Chapter 11: The Strange Boy, Lee Hwi-jun(11)

“Stalker…?”

Yoo Da-hyun couldn’t help but be stunned when she saw Lee Hwi-jun  suddenly appear and open the classroom door.

He was someone who shouldn’t be here, someone who had no business being in this place.

Why on earth was he here?

Could he really be a stalker who had followed her here?

She froze, her mind racing with these thoughts, trying to comprehend the situation.

“…Why aren’t you going home?”

Lee Hwi-jun  asked, his voice tinged with what seemed like irritation, as he looked at her from across the room.

“Ah, well, you see…”

Yoo Da-hyun almost blurted out the truth without thinking—I don’t want to go home with you, but the moment she realized how dangerous such a statement would be, especially in a classroom where only the two of them were present, she quickly thought of an excuse.

“I… I just thought I might study a little in the classroom today. I feel like I’ve just been playing too much lately.”

“…Hah.”

Lee Hwi-jun  sighed deeply, his frustration still apparent.

His sigh seemed to imply, ‘Do you really think I asked you because I’m curious about why you’re here? I’m asking because I’m wondering why you’re avoiding me.’

His expression seemed to blame her for not leaving the classroom on time.

Realizing the awkwardness of the situation, Yoo Da-hyun, feeling the pressure, quickly tried to shift the conversation.

“Why… why aren’t you going home? Why are you here?”

The moment the words left her mouth, Yoo Da-hyun felt Lee Hwi-jun ‘s gaze on her—a look that seemed to say, ‘Do you really not know why I’m here?’

It felt like he was implying she should know why he came here.

Oh no, I shouldn’t have asked that…!

If Lee Hwi-jun  answered with something like, ‘Don’t you realize I came here because of you? what would she do then?’

Her heart raced, and cold sweat began to bead on her forehead as she mentally scolded herself for her hasty question.

“I was thinking of studying here too, actually,” Lee Hwi-jun  replied calmly, as if he had no intention of drawing attention.

Yoo Da-hyun let out an internal sigh of relief.

It was as though a weight had been lifted off her chest.

But then, Lee Hwi-jun  walked over and placed his bag down on the seat next to hers—the one by the window.

Yoo Da-hyun’s stomach sank.

Why did he have to sit right next to her when there were so many empty seats in the classroom?

Why can’t he sit somewhere else…?

She desperately wanted to voice her frustration, but the last thing she wanted was for Lee Hwi-jun  to misinterpret it as her being upset about him sitting next to her.

If he did, things could turn even worse.

Yoo Da-hyun had to endure the discomfort and silently watched as Lee Hwi-jun  pulled out his book and started studying, as if to show he was really going to focus.

She couldn’t help but sneer at him in her mind.

Of course, now you’re pretending to study, huh?

Trying to cover up your stalker-ish behavior with a little bit of pretense…

But after a moment, her sneer faltered.

Wait… is he actually studying for real?

The thought flickered across her mind as she observed Lee Hwi-jun ’s focused demeanor.

There was no hint of pretense.

Maybe… maybe I’ve misunderstood?

Perhaps, he wasn’t here because of her after all.

Maybe he had just come to the classroom to study like anyone else would.

It wasn’t like he knew she was still here or that she hadn’t gone home yet.

Yeah, how could he possibly know?

He has no way of knowing whether I left or stayed in the classroom.

It made more sense now.

Perhaps it was just a coincidence that they happened to be in the same room at the same time.

Lee Hwi-jun  wasn’t a stalker—just a strange guy with no malicious intent.

Feeling lighter, Yoo Da-hyun relaxed a bit and considered leaving.

Wait a minute, if that’s the case… why am I even still here?

She had no real reason to stay.

She wasn’t planning to study.

She could just leave and go home.

As she stood up to gather her things, Lee Hwi-jun  suddenly looked up, his head turning slightly as he asked, “Where are you going?”

