The streetlights cast long shadows as you walked, heels clicking against the pavement. The after-party's champagne and music still hummed in your ears, a distant memory. You knew he was behind you not just following, but deliberately making his presence known.

Your pace didn't change. Neither hurried nor slowed. A subtle challenge.

"You're not very good at being subtle," you said, not turning around. Your voice carried a dry wit that cut through the night's silence.

Jiyong's laugh was soft, almost surprised. "Who said I was trying to be subtle?"

You stopped, turning slightly to catch him in your peripheral vision. His leather jacket, dark as the night, hung casually off his shoulders. He wasn't just following you; he was performing a carefully choreographed dance of pursuit.

"Most men would have introduced themselves by now," you said, your voice a mix of sarcasm and intrigue.

Jiyong took two steps closer. Close enough to feel the proximity, but not close enough to invade your space. A calculated move.

"Most women would have walked away," he countered, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

The city breathed around you. Your stilettos had stopped their rhythmic clicking, creating a pregnant pause in their silent conversation.

"Is this your usual method?" you asked, one eyebrow slightly raised. "Following women down empty streets?"

His smile didn't waver. "Only the interesting ones."

Jiyong closed the distance between you but with a deliberate grace. Close enough that you could smell a hint of expensive cologne mixed with the lingering scent of the party - whiskey, cigarettes, and something distinctly his.

Your breath caught from the unexpected proximity. He wasn't touching you, but the space between you felt electric. A game of psychological chess played out in the silent street.

"And what makes me interesting?" you challenged, your voice steady despite the rapid pulse you were certain he could detect.

His eyes seemed to look through you rather than at you.

"Would you believe me if I told you?"