My face was all over the magazine racks. "Ajin's Beauty Secrets," the cover screamed, next to a photo of me, looking effortlessly put-together. Below it, in smaller print: "A Success Story: Exclusive Interview with Ajin Baek!" It's surreal, seeing my name splashed across a limited edition issue. It's the kind of thing my management, Ms. Seo, dreamed of for me.
My latest film, Why Did She Buy a New Suitcase?, is the reason for all the buzz. It's a suspense movie, the kind that has you biting your nails until the credits roll.
"THE CRITICS ARE LOVING YOUR ROLE IN THE NEW FILM. COULD YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE MOVIE?" the interviewer had asked.
"It's a suspense movie that'll have you biting your nails," I'd replied, the practiced lines rolling off my tongue. "I play a character who finds out that her father is a serial killer. This new information obviously leads to a lot of strife between them and the movie deals with that. When I first saw the script, I was immediately taken in by the realism and the intensity. I told the CEO of my management company, Ms. Seo, that she simply had to read it, and the rest is history!"
The truth is, the emotional scenes were brutal.
"I'VE HEARD TELL THAT THIS MOVIE HAS SOME HEAVY, EMOTIONAL SCENES. DID YOU EVER FIND IT HARD TO STAY IN CHARACTER? WHAT DID YOU FIND TO BE THE MOST DIFFICULT?"
"My mother died when I was young, and my father spent most of my childhood away until he died the year I turned twenty," I admitted, choosing my words carefully. "For the main character, her father is her world. I wanted to portray that from the most genuine angle possible, but it was hard because my relationship with my father was so different, hazy. Because I didn't have a lot of tender moments growing up with my father, I found it difficult to get into character when we were filming the more emotional father-daughter scenes."
Part 2: Provoke
I was sitting in my apartment later that week, the radio on for background noise.
"YOU'RE LISTENING TO THE 9 AM NEWS ON 96.4 FM," a cheerful voice announced. "They say this will be the hottest week of this year... We'll be seeing record high temperatures for the first time in 18 years."
Stay home if you can, and remember to stay hydrated! I heard the announcer advise as I caught a glimpse of the street outside—a bus pulling away with a loud VROOM, a few people waiting at the sheltered stop.
Later, I was on the subway, on my way to a fitting or maybe a quick coffee. The train was packed, and I had to hold on to an overhead strap. BUMP. Someone nudged me. It was just the motion of the train, or perhaps the crowded space.
My mind drifted back to the news I'd heard just before leaving. It was the darker segment of the morning broadcast.
"NEXT UP, WE HAVE REPORTS THAT MURDER AND STALKING IS ON THE RISE IN THE CITY..." The announcer's voice was grave. "POLICE SAY THE MULTIPLE HOMICIDE VICTIMS ACROSS NOJUNG DISTRICT... ALL PREVIOUSLY REPORTED THAT A STALKER WAS HARRASSING THEM BEFORE THEY WERE MURDERED."
BUMP. A harder one this time. I looked over my shoulder, but the person behind me just seemed to be a tired commuter. The word hung in the air: "PROVOKE." Part 2 was beginning.
Part 3: Xanadu
I managed to slip away to a nearby coffee shop, a little place called XANADU. It had a simple, modern look, and a few tables were set up outside with a big red umbrella. Maybe a peach latte would cool me down.
I saw the A-frame sign on the sidewalk as I walked up. "TODAY'S SPECIAL" it read. A little heart next to "PEACH LATTE" and another by "ORIGINAL SHAVED ICE VER. 02."
Inside, the counter was manned by a young woman in an apron. I watched as she delivered a massive bowl of shaved ice—bright white and topped with dark berries—to a table of two men. "...ORIGINAL SHAVED ICE!" she said.
One of the men got up as she turned to leave. "EXCUSE ME!" he called out. "DO YOU HAVE A BOYFRIEND...? COULD I GET YOUR NUMBER...?"
The girl looked uncomfortable. "NO... SORRY, NO..." she mumbled. The guy shrugged, disappointed. "OH... OKAY..."
Just as I stepped up to the counter, I saw something out of the corner of my eye. On the wall, near the kitchen, were two framed documents. A photo and a certificate.