“Uh? Oh, I just remembered my mom asked me to run an errand… I think I should go home now. You keep studying, and can you drop the key to the classroom at the teacher’s office on your way out?”

Having just lied about staying to study, Yoo Da-hyun didn’t want to look suspicious or odd in front of Lee Hwi-jun. 

She quickly came up with an excuse to leave.

“Really? That’s good,” he responded, but then, to her surprise, he closed his book.

Yoo Da-hyun was taken aback.

“Uh… aren’t you going to study anymore?”

“Yeah, if you’re leaving, I might as well go too. I have to get home before it gets dark,” Lee Hwi-jun  said, packing his bag.

He seemed determined to leave with her, and that unnerved her.

Before she could stop herself, she blurted, “Right… actually, my mom said I don’t have to do the errand anymore, so you go ahead. I’ll study a bit more and then leave.”

Lee Hwi-jun  froze, staring at her with a look that seemed to ask, Are you joking with me?

His eyes were intense, and Yoo Da-hyun stumbled over her words.

“…Why? Are you not going home?”

“Well, actually, I’m thinking I’ll just study here a bit more. It’s not like I can’t study at home, right?”

Yoo Da-hyun’s heart sank.

This… this wasn’t just a coincidence after all, was it?

As she reluctantly picked up her book and sat back down next to him, she realized that Lee Hwi-jun  had no intention of letting her go home alone.

So, he wasn’t just some strange guy after all… he really is a stalker…

Her mind raced with panic as she tried to come up with a plan.

I’ll have to wait for him to leave the room, even if it means sitting here for hours, because if I leave now…

As time passed, the evening grew late, and Yoo Da-hyun’s frustration built.

Her stomach growled in hunger, but Lee Hwi-jun  didn’t seem to move an inch, his focus never wavering from his book.

How can he sit there for so long without needing a break?

Doesn’t he need food or a bathroom break?

She couldn’t take it anymore.

I can’t stand this…

I’m going to make a run for it!

Yoo Da-hyun shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her legs restless, her mind in turmoil.

Her stomach growled loudly, a reminder that she hadn’t eaten all day.

Her eyes flickered toward the door—no sign of him budging.

Why is he so focused?

She thought bitterly.

He’s been sitting here for hours, and he hasn’t even moved once.

How can anyone concentrate that much on studying?

Is he some kind of machine?

She glanced over at him again.

His posture was straight, his eyes fixed on his textbook.

Every now and then, he would glance out the window, but for the most part, he was completely absorbed in whatever he was reading.

Yoo Da-hyun couldn’t help but feel frustrated.

This wasn’t how she imagined this situation unfolding.

She had hoped for a simple escape, a chance to leave without him following, but now, with the hours ticking by and the classroom growing darker, she realized that her plan wasn’t going to work unless she acted soon.

She leaned back in her chair, trying to steady her nerves.

I just need to wait for the right moment.

Her mind raced through every possible scenario—how she could escape, how she could get out without drawing attention, without him noticing her.

Every time she thought she had a plan, something about the situation shifted, and she found herself frozen in indecision.

Minutes dragged by.

The dim light from the setting sun filtered through the window, casting long shadows across the classroom.

Yoo Da-hyun couldn’t focus on anything.

Her thoughts kept circling back to the same terrifying realization.

He’s not going to let me leave…

Her heartbeat quickened.

She didn’t want to make a scene.

She didn’t want to attract any attention.

But how much longer could she sit here, pretending like everything was normal?

How long would it be before he figured out that she wasn’t just studying like he was?

The door of the classroom creaked open suddenly, and Yoo Da-hyun’s heart leapt into her throat.

Her eyes darted toward the entrance, but it was only a teacher who stepped inside, checking on the students.

The teacher gave them a brief, uninterested glance, then left just as quickly.

Yu Dahyun exhaled a shaky breath, relieved it wasn’t Lee Hwi-jun  deciding to leave the classroom for a moment.

