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EP.30 Side Story - False Accusation
As the security guard said, there had been many people who stole confidential information and ran away after just one day of employment.
That was why heavily armed guards with rifles were protecting the shared property facility.
"I'll say it again. You are extremely suspicious right now."
"No..."
Jung So-yeon's behavior and way of speaking were suspicious.
Given the precedent, this couldn't be overlooked.
"Haah, I'm really..."
She was at a loss for words.
In this situation, anything she said would just sound like an excuse.
The security guard put Jung So-yeon's ID in his pocket, then lightly tapped the car's hood with his fist.
"Turn off the engine, get out, and lie face down on the hood. Now."
"What? Why should I? This isn't right. I'm really just an ordinary person, I resigned today and I'm going home!"
"That's your situation. If it's proven you don't have ill intentions, we'll let you go right away, so please cooperate quietly."
"Even so..!"
"This is procedural. If you keep refusing, we'll forcibly execute it."
At the security guard's signal, workers standing far away slowly approached Jung So-yeon's vehicle.
"Haah, fine fine! I'll get out! Alright!"
Jung So-yeon boldly opened the door, got out and lay face down on the hood with her hands.
Why were they going this far?
She had nothing to be guilty about, and was just extremely annoyed by the current situation.
"Excuse me for a moment."
The security guard ran his hands over Jung So-yeon's body from her shoulders to her skirt-covered knees as if rubbing.
He intended to search for hidden small electronic devices like wiretaps or cameras, but of course nothing was found on Jung So-yeon's body.
Though she clenched her fists, feeling unpleasant at the unexpected body touch, she didn't think of resisting.
Though it was unfair, she swallowed her anger... and acted more confidently than anyone.
"Are you done? Can I go now?"
"Not yet. We'll search the vehicle."
"Oh come on... Go ahead."
Two security guards tore apart and opened various parts of Jung So-yeon's vehicle to check.
Seeing her car being wrecked, she rose in shock.
At that moment, the security guard strongly pressed down on her shoulder to subdue her.
"Aaaagh..! That hurts..!"
After making her lie face down on the hood again, he grabbed both her arms behind her back.
"What are you doing? Your attempt to obstruct the vehicle search is very suspicious."
"No! Wouldn't you be angry if someone was wrecking your car like that? Tsk... Let me go quickly!"
"If you're truly proven innocent, we'll compensate you for the damage. Please stay still."
Jung So-yeon struggled with her firmly held upper body and swung her legs back and forth.
Meanwhile, the security guards searched the vehicle for suspicious items, and of course no such items existed.
"Are you done? That's enough now. Let me go! Let go!"
"Yes. Understood."
"Damn, this is so annoying..."
Jung So-yeon shook off the security guard's hands and glared at them fiercely while shaking her sore wrists.
If this wasn't the shared property facility but a regular security company, it would be a situation worth getting angry and suing over.
"Haah..."
Jung So-yeon sighed loudly for everyone to hear and turned her body.
Now it's really over.
Goodbye forever to this annoying place.
Just as she opened the driver's door to get in the car, the security guard grabbed her wrist.
"What? What now!"
"Ms. Jung So-yeon. No, you dog-like pussy bitch."
"Wh-what... What did you say?"
Suddenly hearing such an insulting remark, Jung So-yeon was dumbfounded, unable to think rationally.
After a while, as she processed what he had said, her face turned red and she bit her lip hard.
She faced the security guard with an expression mixed with shame and anger.
"You bastard! What did you say?! No matter what, that's not okay! Huh? I'm going to sue you, damn it! That's sexual harassment!"
"You sure talk a lot. Go ahead and sue. You got caught spying and got cursed at a bit, are you going to tell the judge it's too unfair? Think he'll listen? Your head must be full of pussy juice if that's all you can think of."
"S-spy... Me?"
"Yeah, you."
In the security guard's hand was Jung So-yeon's phone that she had left in the car.
One photo found in the phone's gallery.
Just with that one photo, Jung So-yeon was branded as a spy for the shared property facility.
"Hey. Restrain her and take her to the interrogation room."
"No, wait..! Just a moment! This is some misunderstanding..!"
"Misunderstanding or whatever, you can plead all you want in the interrogation room. We don't have time, so go quietly, damn it."
"No, really... Wait a momeeeent..!"
Though she felt like going crazy from the injustice, she had no chance to protest.
With both arms firmly held by the security guards, Jung So-yeon was dragged towards the interrogation room.
***
...
...
...
Click.
The light turns on.
Click.
The light turns off again.
A meaningless act repeated hundreds of times already.
Trapped in a small room about 1 pyeong (3.3 m²), Jung So-yeon killed time playing with the desk lamp.