"CITIZEN HERO AWARD," the photo frame read, showing two shadowy figures shaking hands. The certificate next to it was official-looking, stamped with a Chief of Police seal.
"This award is awarded to Jeongho Choi for being an outstanding citizen and aiding the police in the arrest of a criminal," I read silently.
The counter girl turned to me with a pleasant smile. "HERE'S YOUR..."
I snapped out of my daze and returned the smile, though a cold feeling had settled in my stomach. The news report of stalking and murder, the strange man on the subway, and now a 'Citizen Hero' award for catching a criminal—it all seemed to pulse with a hidden energy.
I watched the barista, who I now know is also named Ajin, deal with the rejected customer. My coworker, a guy named Yusik, sighed, his face up close, exasperated. "I'm so sick of this... happening all day, every day. It must be even more annoying for you, Ajin."
"Eh, at least he took it well," I said, managing a shrug. "And didn't pester me after I said no." I was used to it; working near a university meant constant approaches. I then asked Yusik, "Hey, Yusik... did Mr. Choi say he's going to be late today?"
"Yep. Boss says he'll be here after the baseball game," Yusik replied, scrolling on his phone. He looked up. "Gosh, just look at his Stargram feed. Every single post is about baseball."
He paused, then his eyes widened in realization. "Oh, that reminds me. Someone posted a photo of you on social media. Did you see?"
"A photo of me...?" I froze, the hairs on my arms raising. The city news report about stalking flashed in my mind.
Yusik showed me his phone. "Yeah. It must have been one of the customers. It's all over the internet now."
The Digital Echo
The phone screen showed a few new photos added by a user named OO. The caption read:
#nojungdistrictcafe #XANADU
I go to this cafe pretty often to begin with but I've been going more often because the part-timer there is so pretty. She could totally become an actress.
The photo was a clear, uncomfortably close-up shot of me smiling while drinking a coffee.
A cold wave washed over me. "I'M GETTING SOME WEIRD VIBES ABOUT THIS... SHOULD I CONTACT THEM AND ASK THEM TO TAKE THE PHOTOS DOWN?"
Yusik looked at me apologetically. "... It's probably too late now, and at least it's good advertisement for our cafe."
It was a small consolation, a typical manager perspective, but my gut told me this was different. Then Yusik let out an excited gasp. "WOOOW." He showed me his phone again, another site.
The photo was of several coffee cups lined up on the counter—CLICK—and below it, a much more viral post:
holy sh*t, this cafe employee is so hotttt.jpg
VIEWS 12,150 | LIKES 21
She works at Cafe Xanadu near K University. Literally everyone who goes to K University knows of her lol. I found out her name is Ajin Baek. Oh but I don't think she's on social media :/
My blood ran cold. They knew my name.
Yusik, still scrolling through comments or a new post, leaned close and smiled. "I can see why our boss thinks the world of you." I forced a laugh. "I think Mr. Choi loves you way more!" I joked back. "Ewww. Don't say such gross things, hahaha!"
But the terror was already taking root. Someone was watching. Someone was documenting.
The Observer
Far away, in a dimly lit room, a figure sat hunched over a computer monitor, illuminated by the glow of the screen. Empty Xanadu coffee cups littered the desk. He held a straw from another cup to his lips, sipping slowly.
The close-up photo of my face—my bright, unaware smile—was front and center on his screen. His eyes were wide, maniacal, and fixed on my image.
"E-EVEN HER NAME IS PRETTY..." he whispered to himself, a chilling smile spreading across his face. "HEH... I-I'M GONNA GO GET ANOTHER COFFEE, HEHE..."
The fear was no longer an abstract idea from the news—it was a tangible presence, a pair of obsessed eyes watching my every move. The person who took the photo, the person who knew my name, the person who was now preparing to see me again. I was now the victim in a suspense movie of my own.
Closing time brought more anxiety. Yusik, my coworker, was scrubbing down a table with a look of pure frustration.
"I hate people like that, ugh!!" he grumbled, looking toward the "CLOSED" sign.
"I told him we were closing, but he just wouldn't go away!" Yusik complained.
Our boss, Jeongho Choi, had arrived, looking concerned. "Is that why you had to close late today? Don't you have a date with your girlfriend tonight?"
"Why didn't you just kick him out?" the boss asked.
