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# Chapter 94: The Price of Silence
The police officer’s pen stopped. On the paper. As if it no longer knew what to write. Sae-ah saw that hesitation. And she read something in it. Disbelief. Or indifference. Or just exhaustion.
“You said Kang Ri-u, but could you confirm the name once more? First and last?”
The officer asked carefully, as though afraid of mispronouncing someone’s name.
“Kang Min-jun. But he also goes by Ri-u. Or Ri-yu, Ri-u, Ri-yu.”
Sae-ah said it. She didn’t know all the variations of those names precisely either. She only knew they were different faces of the same person.
The officer turned back to the computer. Typed. Looked at the screen. Then raised his head.
“Kang Min-jun is… currently in a state of seeking help.”
“What?”
Sae-ah asked.
“Kang Min-jun was reported yesterday around 3 PM for suicide risk and is currently hospitalized for a psychiatric evaluation. Psychiatric ward.”
The officer spoke in a completely neutral tone. As if reporting someone’s body temperature.
Sae-ah didn’t move. She knew she should, but she didn’t. As if waiting for the information to dissolve into her body.
“Who reported him?”
Sae-ah asked.
“The informant’s identity is protected. I can’t disclose that information.”
The officer said.
Sae-ah knew. It must have been Hae-ul. Or Jun-ho. Or both. While she was at the police station, someone had found Kang Ri-u, and someone had reported him. As if her movements had triggered other movements like dominoes.
“Then what… am I supposed to do?”
Sae-ah asked.
“For now, contact with Kang Min-jun will likely be prohibited. Until the psychiatric evaluation is complete. And if Kang Min-jun had intent to harm you, we would need a more detailed statement about that.”
The officer said.
“Intent to harm?”
Sae-ah repeated.
“Yes. Depending on the evaluation results, a criminal charge might even be possible. If you want to pursue it.”
The officer said.
As Sae-ah heard this, she felt something break. Very quietly. But distinctly. Like a thin glass touching the edge of a desk.
“I… don’t want to press charges.”
Sae-ah said.
“Then this could become a civil matter. A claim for damages for emotional distress, for example. I’d recommend hiring a lawyer.”
The officer said.
Lawyer. That word didn’t belong to Sae-ah’s world. A lawyer was someone rich people hired. Sae-ah had no money. Sae-ah was a convenience store clerk. Convenience store clerks couldn’t hire lawyers.
“I understand.”
Sae-ah said. Without knowing what she was understanding.
The officer handed her back the USB drive.
“We don’t think we need to keep this as evidence. Kang Min-jun’s actions aren’t a crime proven by audio recording. But it could be useful as evidence that you suffered emotional damage, so keep it safe.”
The officer said.
Sae-ah took the USB. It was still warm. But now it wasn’t a flame. Just hot plastic. It had weight, but now it wasn’t evidence. Just a digital file.
“Why did Ri-u… try to kill himself?”
Sae-ah asked without meaning to.
The officer looked at his screen. And shook his head.
“That’s between Kang Min-jun and medical professionals. It’s not an area we can intervene in. However, if Kang Min-jun blamed you and attempted something because of that, that would be a different matter.”
The officer said.
Hearing this, Sae-ah realized something. That thinking Ri-u’s suicide attempt was because of her might be her own delusion. Or it might be partially because of her and partially for other reasons. Ri-u was a complicated person. Far more complicated than she thought.
“Thank you.”
Sae-ah said. And stood up.
When she went outside, the dawn air was cold. Seoul’s dawn was always cold. As if the city was only warm during the day, and at night it reclaimed all that warmth.
Sae-ah walked toward the bus stop. While waiting for the bus to come, she looked at her hands. The hand holding the USB drive. It was trembling. It could have been from the cold. But probably not.
When the bus came, Sae-ah got on. With no destination. She just wanted to move. If she stayed still, she’d think too much.
The bus traveled along the riverbank. The Han River. The Han River below. The dawn Han River was black. As if it were a black space rather than water. Sae-ah saw it through the window. And wondered. What had Ri-u seen here? What had he thought?
It wasn’t her problem. Ri-u’s inner world wasn’t her responsibility. Sae-ah knew that. But knowing and feeling were different things.
Her phone rang. A KakaoTalk notification. It was Hae-ul.
“Hey! Where are you? You left the police station? What the hell did you do? Jun-ho is blaming himself because he reported Ri-u.”
The message was long. Evidence that Hae-ul’s fingers had moved quickly.
Sae-ah didn’t reply. It was hard to message on the bus. On a moving bus, at 2:30 in the morning, while her own heart was also moving.
The bus kept going. Toward Gangnam. Sae-ah knew when she should get off, but she didn’t. As if she believed this movement would take her somewhere she needed to go.
Thirty minutes later, the bus stopped near Sinnonhyeon Station. That’s when Sae-ah realized. That she had come here unconsciously. JYA Entertainment’s headquarters was nearby. The place where she first signed a contract.
Sae-ah got off. The bus. And looked around. The Gangnam of night had its own quiet. Daytime Gangnam was loud, but nighttime Gangnam was empty. As if that glamour existed only during the day, and at night everyone hid in their homes.
Sae-ah walked. As if searching for something. But not knowing what.
That’s when someone touched her shoulder.
Sae-ah turned around. And held her breath.
It was Park So-jin. The woman who took her song. JYA’s new artist. The woman who made Sae-ah’s voice her own.
“You… Na Sae-ah?”
Park So-jin asked. Uncertain.
“Yes.”
Sae-ah said.
“Why are you here? At 2:30 in the morning? Alone?”
Park So-jin asked.
“Why are you here?”
Sae-ah countered.
Park So-jin was silent for a moment. Then slowly opened her mouth.
