Chapter 436: Really Mad
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 436: Really Mad
“What is it now? What’s going on?”
I snapped into the phone, irritation clear in my voice. It was Choi Jin-ah calling me from Senior Ju-hee’s phone.
Apparently, when I didn’t pick up her call, she tried calling from Yun-ji’s phone. When I ignored that too, she went as far as borrowing Ju-hee’s.
— Woo-jin, were you ignoring my calls on purpose?
“…….”
— Wow, you’re really too much.
“Don’t nag me about useless things. Why did you call?”
— Useless?! Is this how it’s going to be between friends?! We’re Woo-jjin and Jjin-ah!
“Tsk, what is wrong with you today?”
I clicked my tongue and switched the phone to my other ear, feeling it grow hot from her shouting.
“It’s obvious you’re acting like this because you need a favor. I’m sorry, but I’m not that bored of a person.”
— I know, I know! But I really need your help, Woo-jin.
Then, uncharacteristically, she began to plead in a voice dripping with aegyo.
— Woo-jjin-a, please?
Click.
I hung up immediately.
“The nerve of her.”
I muttered irritably, staring out the window.
The car sped through the city streets. I thought I was finally arriving at the hospital, but then my phone buzzed again. This time, it was a call from Choi Jin-ah’s own number.
“Sigh… Hello?”
— Is this really how it’s going to be?
“Apologize to me first.”
— ……Are you serious right now?
“I’m hanging up if you don’t apologize.”
— Ah! Seriously! Fine! I’m sorry! So just listen to what I have to say!
“Whew.”
When she suddenly started that damn cute act, I felt like turning the car around just to go kill her. But now that she was acting so humble, I couldn't help but be curious about what was going on.
— Haa… Look, I have a stalker.
“And?”
— ……Excuse me? I said I have a stalker.
“So? What do you want me to do about it? You’re not asking me to catch them, are you?”
— This isn’t just my problem, you know. You’re involved in this too, Woo-jin.
“That’s ridiculous. Why me?”
Honestly, whether Choi Jin-ah had a stalker or not wasn't my concern. She was close with Senior Ju-hee, so she could ask her for help, or tell her family, or use all that money she made to hire a private security firm.
There were plenty of ways. Complaining to me wasn't going to change anything.
— Sigh.
Jin-ah let out a long breath before asking,
— Woo-jin, whose house are you living in right now?
“Obviously, it’s your hou—”
Suddenly, I lost my voice.
Hearing my silence, Jin-ah sighed again as if to say, 'Finally, he gets it,' and began to explain.
— What do you think a stalker attached to me would think when they see a man entering my house?
“Ah…….”
— Of course, Ju-hee Unni is working hard to find the culprit. But surprisingly, they’re hard to catch.
Hard to catch? If even Senior Ju-hee was having trouble after stepping in, the culprit was likely no ordinary person.
— Anyway, I’ve reported it to the police, and Ju-hee Unni already informed your security team.
— I’m just telling you to be careful. Don’t go around alone for no reason.
— I called to tell you to contact me if anything happens. Are you still going to ignore my calls?
“…….”
Hearing that made me feel a bit guilty.
“Uh, sorry. I’ll make sure to pick up your calls from now on.”
She seemed to feel a sense of triumph at my submissive apology, as her voice immediately turned boastful.
— That’s right. Have I ever said anything that would harm you? Don’t ignore me and listen well to what I say.
Give her an inch and she takes a mile. It was infuriating.
— Anyway, I’ll try to resolve this so it doesn’t cause you any trouble.
“I’m counting on you.”
I hung up and let out a breath. I wondered what kind of situation this was right before I had to head off to the military.
“Tsk, as if I could ever leave in peace.”
I clicked my tongue, realizing that at some point, I had become far too accustomed to these kinds of situations.
* * *
It was a heart-wrenching moment.
