The Stalker at the Door

A sound of hesitation came from CampusLatte over Discord. "......Yes?"

Park Jihun stared at his monitor and spoke shortly. "Don't open the door."

Heavy breathing could be heard over the Discord call. The chat window grew restless in response.

CampusLatte said in a flustered voice, "No, wait... I have a presentation tomorrow, so I really need to get this..."

"Tell them to leave it at the door."

CampusLatte caught her breath for a moment, then turned on the intercom and said in a trembling voice, "Senior. I just got out of the shower. Can't you just leave it at the door?"

A moment of silence followed. Soon after, a man's voice came through the intercom. "Jihyun. It's fine. I'll wait in front of the door." His tone was smiling.

Jihyun tried to remain calm. "You can just leave it there."

"No, it'll only take a second. Just open the door for a moment." The man standing outside said in a nonchalant tone. "What are you going to do if someone steals it while it's sitting out there?"

The chat reactions were still split.

Eventually, Jihyun carefully parted her lips. "Just leave it at the door. There's a CCTV in the hallway, too."

That was the moment. The laughter turned cold. "Am I someone you have to avoid that much?"

"What?"

A cold voice followed. "It's not like I'm a stranger."

Jihyun couldn't answer. The man outside the door continued. "I brought it all the way here. You can't even open the door once?" His voice had dropped significantly. The laughter was gone, replaced by irritation. "I'm sorry. But I don't think this is right. I'll see you at school tomorrow."

The space outside the door went quiet for a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠moment. She wondered if the man had left, but that wasn't the case. "Why are you drawing the line like that?"

Jihyun hunched her shoulders. "......It's not like that."

"Then what about you watching a movie alone with Jonghyun yesterday?"

The atmosphere in the chat began to change as well.

Jihyun swallowed hard and replied, "Senior, that's my private life."

"Private life?" the man asked back shortly. "You said you were too busy when I asked to see you. But you went with Jonghyun. Huh? Are you discriminating against people?"

Jihyun's voice trembled. "Please just go today."

The man outside let out a dry laugh. "Ha." After a short breath, his voice sank even lower. "You lead people on and now you're acting like this? Isn't that a bit much?"

The chat moved faster.

Jihyun's voice shook. "When did I ever...?"

"You were always the one coming up to me first. Smiling. Asking for favors." The man spat out the words. "And that meant nothing?"

Jihyun said in a voice that sounded like she was about to cry, "Senior, I hope you don't misunderstand. I like someone else. It makes me uncomfortable when you keep doing this."

At those words, the noise outside stopped for an instant. There was no sound for several seconds. And then.

Click. The doorknob turned. Beep-beep-beep-beep. The sound of someone pressing the digital door lock. Bang. Bang! The sound of someone pounding on the door. Jihyun's movement of backing away in fear was transmitted over Discord.

Park Jihun asked, "Is the door locked?"

"Yes, yes."

"And the chain lock?"

"I, I have it engaged."

"Don't go near it, no matter what."

The man outside turned the doorknob once more. Click. Click. Jihyun didn't say a word, holding her breath. Thud. There was a sound of something being placed on the floor. "Fine. I'm ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠leaving it." The man said coldly. "I won't see you anymore either."

Soon, the sound of footsteps seemed to fade away. The hallway became silent again. Jihyun let out a trembling breath. "......I think he's gone?"

Park Jihun didn't answer immediately. At that moment, a vision flashed before his eyes. At the end of the hallway, a man was crouched down, glaring in this direction.

Park Jihun said coldly, "Don't open it yet."

Jihyun asked back, surprised. "Yes?"

"That bastard hasn't left yet."

The temperature in the chat turned icy.

Jihyun stared only at the entrance, unable to even breathe properly. Perhaps because even the sound of her breathing had stopped, the sound of the refrigerator running and the ticking of the wall clock sounded exceptionally loud. That was when it happened.

Ding. The elevator in the hallway stopped, and someone got off. A moment later, a middle-aged woman's voice was heard. "Excuse me... who are you?"

Immediately, a flustered man's voice popped out. "Ah, no, that's..."

The middle-aged woman retorted immediately. "No, what are you doing hiding there right now?"

Thump-thump-thump. Footsteps were heard. Someone was running away in a hurry. Only then did Park Jihun say, "You can open the door now."

The sound of sobbing came over Discord. "......Sob, sob."

Park Jihun said calmly, "Keep a record. Report it to the police. And don't go to school alone for a while."

"......Th, thank you."

"Ask the lady outside for help. She'll help you."

"Yes, yes."

"That's all for the spiritual reading."

Having finished the final reading, Park Jihun leaned back in his chair and let out a short breath. The tension that had filled the room until just a moment ago was slowly subsiding. There was no headache. The dizziness was less, too. He felt he could have seen one more person. However, he had an appointment after the broadcast. He had to save his strength. Soon, the cold sensation faded away like receding water.

