Two weeks had passed since the filming of "You've Worked Hard Today."
Minh had just finished arranging the store shelves and returned to the counter, only to see Ahn Hae still glued to her phone screen, giggling like a fool since the beginning of her shift. He smacked his lips and shook his head in exasperation.
"Hey, if you stare at it any longer, you're gonna burn a hole through the screen."
"Mind your own business!"
Ahn Hae couldn't care less about his teasing. She kept replaying her favorite scene from the episode—the moment when Leo gave her that warm hug—giggling to herself like a lovesick fool.
Minh sighed in defeat. "Hopeless… Anyway, I'm done with my shift. I'll leave you to your little daydreaming session."
"Yeah, yeah, hurry up and go!" Ahn Hae waved him off dismissively, her eyes never leaving the screen.
Minh let out another sigh, shaking his head at the ridiculous sight of her acting like a total dork. But despite his exasperation, a small smile tugged at his lips.
Since that filming day, he had noticed a change in Ahn Hae—she seemed happier, more at ease. She had even started taking on fewer responsibilities at work. Despite only being her coworker, Minh had always seen her as an older sister. She had helped him out countless times and treated him like family, which meant a lot to a kid like him who had grown up without much love. So seeing her in high spirits these days made him feel genuinely happy for her.
"I'm really leaving now!"
"Then get lost already, you little brat!"
Without even glancing at him, Ahn Hae coldly dismissed Minh, still engrossed in the scene playing out on her phone—the conversation she had with Leo in front of her apartment complex. She had downloaded the episode in the highest resolution possible and saved it everywhere—on the cloud, on her drive, even on a USB.
Aside from wanting to preserve the memory, there was another reason why she avoided watching it online—she didn't want to see the negative comments.
The moment Leo had appeared before her and announced that they would be filming the show, she had already predicted how some of his more extreme fans would react. That was why, throughout the entire shoot, she had consciously kept her distance and avoided any fan-service interactions.
But she could only control herself—not Leo.
His affectionate gestures had sent his possessive fans into a rage, and they had taken it out on her.
At first, reading the hateful comments had made her miserable for days. Then… well, it still hurt.
Remembering those harsh words, Ahn Hae let out a long sigh and slumped over the counter. She had never imagined that girls—fellow women—could be so cruel to one another. Some had even gone as far as to harass her at the store. Fortunately, her boss was understanding and had reported them to the police instead of firing her. Otherwise, she'd probably be hiding in the storage room right now.
Happiness always comes with a price.
Meeting Leo up close had been incredible, but the aftermath… not so much.
From the weight of public scrutiny to the lingering emotions still echoing in her fragile heart.
The reason she kept rewatching the episode wasn't just to admire Leo's face. It was because she wanted to hear his voice—gentle and warm, guiding her exhausted self back home, giving her the strength to finally rest without overthinking.
Every day had been the same before—wake up, work until late, come home, sleep, repeat.
But now, there was a little color sprinkled into her monotonous routine.
"You've worked hard, Ahn Hae! You did really well."
Leo's words of encouragement played through her earphones, making Ahn Hae smile unconsciously.
It had all felt like a dream. And though she had woken up, the dream had been so sweet that she couldn't help but gather up its scattered pieces.
"Wandering through life like this every day, have you ever felt lonely?"
Before? Yes.
But now, Leo's presence was everywhere on her journey home. His voice remained in her ears, warm and soothing like a lullaby, guiding her back to her peaceful refuge.
"I'm not lonely anymore."
Ahn Hae whispered to herself, a soft smile spreading across her lips as she let those precious memories keep her warm.
As the bus reached her stop near the apartment complex, the episode ended with Leo's hug and final goodbye. Right on cue, her phone flashed a low battery warning. She put away her earphones and phone before stepping off the bus.
Winter had set in, and the cold was becoming more bitter by the day. The thought of coming home, soaking in a hot bath, curling up under a warm blanket with a cup of tea, and rewatching her favorite episode—what could be better? With that thought, Ahn Hae quickened her pace, eager to get home.
