The morning sun rose over Seoul, bringing with it a whirlwind of changes that Arya hadn't expected. She stood in the middle of her tiny rooftop apartment, surrounded by cardboard boxes and packing tape. Her phone was propped against a stack of textbooks, connected to a WhatsApp video call with her uncle in London.
"Have you collected the keys from the building supervisor yet, Arya mole?" her uncle's cheerful voice came through the speaker.
"Not yet, Uncle. I'm just finishing the last of my packing," Arya replied, wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead.
It still felt like a dream.
Just two days earlier, her uncle, who had been living in London for more than ten years, had called with wonderful news. One of his closest college friends, a wealthy businessman, owned a luxury apartment in one of Seoul's finest residential areas. The apartment had been empty for months, and after hearing about Arya's long daily commute and increasing expenses, he kindly offered to let her stay there rent-free.
All she had to do was keep the apartment clean and pay the utility bills.
For a struggling international student, it felt like a miracle.
"It's a very secure building, so your mother and I won't have to worry anymore," her uncle said warmly. "No more climbing those rooftop stairs during the freezing winter. Settle in first, then call me once you've unpacked."
"I will, Uncle. Thank you so much," Arya replied with a grateful smile before ending the call.
Her eyes fell on the small wooden bookmark resting on her desk. The faint scent of cedarwood still lingered on it.
K.
She carefully placed it inside her handbag.
Today was going to be a busy day.
Before moving into her new apartment, she had promised to accompany her university friend, Min-ji, to a nearby medical center for a routine check-up.
The clinic was modern, quiet, and filled with the clean smell of antiseptic.
Arya sat in the waiting area while Min-ji filled out several medical forms. As she waited, her eyes kept drifting toward the glass entrance.
Without realizing it, she found herself thinking about the mysterious stranger once again.
When Min-ji was called into the examination room, Arya walked over to the reception desk and politely asked for a cup of water.
The nurse behind the counter, a kind woman in her late thirties named Nurse Choi, smiled warmly as she handed her a paper cup.
Arya hesitated for a moment.
She knew her question sounded strange, but her curiosity had only grown stronger.
"Excuse me, Nurse Choi," she began politely in Korean. "I know this might sound like an odd question, but do you happen to know any important families or well-known people around here whose name starts with 'K'?"
Nurse Choi chuckled softly as she adjusted her glasses.
"'K'? Do you mean Kim or Kang? Those are two of the most common family names in Korea, dear. Half of Seoul's wealthy families could fit that description."
"Oh... right," Arya said, feeling slightly embarrassed.
What a silly question...
Still, she decided to explain a little more.
"I met someone recently. He was surrounded by men in black suits and arrived in a luxury car. People didn't just respect him... they seemed afraid to even look him in the eyes. It felt like he carried a cold silence wherever he went."
The smile slowly disappeared from Nurse Choi's face.
She leaned forward and lowered her voice.
"Shh... keep your voice down."
Arya's heart skipped a beat.
"You know who he is?"
Nurse Choi looked around the waiting room before speaking again.
"If the man you saw really has that kind of presence, you shouldn't be asking questions about him."
She paused for a moment.
"There are powerful families in this country. To the public, they appear to be successful businessmen or respected corporate leaders. But behind closed doors... some of them are connected to a much darker world."
A chill ran down Arya's spine.
The nurse's words matched exactly what Arya had felt the night they met.
He had seemed powerful...
Untouchable...
Almost as if he belonged to a world completely different from hers.
"Forget that you ever met someone like him," Nurse Choi said gently.
Her words were almost identical to the stranger's.
"Forget you ever saw me."
"People who get too close to those shadows often lose their peaceful lives."
By the time Min-ji returned from the doctor's office, Arya was completely lost in thought.
She spent the rest of the afternoon acting cheerful for her friend, but Nurse Choi's warning continued to echo in her mind.
That evening, Arya arrived at her new apartment building.
She stood in the grand lobby, unable to hide her surprise.
This wasn't just an apartment.
It was a luxury high-rise with polished marble floors, modern biometric security, and a professional concierge who greeted her with a polite bow.
Taking the elevator to the eighteenth floor, she tapped the keycard against the digital lock of Apartment 1802.
The door unlocked with a soft chime.
As the lights turned on automatically, Arya let out a small gasp.
The apartment was breathtaking.
Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the dazzling Seoul skyline. The modern furniture, soft lighting, and elegant interior made everything look like something from a luxury magazine.
It felt far too grand for a student from Kerala.
Yet, at the same time, it already felt comforting.
"Amma would be speechless if she saw this," Arya laughed softly as she placed her backpack on the kitchen island.
Wanting to make the apartment feel more like home, she unpacked her kitchen items first.
She took out her small steel pot, fresh ginger, and a few cardamom pods.
Within minutes, the warm aroma of Kerala-style shaya filled the apartment, replacing the cold emptiness of the luxurious space.
Holding her steaming mug, Arya walked toward the large glass window.
The city lights sparkled beautifully below.
As she admired the view, something caught her attention.
In the reflection of the glass, she noticed another luxury tower standing directly opposite hers, separated by a beautifully landscaped courtyard.
On the penthouse terrace...
A lone figure stood quietly beside the railing.
Arya narrowed her eyes.
The man wore a dark tailored suit and held a glass in one hand while silently looking over the city.
Even from that distance, his posture felt strangely familiar.
Cold.
Calm.
Untouchable.
Her breathing slowed.
No...
It can't be...
As if sensing someone watching him, the man slowly turned.
His sharp, cold eyes met hers through the distance between the two buildings.
For a brief moment...
Everything around her seemed to stand still.
It was him.
Arya stood frozen, her cup of tea trembling slightly in her hands.
She had moved across the city, believing she was leaving the shadows behind.
Instead...
She had unknowingly become the neighbor of the very man she had been trying so hard to forget.
(To be continued......)
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