She looked over at him again, this time with a feeling of panic.

I have to get out of here…

I just can’t stand this anymore.

She had to go.

It was now or never.

The room was nearly empty, the school day was over, and there was nothing left to keep her here.

She had a brief window of opportunity.

If she didn’t leave now, she might never get a chance again.

Her heart thudded in her chest as she grabbed her bag.

Her fingers fumbled with the zipper, and she almost dropped it in her haste.

Lee Hwi-jun  looked up at her suddenly.

Their eyes met.

His gaze, though, was steady, almost unreadable.

Yoo Da-hyun froze in her tracks.

He had noticed.

He stood up from his seat and walked toward her with deliberate steps, his expression neutral but intense.

Yoo Da-hyun’s stomach churned.

“Leaving so soon?” he asked, his voice low, but there was an undercurrent of something—something that made Yoo Da-hyun feel like she couldn’t breathe.

“Uh… yeah,” she replied, her voice sounding unnaturally loud in the stillness of the classroom.

“I… I have to go. My mom might need me for something.”

Lee Hwi-jun  didn’t say anything right away.

He just watched her, his eyes scanning her face, his lips slightly parted as if he was waiting for something more.

His silence made Yoo Da-hyun even more uncomfortable.

Then, he took a small step closer, his gaze never leaving hers.

It was unsettling, the way he was studying her.

It felt like he was measuring her, trying to understand her every move.

“You don’t have to leave just yet,” he said, his tone casual, but there was an edge to it, something that made Yoo Da-hyun feel cornered.

“We can study together. There’s no rush, right?”

Yoo Da-hyun’s breath hitched.

This was exactly what she feared—a sense of pressure, an expectation.

Her mind screamed at her to leave now, to get out before it was too late.

But at the same time, there was a part of her, a small, doubtful part, that wondered:

What if he’s really just studying?

What if I’ve misunderstood everything?

She pushed that thought away immediately.

She couldn’t afford to be that naive anymore.

“No, really, I have to go,” Yoo Da-hyun said, her voice shaky but firm.

“I’ll… I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She hurried toward the door, not daring to look back, but she could feel Lee Hwi-jun ’s eyes on her, following her every movement.

The moment she stepped outside the classroom, a wave of relief washed over her, but the nagging feeling in the back of her mind wouldn’t let go.

She was free for now, but for how long?

She couldn’t shake the feeling that Lee Hwi-jun  wasn’t finished with her yet.

In the end, unable to hold back any longer, Yoo Da-hyun suddenly stood up from her seat.

Lee Hwi-jun, who had been reading his book, lifted his eyes and turned to ask,

“…Where are you going?”

As if implying she couldn’t go anywhere without his permission, Lee Hwi-jun said this, and Yoo Da-hyun, despite feeling embarrassed, shouted,

“To the bathroom…!”

After a brief silence, Lee Hwi-jun quietly returned his gaze to the book, as though granting permission.

Seeing this, Yoo Da-hyun immediately rushed out of the classroom and headed straight for the bathroom.

“Ahh… I feel like I can breathe…”

After taking care of her business in the bathroom, she sat on the toilet, feeling a sense of liberation as her body seemed to relax.

Then, a thought suddenly struck her.

‘…Huh? Shouldn’t I be able to sneak out like this?’

Now that she had escaped Lee Hwi-jun’s watch, it was the perfect time to escape.

‘Ah… but my wallet and phone are in my bag…’

However, her precious items were all in the bag she had left in the classroom.

Without them, she wouldn’t even be able to take the bus home.

Still, was it right to leave them behind…?

Yoo Da-hyun briefly hesitated, but then quickly changed her mind.

‘No… It seems like he lets me go to the bathroom, so I could just pretend to go again and sneak off with the wallet and phone.’

From spending hours together in the classroom just studying, she didn’t find Lee Hwi-jun to be so terrifying that she would have to leave her phone and wallet behind.

