Sunday evenings were always quiet.
The park wasn't crowded, just a few families scattered around, children playing, and the low hum of conversations blending with the rustling of trees.
Lucy sat on a wooden bench, her hands resting loosely on her lap, watching the sky slowly turn orange.
Ruben stretched beside her. "I like it here," he said. "It's calm. No noise. No stress."
Lucy smiled faintly. "You say that now. Tomorrow you'll be complaining again."
Ruben laughed. "That's different. Mondays are illegal."
Lucy shook her head, amused.
For a moment, everything felt normal.
Then—
A sound broke through the calm.
A dull thud.
Lucy's head turned immediately.
Not far from where they sat, behind a cluster of trees, a group of men surrounded someone.
Another thud.
This time louder.
Lucy leaned forward slightly, her eyes narrowing.
"Ruben…" she said quietly.
"I see it," he replied, his voice suddenly serious.
They watched.
One of the men grabbed the victim by the shirt and slammed him to the ground. Another kicked him hard.
Again.
And again.
Lucy's stomach tightened. "Why are they—"
She stopped.
Someone else stood there.
Not part of the beating.
Just… watching.
A man.
Still. Calm. Hands in his pockets.
Lucy tried to see his face, but something about the way he stood—his position, the fading light—kept it hidden.
"What kind of person just stands there and watches that?" she muttered, anger rising in her chest.
Ruben grabbed her wrist immediately. "Lucy, don't."
She looked at him. "Don't what? They're hurting him."
"And what do you want to do?" Ruben asked, his voice low but firm. "Go there and stop them?"
"Yes!" she snapped.
Ruben tightened his grip slightly. "Lucy, look around."
She frowned.
He continued, "There are people here. Everyone can see what's happening."
Lucy glanced around.
People were watching.
Some pretending not to.
Some looking away completely.
No one moving.
Her anger grew.
"And the police?" she said. "Aren't they supposed to—"
"There," Ruben pointed.
Two officers stood at a distance.
Watching.
Doing nothing.
Lucy stared at them in disbelief. "You're kidding…"
Ruben shook his head slowly. "This is not our problem."
"It is a problem!" Lucy argued.
"It's not ours," he said firmly. "Lucy… we're not those kind of people. We can't fight them. We don't even know what's going on."
Lucy clenched her jaw.
Her eyes went back to the man standing there.
Still watching.
Still unmoved.
"…This is wrong," she said under her breath.
"I know," Ruben replied softly. "But we can't fix everything."
Lucy didn't respond.
After a few seconds, her shoulders dropped slightly.
"…Fine," she said quietly.
Ruben exhaled. "Thank you."
They both looked away.
But Lucy's chest still felt tight.
A few minutes passed.
The sounds had stopped.
The park slowly returned to its normal rhythm, like nothing had happened.
Lucy stared ahead, her expression distant.
Then—
"Why were you staring?"
Lucy blinked.
She looked up.
A man stood in front of her.
Tall. Broad. Dressed neatly.
He lowered himself slightly, bending to her level since she was seated.
"Excuse me?" Lucy said, her tone immediately cold.
The man repeated calmly, "Why were you staring at my boss like that?"
Lucy's brows furrowed.
"Your boss?" she echoed.
"Yes," he said simply.
Something about his tone irritated her instantly.
Lucy let out a small breath, shaking her head. "First of all… I wasn't staring at you."
"I didn't say you were," he replied.
"Then don't talk to me like I owe you an explanation," Lucy snapped.
Ruben shifted beside her. "Lucy…"
But she wasn't done.
"Who do you people think you are?" she continued, her voice rising slightly. "Bullying someone like that in public?"
The man's expression didn't change.
"And what exactly did you see?" he asked.
Lucy laughed dryly. "Oh, so now you want details?"
"Answer the question."
"No," she said firmly. "I don't have to answer anything. Not to you. Not to your 'boss.' Not to anyone."
Ruben grabbed her hand. "Lucy, please… let's just go."
Lucy ignored him, her eyes still locked on the man.
"You stand there, watching someone get beaten like an animal, and you think you can come here and question me?" she said, her voice sharp with anger. "That's crazy."
The man straightened slowly.
For a brief moment, there was silence.
Then—
A voice.
Deep.
Calm.
"Lucy."
Her name.
It stopped her.
Lucy froze.
Ruben looked at her. "Did you—"
She was already turning.
And then she saw him.
The man from before.
The one who had been standing there.
Now closer.
Much closer.
The fading light caught his face this time.
Sharp features. Calm expression. Green eyes that didn't look away.
His hair was neatly pushed back, his suit perfectly fitted like it belonged on him.
Lucy blinked.
For a second… she forgot what she wanted to say.
He walked toward her slowly.
No rush.
No hesitation.
And stopped just a few steps away.
"So," he said, his voice smooth, almost casual. "You're Lucy."
Lucy stood up slowly.
"…And?" she replied.
His lips curved slightly. "That's a nice name."
Lucy stared at him, unimpressed.
"Is that why you came here?" she asked. "To compliment my name?"
Ruben tightened his hold on her hand. "Lucy, let's go."
The man ignored him.
"You were looking at something you shouldn't have," he said calmly.
That was it.
Lucy lost her patience completely.
"I don't care who you are," she said, her voice firm and unshaken. "Or what you think you control."
The air around them felt heavier.
"But standing there and letting people beat someone doesn't make you important," she continued. "It makes you part of the problem."
Ruben pulled her hand. "Lucy, please…"
Lucy didn't move.
"And if you think I'm scared of you," she added, "you're wrong."
Silence.
The man just looked at her.
No anger.
No reaction.
Just… watching.
That made it worse.
Lucy exhaled sharply and turned away.
"Let's go," she said to Ruben.
He didn't argue this time.
They started walking.
Lucy didn't look back.