Uneasy, Unpleasant, Anxious -1-
801. The apartment two doors down from mine. And recently, a new neighbor named Kang So-ra moved in there. On my way to the morning cafe shift, coming back in the afternoon, heading to the gym—she started showing up around me constantly after moving in. Whether by chance or on purpose, I kept running into her. The first couple times, I figured it was coincidence, but bumping into her several times a day? That feels off, right?
But it was too vague to call her out on it. All she did was pretend it was chance, bump into me over and over, then flash that decadent smile that suits her beauty perfectly and greet me with a sultry "ufufu~." A bit uncomfortable, a little nagging at my nerves, but just that much.
"Is that creepy stare hers too?"
Except I swear I feel it even when she's not around. What the hell is it?
-2-
Separate from Kang So-ra, that chilling, sticky gaze that hits me now and then keeps grating on my nerves. The constant "coincidental" run-ins are uncomfortable, maybe even unpleasant, but if that's all it was...
Lately, the stare shadowing me feels dangerous—the kind that stirs real unease in a person. Every time I step outside, I sense its presence, my nerves on edge. The mental stress and exhaustion are indescribable. My mind tires out, dragging my body down with it, wearing me out faster.
I spend the whole day tense and hyper-alert, then drag myself home utterly spent—but my nerves won't settle. Even sleep becomes a battle. Now I'm starting to worry it's turning into full-blown insomnia.
"Hello."
"Oh, hi. Hello."
Even amid all this, Kang So-ra keeps hovering nearby. How does she always time it for when no one's around? Is she camping out in a burrow outside the cafe or something?
"The usual, please. Like always."
The usual? Her out-of-nowhere order catches me off guard, and I blink. I remember most regulars to some degree, but not their exact orders by heart. Especially not now, with my mind and body fraying—I've even started forgetting the ones I used to know.
"Sorry, could you specify?"
I press my temples out of habit, thanks to the throbbing headache and dry eyes. Even normal people get snappy when exhausted and on edge. I try not to snap at customers, but my tone and vibe feel off compared to usual.
Does Kang So-ra notice? She flashes a flicker of dissatisfaction, then quickly smooths it over.
"Cafe latte. Iced."
"Got it. One iced cafe latte. For here?"
"Yes. Here."
She hands over a coupon and her card for payment. She even asks me to remember it next time—honestly, it's a hassle. Part of it is my frayed state making me irritable, but Kang So-ra herself just rubs me the wrong way. Sure, she's got that decadent beauty, but as a person, she's uncomfortable and unpleasant.
"Uh. Sure, whatever."
Despite my half-assed reply and awkward demeanor, she looks... pleased? For some reason.
-3-
Late night. It's beyond tossing and turning now—real insomnia territory. Body and mind exhausted to death, nerves jangling all day, sleep just won't come.
"Haa... Maybe I should see a doctor."
Dry eyes, pounding headache, and the frustration of being wiped out but unable to crash. Irritation bubbles up.
Since Seo Ji-ah unnie asked before, I should talk to her come morning...
Click-clack, click-clack.
Then, footsteps echo in the quiet apartment hallway. Muffled, slow, deliberate. But it's the dead of night, and I'm wound up tight—faint as they are, I hear them.
The clicking heels stop abruptly. And the distance... right in front of my door?
The silence after the steps cut off chokes me, goosebumps rising. I hold my breath, creep to the door, and peek through the peephole.
The motion-sensor lights flicker on briefly as someone passes, illuminating the hall. Empty...
Next door, maybe? Am I just paranoid?
"...Seriously, doctor time."
This is gonna give me a nervous breakdown. I scratch my head furiously, stretch out the tension, and sigh. Gotta work tomorrow. Might as well lie in bed till sleep hits.
I flick off the living room light, heading back to my room—
Click-clack. Click-clack.
Again. Muffled, slow footsteps, faint but clear. A chill races up my spine.
What the—? What is that? No way it's nothing. Right?
That night, sheer terror keeps me up till dawn.
-4-
I catch a few winks at sunrise but nothing real—condition's in the toilet. At least I'll make it to my cafe shift on time.
I force myself awake with a cold shower, get ready, and step out. Thud—something snags on the door.
A gift box sits there.
"What the hell...?"
Not delivery—no recent orders, no shipping label. Black base with heart patterns, neatly ribboned, tiny card enclosed.
Irritation surges, a primal chill crawling my back. I grimace, check the card.
Are you feeling sick? I'm worried.
Good luck at work today, Jae-hyun!
Cute, round handwriting. Three lines. Does anyone around here call me "Jae-hyun-ssi"? No. Nobody.
"Wait... when was this left?"
Wrong address for a namesake? My sluggish, stress-fried brain flashes back to last night. No box when I got home. So someone left it after... those muffled steps stopping at my door.
Not paranoia. Someone crept up and left it.
Suddenly, the heart-patterned box in my hand feels like a ticking bomb.
"What the fuck. Seriously."
Who sent it? Maybe something inside IDs them? Logically, they'd want credit.
Trembling, I untie the ribbon, pop the lid. Homemade-looking cookies (sloppy job), pharmacy vitamin gummies, a few chocolate snacks.
I check inside and under the lid—no sender clues.
Obviously not eating mystery food. On the way out, I chuck the whole box in the complex dumpster.
That gross, sticky stare bores into me again—or so it feels. I shudder, force my feet to the cafe.
First time I'm late for a shift. The Cafe Owner doesn't scold, just worries. My face is ghostly pale, way worse than yesterday.
"J-Jae-hyun?! You okay?"
"Uh... haa~ No. Not really."
I roughly dry-wash my shaking face. The shop bell jingles—ding-a-ling—and my shoulders flinch.
"Hello?"
"...Hello."
Kang So-ra. Off-shoulder tee, long skirt. Left hand bandaged—hurt somewhere?
"Oh, this? Cut myself cooking a bit."
I didn't ask. I swallow a snippy retort. No energy for this shadowy beauty stalking my heels right now.
"Jae-hyun, rest if you're beat. You'll collapse again."
"...No. Being out here... feels better."
"You look like working's impossible... Fine, just chill in the hall."
She forces me off-duty—working like this is accident bait.
"Um, hey! Wanna grab coffee with me then...?"
She's been circling me forever, and she picks today to ask?
"No. I... wanna be alone right now. Sorry."
Who snuck to my door at dawn with that stupid heart box? Probably the sticky-stare owner.
Police for stalking? No direct harm yet—would they even move? I've heard plenty of stories from my past life. But this is the reverse world, and I'm a guy—maybe they'd act on a simple report?
Thoughts spiral. Headache throbs; I scowl instinctively.