I wasn't supposed to see it.
That message.
It wasn't meant for me.
But I saw it anyway.
And that was the beginning of the end.
---
The café was quiet that night.
Too quiet.
The kind of silence that makes every little sound feel louder than it should,the ticking clock on the wall, the soft hum of the fridge, the faint scrape of my shoes against the tiled floor.
I liked nights like this.
Less people. Less trouble.
I wiped down the counter slowly, already thinking about closing and heading home. Just a few more minutes and I'd be done.
Then the door opened.
The soft chime echoed through the café.
I didn't look up immediately.
"We're closing in five—"
My words died in my throat.
Something felt… off.
Slowly, I lifted my head.
And then I saw him.
Black suit.
Perfectly fitted.
Dark hair. Sharp features. Cold eyes that looked like they had never known warmth.
He didn't just walk in.
He owned the space the second he stepped inside.
The air shifted.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
He looked around once, like he was memorizing everything, then his gaze landed on me.
And stayed there.
My heart skipped.
Hard.
"Coffee," he said.
Just one word.
Low. Controlled. Not a request,an order.
I nodded quickly, breaking eye contact as I turned toward the machine.
"Y-yes."
Why was I nervous?
He was just a customer.
Right?
But my hands betrayed me, moving slightly faster than usual as I prepared his drink. I could feel his eyes on me the entire time.
Watching.
Studying.
Like I was something to figure out.
Or something to break.
I placed the cup on the counter carefully.
"Here."
He didn't reach for it immediately.
Instead, he stepped closer.
Too close.
I could smell his cologne, dark, rich, and unsettlingly comforting.
"Thank you," he said.
But it didn't sound like gratitude.
It sounded like something else.
Something I couldn't explain.
Before I could respond, his phone buzzed on the counter.
I blinked.
That wasn't there before.
He glanced at it briefly… then back at me.
And for a second, something unreadable flashed in his eyes.
Then,
He turned.
And walked out.
Just like that.
No coffee.
No explanation.
Nothing.
The door shut behind him, the chime echoing again.
Silence returned.
But it didn't feel the same anymore.
I stared at the cup he left behind.
Then at the phone.
My stomach tightened.
"Maybe he forgot it…"
I whispered to myself, even though something deep inside me said otherwise.
I shouldn't touch it.
I knew that.
I really knew that.
But curiosity is a dangerous thing.
And that night,
It was stronger than fear.
Slowly, I picked up the phone.
The screen lit up instantly.
A message appeared.
Unknown Number:
"The target is the girl at the café. Don't miss this time."
My breath stopped.
The girl at the café.
My fingers went cold.
"No… no, that doesn't make sense…"
I shook my head, trying to laugh it off, but the sound died before it could even leave my lips.
There was no one else here.
No one.
Just me.
A chill ran down my spine.
And then,
The door opened again.
My heart dropped.
Slowly…
I turned around.
He was back.
And this time,
He wasn't leaving.