Chapter 4
“I’m Choi Jung-wook, manager to Yoo Hari.”
As Jung-wook presented his ID, the security guard checked it and opened the iron gate. Seeing how strictly outsiders were barred from entering the studio, Hari felt a bit reassured.
Stretching her arms, she stepped out of the car and headed toward the waiting room.
The commercial she was filming today was for Cha Vita, the number one energy supplement on the market.
The shoot would be divided into three concepts: a forest hike, a cherry blossom picnic, and a treadmill run at the gym.
“Good! That’s it—so pretty. You look absolutely beautiful.”
To draw out a natural, pleasant smile from the actress, the director kept up a constant stream of praise, which helped create a very positive atmosphere on set.
After smoothly finishing the first shoot, Hari changed into a thin chiffon dress while the staff installed artificial cherry blossom trees on the set.
“Ugh… it’s cold.”
Though it was supposed to be spring, the lingering chill of late winter made the outfit far from comfortable. The chiffon brushing against her bare skin felt less soft and more irritating.
“I’m going to the restroom for a bit.”
After giving her manager—who was on the phone—a quick heads-up, Hari stepped out of the waiting room and began searching for the restroom.
She wandered down several corridors, eventually reaching a secluded area, but still couldn’t find it. Just as she turned back, she ran into a staff member wearing a fluorescent vest.
“Excuse me… do you know where the restroom is?”
He pointed to the stairs beside him.
“I saw one upstairs.”
“Thank you.”
After giving a small nod of thanks, she climbed the stairs. With each step, the hem of her chiffon dress fluttered lightly. She pressed it down with her hand, but for some reason felt uneasy and glanced back.
The staff member who had given her directions was still standing there, watching her.
What…?
The moment the question crossed her mind, he pulled his cap lower over his face and disappeared from sight.
It left her feeling unsettled, but since she soon spotted the restroom just ahead, she tried to brush it off.
Because the area was so deserted, an inexplicable chill crept over her, and she hurried to finish and leave.
Then—
Click.
A strange sound echoed.
Right outside the door.
Not outside the restroom—right outside her stall.
“Huh?”
Surely she had misheard. Thinking it must be nothing, she quickly unlocked the latch and pulled the door.
Rattle—! Clank, clank. Bang!
No matter how hard she pulled or pushed with all her strength, the door wouldn’t budge.
At first, she simply thought it was broken. With such tight security at the studio, it was hard to immediately suspect an intruder. She didn’t want to believe it.
If I climb out through the top…!
Clinging to a sliver of hope, she looked up—but the stall was enclosed all the way to the ceiling. It was a perfect sealed room.
She began banging on the door and shouting.
“Is anyone there? Someone’s trapped in here! Please help!”
No matter how hard she pounded, the sound didn’t seem to carry far.
And then—
Shhk.
A presence.
Heavy, rough breathing—clearly a man.
And very close. Right outside the door.
“—!”
Hari clamped both hands over her mouth, trying to stifle even her own breathing. In the silence, the sounds beyond the door became even clearer.
Click.
A dull sound, like a cassette button being pressed.
Then a distorted voice played.
“Yoo Hari. Leave the entertainment industry. This is your warning. If you don’t… I’ll kill you.”
She couldn’t even exhale properly; her throat tightened, and tears streamed down her face.
It felt like he might open the door and come in at any moment. Instinctively, she grabbed the door—though it wouldn’t open—and held it shut instead.
She cried silently, knowing it was useless, repeating to herself over and over:
Don’t cry. Get a hold of yourself. Please, get a hold of yourself, Hari.
She desperately clung to her composure, hoping the presence would disappear.
After what felt like an eternity, she finally heard movement.
She stopped even the breath she had barely been releasing. The presence grew more distant—then she heard the entrance door open and close.
Did he leave?
There was no sign of anyone anymore. It seemed he had really gone.
She couldn’t believe it.
He hadn’t harmed her directly—just locked her in and left.
Was his only goal to deliver a threat and terrify her?
Who would do something like this—and why?
She had always lived honestly. She had never wronged anyone.
Click. The lights went out.
“Ah…”
With no windows, the sealed space was instantly swallowed by complete darkness. She couldn’t see a thing—not even what was right beside her.
“Why… what did I do wrong…?”
Hari broke down, sobbing.
If the goal had been to frighten her, it had worked perfectly.
What the culprit didn’t know—or perhaps did—was that she suffered from claustrophobia.
A child who does wrong must be punished, right?
At six years old, in the orphanage she had first been sent to, the director would often beat her.
The reasons were trivial—leaving food uneaten, not helping with newborns.
To avoid attention, the director would lock the children in bathroom stalls and beat them.
Eventually, a volunteer discovered the abuse, and the director was imprisoned. Peace returned to the orphanage—but many children, including Hari, were left with claustrophobia.
“…Sob…”
Trembling from both cold and overwhelming fear, her breathing grew ragged. It felt as if she might die of a heart attack at any moment.
No matter how hard she tried to calm down, she couldn’t.
“Please… someone find me… sir… Mr. Cha Jisang…”
As she endured what felt like an eternity, she repeated only one name over and over:
Cha Jisang.
She recalled his words about her being stubborn and regretted it.
I won’t be stubborn anymore. I won’t push through schedules just to be considerate. I’ll take care of myself…
Desperately—so desperately—she waited for the bodyguard who would come to save her.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
“Ms. Yoo Hari! Are you in there?!”
At last, his deep voice rang out.
“I’m here!”
She forced the words out, trying to shout that she was here, that she needed help—but her voice wouldn’t come out properly.
Worried it might not reach him, she strained herself again—when suddenly, with a tremendous crash, the metal door shook violently.
“Ms. Yoo Hari!”
The light flicked back on as his voice came closer.
Hari opened her eyes and pushed herself up.
Following the faint sound of her breathing, Jisang pounded on the door.
“You’re in here, right?”
At that, her voice finally broke free.
“…I’m here. Please save me.”
“It’s okay now. You’re safe. Just breathe.”
“Ahh…!”
“Don’t cry.”
“…Hic.”
“Don’t cry. Listen to my voice.”
His voice was so warm that it only made her cry harder.
Being told not to cry only made the tears fall more.
Oblivious to that, Jisang kept trying to soothe her.
“How much space is behind you?”
At his question, she turned and looked.
“There’s enough space.”
“I’m going to break the door. There’s a padlock on it, and it’ll be faster to break it than get cutting tools. So move as far back as you can. Don’t get hurt.”
“Okay.”
Hari pressed herself tightly against the back wall.
Hoping only the handle would break—but worried the entire door might collapse—she raised her arms to shield her face.
Bang! Bang!
The sound of him kicking the door echoed.
It was louder and more violent than she had expected, and she even worried he might get hurt.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
After several more kicks—
Crash!
The lock snapped off, and the door creaked open on its own.
“Hari—are you okay—!”
Before he could finish, Hari, who had been crouched in the corner trembling, threw herself straight into his arms.
“Why did you come so late…? Do you know how scared I was?!”
Her tearful, childish sobs soaked into his shirt.
