mercury

1;

"I'm just heading to the coffee shop. Gonna catch up on some reading," she said into the phone, pulling the door of the small shop open as she spoke.

"Alright, noona. Just make sure you get home safely." The voice on the other line replied.

"I know, stop acting like I'm a grandma. I'll see you later, bye."

She hung up the phone and placed it in her back pocket, staring up at the menu, trying to decipher what she should order to drink. She had settled on a latte, hoping it would warm her up on this cold fall day. She placed her order and moved on to the 'pick up area. She pulled out the book she had tucked away under her arm, letting her eyes graze over the cover.

It was one of her favorites. She had probably read it one too many times, but could you really read something too many times? She was a hopeless romantic, so her favorite romance book had always fueled a desire to meet her own soulmate. She always looked forward to the day she would feel the sparks. She constantly thought about ways she could meet him. Perhaps in the bookstore, reaching out to pick up the same book and accidentally touching, sparks instantly flying. She hoped he would be kind, smart, loyal, brave, everything possible in a man. She let out a sigh as she knew most of the men in Seoul wore gloves, trying to prevent the meeting of their one and only. She never understood why; she's always craved the thought of having a soulmate.

"One small latte, extra foam."

She snapped out of her thoughts and tucked the book back under her arm. She took her drink, thanking the barista in the process. She moved to an empty table beside the window, carefully placing down the hit drink in her hands. She sat down in the seat, taking her book out from under her arm once again.

She opened up to the page she was currently on, the lines of the book practically ingrained into her mind. She picked up her hot drink, recoiling as soon as she held the cup up to her lips. She placed her cup down and touch her lips, frowning at how the liquid was scorching hot. She tried again, making sure to blow on it softly to try to cool it down.

She was reading her book peacefully when she felt like a pair of eyes were watching her. She subtly turned around and saw no one in the shop was looking her away. She shrugged it off and returned back to her book.

Just as she was about to turn the page, she swore she felt it again, so she turned around, yet there was no one. Frowning, she hesitantly went back to her book. Then it happened again.

She looked behind her for the third time that minute. She could've sworn there was someone watching her, but every time she looked back, she saw no one. She frowned and continued drinking her small latte, enjoying her book. She felt the crawling feeling at her back and she turned around once again.

This time, she saw a man in all black, his face covered by a mask and a cap. She quickly turned back to her book, slightly frightened by the man she had just seen. She quickly sipped up the rest of her latte and prepared to leave. She left a five dollar tip on the table, gathered her belongings, and left the small coffee shop.

She walked down the streets of Seoul, trying to decipher what that man was possibly staring at her for. She heard footsteps behind her and began to grow paranoid. She quickened her pace and walked at a noticeably faster pace. She could hear the footsteps beginning to become hastened as well. She knew for sure now.

She was being followed.

For what reason, she didn't know. But she was positive that the man in the coffee shop was definitely after her. She ran as fast as she possibly could, adrenaline running through her blood as she swiftly moved throughout the street.

She pulled herself into an empty alley, believing she had lost her stalker. She glanced around the corner, seeing no one. She took a deep breath and turned back around, sighing in relief.