How many hours had passed?
How long would she be trapped here?
Surrounded by walls on all sides with no ventilation, a musty mold smell came from the damp cement floor.
Sitting in a chair, Jung So-yeon wanted to quickly clear her name and go home.
After a long while, someone opened the door and entered.
"Nice to meet you, Ms. Jung So-yeon."
"Ah, hello..."
A man in a neat suit that didn't fit the shared property facility entered carrying a briefcase.
With his tall stature, pomade hairstyle, and intellectual glasses, he looked like a prosecutor or lawyer type.
In fact, he was Lee Hyuk-jin, a former lawyer now working on the information security team of the shared property facility.
He sat down across from Jung So-yeon with the desk between them.
Putting his briefcase on the floor, he started with light conversation first.
"I'm very sorry to meet you like this, Ms. Jung So-yeon. I wonder how it would have been if we met as company seniors and juniors, even in different departments."
"Yes..."
"I'm Lee Hyuk-jin from the information security team, in charge of your interrogation."
"Yes, hello..."
"The reason Ms. Jung So-yeon is trapped in this interrogation room... is suspicion that you might be a spy."
That damn spy, spy...
She felt like she would burst into tears from the injustice.
Realizing that protesting or crying here would only hurt herself, she held back her tears and engaged in conversation.
"I-I'm not a spy..."
Afraid and scared...
She couldn't help her voice trembling.
"Hmm... Not a spy, you say..."
Lee Hyuk-jin opened his briefcase and took out a copy of a photo extracted from Jung So-yeon's phone.
"We have secured evidence that you tried to steal important confidential information from the shared property facility. This is that photo."
"Wh...what..?"
The photo...
She wondered what kind of photo it could be...
It was a selfie of her smiling brightly and making a V-sign with her fingers in front of a bathroom mirror.
Just an ordinary selfie, nothing like confidential information...
A photo she had taken as a memento, excited about her first day of work.
"Why is this photo..."
Though she had taken it inside the shared property facility, the location was a bathroom.
It was such an ordinary bathroom that someone who didn't know couldn't tell where it was.
Why on earth was this photo considered confidential information...
Why did she have to become a spy because of this one photo...
Jung So-yeon couldn't understand at all.
"Hmm, then let me ask a different question."
"Yes..."
"Have you shown this photo to anyone?"
"That... No, I haven't."
An obvious lie.
She had sent the photo to her parents right after taking it, and posted it on Outstagram and Facenote.
Over 100 people around Jung So-yeon must have seen her selfie.
In that moment, scared...
Flustered...
A lie came out without her realizing...
"Is that so."
Of course, Lee Hyuk-jin, who had all the evidence, didn't believe her words.
"Ms. Jung So-yeon, do you feel wronged?"
"Yes. I feel wronged..."
"Why do you feel wronged?"
"What?! W-well, of course I feel wronged! I'm not a spy..!"
"No. You, Ms. Jung So-yeon, are indeed a spy."
"On what grounds!"
With nothing to say but continuing to insist, Jung So-yeon felt like she would go crazy from frustration.
Meanwhile, Lee Hyuk-jin opened his briefcase with an expressionless face.
He took out personal information files extracted from her phone and spread them on the desk.
Among them were of course her Outstagram and Facenote posts with the selfie she said she "never showed anyone", as well as KakaoTalk messages exchanged with her parents and friends.
The reason for showing these materials was...
[You are now cornered]
[Lies won't work]
[You must tell the truth]
[There is no second chance]
It contained the meaning of making numerous threats.
"Ms. Jung So-yeon, the reason you've been accused of being a spy is because of the lie you just told."
"What..?"
"Think about it. How can I trust someone who lies even in this situation?"
"Th-that... I was too scared... I was nervous. I'm sorry."
"No need to apologize. Since you've already told one lie, from now on I'll consider everything you say to be 'false'."
"That's..."
She was psychologically cornered...
Her head was spinning.
"Ms. Jung So-yeon, are you really a spy?"
"No... I'm not..."
"That just now also sounds like a lie. You are indeed a spy."
"I'm not... I'm really not..."
Pushed to her mental limits, Jung So-yeon finally shed the tears she had been holding back.
Of course, nothing changed just because she cried.
"Ms. Jung So-yeon, don't cry. Nothing will change just because you cry."
"Hnngh, hnngh..."
"You, Ms. Jung So-yeon, are a national spy who stole confidential information from the shared property facility, resisted the security guards' search and inspection, and committed the crime of lying during interrogation."
"Huuungh..."
It was unfair...
So unfair...
But she had nothing to say...
Jung So-yeon lowered her head, shedding tears like chicken droppings.
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