Discipline Begins (4)
'What the hell.'
The small window facing the hallway. I parted the blinds just a sliver, barely noticeable. The fluorescent lights flickered in the corridor. Under that dingy glow, a familiar crown of the head came into view.
In front of apartment 304. Park Min-jeong stood there with her head bowed low, while the lady from 303 had her arms crossed, scolding her.
"Miss, I get that you're stressed, but this is shared housing. If you keep kicking the wall every night, how are the neighbors supposed to sleep? It was thumping away at 2 a.m. last night too, wasn't it?"
"Yes... I'm truly sorry. It won't happen again."
"And those weird noises too... Sigh, try to keep it down. You know the soundproofing here sucks. Why do you even do that?"
"I have no excuse... I'll be careful."
Park Min-jeong was bent over like a flip phone. From the conversation, it sounded like she was getting chewed out by the neighbor lady over noise complaints.
"Jeez. Your face looks perfectly fine. Take care from now on, okay?"
The lady clicked her tongue a few times and slipped back into 303.
Only silence remained in the hallway. Park Min-jeong stood frozen in place for a while.
"Haa... fuck... so fucking embarrassing..."
She clutched her face with both hands, twisting her body like she wanted to crawl into a hole.
I swallowed a laugh while watching her through the gap.
Don't know the details, but her mental game's totally shattered.
A few days ago, after I shoulder-checked her in the hallway and unloaded some choice words, she'd been looking pretty wrecked, yeah.
Too scared to come bitch at me directly, but the anger had nowhere to go. So she took it out on the innocent wall in her room and got caught by the neighbor.
"Some magical girl dignity, huh?"
A public servant magical girl defending Korea, cowering from a complaint. What a sight.
After getting reamed by the neighbor lady like that, she'd probably stay quiet for a bit. I started to pull away from the blinds.
That's when it happened.
Her gaze swept over, locking exactly onto the gap where I was peeking.
"Ah, shit."
Our eyes met. My heart dropped. I slammed the blinds shut and closed the window fast.
Did she see me?
No, she did. Dead on.
A knock sounded.
Not the door-smashing bangs from before, but...
Knock, knock, knock, knock.
Rhythmic and persistent. Like a debt collector at the door.
Stepped in shit again.
Ignore it?
But from experience, this woman wasn't the type to back off. The more I ignored her, the more she'd cling and obsess—that was her corruption desire pattern.
Running won't fix this.
Plus, after coming on strong once already, backing down now would reset everything to square one.
I had to crush her while I had the momentum. That way, this crazy bitch wouldn't see me as easy prey, and this beggar-ass nonsense would end.
I hardened my expression. Made it as pissed-off, rude, and intimidating as possible.
Click, beep.
I unlocked the door and flung it wide open.
Screeech—
"Hey."
I fired first the second the door opened.
"You gonna fuck off or what? Just got dressed down by the neighbor lady, and you still haven't learned?"
Park Min-jeong stood at my door, head still bowed. Through her messy hair, I could see her ears flushed red.
She flinched at my shout, shoulders trembling.
"No shit to say? Then fuck off. Don't loiter in front of my door. You're gonna get me complaints too."
I grabbed the handle like I was about to slam it, not forgetting to shoot her a contemptuous glare.
Normally, she'd blush and run, or huff off. At least the Park Min-jeong from a few days ago would have.
But.
Thwack!
The door didn't close. Her pale hand shot into the gap, gripping the edge tight.
I furrowed my brow and looked down at her.
"What? Wanna lose a finger?"
"...You saw, right?"
She mumbled without lifting her head. Her voice was shaking.
"You saw. Just now."
Park Min-jeong's voice quivered thinly. Head still down, veins stood out white on the back of her hand clutching the door.
"I'm reporting you."
"For sexual harassment. Stalking. I'm doing it."
She spat it out in a venomous tone.
"You pervert fuck... peeking at my body... giggling like an idiot... I can't take it anymore. I'm calling the cops. Telling your work too. Gonna ruin you socially!"
A chill ran down my spine. Alarms blared in my head.
This crazy bitch is finally showing her true colors.
I was dead certain she was playing the false accusation card. After I cussed her out and bumped her shoulder a few days ago, she was nursing a grudge and trying to drown me.
Slut, if I fold here, I'm done.
A magical girl's testimony carries serious weight in court. If she committed to the victim act, a regular guy like me could get screwed.
Apologize? Nah, dumbass, that won't fly.
Cold sweat trickled, but I didn't show it. Panic or apologize even a little, and I'd be her prey—branded a pervert stalker per her script.
"Go ahead."
"What?"
"I said do it. Report me."
I smacked her hand off the handle.
"Ow!"
