Since she was off anyway, Ahn Hae figured she might as well enjoy this rare bit of downtime.
She stretched out with a satisfying sigh, thinking about how to make the most of these few days off. There were so many things she wanted to do—first on the list was binge-watching Leo's film that premiered last month, then catching up on Secret M's latest tour performances. Looked like she was going to be pretty busy, actually.
But before any of that, the first thing Ahn Hae needed to do was call home and update her parents. In the past, she would've hidden something like this from them out of fear that they'd worry too much and lose sleep. But over time, she'd come to realize that radio silence was even worse—it only made her family more anxious.
"Make sure you eat enough, okay? You're too skinny."
Upon hearing that Ahn Hae had injured her leg, her mother teared up, eyes reddening as she choked back sobs and gave one loving reminder after another. Her father, sitting beside her, looked equally distressed, nervously asking her all kinds of questions. Ahn Hae patiently reassured them, never showing a hint of frustration toward their excessive concern. If anything, she cherished these warm moments even more.
"How's your back lately, Dad?"
"The medicine you sent over really helped. It's much better now."
"Mom, are you still having trouble sleeping?"
"Sometimes I still toss and turn, but at least I'm not up all night anymore."
Ahn Hae chatted happily with her parents, occasionally hearing her younger siblings joking in the background. It made her chest tighten with emotion. She missed home—missed her family, missed everything about them. But instead of letting that feeling sink her into sadness, she used it as a kind of fuel. A source of strength and motivation to keep pushing forward, so that one day she could return to the cozy happiness of home.
It had been a while since she could talk to her family so freely. In the past, her calls were always rushed and short—partly due to lack of time, partly because she didn't want to get emotional. But today, she took the chance to chat with her mom from morning all the way until her phone finally died.
Only after she put the phone down did she realize that it was already dusk outside.
Ahn Hae stood up and stretched again, her joints cracking loudly in the quiet room. She picked up a cup of tea that had long gone cold and leaned against the window, gazing out at the streaks of red and pink scattered across the evening sky.
To be able to relax and enjoy moments like this, without having to rush around chasing life's chaos—it was enough to make someone lazy. And it was only the first day! Ahn Hae already didn't want to do anything. No wonder young people worked themselves to the bone—so they could someday enjoy life peacefully in old age. Honestly, it was kind of worth it.
On a chilly evening like this, nothing sounded better than a steaming bowl of rare beef pho.
Once the thought popped up, Ahn Hae hobbled into her room to get changed. Because of her cast, she couldn't wear pants, so she just threw on a long skirt and layered a thick coat over it to stay warm. Her phone was out of battery, so she left it charging at home. The pho place was only two blocks away anyway—not exactly five-star quality, but it would do.
With that, Ahn Hae set out from her apartment, hobbling along on crutches in pursuit of her beloved bowl of pho.
After scarfing it down, she waddled home with a full belly and a satisfied grin on her face. She got out of the elevator and made her way toward her apartment, when suddenly, she noticed a hooded figure standing at her door. She froze in her tracks, startled.
Who could be at her place at this hour? Could it be... Leo?
The thought flashed in her mind for a second but she quickly shut it down. As if Leo had that kind of free time. So... who was it?
Even though she felt uneasy, Ahn Hae inched forward step by step. She decided to pretend to walk past the door instead of going in—no way she had the guts to walk straight into her apartment with a stranger standing right there. She just wanted to get a sense of what the person was up to. What if it was the stalker from the other day?
Her crutch hits echoed down the quiet hallway. The hooded figure turned at the sound, looking straight at her. Ahn Hae's heart jumped into her throat and she quickly bowed her head. She could feel his eyes locked on her.
She thought of taking out her phone to fake a call—only to remember it was still plugged in at home.
The closer she got, the more her heart pounded. It felt just like the panic she'd felt yesterday. Still, she kept her cool and tried to walk steadily forward. Just as she passed him and was about to sneak a glance at his face, a hand suddenly landed on her shoulder, stopping her in her tracks.
She froze.
She could've sworn her heart had leapt out of her chest. Her legs nearly gave out beneath her.
Ahn Hae didn't dare move, but her mind was racing, trying to figure out how to escape. Should she run? But what if he had a weapon? Standing still wasn't a great plan either.
Just as she was spiraling into panic, a familiar voice called out from behind her.
"Come on, this is your place. Where were you planning to go?"
* * *