Park Jihun shook his head. "Why would I go to places like that? That's it for today. Now I'm off to a street bar to meet Usik and the new editor."

The chat reacted immediately.

Park Jihun narrowed his brows as if annoyed. "Stop with the useless talk. What kind of outdoor broadcast? I'll be back at this time tomorrow." With those words, he clicked the end broadcast button.

Click. As the broadcast turned off, the room became deathly quiet. Park Jihun let out a short breath. "......Whew." He felt like he could live again. It was the backlash that naturally followed after performing a spiritual reading. After pulling himself together, he washed his face, threw on a coat, and headed out.

The inside of the pojangmacha was filled with the scent of hot broth and spicy side dishes. Outside, the cold wind was blowing fiercely, but inside the transparent plastic tent, it was warm. Kim Usik, who had arrived first, waved his hand. "Hey, over here."

Sitting next to him was a stranger. With a black hoodie and ear piercings, his first impression seemed a bit sharp. But the look in his eyes when he lifted his head held a strange, cautious wariness as he observed people first. Park Jihun sat down and said, "I'm late. The broadcast just ended."

The editor immediately bowed his waist. "Oh, no. I just arrived as well."

"I look forward to working with you."

"The pleasure is mine."

After a brief handshake, Usik picked up a bottle of soju. "First, have a drink. You worked hard today." The three of them clinked their glasses lightly. Clink.

Usik chuckled and said, "The end of today's broadcast was truly chilling. Did you see the chat window freeze?"

Park Jihun set his glass down. "I did."

The editor also spoke up cautiously. "I was surprised while watching, too. The sense of reality was much stronger than I thought."

Park Jihun looked at him once and asked, "Did you watch today's broadcast until the end?"

"Yes. I was so engrossed in it."

"Is that so?"

The editor smiled sheepishly. "I think I understand why everyone talks about dopamine when editing."

Usik giggled from the side. "He's completely satisfied right now. Because there's always a scene to pull for the video."

Park Jihun said, "I look forward to working with you. The first video had more views than I thought."

The editor nodded immediately. "The scenes were just that good. I think I just need to do a good job editing."

It was when they were talking like that. The pojangmacha plastic was pulled back, and cold air rushed inside. The three men's gazes turned to the entrance simultaneously. A man in a suit walked in. It was Kim Taejun.

Usik's eyes widened first. "......Huh?"

Park Jihun also narrowed his eyes. Taejun dropped a paper bag he was holding in one hand onto the table with a thud. A heavy bottle shape, which didn't fit the pojangmacha at all, was visible. "I came to have a drink with you."

Usik and the editor glanced at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠each other. Park Jihun looked at the paper bag once, then gestured to the empty seat with his chin. "Sit."

Kim Taejun sat down without a word. Usik's gaze was fixed on the paper bag. "......What is that?"

Taejun answered nonchalantly. "It's alcohol."

Usik glanced inside the bag and shut his mouth. "I, isn't this a pretty expensive bottle?"

Park Jihun asked without caring. "Why did you come here?"

Taejun picked up a soju glass first. "I felt like I had to say thank you, at least."

The inside of the pojangmacha went quiet for a moment. Usik and the editor naturally kept their words to a minimum. Taejun emptied his glass and said calmly, "As I said last time, if I hadn't listened to those words, I would have really ruined everything."

Park Jihun was indifferent. "But you didn't ruin it."

Taejun laughed shortly. "That's why it's even more chilling." He tapped the paper bag on the table with his finger. "I was wondering how to bring it to you, but I thought it was right to give it to you in person, so I brought it."

Park Jihun looked at the bag once and then averted his gaze. "I don't drink things like that."

"Then drink it with me today."

Park Jihun shook his head and said, "Since you're already here, stop by my place later and take that thing back."

Taejun narrowed his brows. "What are you talking about?"

"The bag." Park Jihun added dryly. "It's on my mind leaving it at home. It's not a small amount of money."

Kim Taejun chuckled at those words. "Ah, that?" He tilted his head slightly. "I already gave that to you as a spiritual reading fee."

Park Jihun asked with a bitter face. "That's the fee?"

"Yes." Taejun said without hesitation. "If it was money I needed to spend, I wouldn't have given it to you in the first place. It's money that's already gone to me."

Usik blinked. The editor was tilting his head, not knowing what they were talking about. The atmosphere became strangely quiet. Taejun picked up his soju glass.

"Anyway." He said, looking straight at Park Jihun. "I'll say it again. Thank you very much."

Park Jihun also raised his glass. Clink. The glasses hit each other lightly. After emptying their glasses, Taejun rolled the soju glass with his finger and said as if throwing it out there, "Oh, right."

Park Jihun raised his gaze. "My father also knows about Park Jihun's broadcast."

A short silence passed. Park Jihun looked at Taejun without a word. Taejun chuckled and said while pouring more soju, "He seems quite curious about you, Jihun."