They both desired each other far more than they ever imagined. But some stories are better left untold and untouched, hoping they'll pass by like an October rain.

  "Aargh!" I groaned, tossing a box aside in frustration. Moving in was more exhausting than I’d expected. I knew it was going to be tough, but this? This was a nightmare. Especially for someone like me with a personality that screams I have no idea what I'm doing.

  My new pce wasn’t bad, not at all. It had that minimalist vibe, like the apartments in those aesthetic living videos. It wasn’t home yet, though. The best part? A wide balcony—no gss door, just open space. It was big enough to fit a king-size bed, and honestly, that wasn’t the worst idea. The thought of sleeping under the stars, high above the city, was strangely comforting.

  But settling in? That was a whole other story. I found myself engaging in those awkward, "nice weather, isn’t it?" conversations with neighbors just to figure out the basics like trash days and whether I’d signed up for a building with a functioning elevator. Yeah, I was totally zoned out during the lease signing. Maybe call it being dumb, or just...overwhelmed.

  There’s this small convenience store near my apartment that’s practically calling my name for dinner every night, even though I swore to my mom that I wouldn’t live off instant noodles and frozen foods. "That’s just a phase, Mom," I’d said, but here I was, considering which fvor of ramen would be tonight’s gourmet meal.

  "Hello," I chirped every time I passed someone in the hallway, as if I knew them. Most of the time, people just nodded politely, but one grandpa gave me a warm smile that made me feel like, "It's okay, you're doing well." Later, I realized he was actually smiling at his granddaughter pying behind me. Figures.It makes sense now.

  This pce, as new and strange as it was, had a vibe I hadn’t expected. It felt more like a family gathering spot than a pce for me to live out my independent, steamy, young adult life. Where was the excitement? The wild adventures? All I had were cardboard boxes, half-empty shelves, and a nagging sense that I was out of my depth.

  Just as I was about to crash on the sofa, my phone buzzed for what felt like the thousandth time. Mom again. I sighed, but picked it up anyway.

  "Yejin-ah, did you eat? Are you settling in okay? Did you find a grocery store?" Her voice was a mix of concern and that usual overprotective tone."Yes, Mom. I ate. I'm fine. And yes, I found a grocery store, but it looks like I’ll be dining on convenience store sushi tonight."You’re not serious, are you?" she huffed. "I told you to cook, not live off instant junk!"I know, I know," I replied, trying not to sound too exasperated. "But I’m just too tired to cook tonight. I’ll do it tomorrow, promise."Tomorrow, tomorrow... You always say that," she muttered. "Just don’t starve yourself, okay? And call me before you go to bed."Mom, I'm not five," I said, rolling my eyes. "I’ll call you tomorrow."Fine," she sighed, defeated. "Just be careful, okay? And remember, if you need anything—""I know, Mom. I’ll call you. I’ll be fine, really."

  After hanging up, I tossed my phone onto the table and let out a long breath. It was sweet how much she worried, but it was also suffocating at times. Then again, I wasn’t exactly thriving over here.

  With a growling stomach and a mind still buzzing from the day’s chaos, I wandered into the kitchen. Maybe I should try cooking something simple. It might make this pce feel a bit more like home, or at least distract me from everything else.

  Just as I was about to start, a loud knock at the door startled me. I wasn’t expecting anyone. Who would be visiting me this te? My heart raced as I stood frozen in pce, debating whether to answer.

  What if it was someone from the building? Or worse, what if it was something else entirely?The knocking continued, more insistent this time.Taking a deep breath, I slowly made my way to the door, my hand hovering over the handle. Should I open it? The silence in the hallway was deafening, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever was waiting on the other side would change everything.

  The knocking continued, more insistent this time.

  "Seriously? Is the door made of marshmallows?" I muttered to myself, inching closer. Maybe it was the ndlord, coming to tell me I’d already vioted some obscure apartment rule about noise levels. Or worse, maybe my mom had sent a spy to make sure I wasn’t living off junk food.

  With each knock, my imagination ran wilder. Could it be a neighbor, ready to welcome me with a basket of fresh-baked cookies? Or maybe it was a serial killer with a friendly smile, asking to borrow some sugar before he lured me into his apartment.

  I shook my head, trying to clear the ridiculous thoughts, but couldn’t help but grab the nearest object—a spatu—as my makeshift weapon.

  "Okay, Yejin, it’s just a door," I told myself, gripping the spatu like it was Excalibur. "You can do this."

  Taking a deep breath, I reached for the handle, yanked the door open, and...

  Nothing. Just an empty hallway and a small note taped to the door. Confused, I snatched the note and read it aloud, "Welcome to the building! P.S. The balcony railing is a bit loose, so maybe don’t lean on it too much."

  I stared at the paper in my hand, half relieved and half wondering if this was some kind of weird initiation ritual for new tenants. But as I turned to go back inside, something caught my eye—a shadow slipping around the corner of the hallway.

  Had someone been watching me the whole time?

  Slowly she will realise that she was unpacking something unknown to her .