I knew my second brother was an emotional guy, but it was the first time I’d ever seen him sob like that. Watching him hold the baby, I couldn't help but think that I might end up the same way in the future.
“Phew.”
On the way back home, walking under the darkening sky, I was chatting with the girls.
The replies were instant.
I-seo didn't even reply, though she had read the message.
I-seo’s texts felt like she had completely given up.
“Wow, look at her being so blunt.”
I let out a hollow laugh and opened my gallery. I found a meme I had saved from the Bamboo Forest a while ago that said [Me right now: My dick is fucking furious] and sent it.
‘Ye-rin said she’s coming.’
Just as I was about to hurry home, I remembered the stalker story Jin-ah had told me. Just in case, I looked around cautiously as I entered the house, but I made it inside without any issues.
“Choi Jin-ah was totally overreacting.”
Still, I didn't plan on doing anything here. I was fine, but Ye-rin might run into the stalker on her way over.
“I should tell her to meet me outside.”
Muttering to myself, I sat down on the living room sofa. Suddenly, I noticed something strange.
‘……Jin-ah’s bedroom door is open.’
Usually, it was always kept shut. I went in there occasionally because of the coffee machine, but it was still her private room.
‘Did she leave it open when she left?’
Unlikely. Even if Choi Jin-ah seemed like a klutz, she was meticulous about things like this.
The silent house began to feel strangely tense. I was about to text the girls again, but the odd tension made me stand up cautiously.
‘No way, right?’
There are those old horror stories, aren't there? The ones about a killer hiding under the bed. I’d heard those were based on true stories. I even remembered a thriller movie with that exact premise.
‘Ah, seriously, no way.’
I flicked on the TV. I tried to find some peace of mind by watching an old legendary variety show, but once the seed of doubt was planted, it began to spread. A strangely cold aura seemed to be wafting from Jin-ah’s room.
Just in case, I placed a call.
— Oh? What’s up?
“……Where are you?”
— Me? I’m at Yun-ji’s house. Is this because of the stalker?
“Yeah.”
— Don’t worry too much. They’ll catch him soon. Senior Ju-hee is moving with the security team.
— The police are helping too!
— I’m a famous violinist, after all!
— ……Woo-jin? Are you listening?
I pulled the phone away from my ear and looked around. I had called to see if she was hiding somewhere as a prank, but that didn't seem to be the case.
“Come over here.”
— What?
I whispered into the phone and then hung up. If I acted like this, Jin-ah would surely call for help on her own.
I tried to calm my nerves by scrolling through the memes in my gallery, pretending nothing was wrong.
‘Ah, I can’t stand this anxiety.’
Eventually, I stood up. I wanted to find something that could serve as a weapon, but there was nothing like that in Jin-ah’s house.
For now, I walked into Jin-ah’s room as naturally as possible and turned on the coffee machine.
Whirrrrrrr!
Standing there naturally while listening to the sound of the machine, I suddenly dropped low. To check under the bed, I thrust my phone forward.
* * *
He had been mistaken for a stalker.
But in reality, he wasn't just a simple stalker. He was a professional errand boy working for the son of a chaebol family—whose name could not be revealed—with the intention of finding a weakness in Choi Jin-ah.
The reason he was able to sneak into the house was thanks to the high-tech equipment provided by his powerful backer. Hiding under the bed was what he considered a stroke of genius.
He hadn't expected the man living in the house to arrive so suddenly. He had colleagues stationed outside to keep watch, but they must have missed him while playing mobile games.
‘Those sons of bitches.’
But it was fine. He was hidden under the bed. He just had to stay quiet until the guy left.
That was his plan, but…
‘He came into the room?’
He heard the coffee machine turn on.
Whirrrrrrr!
Amidst the sound of grinding coffee beans, the man crouched in tension, watching Kim Woo-jin’s feet. Then, suddenly—
Swish!
Kim Woo-jin suddenly dropped his body and shone his phone light under the bed. The image on the phone screen filled the intruder's vision.