Zoey zipped up her suitcase, the sound sharp in the quiet room. Her fingers lingered on the handle, trembling slightly. She stood still, staring at the packed bag on her bed. For a moment, everything felt surreal.
She was leaving.
For Seoul.
For the first time in her life, she was being recognized—not for who she knew, not for how she looked, but for something she created with her heart. Her book. The Sky Between Us.
As she sank onto the edge of the bed, tears welled in her eyes. They weren't just tears of joy—they were tears of release.
She remembered the nights she cried quietly after being betrayed by her best friend and ex-boyfriend.
She remembered hiding in the school library, escaping judgmental whispers and boys who only wanted to use her.
She remembered the day Matt started stalking her, sending creepy messages and showing up in places he had no business with.
She remembered David her male best friend who made her feel safe, only to manipulate her and run back to his ex.
She'd felt invisible in her own story.
But now… someone, somewhere, read her words and saw her.
Her pain. Her truth. Her worth.
Tonia peeked into the room. "You okay?"
Zoey wiped her tears, smiling. "Yeah. Just… overwhelmed."
Tonia stepped in and hugged her. "You deserve every bit of this. They're about to meet a star."
Zoey clutched her passport and flight ticket. "For the first time, I feel like I'm seen. Like my story matters."
And as she stepped outside, suitcase rolling behind her, she wasn't just leaving Nigeria—she was leaving behind every scar, every silent cry, every piece of the old her that believed she wasn't enough.
She was Zoey Oge. The girl who wrote her pain into a story.
And now, the world was listening.
Abuja to Seoul. It felt like her life was finally opening up. Winning the Horizon Literary Prize was already surreal, but now she was about to step into a whole new world.
Tonia sat cross-legged on the bed, scrolling through hotel recommendations.
"You're going to be in Korea, Zoey. New country, new people, new possibilities—maybe even that mysterious guy from the dating app?"
Zoey blushed, thinking of Jae Hyun( lonely tiger). The conversations they'd shared were unlike anything she'd had with anyone. He was careful with his words, always a bit distant but surprisingly gentle. There was something in his silences that made her feel seen.
What she didn't know was that thousands of miles away, Jae Hyun was pacing inside his penthouse suite in Gangnam, torn between desire and dread.
"She's coming to Seoul," he told Min Jun, who sat watching him silently.
"And that's a bad thing?" Min Jun asked, raising a brow.
"I'm falling for her," Jae admitted, voice low. "But the closer she gets, the more vulnerable she becomes. Someone already tried to kill me. My brother's death wasn't an accident. What if she's next?"
Min Jun frowned. "You think whoever's after you would hurt her?"
"I don't know," Jae whispered. "But I know how this works. People close to me… they get hurt."
His phone buzzed. A message from Zoey.
"Flight booked. I'll be in Seoul in four days. Can't wait to finally meet you lonely tiger ."
He stared at the message for minutes, heart aching. Then, slowly, he turned off the screen and tossed the phone on the couch like it burned.
Tonia zipped one of Zoey's suitcases with a smug smile.
"By the way, I have a surprise for you."
Zoey raised an eyebrow. "Another one? You already booked my airport ride and stalked the best Korean restaurants for me."
Tonia laughed. "This one's better. My boyfriend Min Jun he's in Seoul. I told him you're coming, and he agreed to show you around. He's sweet. You'll like him."
Zoey blinked. "Min Jun? You never told me his name before."
"You never asked," Tonia teased. "But yeah, he's trustworthy. He knows the city, and I want you to have someone there while I'm not with you."
Zoey smiled, touched. "Thanks, Tonia. That means a lot."
Meanwhile, in Seoul, Jae Hyun nearly dropped his glass when Min Jun casually said over the phone,
"I told Tonia I'd take care of her friend Zoey while she's here."
"You did what?" Jae snapped, standing up from his leather armchair.
Min Jun sighed. "What do you expect me to say? Tonia knows about her trip, and I couldn't just say no. Besides, you're the one hiding from her. Someone has to be there."
Jae clenched his jaw. "She shouldn't be involved in any of this."