Yusik sighed, exasperated. "If only it were that easy! If he tells other people online that we kick our customers out like that, no one will want to come here!" The fear of bad online reviews and its effect on the cafe's business trumped the staff's comfort and schedule. I understood the dilemma, but it spoke to how vulnerable we were to public opinion—and to single, obsessed individuals.
Mr. Choi gave a kind, paternal smile. "Don't you worry about that. Next time a customer does that, just tell them... that the owner of the cafe, Jeongho Choi, told you to do this." He was backing us up, which was a relief.
Yusik beamed. "You're the best, Boss!"
I bagged up the trash, trying to process it all. Hrumph. I felt a strange mix of gratitude and discomfort, especially seeing the "Citizen Hero Award" hanging on the wall just hours ago. He was a good boss and a hero who helped the police. He was someone I should feel safe around.
Mr. Choi looked over at me, his smile gentle. "It's okay, Ajin."
The New Stalker
As I left the cafe that night, the paranoia intensified. The image of the man with the wild, staring eyes fixed on my picture was burned into my mind. I was no longer an actress who had played a character stalked by a killer's daughter; I was a cafe worker who was now the subject of a disturbing online obsession.
I walked quickly past the spot where Mr. Choi's white car was parked, trying to get home before the quiet streets gave me an excuse to panic. The words of the news report echoed: ...all previously reported that a stalker was harassing them before they were murdered.
My stalker was now coming back for more coffee. He knew my name was Ajin Baek. And as the camera pulled back on the street, it focused on a dark corner where a figure was crouched, his phone camera pointed directly at me.
He was taking photos—"HEHEHE..."—of me leaving work. The figure was blurred, but the feeling of being watched was sharp, piercing.
I was being followed. The "weird vibes" weren't just a coincidence. They were a threat.
Mr. Choi, the "Citizen Hero," had arrived, and his presence was a small comfort, even as I was still reeling from the online photos. I was focused on helping Yusik clean up, trying to scrub away the anxiety.
"HUH? OH, IT'S OKAY! I CAN DO IT..." I said when Mr. Choi started to take the trash bag from me.
"IT'S OKAY, AJIN. YOU CAN LEAVE THAT. YUSIK AND I CAN TAKE CARE OF THAT LATER. IT'S GETTING REALLY LATE. YOU GET GOING," he insisted. "COME ON, GIVE IT HERE."
I relented, but offered to help more. "AT LEAST LET ME HELP YOU."
Mr. Choi gave me a look of genuine concern. "YOU LIVE FAR FROM HERE, DON'T YOU? WON'T THE BUSES STOP RUNNING SOON?"
"I've got some time," I replied, forcing a smile. "Please, let me help. I'd feel terrible if I just left it all to you and Yusik."
He shook his head, a finality in his tone. "ALRIGHT, FINE. I CAN'T EVEN GET MAD AT YOU FOR BEING A HARD WORKER!"
"THAT'S A COMPLIMENT, RIGHT?" I asked, feeling a brief flash of my old, joking self.
"HAHAHA, YEAH IT IS," he confirmed.
With that, I left, walking quickly toward the bus stop, unaware that the final exchange was a perfectly timed moment for the obsessed viewer.
The Unexpected Visitor
The moment I stepped out, the stalker I had seen online was already there. He was peeking out from a darkened corner, his eyes wide and hungry in the dim light. "HEHEHE... CAFE XANADU..." he muttered, a disturbing sound that thankfully I didn't hear.
He pulled the door open with a JINGLE of the bell, stepping inside despite the "CLOSED" sign. Yusik was sweeping up.
"EXCUSE ME, SIR, WE'RE CLOSED," Yusik said politely, but firmly.
"B-BUT THE LIGHTS ARE STILL ON..." the man stammered, looking around frantically. He was wearing a black beanie despite the stifling heatwave.
"PLEASE COME BACK TOMORROW. WE HAVE TO LOCK UP AND GO HOME NOW," Yusik pressed.
The man, clearly the online obsessed viewer, was clearly only interested in one thing. Yusik noticed him now. "I FEEL LIKE I'VE SEEN HIM AT THE CAFE A LOT LATELY... BUT WHY IS HE WEARING A BEANIE IN THIS HEAT WAVE?!" Yusik wondered, eyeing him with suspicion.
