BRF Chapter 11
by lily plum“There’s no other way. The taxis aren’t coming, and this is faster than taking multiple buses and subways.”
“I know. It’s a fast car with a zero-to-sixty time of only 2.8 seconds.”
The man chuckled blandly.
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“I’m not planning on driving this car into the police station parking lot either. Why would I subject my precious car to such a place when it’s done nothing wrong?”
The man’s way with words was quite refreshing. If they had met under different circumstances, she might have been charmed by his playful nature.
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“Then please drop me off near the police station. Thank you for the ride.”
Eunseong thanked him politely and got into the passenger seat. The car smelled of fresh, crisp soap, similar to the scent of cologne she had smelled on him before.
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As he got into the driver’s seat and started the engine, a ferocious roar, like a wild beast, filled the air. The aggressive exhaust note continued as they drove.
Do men with a lot of possessions tend to enjoy being the center of attention?
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The driving noise was much louder and more intrusive than she had anticipated.
Seeing that Eunseong remained silent, the man glanced over.
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“Why are you so quiet?”
“Do you realize we haven’t even introduced ourselves? What’s your name?”
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He took a deep breath, his shoulders rising, and seemed to think for a moment before answering.
“Jung Woojin.”
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His voice was cautious, as if he were divulging a great secret. She wondered why telling her his name was such a difficult thing to do. Another awkward silence filled the car.
“Why are you quiet again?”
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This Jung Woojin, who didn’t seem to be from the broadcasting company, also seemed to dislike silence.
“I’m holding back the urge to search for the name Jung Woojin on social media.”
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He let out a refreshing laugh, as crisp as the scent of soap.
“Why are you holding back?”
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“Because I’m afraid your feed will be full of posts like you wearing a limited-edition luxury watch, hand on the steering wheel of a supercar, worrying about the world, or sipping coffee alone in a department store VIP lounge, lamenting your loneliness, or pictures of English books with captions about your self-improvement efforts.”
Eunseong was a little surprised by his louder laughter.
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“Why do you think my feed would be full of such posts?”
The man’s laughter subsided, and he asked in a serious tone. Instead of answering, Eunseong glanced around the car. He seemed to notice her gesture but didn’t say anything.
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She had developed a habit of searching for people’s social media accounts whenever she met someone new. If their online persona gave off a different impression than they did in person, she couldn’t help but develop a prejudice toward them.
Social media is a collection of carefully curated fragments of life, showcasing only the aspects the account owner wanted to reveal. In this space, filled with a desire for validation, it seems as if only the highest moments of life exist.
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“What if my social media was full of posts like that?”
Lost in thought, Eunseong answered his question honestly.
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“Then I’d be a little disappointed.”
“Why would you be disappointed in me?”
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His question rendered Eunseong speechless. Disappointment stemmed from expectations. She felt a sense of dismay, as if he had caught a glimpse of her subtle interest in him.
“Unfortunately, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed in me, Ms. Kang Eunseong. I’m not interested in social media.”
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Perhaps flustered by the thought that he had seen through her, Eunseong’s honest reaction suddenly came out of her mouth.
“That’s unexpected.”
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“What’s so unexpected?”
His car stopped at a red light. She couldn’t take back what she had said, so she decided to continue being honest since she had already started.
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“I thought driving a car that attracts attention was a way of fulfilling a need for validation. Perhaps subduing the man with the knife at the cafe was also driven by the same need.”
“A need for validation…”
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He repeated the words carefully, as if he were a child learning a new phrase. Just moments ago, he had charged forward like a car with faulty brakes, but now, his sudden caution made the atmosphere awkward.
Contrary to her expectation of a playful retort, he seemed to be taking it seriously.
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“Everyone, not just you, Mr. Jung Woojin, has a desire to be validated.”
Though she didn’t explicitly add that it becomes a problem when taken to the extreme, Eunseong continued.
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“Maslow explained human needs in five stages. Once basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter are met, we seek safety, and once that’s fulfilled, we develop needs for belonging and love. Then comes the need for esteem. And finally, self-actualization. The need for validation emerges from the third stage.”
“And?”
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“Human needs begin with survival. Being validated means having your existence acknowledged, your life affirmed. Humans want to be validated to continue living. That’s why the need for validation is considered a psychological survival need.”
He turned and looked at Eunseong intently, as if trying to see through her.
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“What happens when the need for validation isn’t met?”
She felt slightly interrogated.
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“People feel alienated, powerless, or depressed. They might feel a sense of emptiness in their lives.”
His handsome face hardened slightly.
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“That’s just my opinion.”
The light turned green, and his car started again with a roar.
