I was walking home alone when my phone buzzed with a call from Cho. “Hey, what’s up?” I asked. “OMG, Nova, you won’t believe what happened!” She nearly shouted through the screen. I held the phone a little further from my ear. “No need to scream, Cho. So what happened?” I asked, excitement bubbling in my voice. “I got tickets for the BTS concert!” She shrieked. I nearly stumbled. “Wha–” I couldn’t even finish the sentence. “I know, right! It wasn’t easy—tickets sell out in minutes—but I got help from my friends, and we managed to snag two! One for me, one for you!” She said breathlessly. “Aren’t we a little too old for that?” I laughed, a playful tone in my voice. “Are you serious?” She asked, almost angrily. I could practically feel her frustration through the phone. “Okay, okay, I’ll go with you!” I conceded. “Yayy! See you there!” And with that, she hung up. I smiled to myself. This quirky girl is my best friend.
When I got home, the clock read 11:00 PM. I kicked off my shoes and slipped into my pajamas. I sighed and stared at the ceiling, exhaustion pulling at my eyelids. I fell asleep instantly, images of past BTS concerts flitting through my mind.
I woke up to the jarring sound of my alarm. It refused to be silenced, so I swatted it off my nightstand. I yawned and made myself breakfast. The concert was this weekend, and I didn’t really feel like going—it meant missing a shift, and I desperately needed the money. I shook my head and scrolled through my phone. *New update on BigHit*. I clicked on it. An image of the BTS members standing in front of a building flashed on the screen. The caption, in Korean, read, “We can’t wait to see you all this weekend!” I turned off my phone and headed to work.
It was a sunny and beautiful day, so I walked instead of taking the bus. As I passed a row of buildings, a man grabbed me from behind. “Don’t make a sound,” he hissed. I dropped my bag in shock. He pressed a knife against my throat. “Give me your money, and then I’ll let you go,” he said, tightening his grip around my neck. I started to cry, feeling helpless. He dragged me into an alley and shoved me against the wall, the knife still pointed at my throat. Slowly, I reached for my purse.
Everything seemed to freeze in time. How could this be happening to me?
Then, suddenly, the man stumbled and fell to the ground. I saw another man standing behind him. The attacker fell face-first, and lay motionless. I was completely shocked and terrified.
The man who’d intervened rushed towards me. He spoke with a strange accent. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice filled with concern. I nodded, trying to wipe away my tears. “You don’t look alright,” he said, and wrapped me in a hug. This stranger had saved me, and now he was offering comfort. I pushed away from him, trying to regain my composure. “It’s okay, really. I’m fine. Thank you for saving me. But I really need to get to work,” I said quietly. He smiled kindly. “Understandable. Mind if I walk with you?” he asked politely. “I don’t see why not,” I replied, forcing a smile.
“I didn’t catch your name,” I said as we walked side by side. “Oh, my name is—” he hesitated. “Call me Kookie,” he said, smiling. At first, I thought it sounded odd, but I didn’t dwell on it. “Your name sounds familiar. Any idea why?” I joked. He seemed nervous again. “Hey, I was just kidding. Kookie, Cookie? Got it?” I said, grinning. He relaxed a bit. “Right.”
He followed me all the way to my workplace. “Thank you for walking with me,” I said, about to turn away when he grabbed my hand. “I didn’t catch *your* name,” he said, his eyes meeting mine. I looked surprised. “Oh, it’s Nova,” I said, smiling at him. He let go of my hand and smiled back. “Nice to meet you, Nova.”
I worked as a nurse during the day and volunteered at an animal clinic when I could. I earned a good salary, and everyone was kind and supportive. It felt like my life was finally on track. I hadn’t been interested in relationships—I was consumed by my work, and I didn’t feel like I needed a man just yet. Of course, I knew I’d recognize the right one when I met him.
Today felt different. All I could think about was Kookie. Why did his name sound so familiar? And why was he wearing a cap and mask in the summer? It was as if he was in disguise. I chuckled quietly to myself, dismissing the thought as absurd.
Work was over, and finally, I could go home and rest. I grabbed my bag and stepped outside. The air was cold, and the sky was dark. The streetlights illuminated the sidewalk. I started thinking about Kookie again, remembering how we’d walked this exact route just a few hours ago. Leaves fell from the trees, swirling in the wind. It was quiet. Every now and then, a car would pass by. I started listening to “Epiphany” as I walked.
When I got home, I made dinner from leftovers. It was quiet, as usual. The same routine every day: wake up, work, eat, sleep. It was incredibly boring. Cho was the only friend I had left from school. I called her. “Cho, do you want to come over?” I asked. “I’m sorry, Nova, I can’t today. I’m staying late at work because one of my coworkers got sick, so I’m covering her shift,” she said, sounding exhausted. “Oh, do you need any help?” I asked. “No, it’s okay, I’ll manage. You should sleep. I don’t want to drag you to the concert,” she joked. I laughed. “Okay, I’ll see you.” And I hung up.
I lay back and stared at the ceiling, listening to the water flowing through the pipes in my small apartment. I wished I’d asked for Kookie’s number, so I could properly thank him. And before I knew it, I fell asleep, his image drifting through my thoughts.