Chased by the Citrus Assassin
A pleasant, cool breeze blew through the clear morning air. Bathed in the warm sunlight, Ji-hyun carefully made her way toward the bus stop. Since dropping out of school, she rarely ventured outside except for hospital visits, so taking her eyes off her phone for even a moment meant getting lost. Every ten steps, she checked her phone's map and hurried along, managing—thankfully—to reach the bus stop without straying from the route.
Having successfully navigated to the bus stop without mishap, Ji-hyun stared blankly at the bus information terminal. As she'd studied beforehand, the 337 bus to the big mart came every 15 minutes. Clutching her pounding chest, she boarded the unfamiliar bus.
Inside, she sat in the front seat, eyes glued to the electronic display announcing the next stop, ears perked for the announcements.
"The next stop is Gyu Mart."
Ji-hyun, ears on high alert, shot her hand out like lightning and pressed the stop bell, getting off the bus.
"...Wrong stop."
Having exited one stop early, she had no choice but to walk to Gyu Mart. Pulling out a cart and rolling it along, she began shopping in earnest.
"Let's see."
She rummaged in her pocket for the raw ingredients list, crossing them off one by one as she diligently loaded items into her cart. Next, she wheeled toward the produce section.
"Onions next..."
The onions were bundled in red nets and piled high, but Ji-hyun had no idea which to pick.
"Gotta choose good ones..."
Fiddling with the onions absentmindedly, she glanced at the person selecting onions nearby. Just pick like they do if I don't know, she thought. But upon seeing the person's face, she jumped in shock.
H-Hura?
* * *
"Hmm-hmm-hmm~"
I hummed a tune as I wandered the produce aisles. They say seeing comes with knowing, and boy, did that fit me. Back in the day, I couldn't tell good from bad—they all looked the same—and I never understood why Mom fussed over them. But now I knew. What was subpar, what was prime.
"Heh heh heh."
Onions: transparent, shiny skins, few root hairs, heavy with moisture, firm! Green onions: weighty and solid, clear divide between green and white parts! Radishes: pale, smooth surfaces, few rootlets!
I meticulously selected top-grade ingredients and stacked them neatly in my cart.
"That should do for produce."
Heading to the sauces, another cart rolled toward me from the front. Its owner was a slender woman in a long-brimmed baseball cap and black mask. In the narrow aisle fitting only one cart, one of us had to back up.
I pulled mine aside first to let her pass.
"Ah, go ahead."
"......"
She gave a slight nod and pushed past, her long hair trailing a fresh citrus scent.
"...Wonder what shampoo she uses."
Muttering to myself, I entered the sauce aisle and browsed.
"Hmm. Oyster sauce is low. Lots of good ones here. Need whole peppercorns too. And sesame oil."
As I mumbled and added seasonings, that citrus scent tickled my nose again. Glancing over, the same woman passed by.
"Guess she cooks too."
Shrugging it off, I slowly pushed my cart along. But soon, the scent hit again. There she was, passing by once more.
"......?"
I chalked it up to coincidence. Even after the tenth encounter. But when our eyes met and she flinched, whipping her head away!
"......!"
Doubt swelled into suspicion, then certainty. Cold sweat beaded down my back.
Who is she? Only women I know are Sis and Dahyun. Definitely not them.
The deep cap and mask screamed bad news. Fear short-circuited my brain, sending thoughts spiraling weirdly.
Do I have enemies? Is she here to assassinate me?
That did it—I couldn't dawdle. Stuff left to browse be damned, I rushed my cart to the checkout.
"Huff—huff—ring me up, please!"
"Ah, sure."
Beep— The auntie scanned with a startled look. I glanced back, scanning for the citrus-scented assassin. There she was, barreling her cart toward the registers.
"......! Auntie! Hurry!"
"Pardon? Oh, right!"
She sped through, and I swiped my card.
"Carry out or delivery—"
"Delivery!"
I cut her off urgently, eyes locked on the suspect. She was at another register, her fewer items finishing faster.
"Member?"
"No!"
"Join now?"
"I'm in a rush. Just write the address for delivery?"
"Delivery only for members."
"Ugh, fine, hurry."
"Name and phone?"
I signed up quick, jotted the address, and escaped the register. Sneaking a peek back—
"......!"
Our eyes met. Those sharp eyes under the cap gleamed like a predator's.