"It's too late," Min Jun said quietly. "And honestly, I don't think she's someone you can just push away."
Four days passed in a blur of final errands, emotional packing, and quiet reflection. The reality of leaving home began to settle in, not just in her mind, but deep in her chest—like a growing ache she couldn't shake.
On the morning of her departure, Zoey stood by the door with her bag in hand, the cool morning breeze brushing against her skin. The sky was painted in soft hues of orange and blue, as though the world itself was sending her off with a blessing.
Her mother wrapped her in a warm embrace, whispering prayers only a mother could utter—half in English, half in Igbo. "Nwam, your light will shine where the world least expects it. Don't forget who you are."
Her father, never one for many words, simply placed his hand on her shoulder and nodded. "Make us proud, Zoey."
Her three younger brothers lingered by the gate, trying not to look too emotional. The youngest, barely ten, clutched a handmade card that read: "Come back with your trophy!"
But the hardest goodbye came last.
Tonia stood silently by the car, her eyes red-rimmed but determined not to cry. Zoey walked up and pulled her into a tight hug.
"You're not just my friend," Zoey whispered. "You're my sister. Thank you for always believing in me."
Tonia sniffed. "I always knew you were meant for something big. Just don't forget me when you're dining with Seoul billionaires."
They both laughed through their tears, clinging to the moment for a little longer.
Then, without looking back too many times, Zoey got into the car.
As they drove toward the airport, she took one last look out the window at the streets she once called home.
She wasn't running away.
She was chasing something bigger recognition, freedom, purpose.
The airport was buzzing with activity rolling suitcases, blinking arrival screens, and the soft hum of announcements overhead. Zoey stepped through the arrival gate, scanning the crowd. Her heart beat fast, partly from the flight, partly from excitement and maybe a little from nerves.
She spotted a tall man in a gray coat holding a cardboard sign with her name scribbled in thick black ink:
"ZOEY OGE - Welcome to Seoul!"
He grinned when their eyes met. "Zoey?"
"That's me," she smiled.
"I'm Min Jun. Tonia's boyfriend." He extended a hand. "She talks about you like you're a queen."
Zoey laughed as they shook hands. "I hope she didn't tell you everything."
"Not yet," he joked. "Come on, I'll take you to your hotel. Then maybe we grab coffee?"
What neither of them noticed was the figure watching from behind a tinted black SUV across the street.
Jae Hyun sat inside, hood pulled low, fingers clenched. His eyes followed Zoey like a secret he couldn't afford to keep. She looked so alive, so real. And yet so fragile in a city that had almost swallowed him whole.
"She's really here," he murmured.
He watched as Min Jun lifted Zoey's luggage and led her toward the car. She turned for a moment, looking around the airport as if she could sense someone watching. Their eyes didn't meet but something in her paused.
Jae's driver glanced at him through the mirror. "Should I drive?"
He didn't answer right away. He just stared after her, pain tightening in his chest. Then he whispered, almost to himself
"I can't protect her… but I can't stay away him self"
Min Jun had been the perfect guide so far. Friendly. Witty. The kind of person who made the world seem a little less intimidating.
But she couldn't help noticing something.
Every few minutes, his phone would buzz. He'd glance down, type something quickly, and tuck it away without a word.
She tried not to be nosy, but the pattern was too frequent to ignore.
"Work?" she asked one afternoon as they walked down a tree-lined path near the Han River.
Min Jun grinned. "Nope. Just a friend. He's… intense."
Zoey raised an eyebrow. "Intense like, dangerous? Or intense like, socially awkward?"
Min Jun laughed. "Both."
That only made her more curious. Who was this friend Min Jun kept texting? And why did he look so serious every time the messages came through?
She didn't ask more. But the question stayed with her .Who is he talking to?
Jãë Hyun stood by the tinted window of a high-rise office, looking down at the street below.
Min Jun had sent him another update.
She's asking about you… in a roundabout way.
He clenched his jaw.
He wanted to see her again. Not through photos. Not through Min Jun's glowing descriptions. In person. But every time he got close to that decision, something stopped him.