The stalker mumbled under his breath, eyes darting around. "...BUT I NEED TO SEE HER... I-IS AJIN HERE...?"
Yusik immediately changed his stance. "IS HE AJIN'S FRIEND...? NO, SOMETHING IS REALLY OFF ABOUT HIM. I NEED TO KICK HIM OUT." The sudden switch from vague discomfort to protective alarm was clear.
"I'M GOING TO HAVE TO ASK YOU TO LEAVE, SIR. LIKE I SAID, WE'RE CLOSED. YOU CAN COME BACK TOMORROW, OKAY?" Yusik said, moving to usher him out.
The stalker reacted violently, shoving Yusik away. "PUSH!"
"W-WHY ARE YOU PUSHING ME?! I JUST WANT--" the man yelled, panic and frustration on his face.
"SORRY, SIR!! PLEASE COME--" Yusik's voice trailed off.
The situation had escalated far too quickly. Yusik had seen the obsession and tried to protect me, only to be pushed by the man who was stalking me. The online infatuation was now a physical threat.
With Mr. Choi on the premises, the situation has become critical. The stalker has just pushed Yusik.
Yusik had done the right thing, recognizing the man was "off" and trying to assert control. "I'M GOING TO HAVE TO ASK YOU TO LEAVE, SIR. LIKE I SAID, WE'RE CLOSED. YOU CAN COME BACK TOMORROW, OKAY?" he'd said, his voice firm.
But the stalker shoved him. "W-WHY ARE YOU PUSHING ME?! I JUST WANT--" he cried out, revealing the desperation under his quiet demeanor.
Before Yusik could regain his balance, a new voice cut through the tension.
"HEY!"
Mr. Choi, who had been bagging the trash, stepped forward immediately. He put a hand on Yusik's shoulder, steadying him, then turned his attention to the trespasser. Mr. Choi's demeanor shifted instantly from the kind, easy-going boss to the man who had earned a "Citizen Hero Award". His presence was suddenly imposing.
Yusik, still shaken, stammered: "SORRY, SIR!! PLEASE COME BACK AGAIN TOMORROW!!"
The stalker—the man obsessed with the name Ajin—knew he was overpowered. He stumbled backward, his eyes wide and frantic as he realized the door was swinging shut.
"SLAAAAAM!"
The door to the cafe shut with a final, echoing crash.
On the other side of the glass, the man pressed his face against the window, his wide, desperate eyes staring in. "WHY...? WHY?!" he mouthed, his internal thoughts of pure, irrational fury now visible on his face. He'd been stopped. The reason he came—to see Ajin—was now locked away.
Inside, Yusik sagged against the counter, clutching the broom. He let out a shaky breath. "UGH. THAT MAN GIVES ME THE SHIVERS FOR SOME REASON."
Mr. Choi, wiping down a counter, looked up sharply. "HEY, YUSIK! WHAT ARE YOU DOING ALL ZONED OUT?"
Yusik swallowed, forcing himself to focus. He walked toward his boss. "HEY, BOSS..."
This was the moment. The situation was no longer a rumor or an online post; it was a physical threat that Mr. Choi had witnessed firsthand. Yusik quickly recounted the situation, confirming the man had asked for "Ajin" specifically.
Mr. Choi listened, his brow furrowed with genuine concern. He was the hero who helped the police. He knew the risk of ignoring this.
"Yusik, go ahead and lock up the front door for real this time," Mr. Choi said, his voice low and serious. "I'm going to take a look outside before I head home."
The Choice of Protection
I was already a few blocks away, walking faster now, pulling out my phone to search for the local police station number. I had to report the stalking photos. I had to. The news about the multiple homicides flashed in my mind, making my heart hammer against my ribs.
But back at the cafe, Mr. Choi was standing outside, his shoulders squared as he watched the street. He saw the stalker disappearing around the corner, his black beanie a dark shape in the twilight.
Mr. Choi pulled out his own phone. He didn't call the police. He called me.
When my phone buzzed, I nearly jumped out of my skin. It was Mr. Choi.
"Hello? Mr. Choi?"
"Ajin. It's me. Listen, I want you to head straight home. And tomorrow, I need you to take the day off, okay?"
"Take the day off? Why?" I asked, confused.
"That guy from before, the one who kept hanging around, he came back after you left. He was... aggressive. Asking for you."
