Hye-su tugged her cap lower over her head, glancing around the small corner café. The sun was still setting, casting a warm, orange glow over the city, but she could barely appreciate the view. Her oversized sunglasses sat awkwardly on her nose, and her face mask clung uncomfortably to her skin. Hae-won, sitting across from her, was similarly decked out in full incognito mode—sunglasses, a hoodie with the hood pulled up, and a mask that hid most of her face.
"This is ridiculous," Hye-su muttered, her voice muffled behind the mask. She poked at her plate of food, unable to relax. "I feel like we're part of some underground operation."
Hae-won snorted, lifting her coffee cup to her mouth.
"It's not like we had a choice. We've been bombarded nonstop for days. And after that guy followed me to my apartment, I'm not taking any more chances."
"That was a fan, not a stalker," Hye-su rolled her eyes.
"A fan who wanted to 'partner' with us for a game idea he sketched on the back of a napkin. No, thanks."
They had become an overnight sensation, and not in the way either of them had ever imagined. From the moment that presentation video leaked, their lives had turned into chaos. Emails, calls, offers from major tech companies, invitations to conferences—it was all coming at them from every direction. Their phones had practically melted from the sheer volume of notifications. It was exhilarating at first, but now the fame had turned suffocating. Even going out for a quick meal required disguises.
"I didn't sign up for this. I just wanted to finish the project and maybe get a decent job after graduation. Now I'm paranoid that someone's going to recognize us every time we step outside," Hye-su sighed, pushing her sunglasses up her nose.
"Fame wasn't in the plan," Hae-won agreed. "But we've been shoved into the spotlight, whether we like it or not."
The two sat in silence for a moment, the hum of the café's activity surrounding them. Despite the quiet atmosphere, Hye-su couldn't shake the feeling that someone might be watching. The anonymity of the masks and hats only made her feel more conspicuous.
"I miss being invisible," Hye-su said, picking at her food again. "It was nice when no one knew who we were."
"Same. But look on the bright side—we've changed the industry. Everyone wants a piece of NexaRealm now. That's huge," Hae-won nodded.
"Yeah, but I didn't think it'd turn us into public figures."
"Just think of it this way," Hae-won said, her voice taking on a teasing tone. "We're like celebrities now. This is what the stars go through every day."
"You can have that. I just want to eat without feeling like I'm undercover," Hye-su shot her a glare over her sunglasses.
Hae-won chuckled, but there was a weariness in her eyes. They both knew that life had taken a sharp turn, and there was no going back. The world was watching them now, and their every move was being scrutinized.
"Do you think we'll ever get used to this?" Hye-su glanced around again, half-expecting someone to jump out with a camera.
"I don't know. But we're going to have to figure it out. There's no hiding from NexaRealm now," Hae-won shrugged.
As they both resumed eating, the weight of their new reality hung heavy between them. The project that had once been their ticket to graduation had now become a global sensation, and with it, they had inadvertently stepped into a new, more chaotic world.
Their simple days as students were long gone.
As they finished their meal, Hye-su and Hae-won stood up, glancing around the café one last time before heading for the exit. Despite their best efforts to remain hidden behind their disguises, they couldn't shake the sense of unease. It had been like this ever since the NexaRealm presentation—eyes seemed to follow them wherever they went, and whispers trailed after them.
The door chimed softly as they stepped outside into the cool evening air, the city lights flickering to life. Hye-su adjusted her cap, nodding towards Hae-won.
"Let's get out of here before someone recognizes us."
"Agreed," Hae-won said, pulling her hoodie tighter around her face.
But before they could take another step, a group of men in sharp black suits appeared from the shadows, forming a semi-circle around them. The two women froze, eyes narrowing at the sudden blockade.
"What the hell?" Hye-su muttered, her instincts screaming that something was off.
The men weren't here by coincidence, and it didn't take a genius to figure out that they knew exactly who she and Hae-won were. This wasn't a simple fan encounter.
One of the men, the tallest of the group, took a step forward, clearly intending to speak, but Hye-su cut him off before he could open his mouth.
"We're not interested," she said sharply. Her voice was cold, filled with the irritation she'd been bottling up since their lives had turned upside down. "Whatever you're selling or offering, no thanks."
The man paused, clearly taken aback, but before he could recover, a woman stepped out from behind the line of suited men. She was elegant, dressed in a pristine white suit, and exuded an air of calm authority.
"Ms. Hye-su, Ms. Hae-won," the woman said smoothly, ignoring the bristling tension. "I understand your apprehension, but there's something you need to hear."
"We said we're not interested," Hye-su snapped. She moved to push past them, but the woman's next words stopped her in her tracks.
"It's about Jin-ho."
Hye-su's eyes narrowed, suspicion flaring to life.
"What about him?"
"He's with us. We're holding him," The woman smiled faintly.
Hye-su's face darkened.
"What?" She took a step forward, eyes blazing with fury. "Are you threatening us? Do you know I could report you to the police right now for kidnapping?"
Hae-won, startled by the sudden mention of Jin-ho, instinctively took out her phone, ready to call for help. But the woman raised her hand, the calm smile never leaving her face.
"I think there's been a misunderstanding. Jin-ho is not in any danger, I assure you."
"If you're trying to scare us or manipulate us, it's not going to work. Jin-ho can handle himself," Hye-su crossed her arms, her scepticism written all over her face.
"I'm sure he can," the woman said politely. "But allow me to show you something."
She pulled a sleek tablet from her bag and tapped the screen a few times before turning it to face them.
On the screen was a live video feed. Hye-su blinked, momentarily caught off guard as she saw Jin-ho sitting casually on a plush couch, laughing with a man who appeared to be some sort of executive. There was no sign of distress, no indication that he was being held against his will. He looked...relaxed. Almost too relaxed for her taste.
"What is this?" Hye-su asked, her voice suspicious.
"As I said, he's with us. He asked that you two join him. We're not here to force you, but he thought it would be better if you were both present," the woman gestured to the screen.
"You expect me to believe this? This could easily be faked—deepfakes are a thing, you know," Hye-su squinted at the screen, still not entirely convinced.
"Of course," the woman acknowledged. "But we anticipated your doubt."
She tapped the screen again, activating a microphone link. On the video feed, Jin-ho's head turned toward the camera, his expression shifting as he noticed them.
"Ah, there you are," he said with a grin, waving at the camera. "It'd be cool if you guys came too. These people are... well, they're alright. Could be fun."
Hye-su remained sceptical, her eyes flicking from the screen to the woman in front of her. But there was no mistaking Jin-ho's voice or his relaxed demeanour. Hae-won, standing beside her, was equally confused but seemed more open to the idea.
"This feels wrong," Hye-su muttered under her breath, but she knew she had no choice. If Jin-ho had requested their presence, she couldn't just walk away. Even if she didn't like it, something was drawing her in.
The woman smiled again, sensing their compliance.
"Shall we, then?" she asked, stepping aside to allow them passage.
With one final glance at Hae-won, who gave a reluctant nod, Hye-su sighed and followed the woman and her entourage down the street, her mind racing with questions she wasn't sure she wanted answers to.
As they followed the suited figures down the dimly lit street, Hye-su couldn't shake the uneasy feeling settling in her gut. Her mind raced with conflicting thoughts—Jin-ho's carefree nature, the strange timing of everything, and the odd pull she felt toward seeing him again after everything that had happened.
What did he get himself into this time? And why drag them along for the ride? She exchanged a glance with Hae-won, who looked equally uncertain. Deep down, despite her reservations, Hye-su knew they couldn't turn back now. Whatever awaited them at the end of this path, had already begun to unravel a part of their lives they thought they'd left behind.