The peace didn't last two days.
Tuesday night. Leo was wearing his headset, trash-talking opponents in a game, fully immersed. Suddenly, a sharp clicking sound echoed in the staircase.
Click. Click. Click.
The sound was urgent and crisp, stomping loudly on the old wooden stairs, radiating an obnoxious confidence. This dump was mostly rented to students and low-income workers, usually dead quiet at this hour. The noise was jarring.
Leo frowned and pulled one side of his headset down.
The footsteps stopped on his floor.
Then, he heard a bright, exaggeratedly enthusiastic female voice: "Vicky? Open up, Vicky! It's me!"
Not for him.
For the neighbor.
Leo's fingers paused on the keyboard. His character died, the screen turned grey. He didn't care.
The woman outside called out twice more, a fake laugh in her voice, but the impatience was starting to show.
After about thirty seconds, he finally heard the faint sound of a lock turning next door. The door seemed to open just a crack.
"Seo... Soo-jin?" Vicky's voice drifted through the crack, hoarse, but more shocked and... nervous. "What are you doing here?"
"Here to see you! Surprise!" The woman called 'Soo-jin' was just as loud, her voice practically booming. "You weren't replying to my messages, didn't pick up my calls! I was so worried something happened! Had to get your address from Manager Park and rushed right over! Now let me in, why are you blocking the door?"
The door seemed to be reluctantly opened a bit wider.
"I... I'm fine. Just really tired, fell asleep." Vicky's voice dropped, laced with clear panic. "Soo-jin... how did you... find this place?"
"Oh, Manager Park has the emergency contact info, doesn't he? Forget that! Look what treats I brought you! Low-fat, don't worry! Gosh, you look terrible! Have you not been eating properly again?"
The woman's words came rapid-fire, leaving no room for a response. Before the words even faded, Leo heard footsteps forcefully squeezing into the apartment, followed by the sound of the door slamming shut next door.
The hallway instantly fell silent.
Leo took off his headset. The room was left with only the hum of his computer fan.
He stared at the grey game screen, motionless.
Soo-jin? Manager Park?
He recalled the Star Galaxy Entertainment forum post, and the codename 'V'.
This woman sounded familiar with Vicky. A colleague? A friend?
But the tone in Vicky's voice just now didn't sound happy to see a friend. That thread of panic and reluctance was obvious, even through a door.
He suddenly lost interest in gaming. He quit the match, lit a cigarette, didn't smoke it, just watched the ash grow longer. Muffled conversation came from next door. He couldn't make out the words, just the constant, chirpy sound of 'Soo-jin' talking, occasionally interrupted by a short, low murmur from Vicky.
It sounded like a one-sided monologue.
The cigarette burned down to his fingers. Leo hissed, stubbing the butt out in the ashtray.
He got up to get water. Passing the door, he paused.
On a whim, he leaned close to the peephole and looked out.
The hallway was empty.
But his gaze swept downward and stopped.
Beside the doormat next door, a small, glittering object had fallen. A tiny, sequin-sized rhinestone, probably from a brooch or hair clip. Must have been knocked off when that 'Soo-jin' barged in.
Leo stared at the tiny rhinestone glinting faintly in the dim light for a few seconds.
Then he straightened up, didn't get water, and returned to his computer.
He put his headphones back on but didn't turn any sound on.
Just wore them.
Blocking out the outside world, and the faint, uncomfortable noise from next door.