The road from the bus stop to her apartment was wide and well-lit, with CCTV cameras installed, making it relatively safe. But Ahn Hae had always been cautious—after all, she was living alone in an unfamiliar place. If anything happened, she wouldn't have much chance to fight back.
And ever since the episode featuring Leo aired, she had been repeatedly harassed and threatened by some of his obsessive fans. Some had even gone so far as to send threatening letters and disturbing packages to her apartment.
Just yesterday, she had been followed by a stranger for an entire stretch of road. Terrified, she had ducked into a roadside eatery and waited there for two hours before her stalker finally gave up and left.
The fear from that night was still fresh in her mind, making it hard to breathe. Her hurried steps turned into an anxious near-run. What if that stalker from last night was hiding somewhere nearby, just waiting for the right moment to strike? If that happened, she was done for.
The walk home from the bus stop usually took only five minutes, but tonight, it felt like an eternity. Only when she was safely inside her apartment did she finally relax.
After locking the door securely, Ahn Hae let out a deep sigh, feeling utterly drained. She dragged her exhausted body to her bedroom, quickly peeling off her layers of clothing before stepping into the bathroom. The moment the warm water enveloped her, all of her fear and anxiety melted away. It was only then that she could finally let her guard down.
After washing away the fatigue of the day, Ahn Hae stepped out with her hair still damp. It was too late to use a hairdryer, so she settled for towel-drying it. As she roughly rubbed her hair with the towel, she walked to the fridge, grabbed a can of soda, and took a long, satisfying gulp.
"Ahh, I'm alive again!"
She carried her drink over to the window—her favorite spot in the apartment. Her place was small, but since there weren't many tall buildings around, she had a clear view of the night sky.
Ahn Hae often sat here, listening to music and lost in thought. On rainy days, she would make a cup of tea or hot cocoa. These were the moments of peace she treasured the most amidst the noise of the city.
Settling into her chair, she reached out to pull back the curtain and gaze outside. But just as she lifted it halfway, she froze.
There was someone standing outside her building.
Who would be out there at this hour?
Most of the residents in her apartment complex were families who followed a typical work schedule. No one usually wandered around this late. Even the latest returning tenant—Ahn Hae herself—was already inside.
So why was there someone just standing down there?
Were they looking up… at her?
The figure was dressed in all black, their face obscured, making them look eerily like some kind of stalker or serial killer watching their prey. Ahn Hae's heart pounded in her chest as she observed them cautiously, inching her hand toward her phone to call building security.
But then—something about the coat they were wearing seemed familiar. Their silhouette, too, felt strangely recognizable.
Leo?
What was he doing here?
The realization struck her like lightning, and before she could even process it, she was already dashing out the door.
Wearing nothing but her pajamas, flimsy flip-flops, and a towel draped over her damp hair, she ran straight toward the figure standing beneath her apartment building.
"Leo!"
The name had already left her lips before she had a chance to think.
And then it hit her.
What if it wasn't Leo?
What if this was the stalker from last night?
If that were the case, she was screwed.
Her legs trembled violently, her hands clenched into tight fists. She was terrified. Every nightmare from the past week came flooding back, overwhelming her senses.
You're an idiot, Ahn Hae. Completely insane.
And yet…
She wanted to believe.
A blind, desperate hope that it was really him—just like how she had once clung to his presence to keep herself afloat.
She held her breath, watching closely for any sign of danger, telling herself that if the figure made any suspicious movement, she would turn and run immediately.
But then—
The man lifted his head.
Even with a mask covering half his face, Ahn Hae could tell.
Those bright, sunlit eyes—
It was him.
It really was Leo.
And in that moment, for reasons she couldn't even understand, she collapsed to the ground, tears spilling uncontrollably.
Was it out of fear?
Or was it overwhelming relief?
* * *