Sasaeng

Chapter 5

1 1/2 Years Later...

The Thai girl is lost in a rare moment of tranquility, sipping iced tea and poring over a law book in Yeouido Hangang Park. The gentle weekend breeze and distant sound of the Han River make her forget, just for a moment, the complex layers of her life. Since she started working at a coffee shop in Myeongdong, her identity has blended into a simple rhythm of preparing coffee and balancing her studies. Her reserved demeanor and charm as the "hot barista" have, to her dismay, sparked local buzz.

She's gained a small following of coffee enthusiasts and vloggers eager to taste the drinks she makes. Most just know her as Lili, the barista with a shy smile and sharp eye for detail. Despite the attention, she avoids forming any attachments. She stays polite but distant, often declining the advances she receives with a gentle smile. Her heart remains with someone else.

Her phone buzzes, interrupting her moment of peace. Jisoo's name flashes on the screen.

"Yah! How many times have I told you, don't answer the phone like you're some CEO?" Jisoo's playful scolding makes her laugh.

Lisa laughs, already picturing her prim and proper unnie devouring a piece of fried chicken. "Could you try to chew before you call me next time? I can practically hear you inhaling that chicken."

"I don't have plans to share this with you anyway," Jisoo says with mock defiance. "But seriously, it's been a few weeks. Are you surviving over there, Miss Low-Profile Hotshot?"

"More than surviving. Just busy with classes and work." Lisa pauses, her pride obvious. "Not that you'd know, but I'm top of my class."

"Yah, stop being so full of yourself!" Jisoo chides, still munching away. Lisa smiles, comforted by the easy flow of their banter—a grounding force amid everything else."

Jisoo suddenly drops the teasing tone. "Lisayah, you know Jennie's been looking for you. She visits the coffee shop almost daily, but you're never there. Are you avoiding her?"

The mention of Jennie makes Lisa freeze. Avoiding her? She's never thought of it that way, but maybe part of her is afraid Jennie will connect the dots if they interact too closely.

She's been following Jennie from afar, sometimes close enough to catch a glimpse, yet always on guard, hiding just out of reach. A few months ago, she narrowly avoided detection when Jennie forgot her purse at the shop and turned in her direction.

"Am I... avoiding her?" Lisa muses aloud. Why does she keep looking for me? Could she suspect something?

"Yah! Are you listening?" Jisoo's voice breaks her thoughts. "You still tailing her, huh? What's the difference between that and just talking to her?"

Alright, alright," Lisa relents. "But just this once. And only because you asked."
Jisoo chuckles, her voice warming. "Trust me, she won't catch on... not yet, at least." She adds with a wink Lisa can hear through the phone.

"Oh, and I'm dropping by her condo later. She needs to hire a driver," Jisoo says casually. "Guess who's on the list of applicants?"
Lisa groans, catching the implication. "You set me up, didn't you?"

"Maybe," Jisoo answers, her laugh unrepentant. "But you can thank me after our kart-racing bet. Don't back out—no excuses!" Lisa sighs, resigned. There's no escaping Jisoo once she's got an idea.

They end the call, and Lisa heads toward the coffee shop to pick up Jisoo's usual drink before meeting her. Her mind drifts as she drives. Things with Diana have been strained. Their once-easy relationship now feels like a taut line, frayed and fragile. Diana was furious when she found Lisa's search history full of Jennie's name—a small but telling detail that revealed too much.