“Is she serious right now?”
Within minutes, the subtle curiosity turned into something else—something louder, more confident, more dangerous. Assumptions spread quickly when they feel justified, and nothing fuels certainty like ignorance dressed as experience.
A tall man in a dark green jacket stepped forward, his expression already hardened with judgment. His voice carried easily, cutting through the low hum of conversation.
“That pin you’re wearing,” he said, pointing directly at her chest, “you got a story to go with it, or is it just for attention?”
Lena didn’t react right away. She didn’t flinch, didn’t shift her stance, didn’t even look surprised. Instead, she slowly lifted her gaze to meet his, her eyes steady and unreadable.
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