CHAIN ￭ NCT

￭ C . 3

Her body froze mid-motion, the words crashing into her like a thunderclap. For a moment, she couldn't move, couldn't think, just glanced at him from the corner of her eye, a knot of dread slowly tightening in her chest. The air around her seemed to thicken, and her heartbeat was a heavy drum in her ears.

Slowly, she straightened, each movement deliberate, measured.

So he does know. The thought echoed in her mind, and she could feel the weight of it settle like a shadow over her, darker and more inescapable with each passing second.

His voice resonated with strength and authority, cutting through the air between them with a sharpness that sent a chill down her spine. It wasn't just words, it was a presence, thick and unyielding, settling around her like a storm. The kind of tone that commanded attention, the kind that belonged to someone used to being obeyed. It made Opal bristle, the hairs on her neck standing on end.

"Excuse me?" she asked, her voice tight, a thin thread of irritation barely concealed beneath the surface. She wasn't sure whether she was more annoyed by his audacity or the weight of his presence.

"You heard me. Your phone," he repeated, his words clipped, each one sharp as a blade. The demand only fuelled the fire building inside her, and Opal's jaw tightened as she ran her tongue over her teeth, fighting to hold back a retort. Her temper simmered just beneath the surface, itching to break free, but she forced herself to keep it in check, to stay calm.

Opal, you're at work. At work. At work, she chanted silently, the words like a mantra, trying to ground herself before her frustration boiled over.

She was still stunning, those sculpted features etched with a quiet intensity, but his gaze? Piercing, unyielding, and his attitude? Infuriating. They'd exchanged barely a few words, yet Opal already knew: no matter how striking he looked, she couldn't stand him. He was the kind of person she would never get along with.

"I can't give you my phone," she said firmly, her voice leaving no room for argument, a wall of finality in her tone. The tension in her chest grew with each passing second, a coil tightening as she turned on her heel, eager to put distance between them. She'd refused, and that should have been the end of it.

Or so she thought.

As she moved to leave, her path was suddenly blocked, a leg casually extended in her way. Her eyes dropped to the floor, and her breath caught in her chest for a brief, frozen moment. Slowly, she lifted her gaze, her heart racing as she turned back to meet his unyielding stare.

"Delete it," he commanded, his voice even, but the force behind it was unmistakable, like a steel blade hidden beneath velvet.

A strange sensation gripped her, a shiver crawling down her spine as his commanding tone lingered in her ears. It wasn't fear exactly, but an unsettling tension that made her skin prickle, a sense of being cornered. Gulping, Opal shook her head briskly, trying to steady herself.

"Enjoy your shortbread," she muttered, her voice sharp and dismissive as she stepped over his extended foot without sparing him another glance.

She made a beeline for the counter where Won-shik was busy taking orders. Her hands trembled as she tugged at the strings of her apron, pulling it free from her body with a quick, nervous motion. Once she saw that he had finished with the last customer, she approached him, her footsteps unsteady. She tapped his shoulder lightly, her heart still pounding in her chest.

"I'm finishing my shift in ten minutes," Opal began, trying to sound casual, though the sharp edge to her tone betrayed her unease. "But is it okay if I leave early?"

Won-shik furrowed his brows, his expression skeptical. "If you check out early, you'll lose fifteen minutes of pay," he reminded her, his voice practical. "Might as well wait it out."

Opal sighed, her teeth gently sinking into her bottom lip. She hated to admit it, but he had a point. Every little bit of her paycheck counted, and forfeiting time for the sake of a quick escape felt too reckless.

Noticing her hesitation, Won-shik softened, rubbing his forehead with a sigh. "Look, I don't know why you're so eager to leave, but if you want, just go rest in the staff room until your shift's over. No one will mind."

Opal blinked at him, the suggestion offering a small glimmer of relief. "Thanks," she murmured, nodding slightly before retreating toward the back. She needed a moment away from prying eyes, especially his, to catch her breath and shake off the lingering unease that had settled into her chest.

Won-shik was always a sweet guy, and Opal trusted him not to tell their manager about her slacking off at the end of her shift. She justified it to herself, it was an extra shift she had taken on, after all. Still, she appreciated his easygoing nature, his understanding when things got tense.

After a few minutes of quiet in the staff room, she returned, placing her belongings on the counter before heading to the EPOS system to clock out. "Heading out now," she said lightly, her voice sounding more like herself now that the weight of the evening had loosened.

Won-shik glanced up at her with a small smile, his attention shifting briefly to the darkening view outside. "Got it. Be careful, it's getting late," he said, his tone casual but sincere, as though he were offering more than just a simple farewell.

Opal followed his gaze out the window and sighed. The streetlights had flickered on, casting a soft, golden glow over the pavement. "Thanks," she replied, slipping her bag over her shoulder. Then, as if the thought had just struck her, she added, "You in tomorrow?"

Won-shik nodded, his easy demeanour unchanged. Their schedules usually overlapped, except on Sundays. Opal hated working weekends, but today had been an exception, she owed Hee-sun. Last week, Hee-sun had covered her shift, and Opal had reluctantly agreed to return the favour. Now that debt was paid, and she couldn't help but feel a quiet sense of relief at being done with it.

"Yeah, I'll be here," Won-shik said with a shrug, his tone light as always.

Opal nodded, her fingers tightening briefly on her bag strap. "Alright, see you tomorrow," she said, her voice a little softer now.

As she stepped out into the cool evening air, she felt the weight of the day slowly lift from her shoulders, even if only for a moment.

"Alright, I'm heading out," Opal said, waving goodbye as she zipped up her coat. The familiar weight of her bag settled comfortably against her shoulder as she turned toward the door. With one last glance at Won-shik, she gave him a parting smile before stepping out into the cool, crisp night air.

As she reached for the café door, a fleeting impulse made her glance toward the corner where the enigmatic man had been seated. To her relief, the seat was empty. A small, quiet sense of satisfaction stirred in her chest. So much for being persistent, she thought, the tiniest hint of amusement rising despite herself. If he'd left so quickly, maybe he wasn't as intimidating as he'd seemed. Still, she wasn't about to complain, his presence had left her thoroughly on edge. Honestly, he was kind of scary.

With a final breath of the night air, Opal shook off the lingering unease and stepped into the street, eager to leave the rest of the evening behind.