Chapter 1 - Chapter 1

Chapter 1: The Girl in Black

The “ON AIR” sign blinked softly above the glass booth of Seoul FM.

Too quiet.

Lee Hana adjusted her headphones, her fingers slightly trembling before she steadied them. She stared at her reflection in the glass—black turtleneck, long black skirt… the same as always.

“...You never change, do you?” she whispered to herself.

Outside, the host leaned closer to the mic.

“Our next guest… the mysterious voice dominating the charts lately. The girl who never smiles. Lee Hana, welcome.”

Hana leaned forward.

For a second, silence.

Then—

“Black isn’t just a color,” she said quietly.
“It’s… a boundary.”

The host blinked. “A boundary?”

Hana’s lips moved slightly, almost forming a smile—but not quite.

“It keeps people from coming too close.”

Her voice was calm… but something inside it felt broken.

Meanwhile—

High above Gangnam.

Inside Kang Global Tower.

Kang Ji-hoon swirled his glass slowly, ice clinking softly against crystal.

His eyes weren’t on the skyline.

They were locked onto the tablet screen.

On her.

“...Interesting,” he murmured.

Secretary Kim stood behind him. “Chairman?”

Ji-hoon leaned back, eyes still fixed.

“She looks like she’s about to disappear,” he said.
“But she’s still standing.”

A pause.

“People like that are dangerous.”

Secretary Kim adjusted his glasses. “Shall I gather more information about her?”

Ji-hoon smiled faintly.

Cold. Beautiful.

“Find the café she goes to after work.”

“Yes, sir.”

Ji-hoon added, almost lazily—

“And buy all the black orchids in Seoul.”

Secretary Kim froze. “All of them…?”

“Every. Single. One.”

“Chairman… those are extremely rare—”

Ji-hoon cut him off, voice soft but absolute.

“That’s why.”

Silence filled the room.

“I want her to notice,” Ji-hoon said quietly.
“I want her to feel… watched.”

Later that night—

The streets of Yeouido were cold and restless.

Hana stepped out of the station, pulling her coat closer.

Her breath fogged in the air.

“...I need coffee,” she muttered.

Her phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

She hesitated.

Then answered.

“Hello?”

No response.

Just… breathing.

Her grip tightened.

“Who is this?”

Then—

A low male voice.

“Do you like black flowers?”

Hana froze.

“...What?”

The call ended.

She stood there, heart pounding.

Slowly—

Very slowly—

She turned her head.

Across the street—

A black car.

Engine running.

Windows dark.

And for a brief second—

She felt it.

Someone… watching her.