"Ugh... aaah!"
I burst through the doors. Out in the sunny street amid crowds, I finally exhaled in relief.
Haha, assassin? You think you're a movie hero?
Shaking my head, I started home. Step by step.
Thud thud.
"......?"
Step step.
Thud thud.
Chills raced up my spine, ominous energy at my back. No way. No way. Coincidence.
Screech— I twisted only my head to look.
"......!"
Black mask, deep cap. Those eyes fixed on me. In broad daylight, crowds everywhere! Such brazen—
I gulped and quickened my pace.
Thud thud.
Thud thud.
She matched me. I jogged lightly.
Tap—
Tap—
"......!"
Tap tap tap—
Thud thud thud—
This was undeniable. I bolted, thirty-six stratagems in full flight.
"Waaah!"
They say crisis unleashes hidden strength. I'd never run this fast—eyebrows whipping in the wind.
* * *
After a long sprint, I panted and looked back.
"Huff—huff—"
Relief washed over me with a sigh.
"Phew—."
Even the bold assassin couldn't match my life-on-the-line dash. Coast clear. I walked slowly, catching my breath. Who she was, her goal—didn't matter. Survival was enough.
"...What a dynamic morning."
* * *
"Huff—huff—"
A long-haired woman, hands on knees, gasped for air. Her quarry had vanished.
"Huff—huff—damn, he's fast."
The mysterious pursuer peeled off her sweat-soaked cap and mask. Cascading hair like night robes spilled out, framing snow-white skin. Her flushed cheeks from the chase evoked plum blossoms in snow.
The "assassin" was Seo Ji-hyun.
Housebound Ji-hyun's stamina was, kindly put, elementary-school level.
"Hah—huff—gonna die... Maybe start exercising a bit."
She'd spotted someone eerily like Hura but lacked the guts to approach, so she'd tailed him. What if it wasn't? Coming alone by bus to this crowded mart was already a huge leap for her.
"Looked exactly like Hura..."
Staring down the street where he'd vanished, she muttered grimly.
"...Alright. Time to exercise regularly."
She could just log into the fantasy world and message him. But something held her back. Her competitive fire ignited—unfounded stubbornness, a sense of losing.
"Let's see who wins."
Dare outrun me? That fast? I'll catch up fair and square, grab you, and ask if you're Hura.
Ji-hyun clenched her fist.
"Just watch."
* * *
Fleeing the "assassin" covered a 30-minute walk in 10. I headed straight to the convenience store.
"Welcome~"
The familiar service drone— Mansu, stuck in chronic part-timer mode.
"Huh? What brings you here?"
His eyes widened. Ignoring him, I marched to the counter and grabbed his collar.
"Wha—hey! What the—!"
"You?"
"What?!"
"You bastard. Playing dumb."
"No clue what, but not me!"
"Really?"
"Really! What's your deal?!"
"Assassin. You hired her?"
"What bullshit?!"
"Payback 'cause I won't intro you to Dahyun?"
"What?"
"Only grudge-holder's you."
"No, idiot. And you weren't gonna intro her?"
"......"
I released his collar, smoothing the wrinkles.
"Kidding."
"Dunno about the rest, but that part sounded real."
"Your imagination."
"So you will?"
"After three trials."
"Harsh."
"That's the deal."
"Tch. Anyway, what happened? You're soaked."
"None of your biz."
I slicked back my sweaty hair, grabbed two iced coffees, and plunked them down.
Beep—
"1,000 won."
"Keep the change."
I tossed a crumpled 1,000-won bill.
"......? New breed of cheapskate?"
Mansu tilted his head, smoothed it, and pocketed it. I grabbed a can and headed out.
His shout chased me: "Hey, dumb customer! You left something like your empty head!"
"It's yours, peon."
As I coolly quipped and exited, he called again.
"Hey! Free tomorrow night?"
"...Why assume?"
"You got nothing."
"I do. Busy guy."
"Dinner on me."
"...Always time for a meal with a friend."
"Cool. Call tomorrow, chicken out front."
"Sounds good. But why the sudden generosity?"
I narrowed my eyes.
"No Dahyun."
Couldn't invite her anyway. But Mansu shook his head.
"Nah, idiot. Thanks for the job hookup."
"...For real?"
"Take it or leave."
"See ya tomorrow, pal."
Crack— The fizzy pop of the can accompanied my exit from the store.