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“I see you’re an honest person, Ms. Kang Eunseong.”
It didn’t sound like a compliment. The plush seat suddenly felt hard and uncomfortable.
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“Don’t mistake that for a compliment.”
“I didn’t, so don’t jump to conclusions.”
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He suddenly burst out laughing, softening the tense atmosphere.
“You really don’t let anything slide, do you?”
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“I understand that’s not a compliment either.”
She didn’t bother explaining that her inability to let things slide was an occupational hazard. She had been aware of it since their conversation began, but for some reason, her reporter’s instincts were heightened when talking to this man.
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His car stopped next to the wall of the police station. He quickly got out and opened the passenger door for her.
“Thank you.”
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Eunseong thanked him politely and tried to get out of the car. However, the car was lower than she had anticipated, and she ended up stumbling back into the seat. In an instant, she felt a flush creep up her neck.
He chuckled and extended his hand. Eunseong placed her hand in his large one, and he pulled her up.
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Her heart leaped into her throat. It was just the sudden change in altitude. Her heart, which had been at a lower position, was simply startled by the abrupt upward movement.
“Go on in.”
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Eunseong walked towards the entrance of the police station, leaving the man hurrying back to the driver’s seat behind her. As she walked, she realized his parting words were a bit strange.
Telling her to “go on in,” and the fact that she hadn’t responded at all and simply walked away felt just as odd.
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Eunseong quickly shook her head, trying to clear her mind. She put on her press pass and entered the police station. The rookie reporter, spotting her, rushed over. She needed to confirm if the investigation into the stalking case was over.
“Has she left?”
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“No, not yet.”
Just then, she saw the detective in charge coming out, seemingly on his way to the restroom.
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“Hello, I’m Kang Eunseong from ABS.”
The detective frowned, as if not pleased to see a reporter, and shoved his hands into his pockets.
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“I heard you’re investigating a stalking case. May I ask you a few questions?”
“It was initially reported as stalking, but the alleged victim insists it wasn’t, so we’re closing the case.”
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The detective explained curtly, as if it were nothing out of the ordinary.
“Does the alleged perpetrator have any similar history or prior offenses?”
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“He’s a former medalist from the National Sports Festival and currently works at a large company.”
The answer was not only disappointing but also strangely evasive, but it seemed unlikely that she would get anything more from the detective.
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“Reporter Kang, please don’t report this. You weren’t even at the scene.”
Sensationalizing incidents with exaggerated reports wasn’t Eunseong’s style. As Jung Woojin had said, she was an honest person. Reporting falsely for ratings would be an insult to her pride.
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“Yes, Detective. Don’t worry.”
The detective hurried back into the investigation room. The rookie reporter seemed dissatisfied with the outcome of the investigation.
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“Reporter, I still feel uneasy about this.”
A pen is sharp. And sometimes, the intuition of the reporter wielding it is just as sharp.
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“Let’s wait and see.”
Eunseong lingered near the entrance, anticipating the alleged victim’s exit. She had sent the rookie reporter back to the press room. Having two reporters hovering around would only alarm people. She didn’t want to make the woman, whom she presumed to be the victim, uncomfortable.
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Finally, a woman wearing a padded vest over a black cotton dress came out from the building. She glanced around nervously, her body trembling visibly.
If it had been a lovers’ quarrel that had been resolved, shouldn’t they have come out together?
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Even from a distance, the woman’s fear was evident. As Eunseong approached her, a large man followed her out of the building.
“Hey.”
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The man’s low voice made the woman flinch and turn around.
“Behave yourself.”
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The man took out a cigarette, blatantly ignoring the the clearly visible no-smoking sign. His left hand was bandaged.
He lit the cigarette without hesitation, exhaled a puff of gray smoke, and walked towards the parking lot. The woman stood frozen, watching him until he disappeared from sight. As his car drove away, she collapsed onto the ground.
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Eunseong rushed to the woman’s side. Checking on her condition was more important than the report.
“Are you alright?”
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The woman hiccuped, too startled to even cry.
“W-Who are you?”
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Her eyes were red and swollen from crying. Instead of answering, Eunseong took out her business card and offered it to her.
The woman stared at Eunseong with vacant eyes.
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“The ground is cold. Please get up. I’ll help you.”
The woman nodded and took Eunseong’s hand, pulling herself up.
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“Are you going to report this on the news?”
Her question was filled with fear. Eunseong shook her head.
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“No. I gave you my card for identification purposes, not for reporting. If you need any help, please don’t hesitate to contact me.”
The man’s words, telling her to “behave herself,” were less like a lover’s concern and more like a threat. The woman clearly needed help. She looked down at the business card and asked in a weak voice…
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