Suddenly, it's eerily quiet in the store. I can hear my own heartbeat. My future murderer straightens his back and lets out a low laugh. He takes off his mask and sunglasses. I take a step back, thinking about the things that I have said to him. I already said enough that could offend him. He wouldn't kill me because of that, would he? If he is offended, I would rather have him sue me.
I don't want to die. I am only twenty-one years old. My life has just started. I will finish college this year. I want to experience the perks and lows of life. I want to enjoy the frustrating pain of job-hunting after college. I want to fall in love, get married, and have children who might have extraordinary problems like me. After I die, my parents will blame themselves for letting me go to another city to study. My older brother will become depressed because he wouldn't have his cute little sister anymore. My best friend will cry her eyes out and name her daughter after me. I don't want any of that. I want to live.
I should run. Run. Yes, Run. My feet aren't listening to my commands. I am wreaked. My heart is beating too fast. It makes me nervous because I know that I am nervous and afraid. My vision is blurry. I can hear his loud steps and the sound of his breath. He slams his hand on the wall near my head and looks down at me.
"Listen." His voice is low and hoarse. "I will kill you if you ever..."
***
"Kang Si An, I didn't know that you would start dressing like a psychopath and abduct women at night." Someone is yelling in a high-pitched voice. "How many times I have told you to take care of your addiction to chocolates? You are twenty years old for god's sake? What will we do now?"
"It's not my fault, Manager Jeong." Kang Si An reply, clearly annoyed and cantankerous like an old man. "I just wanted to buy some chocolates. Suddenly, she screamed my name and passed out on the floor."
"She just passed out?" The woman cackles. "You didn't do anything? You want me to believe that."
"I didn't do anything extreme." Kang Si An's voice becomes lower, barely audible. "I might have threatened her a bit..."
"You threatened her?"
This is good. I keep pretending to sleep.
"Yes, I wanted her to scare her a bit. If she told the media that she saw me at the store buying candies, it might become..."
"YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE DONE IT IF YOU WERE EVER WORRIED ABOUT THAT."
"Manager Jeong, I didn't even finish threatening her. She just passed out. I didn't know what to do. So, I brought her here. The doctor said that she had a panic attack. She will be fine, but she hasn't woke up."
Panic attack? I see. I open my one eye slightly to peek at them. The woman is in her late thirties and pretty chic. She has dark hair and penetrating eyes. Her lips are getting paler as she speaks. She seems enraged, ready to tear him into pieces.
"You even called the doctor before you called me." The woman gives him a half smile. I am glad that I am not in his position. He looks like a small mouse in front of an angry cat.
"I was worried. What if she was dead?" Kang Si An gathers up his courage and looks up at her. "What if she had a heart attack because she saw me? She is a fan, you know."
"If she was dying, you should have called the cops and doctor at the store. Then, you should have left before they arrived. I would have handled everything." She points at the clock on the wall. "You called me now? Do you know your situation?"
"I couldn't leave her there...alone. She is a female." He bows down his head like a cute mouse. I am touched. My murderer doesn't seem that bad. He could have left me there, but he couldn't because he was worried about me. "I thought that I would talk to her about the matter and pay her to keep her mouth shut after she wakes up, but now..."
What now? What happened? I want to know more. Keep talking. I don't want money. All I want is that you wouldn't kill me in the future.
"Someone saw you abducting her last night. They have called the cops. They saw your face on the CCTV." She sits down and covers her face with her hands. "Why did you not cover your face? You even used your car. They must be coming here as we speak. The media...They can ruin stars like you in a second. I can't...oh god..."
I see. I have the advantage in this situation.
"Only this girl can save you." I close my eyes before she turns to face me. "It depends on her statement."
So, I have the advantage.
"What should we do?" He asks in a grave voice.
"Wake her up first." I sense someone getting close to me. Should I wake up now? No, she would know that I have been listening.
"Argh!" Suddenly, a bucket full of cold water is splashed over my head. I sit up, lose my balance, and fall on the floor. I cough loudly and wipe my face. I stare at her. "Who are you?"
"You are awake now." Manager Jeong gives me a slow smile. "Nice to meet you. I am Jeong Ri Ra."