A chill ran down my spine, confirming my worst fears. "I saw the posts online, Mr. Choi. They knew my name. I was just about to call the police about it, after what I heard on the news—"
"I know, Ajin. But I'm going to handle this." His tone was suddenly authoritative. "I know the police well; I have connections. If you call them, they'll ask you to come in, fill out reports, it will be a huge hassle and create unnecessary trouble for the cafe. You just focus on staying safe. I'll pass on the details and make sure this guy is dealt with. Trust me. I've done this before."
He was offering a protective shield, a promise that his "hero" connections would handle the dangerous situation cleanly and quickly. But something in his voice felt just a little too insistent.
Mr. Choi," I began, gripping my phone tighter. I could hear the wind rustling the leaves as I walked, my steps quickening toward home. "I appreciate you looking out for me, truly. And I know you have connections. But... I can't just let this go."
I paused, thinking of the blurry photo of me on the street, the look of madness on the stalker's face as he was shut out of Xanadu.
"The online posts have my full name, Ajin Baek. And the news said that all the victims in Nojung had reported harassment and stalking before... before they were murdered. That man came back, pushed Yusik, and was demanding to see me. I can't risk this becoming a 'hassle' for anyone. It's already far too serious."
I took a deep breath. "I have to call the police myself. I need to make an official report, document the online harassment, and the confrontation with Yusik. But I'd be grateful if you would confirm the incident with them when they call, as the owner and a witness."
Silence stretched on the line for a moment.
"Ajin..." Mr. Choi's voice was different now—low, almost strained. "I understand your fear. But if you involve the police now, they will treat you like a victim, which will only draw more attention. You're an actress, Ajin, you know how quickly things can spread. I just thought it would be better if..."
"Mr. Choi, I'm a cafe worker right now, and I'm being stalked," I cut in gently, but firmly. "I am going to report this. Please, just be ready to tell them what you saw with that man tonight."
"...Fine, Ajin. Do what you think is right," he said finally, his tone one of resigned disappointment. "Just be careful getting home. Call me when you're inside, okay?"
"I will. Thank you, Mr. Choi."
I hung up, my heart still racing. The phone felt heavy in my hand. I immediately dialed the emergency line, giving them my name, my workplace, and detailing the frightening escalation.
Questioning and Watching
The next morning, I was at home, unable to shake the anxiety. The police had taken a report over the phone, promising an officer would follow up.
Meanwhile, back at the cafe, Yusik was scrubbing the floor with a troubled look. He was still rattled from the previous night's confrontation.
Mr. Choi walked up to him, a casual smile on his face. "HEY, AJIN... WAS A FRIEND WEARING A BEANIE SUPPOSED TO MEET YOU HERE BY ANY CHANCE?"
Yusik shook his head. "NO, IT'S..." he trailed off. He looked at Mr. Choi, then quickly glanced over at me—the other Ajin—who was now sitting at a table with an apron on, looking exhausted.
"ARE YOU SURE YOU'RE OKAY, YUSIK...?" I asked him, genuinely concerned.
Yusik forced a smile and shook his head again. He hadn't told me all the details yet, not wanting to worry me further.
I don't know if I should tell her this and scare her... Yusik thought, looking at me. Maybe I shouldn't say anything unless I see him again.
The Rear Window
Later that day, Mr. Choi was at the counter, a distant look in his eyes. He looked over at me, watching my every move.
HMM? I thought, meeting his gaze for a split second.
I turned back to the task at hand, but the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. There was a sudden flash of memory: Mr. Choi asking about the back door.
When you two were taking out the trash... Did you see anyone standing around the back door of the cafe...?
No, not that we saw, I had replied then.
But what if he had seen someone? Or what if he was asking for another reason?
As I was getting ready to leave my shift, I noticed two pairs of feet passing by the storefront—one in dark, worn boots, the other in bright white sneakers. They walked with a measured, deliberate STEP, STEP.
I felt a sudden, inexplicable terror. I looked toward the window, catching only a glimpse of the two figures moving past. The light from the cafe sign illuminated the name above my head, a silent beacon: XANADU. I knew I had done the right thing by reporting the stalker, but now the fear had become a suffocating certainty. I was being watched by two people now—the stalker, and maybe... someone else.