"Unbelievable," a middle-aged man with a worn leather briefcase standing right behind Jessica muttered, shaking his head in sheer disbelief. "She's been doing that exact same routine since we left the terminal. Three different people already asked her to move it before we even cleared the tunnel."
"Excuse me!" Jessica snapped, the last remnant of polite patience evaporating from her voice. "Move your bag. Now." That finally forced a reaction. The young woman violently pulled out one white earphone, while glaring up from under the brim of her designer cap with cold, utterly unbothered eyes.
"I paid for my ticket," the woman snapped back, her voice cutting sharply through the low rumble of the train. "This is my personal space. I don't want any dirty, sweaty bodies touching me or leaning over me. Go find somewhere else to stand." "Look around you, lady!" the man with the briefcase yelled back, gesturing wildly at the packed aisle. "There are no other seats!"