The Perfect Match 🔥👩‍💻

Prologue

Min-Ji’s footsteps echoed through the quiet street, a dull tap against the pavement, the only sound breaking the silence. The city, usually buzzing with life, seemed unnaturally still at this hour, the air thick with an eerie calm. She wrapped her coat tighter around herself, fighting off the sudden chill that had nothing to do with the temperature. Her apartment was only a few blocks away, and she’d walked this route a hundred times before. But tonight felt different.

Tonight, she couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching her.

She glanced over her shoulder—nothing. The street was empty, just as it always was this late. The only company was the distant glow of street lamps flickering under the night sky. She picked up her pace, shaking off the unease that clung to her like a second skin.

Unbeknownst to her, a pair of eyes followed her every movement from the shadows, unblinking and focused. Someone had been watching her for weeks now. He knew her routines, her favorite café, the exact time she left for work, and how she always forgot her umbrella when it rained. He knew her, better than anyone, even better than she knew herself. But she didn’t know him—not yet.

He wasn’t a fool. He knew how to stay hidden, how to observe without being seen. He’d perfected the art of invisibility, slipping into the cracks of her world like a ghost. But tonight was different. Tonight, he was closer than ever before, his heart pounding in sync with her footsteps as he stayed just out of her sight.

Min-Ji slowed her pace as the familiar dread settled into her bones. There it was again—that feeling. The sensation of eyes burning into her back, crawling under her skin. She forced herself to take a deep breath. You’re just being paranoid, she told herself. It’s late, you’re tired, that’s all.

But then she heard it.

The softest sound, like a footstep—too deliberate, too close.

Her pulse quickened, and she came to an abrupt stop, holding her breath. Her eyes darted around, scanning the street for any sign of movement. But there was nothing. No shadows shifting, no figures lurking. Just her and the empty street.

He stood perfectly still, just a few feet behind her, blending into the darkness like he belonged to it. He held his breath, too, watching her tense posture, her slight hesitation. She was starting to sense him, starting to feel the invisible thread that connected them, pulling tighter with every second. But he wouldn’t reveal himself—not yet. This wasn’t the right moment. He had to be patient.

Patience was the key to everything.

She started walking again, faster this time. Her instincts told her to get home, lock the doors, and crawl into bed, where the world felt safe and far away. But the feeling of being watched grew stronger, creeping up her spine, crawling into her mind. Every step felt heavier, every shadow more menacing than the last.

His heart raced as he followed her. The thrill of the chase surged through his veins. She was so close now, close enough to touch if he wanted to. But he wouldn’t. Not yet. He had to wait for the right moment, the perfect moment when she would finally see him—not as a stranger, but as someone who had always been there.

Min-Ji turned the corner, her apartment building coming into view. Relief washed over her as she spotted the familiar lights glowing from the lobby. She hurried toward the entrance, her keys already in hand, fingers fumbling slightly as she reached for the door.

He stopped just before the corner, watching her reach the safety of her building. He could almost feel her relief, taste the fear she had been trying to shake off. It excited him. Knowing she had sensed him, knowing she was starting to feel the invisible presence in her life—it made his obsession burn brighter.

He waited in the shadows, his eyes locked on her as she finally unlocked the door and disappeared inside. The door clicked shut, and just like that, she was gone, out of sight but never out of his mind.

He stood there for a long time, staring at the building, a strange satisfaction settling over him. This was enough for tonight. He’d been close enough to touch her, close enough to feel the tension ripple through the air. And soon, very soon, he would make his presence known. But not yet.

He turned and walked back into the night, vanishing as quickly as he had appeared, the predator slipping away into the darkness.

Inside her apartment, Min-Ji leaned against the door, her breath shaky. She felt foolish for letting her imagination run wild, but the unease lingered in her chest. She kicked off her shoes and tossed her keys onto the counter, trying to shake off the feeling that had been clinging to her all night.

She moved to the window, pulling back the curtain just slightly to peer outside. The street below was empty, the darkness thick and uninviting. Nothing out of the ordinary. But still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that someone had been there, watching her.

Her phone buzzed on the counter, snapping her out of her thoughts. She glanced at it, frowning slightly as she saw an unknown number flash across the screen. She hesitated for a moment before picking it up.

No message. Just a single notification.

"You looked beautiful tonight."

Her heart skipped a beat, her breath catching in her throat. She stared at the words, confusion and fear swirling inside her.

Who would send that?

Her fingers trembled slightly as she dropped the phone back onto the counter. She stood there for a moment, frozen, before slowly closing the curtains.

Maybe she was imagining things. Maybe it was just some stupid prank.

But deep down, she knew.

She wasn’t imagining it. Someone was out there, watching her.