“I just left the company. JYA. Signed the termination agreement.”
Park So-jin said. Her voice was shaking.
“What?”
Sae-ah asked.
“I found out that song was yours. They told me. Or confessed. This afternoon. Because… because I tried to kill myself. I went to the emergency room and thought. This isn’t right. I can’t live with someone else’s voice.”
Park So-jin spoke in one breath.
Sae-ah didn’t move. She needed time to process this.
“You tried to kill yourself too?”
Sae-ah asked.
“Drug overdose. Yesterday. But I survived. Woke up in the emergency room. And when I woke up, I thought about what I was doing. Because I realized your song wasn’t mine. So I don’t know what I did. I don’t know who I am.”
Park So-jin said.
Sae-ah looked at Park So-jin. Under the night lights. The woman looked younger than her. More fragile. More alone.
“You terminated the contract?”
Sae-ah asked.
“Yeah. I did. Kang Min-jun… the person called Ri-u, helped me. Said he was from another side of the company. Anyway, he released my contract. And told me to come find you and apologize.”
Park So-jin said.
Sae-ah stepped back. Ri-u released Park So-jin’s contract? But Ri-u is hospitalized?
“Where is Ri-u… now?”
Sae-ah asked.
“The hospital, he said. Psychiatric ward. But he snuck out for a bit yesterday afternoon. Came to the company, handled my contract. Then went back in.”
Park So-jin said.
Sae-ah thought about what this meant. That Ri-u attempted suicide while simultaneously releasing Park So-jin’s contract. Was that even possible?
“What are you doing now?”
Sae-ah asked.
“I don’t know. Just… being here. I waited almost all night. In case you showed up. Because… I wanted to apologize to you. Properly.”
Park So-jin said.
“You don’t need to apologize. You were a victim too.”
Sae-ah said.
“Still… I’m sorry. Really.”
Park So-jin said.
As Sae-ah heard this, something moved in her chest. Not anger. Anger was already spent. Instead there was exhaustion. Deep, bone-deep exhaustion.
“Let’s go sit somewhere.”
Sae-ah said.
“Where?”
Park So-jin asked.
“Anywhere. Before morning comes.”
Sae-ah said.
They walked along the street. Along the night streets of Sinnonhyeon Station. Above them, there were almost no stars. Seoul’s sky hid the stars. As if it decided those stars weren’t needed in the city.
When they found a convenience store, Sae-ah went in. And bought coffee. Warm coffee. For herself and Park So-jin.
Park So-jin and Sae-ah sat on plastic chairs in the convenience store. At 3 AM. The darkest hour of the world. And looked at each other.
“How do you… live?”
Park So-jin asked.
“I don’t know. I just… live. Without knowing how.”
Sae-ah said.
“Right. Me too.”
Park So-jin said.
And they were silent for a while. It wasn’t an uncomfortable silence. Instead, it was a shared silence. As if acknowledging that they sat in the same darkness.
Sae-ah’s phone rang again. Hae-ul. This time a call.
Sae-ah answered.
“Hey! Where are you? I’m going crazy. Why aren’t you answering? Did Ri-u try to kill himself? What the hell is that?”
Hae-ul’s voice exploded.
“It’s okay. It’s okay.”
Sae-ah said.
“What do you mean it’s okay? What did you do at the police station? And Ri-u tried to kill himself? What is he doing?”
Hae-ul asked. Mixing anger and worry.
“Hae-ul, will you just listen?”
Sae-ah said.
Hae-ul didn’t answer. But the silence was an answer.
Sae-ah spoke. About what she did at the police station. That Ri-u is in the hospital. That Park So-jin terminated her contract. And that right now she’s sitting with Park So-jin at a Sinnonhyeon convenience store.
Hae-ul listened. And said nothing for a long time.
“Sae-ah.”
Hae-ul finally said. Very slowly.
“What?”
Sae-ah asked.
“You’re living right now. Really.”
Hae-ul said.
Sae-ah thought about what that meant. Living. Yes. She was living. Whether it was good or bad, she was living.
“Yeah. I’m living.”
Sae-ah said.
3:20 AM. A convenience store near Sinnonhyeon Station. Sae-ah and Park So-jin sitting, Hae-ul’s voice ringing through the phone. And somewhere across the Han River, Ri-u lying in a hospital bed. Feeling his hands tremble. Not knowing why.
Everyone was burning. But no one was putting out the fire. As if that fire was a form of proof of existence.
Sae-ah took the USB drive from her hand. From her pocket. It was no longer hot. Just cold plastic. But her voice was still inside it. As evidence that wasn’t evidence.
“Park So-jin.”
Sae-ah said.
“Yes?”
Park So-jin answered.
“Who are you now?”
Sae-ah asked.
Park So-jin thought for a while. Then slowly spoke.
“I don’t know. But… I don’t think I’m someone who deceived anyone. I think that could be the start.”
Park So-jin said.
Sae-ah nodded. And thought. That it was the same for her. That she didn’t know who she was, but she wasn’t someone who deceived anyone.
Hae-ul’s voice came through the phone again.
“Sae-ah, come to me. Right now. I’ll be waiting.”
Hae-ul said.
“Okay.”
Sae-ah said.
Sae-ah looked at Park So-jin. The woman was drinking her coffee. Slowly. As if that warmth would take her somewhere.
“Will you come with me?”
Sae-ah asked.
Park So-jin looked up. And smiled. A weak, broken smile. But a smile.
“Yes. Let’s go.”
Park So-jin said.
They stood together. From the plastic chairs. And went outside. Into Seoul’s night. It was still dark. But in that darkness, the stars were slowly disappearing. Dawn was coming. And dawn was always a little more bearable than night.