She clutched her hand and staggered back. While she blinked dazedly between her hand and me, I stepped out without missing a beat.
"You get your panties in a twist and suddenly it's harassment this, that. Hey, you think I'm nuts? Peep on a hysterical hag like you? Look in a mirror and live a little."
"H-Hag?"
Her eyes went wide.
"Public servant, right? Want me to report you first for breaching decorum? Nuisance to the neighbor lady, bitching at me. You're the neighborhood disgrace all by yourself."
"Shut your mouth!"
She shrieked and lunged for my collar. I instinctively shoved her shoulder.
"Kyaa?!"
Her body flew back like a paper doll.
Thud!
She flailed, lost balance, and crashed ass-first to the hallway floor.
"Ow... ugh..."
She sprawled pathetically, skirt hiked up exposing her thighs, but she didn't even try to cover.
I let out a hollow chuckle, looking down.
"Such a drama queen."
Just like before, and now. Looked like she was really committing to the false accusation bit. Even a low-grade magical girl shouldn't go down from that, right?
"Hey, get up."
"......"
"Not getting up?"
I growled low, and she finally snapped to, scrambling to stand. But her legs buckled, and she wobbled. I roughly grabbed her forearm as she started to collapse again.
"Stand straight."
"It h-hurts... let go..."
Her voice was shrinking. The fire from threatening cops moments ago? Gone.
I snorted. See? Push hard, and she folds right away.
Classic bully the weak, fear the strong.
"Nah."
Far from letting go, I gripped harder.
"Ugh, d-don't touch me...!"
"You started this shit first. Treating an innocent guy like a criminal. Now you want me to let go? You kidding?"
Her forearm was thinner than expected. Soft flesh yielded between my fingers.
I dragged her like a ragdoll, pinning her against the wall.
"Ah..."
Her back and the nape of her neck hit the corridor wall. Me in front, wall behind. Nowhere to run.
"Head up."
I commanded.
"Not hearing me? Head up. You said you'd report me. Say it to my face."
She stayed bowed, unmoving. Her ears and neck peeked through messy hair, flushed crimson.
That magical girl scent hit me like steam from a sauna.
And most eye-catching? Her legs. Chatter chatter chatter. Knees knocking so hard they banged together.
She's really scared shitless.
Plays false accusation, gets schooled instead—yeah, you'd piss yourself too. Even as a civil servant, using force on a civilian gets you disciplined if caught.
Things were getting fun.
"Hey."
"......"
"Not answering."
I squeezed her arm harder.
"Eek...!"
She yelped—moan or scream, who knows—and finally, slowly, so slowly, lifted her head.
Our eyes met. She glared, full of contempt like before. But the fire was gone. Like a dog growling at its owner while sneaking glances.
"You... really..."
Her lips twitched.
"Really... the worst."
"What?"
"Dirty. Stink. Gross."
Insults poured out. But low tone, slurred words.
"Hand... off. Touching you... gives me chills."
Said that, but she didn't shake me off. Couldn't, maybe. Just pressed against the wall, panting raggedly.
"Haa, haa, whoo."
Her chest heaved wildly. Blouse buttons strained, then loosened, repeat.
I smirked.
"All talk. I give you chills?"
"Yeah... ugh, disgusting..."
"Then why not run? A normie like me grabs you—you could shake me off easy. Flick a finger, send me flying, right?"
I poked her shoulder demonstratively.
"Ahh...!"
Her body jerked hypersensitive. One finger, and she twitched like tasered, eyes dodging mine.
Totally broken.
But, y'know.
Normally, crumbling like this means freak out, shove away, bolt to her room. But Park Min-jeong? Just trembled, rooted in place.
Like she was enjoying it.
Nah, enjoying my ass.
I shook my head. Legs gave out from fear. I did shove kinda hard earlier.
"Listen up."
I dropped my voice low.
"One more time you loiter here, knock, or spout bullshit."
"......"
"I'll call the cops. Stalking charge. Got it?"
I released her arm.
It flopped limp. She braced the wall to barely stand.
"Answer."
"......"
"Cat got your tongue?"
She slowly opened her mouth. Eyes still floorward, avoiding me.
"...Dunno."
"What?"
"I said I dunno... you... thug fuck."
Ha.
Shaking like a leaf, can't meet my eyes, but mouth still running.
But I couldn't relax yet.
Look at her still snarling venomously.
She's cowed now, but heads home, cools off? Might actually run to the station.
This bitch's corruption desire is a pain in the ass. Wait.
I'd treated one before. Ex-magical girl 'Fox' Han Seo-yul. Diagnosed and fixed her sex addiction with the app.
So why not this time?
Send her off like this, and cooldown hits in days—she'll be back.
Might as well... uproot the weed early.