A chopstick was attempting to push aside the calendar through a small eyeball-sized hole beneath it!!!
Kim Gyeong-joo's fear reached its peak.
Because living next door was that disgusting, greasy middle-aged man.
Every time she went out these past few days, that man would stare at her with those repulsive eyes!
Kim Gyeong-joo felt both terrified and furious!
Why must everyone bully her?!
In the city, even the real estate agent scammed her - clearly promised a decent place, took her money, then made excuses to extort more!!
Now she could only live in this dump.
Even here, she still gets bullied!!!
For a moment, rage overpowered fear. Kim Gyeong-joo turned and grabbed the small fruit knife from her bedside that also served as self-defense.
She flung open her door.
Rushed to the neighboring door and started pounding violently on the greasy man's door.
"You like peeping, don't you!!! Come out!!! I'll let you see enough this time!!!!!"
The late-night knocking woke the other tenants and the female innkeeper.
Figures emerged one after another.
Finally, the neighboring door opened.
The greasy man still wore his filthy white boxers and an old undershirt.
He looked lazily at Kim Gyeong-joo: "What are you talking about? What do you want in the middle of the night?"
"What do I want!? What were YOU doing!? Why did you drill a hole in the wall to peep at me!?"
Kim Gyeong-joo raged.
Seeing her armed but only arguing without taking further action.
The greasy man sneered: "Who peeped at you? Got any proof?"
Kim Gyeong-joo pointed at her room: "The hole under my calendar is proof!!!"
No one spoke up. No one stood for justice.
She said this hoping someone would check the hole under the calendar, then speak up for her, even just one word?
All just stood watching the show.
Even the female innkeeper was the same.
The greasy man grinned: "I don't know about any hole."
"Besides, this place is old. Holes are normal, right? Poor maintenance is the owner's problem - ask her to fix it for you."
"And if holes mean peeping, you've got holes too - are those for peeping as well?"
As he spoke, the greasy man's eyes roamed over Kim Gyeong-joo.
Shorts, loose and ordinary.
Yet this simple, modest outfit could stir desire in a man's eyes.
The implication and his current gaze made Kim Gyeong-joo nauseous.
Her fury burned through reason.
She raised the fruit knife to stab him.
But at the critical moment, the innkeeper rushed over and grabbed her.
"Don't be rash, don't be rash! Using a knife changes everything!"
"Let go, let go! I'll kill him, I'll kill him!!!"
Kim Gyeong-joo roared.
Seeing someone intervene, the greasy man grew bolder.
"Fuck it, you kill me? Your knife's shorter than my dick, come on, I'm right here, dare to stab me!!?"
Seeing Kim Gyeong-joo losing control.
The innkeeper quickly shot the greasy man a warning look.
His arrogance instantly deflated.
Grumbling, he said: "Fuck it, flat-chested, no-ass woman afraid of being looked at?"
Kim Gyeong-joo nearly broke down, demanding of the innkeeper: "Why stop me!"
"I'm preventing you from doing something stupid! Besides, stabbing someone here would bring cops - bad for business."
Knowing her weak spot.
The innkeeper added: "If you're really unhappy, move out tomorrow. But no refund on deposit or prepaid rent."
Kim Gyeong-joo's voice trembled with tears.
The innkeeper shifted blame: "Because you're the one who can't adjust. Not my fault."
"You inspected the place before moving in and said it was fine."
But who would check under the calendar for holes?
Kim Gyeong-joo said tearfully: "But there's a hole! He was peeping!!"
"I'll patch it tomorrow, okay? It's late - discuss tomorrow. Leave anytime if you don't want to stay."
"Stay, and I'll fix it tomorrow."
Kim Gyeong-joo again saw human cruelty.
Her emotions overwhelmed her.
But she refused to show vulnerability.
Life taught her one truth:
If you cry before others, they won't pity you - they'll see you as weak.
Kim Gyeong-joo shook off the innkeeper's grip and fled to her room.
Hearing the violent door close.
The innkeeper yelled: "Easy there."
Then muttered: "Brat. Doesn't care about others' property. Wants refunds, ha..."
She knocked on the greasy man's door.
As he peeked out, she grabbed his ear.
"You damn mutt! Can't behave even now? Even hunting prey - not these days! Crackdown outside! Exposed?"
"Die alone! Don't drag us down!!"
The greasy man winced in pain: "Got it, got it! No more peeping!"
Only then did she release him and leave.
The greasy man rubbed his ear, glanced at Kim Gyeong-joo's door, and chuckled.
Other witnesses laughed.
All returned to their rooms.
The inn quieted again.
Kim Gyeong-joo sat on bed, hugging her knees, silently crying, staring fixedly at the wall calendar.
The fruit knife gripped tightly. Read full story at novel⚑fire.net
Only her heartbeat and sobs filled the silent room.
Until an unfamiliar voice broke the balance.
"Do you want to kill them?"
Kim Gyeong-joo's pupils shrank. She tried to shout 'Who's there!?'
But couldn't open her mouth.
Panic spread as darkness swallowed her.
The surroundings transformed.
An empty expanse filled with swirling darkness, as if something sought to emerge.