40. The Stalker

Starla scanned the crowd again, her heart pounding, when she saw Ha-neul approaching, waving his hand. Relief washed over her as she realized it must have been Ha-neul who had called her name. The tension in her shoulders eased, and she let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. Her heartbeat gradually slowed to a more manageable pace, though a trace of unease lingered.

The bustling mall, with its myriad of shoppers and the cacophony of voices, seemed to fade into the background. Starla's focus was solely on Ha-neul, whose presence felt like a lifeline in the sea of uncertainty. The bright lights of the stores and the festive decorations of the season added a surreal contrast to her recent fear.

As Ha-neul reached her, he offered an apologetic smile. "Sorry for making you wait, Starla."

Starla nodded, smiling back, though her smile was tinged with residual anxiety. "It's okay, really."

Together, they began walking away from the spot, blending into the flow of mall-goers. Starla's mind was still racing, the earlier voice echoing persistently in her thoughts. Each step they took seemed to amplify her uncertainty, making her question whether it was truly Ha-neul who had called out to her.

The mall was alive with activity. The air was filled with a mixture of conversations, the occasional laugh, and the distant hum of holiday music playing through the speakers. Families strolled by, children excitedly pointing at window displays, and couples held hands, enjoying their time together. The vibrant atmosphere contrasted sharply with the dread that still clung to Starla.

From a distance, a man watched them intently. It was Nick. His eyes bore into Starla and Ha-neul, his fists clenching tightly as he muttered under his breath, "Damn."

Nick’s face twisted with a mix of frustration and jealousy as he observed the ease with which Starla and Ha-neul interacted. The memories of his time with Starla flooded back, intensifying his feelings of loss and anger. The soft glow of the mall lights cast shadows across his face, highlighting the determination in his eyes.

He shifted his position slightly, ensuring he stayed hidden behind a large potted plant near the entrance. His gaze never wavered from Starla, watching every movement, every smile she shared with Ha-neul. The sight of her looking so at ease, so happy, without him, fueled his resolve.

Unaware of Nick's presence, Starla and Ha-neul continued their walk. They passed by a series of stores, the displays in the windows blurring together as Starla’s thoughts remained on the earlier incident. She glanced around occasionally, her eyes scanning the faces in the crowd, but she saw no one familiar.

The mall's ambiance was a mix of the festive and the mundane. People were busy with their shopping, carrying bags of various sizes, and some were taking breaks at the food court, chatting and enjoying their meals. The scent of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods wafted through the air, mingling with the more synthetic smells of new clothes and perfumes.

As they neared the parking lot, the sounds of the mall began to fade, replaced by the quieter, more subdued noises of the evening. The transition from the brightly lit interior to the dimmer, cooler outdoors was stark. The sky had darkened, and the first stars were starting to appear, adding a serene backdrop to the chaotic thoughts still swirling in Starla's mind.

The parking lot stretched out before them, illuminated by tall, evenly spaced lights that cast long shadows. Cars were parked in neat rows, their surfaces reflecting the glow from the lights above. The occasional beep of a car alarm being set or unset punctuated the otherwise still air.

Starla and Ha-neul walked towards their car, the sound of their footsteps echoing softly in the quieting night. The cool breeze was a stark contrast to the warmth inside the mall, and it helped clear Starla’s mind, grounding her back to the present moment. She glanced at Ha-neul, drawing comfort from his presence, yet unable to fully shake the feeling that someone, somewhere, was watching her.

As they approached the car, Ha-neul unlocked the doors with a click. He glanced at Starla, noticing the subtle tension still lingering in her posture. “Are you sure everything’s okay, Starla? You seem a bit off.”

Starla forced a smile, trying to mask her lingering unease. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just a bit tired, I guess.”

Ha-neul nodded, not entirely convinced but willing to let it go for now. They got into the car, the engine’s gentle hum breaking the silence of the parking lot. As Ha-neul navigated out of the parking space, Nick remained rooted in his spot, his eyes following their car until it disappeared from sight.

Inside Ha-neul’s car, Starla leaned back in her seat, closing her eyes for a moment. The unease from earlier still clung to her, but she tried to push it aside, focusing instead on the comfort of Ha-neul’s presence. She knew she couldn’t let fear control her.

The streets outside were bathed in the soft glow of streetlights, and the city had a serene, almost dreamlike quality at this hour. Ha-neul drove in silence, respecting Starla’s need for quiet, but his concern for her well-being was evident in his occasional glances.

As they drove further into the night, Starla couldn’t help but wonder what the future held. She was grateful for Ha-neul’s support, but the shadow of Nick’s return loomed large in her mind, a reminder that the past wasn’t as distant as she’d hoped.

...

That night, in the confines of Starla’s apartment bedroom, the ambiance was a mix of calm and unease. The room was decorated with soft, pastel hues, creating a soothing atmosphere. A large window overlooked the city, the skyline twinkling under the moonlit sky. On one side of the room, a comfortable bed with a quilted blanket invited rest, while on the other, a wooden desk stood cluttered with papers, books, and a laptop. Starla sat at this desk, a small notebook open beside her laptop, her fingers occasionally tapping on the keys.

Starla's anxiety grew as the night deepened. She glanced at her phone, her thoughts racing. The quiet of her apartment seemed to amplify every sound, and the shadows cast by the moonlight took on unsettling shapes. Finally, she picked up her phone and typed a message to Luna.

Starla: Luna, are you still far away?

She set the phone down and continued to pace around her living room. The room was dimly lit, the only light coming from a lamp in the corner. The soft hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen was the only other sound, blending with the faint noise of traffic from the streets below. Moments later, her phone buzzed with a reply.

Luna: Sorry, I’m running late, but I’m on my way. If you’re scared, make sure all the doors are locked.

Starla read the message and quickly responded.

Starla: Okay, I’ll wait for you.

With a deep sigh, Starla locked her phone screen and set it aside. The reassurance from Luna helped to ease her nerves, and she gradually found herself returning to the ideas she was crafting on her laptop. The rhythmic sound of her typing filled the room, blending with the distant hum of the city below.

Just as Starla began to feel a sense of tranquility, the doorbell rang, cutting through the quiet. Startled, she rose from her chair and walked towards the front door, her steps light. She smiled, murmuring to herself, “That must be Luna.”

However, as she opened the door, her smile vanished. It wasn't Luna standing there. Instead, a man stood in the doorway, his expression unreadable. Starla's heart seemed to give out, all her energy seeming to dissipate in an instant. Her whole body was flooded with anxiety, a cold sweat breaking out across her skin. Starla didn't recognize the man standing before her, but fear gripped her tightly.

For a few tense seconds, neither of them spoke. The man's gaze bore into Starla, his features obscured by the dim light of the hallway. Starla struggled to maintain her composure, her mind racing with thoughts of who this could be and what he might want.

As she stood, the corridor felt constricting, almost suffocating. The walls seemed to close in, and the faint scent of stale air mixed with the floral aroma from the apartments nearby added an unsettling layer to her nerves. The slight hum of the air conditioning units became a haunting backdrop to her racing thoughts.

The corridor of the apartment building stretched out in eerie silence, the dim lights casting long shadows that seemed to dance with each flicker. She glanced down at her trembling hands, still clutching the doorknob tightly as if afraid it might slip away. Her heart thudded loudly in her chest, the pulse in her ears drowning out the distant city noises beyond the building. Each second dragged by, filled with a palpable tension that seemed to tighten around her. Starla's fear amplified the stillness, each sound—whether distant or near—seeming to magnify her apprehension.