Dohyun walked himself home, hands buried in his pockets, head still buzzing from the dull aftermath of last night. The streets felt too awake for how heavy his body was. Halfway down the road, he slowed.
Tire tracks.
Fresh. Darker than the surrounding dust, pressed deep into the pavement as if the vehicle had lingered. They hadn't been there yesterday. He was certain of it. His gaze followed the marks, noting how they curved slightly, how they suggested more than one car had passed through.
So someone had been here. Last night.
He lifted his head and scanned the surroundings. The road was narrow, not usually used unless you lived nearby or had a reason to. His eyes caught on a familiar storefront. The convenience store.
The same one where he'd met Kil for the first time.
Dohyun hesitated, then turned.
The bell above the door chimed as he stepped inside. Cool air greeted him, along with the low hum of refrigerators. Behind the counter wasn't Migs, though. Instead, a girl stood there, hair tied into a neat bun, posture lively, eyes sharp and curious. Her name tag read Kyuri.
"Good morning," Dohyun said easily, offering a practiced smile. "Is Migs out for the day?"
It bounced right off her.
"Migs? Yeah, he's night shift," she replied, words tumbling out fast, voice bright. "You must be new. Never saw you here before."
"Y-Yeah," he said, pausing. "I think… four days? Yeah. About four days."
"Oooh." Her eyes lit up. "I'm Kyuri. Nice to meet you, Oppa."
Oppa already. Bold.
He blinked once, then chuckled lightly. "I'm Dohyun. Nice to meet you too. I'll just go check the beer first."
With that, he escaped down the aisle, grabbing what he needed. Daily necessities. Instant food. A few things that made the apartment feel less borrowed. As he moved through the store, he caught it again.
Still, he could feel it.
Kyuri's eyes flicked toward him more than once. Too often to be accidental. Not blatant. Curious. Studying.
He'd felt that kind of attention before.
Where?
He paid, thanked her, and left. The bell chimed again, too cheerful.
On the walk home, grocery bag swinging lightly at his side, the feeling followed him. He'd felt it before. That sensation of being observed not as a person, but as a detail.
Where had he felt that before?
The elevator ride up was quiet. On one of the stops, the doors opened to reveal an old man and a small boy. The boy's eyes immediately locked onto the grocery bag, specifically the corner where chocolate bars peeked out.
Dohyun smiled despite himself. "You want some?"
The boy nodded, shy but honest.
He handed over two bars. The old man chuckled softly.
"You must be the new tenant," the man said, his voice warm.
"Yeah. I moved in on Mother's Day, so… four days now," Dohyun replied. "I'm starting to like it here."
"I'm Benjamin," the man said. "This is Jen. I live a floor above you."
"I'm Dohyun." He hesitated, then added, "Sorry I haven't given out rice cakes yet. My mom insisted on making them, but she hasn't contacted me."
Benjamin waved it off easily. "No rush. You'll get to it when you get to it."
The elevator dinged.
Jen bolted out first, spotting his mother unlocking their door. He rushed to help, proudly inserting the key and twisting it. Before disappearing inside, he glanced back and gave Dohyun a small wave.
Dohyun returned it, smiling.
The door across the hall clicked shut.
The hallway fell quiet.
He walked down the hall toward his own apartment, steps slower now, comforted by the small interaction. His hand reached into his pocket for his keys.. He lifted one toward the lock, pushing forward—
The door moved.
It creaked open slightly before the key even entered.
His breath caught.
Unlocked.
His senses sharpened instantly. The apartment beyond was dim, still. He didn't have his gun. He registered that absence with cold clarity.
Then a voice spoke from inside, calm, expectant, already too familiar.
"Come in, Mister Dohyun…"