person on Earth who knew the truth about Green's situation right now. I almost wished I had a headache, but my mind was strangely cold and calm.
As I approached her, Green, who had been staring at the ground, looked up. When I reached out and touched her bruised face, she flinched. I stared at her intently for a moment.
"U-um..."
Was she confused by the situation? She looked like she wanted to ask why I was doing this but didn't know how to start, her eyes filled with panic.
"Let's go."
"Pardon?"
I took her hand and led her toward the nearest police station.
Perhaps because it was a Friday night, the station was crowded with drunks and numerous officers. Despite the late hour, the inside was noisy and chaotic.
When I walked in with Green, whose face was covered in wounds, several eyes turned toward us. The space that had been loud just a moment ago fell into a sudden silence.
I walked straight toward an officer without stopping. Green, overwhelmed by the attention, was busy trying to avoid everyone's gaze.
"I'd like to file a report."
"Yes. What is the matter?"
"A domestic violence report. This is my friend, and she ended up like this after being beaten by her father."
"Please, have a seat first."
As dawn approached, Green and I sat side by side in the police station, answering the officer's questions one by one. Of course, I didn't have much to say. Most of it had to come from Green. Every time she struggled to speak, I held her hand to let her know she didn't have to be afraid.
"Wait a minute?"
The officer, who had been typing into the computer after a few questions, looked puzzled as he checked Green's identity.
"This person... she's a Superhuman?"
I felt Green flinch and check my reaction. My brow furrowed as I stared at the officer, who was wearing a faint, dismissive smile.
"A Superhuman as a victim of domestic violence? You must have misunderstood some—!"
The rising anger finally snapped. Even so, my reason remained intact enough that I suppressed the worst of my rage as I lunged across the desk and grabbed the collar of the typing officer.
"Listen here, you bastard. She's not a 'Superhuman,' she's a girl who was a victim of domestic violence. Do you have rocks in your ears? Should I drill them out so you can hear better?"
I might lose to Team Hunter Killer every time, but I wasn't so weak that I couldn't overpower an average person. The man was a police officer, but his body was that of an ordinary human.
Even though he held a position of authority, I was too livid to care about that.
"No, I mean, it doesn't make sense for a Superhuman to be beaten by a normal person! And Superhumans are—!"
I let go of his collar and shoved him back. I knew exactly what he was going to say next.
"Right. Superhumans have a bad reputation, and dealing with this will just be a headache for you guys."
I slammed both hands onto the desk and leaned into his face. With eyes still burning with killing intent, I spoke in a low, dangerous voice.
"Which do you think will be more of a headache? The story that you ignored a victim of domestic violence, or the story that you helped a Superhuman who was being abused?"
This wasn't a matter for him to judge personally. This man was likely a rookie who hadn't been on the force long, but I wasn't in a position to be considerate of his circumstances.
Just as I was about to lose my grip on my sanity, Green took my hand. The moment I looked at her, my reason returned.
"Whew."
I exhaled and sat back down. When I looked at the officer with eyes that still held a trace of anger, he flinched.
"The person here is a victim of domestic violence, and I am the friend who came to report it. There is nothing else to it."
I hoped he wouldn't drag this out any further. The officer seemed to understand; he nodded and went to speak with the other officers.
I saw a senior officer scolding him in the background before several officers headed out to their parked patrol cars and drove off.
An officer told us to wait to one side, so I took Green to a bench in a corner of the station.
"I'm sorry."
Is saying "I'm sorry" a habit for Superhumans? Thinking of Yubin and Yura, I could understand why she said it. Still, I didn't want to hear apologies from them. It felt wrong for someone to apologize when they hadn't done anything wrong.
"I'm fine. Things might get tiring for a while, though. If you need help, tell me."
"Okay."
I reached out to her as she sat there silently.
"Give me your phone."
Green fumbled in her pocket, pulled out her smartphone, and placed it in my hand. I saved my number in her phone. Then, I called my own phone to confirm her number and showed her that I had saved it.
"Now that you have my number, you can contact me, right?"
"Yes."