After all, even though he was a stalker, he still let her go to the bathroom, so he didn’t seem to be completely merciless.

‘In that case, I’ll take advantage of his mercy.’

With that thought,Yoo Da-hyun returned to the classroom.

‘It’s been about 30 minutes… should I go for it now?’

She then stood up slowly after spending about 30 minutes in the bathroom, careful not to raise suspicion.

“…Where are you going?”

Again, Lee Hwi-jun turned his head and asked, this time Yoo Da-hyun swallowed nervously before answering.

“…I’m going to the bathroom. Why?”

Seemingly satisfied with her answer, Lee Hwi-jun turned his attention back to his book.

Seeing that Lee Hwi-jun was fully immersed in studying again, Yoo Da-hyun carefully took her wallet and phone from her bag, making sure not to make a sound.

Just as she was about to leave the classroom, a cold voice came from behind.

“…Why are you taking your wallet to the bathroom?”

“Ahh…!”

‘Caught…!!’

Bang!

Having been caught, there was only one option—escape.

Yoo Da-hyun slammed the classroom door shut and immediately started running, gritting her teeth.

Screech, bang!

Thud, thud, thud!

And right after, she heard the sound of the door being violently slammed open, followed by the sound of footsteps chasing her from behind.

‘I need to run…!’

With that thought, Yoo Da-hyun ran toward the school’s exit, not thinking about anything else.

But, Thud!

In just a few seconds after leaving the building, a hand grabbed her wrist from behind, and Yoo Da-hyun screamed in panic.

“Ugh…! Ugh!”

However, as if expecting her to scream, the hand immediately covered her mouth, muffling the sound.

And as she twisted and struggled, Lee Hwi-jun’s low voice whispered into her ear.

“…It’s better to be quiet. You won’t want to get hurt.”

‘Eeek…!’

At the warning that she wouldn’t be safe if she made a sound, fear washed over Yoo Da-hyun.

Why didn’t she realize how serious this was sooner?

The person behind her could easily overpower her, and depending on the situation, might even hurt her.

How could she have been so naive to think he had some mercy?

“Ugh… uhh…”

Tears began to fall from her eyes as fear and regret consumed her.

At that moment, Lee Hwi-jun, seemingly flustered, muttered.

“Ah… wait, don’t cry… I know I might seem scary, but I’m doing this because I’m worried about you…”

Upon hearing that, Yoo Da-hyun remembered an interview with a stalker who had killed his victim that she had seen on the news.

The stalker had also claimed that he did it because he liked the victim, because he cared for them.

Could it be that he…

No… I don’t want to die…!

“…I know it’s hard to believe, but there’s a dangerous person who wants to hurt you. They’ve been following you and waiting near the school gate. So don’t go home alone.”

As soon as she heard this, the words became a blur.

Her mind was filled only with the thought of surviving by any means necessary.

So Yoo Da-hyun, Crunch!

“Ugh…!”

Bit down hard on Lee Hwi-jun’s hand, which had loosened for a moment, and then fiercely shook off the arm that was holding her.

She ran toward the school gate with all her might.

The sound of footsteps pursuing her grew louder, and an urgent voice shouted from behind.

“Ugh, Yoo Da-hyun…! Stop…!!”

Hearing the shout, Yoo Da-hyun screamed in desperation.

“Go, go away…! You crazy stalker…! If you follow me, I’ll report you…!”

“Stop…! The person I told you about is at the school gate…!”

Just as she ran past the school gate, again, a hand grabbed her wrist with a chilling touch.

“Aahh!! No! Let go! Let go…!!”

Yoo Da-hyun screamed and turned around frantically.

And there, “…!”

She saw Lee Hwi-jun still running toward her.

“…Huh?”

If he was over there, ‘Then who is it that’s holding my wrist right now?’

Yoo Da-hyun’s mind went blank as she turned her gaze.