A few days later, as I was coming home from work with grocery bags in my hands, I saw Min Jae standing in the hallway. He was dressed casually—dark jeans, a loose black shirt, sleeves rolled up—and he had that calm confidence that always seemed to radiate from him.
When our eyes met, he gave me that slight, teasing smile. "Perfect timing, neighbor. I was about to knock on your door."
I raised a brow. "Why? Did I leave something in the lift again?"
He chuckled. "Not this time. Actually… I wanted to invite you."
"Invite me?" I asked, shifting the bags in my arms.
"Yes. Housewarming party. Tomorrow night. Nothing crazy—just some friends, colleagues. Thought I'd make it official since I finally moved in properly." His gaze lingered on me, as if waiting for my reaction. "Will you come?"
I hesitated for a beat. Parties weren't really my thing, especially when I barely knew anyone. But something about the way he was looking at me, expectant yet casual, made it impossible to refuse.
"Fine," I said. "But only for a while."
His smirk widened. "I'll take that as a yes."
The next evening, I stood in front of Min Jae's apartment door, taking a deep breath before knocking. My palms were sweaty despite my calm exterior. I had put on a soft blouse tucked into high-waisted pants, hair neatly done, just enough makeup to look confident—but not like I was trying too hard.
When the door opened, laughter spilled out. Min Jae stood there, a drink in one hand, his shirt slightly unbuttoned at the collar. His eyes scanned me slowly, head to toe, and he smirked.
"You clean up well, neighbor."
I rolled my eyes, pretending to be unaffected. "Are you going to let me in, or are you planning to stand there and stare all night?"
"Maybe both," he teased, finally stepping aside.
The apartment was buzzing with energy—music, chatter, and the faint scent of food. A group of people filled the living room, glasses in their hands. His younger brother rushed up to me, grinning.
"Noona! I told you, now I'll get to meet you more often!"
I laughed and patted his head. "Looks like you were right."
"Don't mind him," Min Jae said from behind me. "He stays here two days a week since our parents are away often. Think of it as my practice at being responsible."
For a moment, his voice carried something softer, something that tugged at me. But before I could think too much about it, I was swept into introductions.
His colleagues were welcoming, asking me about my work. That's when I realized—we were in overlapping fields. Aurora Communications and Hanul Architecture often collaborated with similar clients.
"You're in marketing too?" one of his friends asked, surprised.
"Yes," I replied. "I recently joined Aurora Communications."
"That's wild," another chimed in. "Looks like you two were destined to bump into each other."
I caught Min Jae's eyes across the group. He smirked knowingly, as if he'd been waiting for someone else to say it. "Guess being neighbors wasn't a coincidence after all."
A few minutes later, one of his friends tried to hand me a glass of wine. I shook my head quickly.
"Oh—I don't drink," I said politely. "I actually can't stand alcohol. Even the smell makes me uncomfortable."
The friend nodded, but I felt Min Jae's eyes linger on me. When our gazes met, there was a spark of something unreadable—respect, curiosity, maybe even admiration.
As the night wound down, I slipped out a little after midnight. His younger brother was already fast asleep on the couch, blanket tugged up to his chin.
At the door, Min Jae leaned against the frame, lowering his voice so only I could hear. "Thanks for coming. Honestly… it wouldn't have felt right without you here."
I forced a playful smile to hide the sudden flutter in my chest. "Don't get used to it. I don't crash parties often."
"Then maybe I'll just have to keep inviting you," he murmured. His eyes held mine for a moment longer before he added, "We're friends now, right? So… let's exchange numbers."
The way he said it wasn't casual—it was smooth, intentional, his voice dipping slightly lower, almost daring me to say no. My heart skipped, but I handed him my phone anyway.
Back in my apartment, I finally exhaled. I changed into pajamas, washed my face, and tossed myself into bed—only to notice a folded piece of paper slipped under my door.
I froze.
With trembling hands, I opened it.
"So… you've already made friends. Don't forget—I'm still watching."
My throat tightened. I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the note, my smile from earlier gone. Later, I went out onto the terrace, the cool night air brushing against my skin as I tried to calm my pounding heart. I gripped the railing, wondering who could possibly be keeping such a close eye on me in this city of millions.
And then I remembered Min Jae's words at the door.
We're friends now.
I wanted to believe it. But deep inside, the note whispered a warning I couldn't ignore.
I sat on the terrace, knees pulled up to my chest, the night sky stretching endlessly above me. The city lights glittered below, but all I could focus on was the note lying on the table beside me. Its words burned into my mind.
Just then, my phone buzzed in my lap. Startled, I grabbed it quickly, half-expecting another unknown number. But it was Amna.
I answered immediately.
"Hello, Amna?"
Her little voice came through the speaker, urgent and almost breaking.
"Khala! When are you coming back? You told me you'd take me from here… when are you coming, tell me!"
The sound of her desperation cut through me. I swallowed hard, trying to steady my voice. "Amna… it's only been twenty-five, maybe thirty days since I shifted here. I promised you, didn't I? I'll come to pick you after 2 months, okay?"
There was a pause, then a soft sniffle on the other end. "But it feels so long…"
I looked out at the dark skyline, fighting the sudden sting in my own eyes. Between the strange notes and the weight of my new life, hearing her longing broke something in me.
"I know, Amna," I whispered, my voice trembling despite my efforts to sound strong. "Just a little longer. Be patient for me, hmm? I'll come for you, I promise."
"Promise?"
"Promise," I said firmly, clutching the phone tighter as if I could reach across the distance and hold her.
After the call ended, I stared at the screen until it went black. My reflection looked tired, worried, but also determined.
I picked up the note again and folded it carefully, tucking it into my diary. For Amna's sake—for the people I loved—I had to be strong. Whoever was watching me, whoever was trying to shake me… they couldn't win.
I leaned back in my chair, whispering into the night, almost to myself:
"You don't get to scare me away."