It was just her neighbour's cat by the window.
Nam shin takes a breath of relax and went to her daily routine.
Morning came gray and reluctant. The city was still dripping from last night's rain, puddles mirroring the sky's dull silver. Inside Hanil Corporation's glass building, life pretended to move on — printers whirring, phones ringing, laughter echoing faintly in corridors. But beneath it all, there was something brittle, like glass about to crack.
Kim Nam Shin stepped out of the elevator, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor. She caught sight of Lee Jun-bin by the vending machine — the same colleague who had abandoned her in the jungle.
Their eyes met briefly. He looked away first.
"Morning, Assistant Manager Kim," he muttered, his tone uneasy.
"Morning," she replied, voice even. But inside, she could still see the shadow of that forest, the place where he'd left her to die.
Across the floor, Choi Min-ah, a sharp-tongued HR officer with bright red lipstick, leaned toward another staff member. "They say the new body near the river had his ID burned," she whispered. "Burned! Like someone didn't want him identified."
"Maybe it's connected to that island thing," her friend murmured. "You know, the attack on Assistant Manager Kim…"
Nam Shin's grip on her coffee cup tightened. The sound of their voices faded, replaced by the steady thud of her own heartbeat.
Then — a voice.
"Morning."
She turned. Woo Jin-ho stood there, calm as ever, his tie slightly loosened. He held two paper cups of coffee and handed one to her.
"You look pale," he said softly. "Did you sleep?"
"Barely," she admitted. "It feels like the city's holding its breath."
"Then maybe we should learn to breathe for it," he replied, a faint smile touching his lips.
They stood side by side near the window, overlooking the gray skyline. To anyone watching, they looked like two tired coworkers sharing a quiet moment. But something about the reflection in the glass caught Nam Shin's eye — a faint movement behind them, there and gone.
She turned sharply. No one was there.
Later that afternoon, while sorting through files, Nam Shin's screen flickered. A pop-up appeared, blank at first, then words began to type themselves across it — black letters on white:
"DO YOU REALLY THINK YOU'RE SAFE?"
Her breath hitched. She blinked — and the message vanished, leaving only her spreadsheet.
"Everything alright?" Woo Jin-ho's voice came from the doorway.
Nam Shin forced a steady tone. "Just the system lagging again."
But that night, long after everyone had left, she found herself lingering at her desk. The hum of the city outside blended with the faint buzz of office lights.
In the reflection of the glass wall, she saw her own face — tired, haunted — and behind it, the skyline glimmering like a thousand watching eyes.
Then she heard it again.
A whisper.
Soft, deliberate.
Right behind her ear.
"Nam Shin-ah…"
She spun around — and the office was empty.
It was lucy a office friend she told her that they will be going for drinks after office and wants her to join as well so her mood can be refreshed and be at peace as she was really stressed after that incidence.
Woo bin encourage nam shin to join the after party as well
Nam shin agreed and later they all went for it.