Even after her short reply, I could see she was still walking on eggshells. Thanks to my experiences, I could tell exactly what she was worried about.
"What does it matter if you're a Superhuman or not?"
She looked up at me, and our eyes met.
"Why? Does the fact that you're Kang Eunha change if you're a Superhuman? And does it stay the same if you aren't? Whether you're a Superhuman or not, the fact that you are Eunha doesn't change. So, it doesn't matter at all."
"I see..."
She stared at me blankly before nodding. I figured she understood. With that thought, I looked around the now-quiet police station.
But the silence didn't last long. A patrol car arrived in front of the station, and soon a man stepped out, screaming at the top of his lungs.
I had never seen his face before, but I knew instantly. This man was Green's father.
The moment I saw him, I wanted to deck him, but I held back. If I did something here, it would only make things worse.
"Sir! Please stay calm!"
"Where is she?! Where is that bitch!"
The officers held him back as they entered, but the man, acting as if he had done nothing wrong, continued to scream in a rage. He was likely looking for Green.
My own home was modest but harmonious. Both my father and mother cherished me, and I respected them in return. My parents always told me:
"If you ever get married and have a child, make sure to see things from their perspective as they grow. They aren't objects you can bend to your will, and you shouldn't try to."
They taught me that children are not the property of their parents and that it is only natural for parents to pour unconditional love into their children. I had lived my life believing that was the norm, so I felt an indescribable sense of rage and disgust toward this man who laid hands on Green.
Inside the station, he spotted her.
Even if they were blood-related, was it really right to let the perpetrator and the victim face each other like this?
I didn't know the procedures well enough to complain, so I just glared at him.
Of course, his gaze never landed on me. He focused solely on Green, hurling profanities at her.
Is there really nothing I can do?
I wanted to vent the emotions I was feeling, at least once.
"You little bitch!"
"!!"
The man, in the midst of his riot, broke free from the officers' grip and began charging toward Green.
Seeing Green—who always attacked me and my teammates without mercy—cowering like this made me feel sick.
The moment he drew near, I decided to release my feelings.
Reason? I didn't need it. I consider myself a rational person, but even the most rational person has moments where their instincts override their logic.
For me, that moment was now.
Just as he swung his hand toward Green, I caught his arm. Using his own momentum, I executed a shoulder throw and slammed him into the floor.
It wasn't a simple restraint; it was a full-force throw. The impact radiated from his back through his entire body, leaving him gasping for air.
Pinning him down immediately after the throw, I pressed hard on his chest with my palm to help him catch his breath before whispering into his ear.
"Breathe, you piece of shit. Don't you dare think you're dying that easily."
The officers who rushed over cuffed him and re-verified that Green and I were safe.
I don't remember much of what happened after that. I remember being angry at the police for letting that happen, but by the time I came to my senses, we were being sent home and Green's father was being locked in a holding cell.
Various statements were taken before we left. I didn't know all the specifics, but since I had come with the victim, I was treated as a witness and questioned as well.
Though they called it an investigation, they only asked Green and me the necessary questions.
"It's morning."
After spending the entire night at the station, the sun was rising as we stepped outside. The first buses and subways were starting to run. I needed to see Green home, go back to my place, and then head to my part-time job in the afternoon.
"Tell me if you need help."
I said this to her before she went inside her house. She still looked lost in thought.
"Promise?"
I held out my pinky finger. Green watched my hand for a moment before extending her own pinky, and we locked fingers.
"I promise."
"Okay."
Seeing Green’s slightly flushed face, looking a bit more at ease, made me feel relieved.
"Go on in. I'll leave once I see you're inside."
"Then, please get home safely. Thank you for today."
She said goodbye and looked back several times to wave. Each time, I smiled and gestured for her to hurry inside.
The moment the door closed behind her, I turned around and walked toward the station, thinking I should get some rest at home.
After a few steps, I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket and pulled it out.
There was a short text from Green. I smiled, feeling my footsteps grow a little lighter.
There would be many more things to resolve in the future, but I had no doubt that this incident would be a source of strength for her.
[Thank you so much. Please get home safely. Let's definitely go to the amusement park next time.]