The pictures he'd received last week replayed in his mind bloody wreckage, his brother's twisted car.
He couldn't drag Zoey into this.
Not her.
Min Jun said she hadn't made the connection. That she didn't know he and Jae were friends. That was good.
Safer.
And yet… her voice lingered in his memory. Her laugh. The spark in her messages before everything went dark between them. Before he decided it was safer to pull back.
He reached for his phone.
Paused.
Then dropped it onto the table without typing anything.
For now, he would stay in the shadows. Watching. Protecting from a distance.
Even if it broke him.
Seoul was a patchwork of neon lights, ancient palaces, food carts, and honking taxis. As the evening settled in, Zoey leaned on the edge of the Han River promenade, hair fluttering in the breeze. Min Jun stood beside her, holding two cups of hot chocolate.
"This city never sleeps," he said, handing one to her. "Kind of like your mind, I bet."
Zoey smiled. "I can't believe I'm really here. It's so… big. Beautiful. Strange."
Min Jun chuckled. "That's a fair description. But give it a few days. It'll start feeling like a story you're meant to write."
She nodded, staring at the glowing skyline. "I don't know how to explain it, but… it already does."
Across the road, parked behind a narrow row of trees, Jãë Hyun stood beside his car, watching her again.
"She looks happy," he told himself.
Min Jun was doing his job being friendly, keeping her safe. Still, jealousy nipped at his ribs, unwanted and irrational. Jae could protect her better. He knew it. But if the people after him realized Zoey mattered…
He closed his eyes, recalling the photo sent to him just days ago his brother Ji Hoon's wreckage, the same model car Daehan Motors had proudly released months before his death. It hadn't been an accident. And now, whoever knew the truth wanted Jae dead too.
His phone buzzed. A blocked number.
He picked up, heart pounding.
"You shouldn't have let her come," the voice hissed. "She'll leave like your brother did."
The line went dead.
Panic surged. He glanced back toward the river Zoey laughing softly at something Min Jun said.
No. Not her. Not again.
He turned to his driver. "We need more surveillance. Everywhere she goes."
The man nodded.
Jae looked out at Zoey once more, whispering to himself,
"I have to keep you safe, even if you never know who I am."
That night, just as Jae Hyun was about to put his phone down, a new message buzzed in. The screen lit up with an unknown number. The message came around 11:49pm , it was short and chilling.
"She's not just your problem now. Tell 'Lonely Tiger' to stay quiet. Or we'll make her scream next."
Jãë's blood froze. His first instinct wasn't fear—it was fury.
He bolted upright from the couch, grabbed his phone, and called Min Jun.
"Hyung?" Min Jun's voice was thick with sleep.
"They know about Zoey."
A pause. Then Min Jun was fully awake. "What? That's not possible. Only you and I—"
"I don't know how, but they know. They mentioned Lonely Tiger." Jae's voice dropped. "They know we met on the app."
"That means… they've hacked you," Min Jun whispered. "Or me."
Jae's thoughts raced. How long had they been watching? Did they see the messages? Her photos? Her voice notes?
"I have to cut her off," Jae said finally. "Before they use her to get to me.
"But she's already in Seoul," Min Jun warned. "She came here for the award, yes, but she'll look for you."
"I know." He clenched his fists. "That's what scares me."
Jae Hyun's mind raced. He knew he couldn't let this go unchecked. Whoever was sending those threats was dangerously close and Zoey was the real target. Determined to protect her, he ordered his tech team to dig deeper, tracing the messages, scanning for any clues that could unmask the sender. Time was running out. If he didn't find who was behind this soon, things could spiral out of control and Zoey's life would be in serious danger.
In the hotel room, Zoey sat quietly, phone in hand, staring at the messages she had sent to Lonely Tiger three days ago.
Three days since he'd ghosted her.
She stared at her phone again, heart sinking. It wasn't like him to vanish. Sure, he was private. Mysterious, even. But in all their chats, he'd never made her feel invisible.
Until now.
She typed again.
"Hey. I'm in Seoul. I thought maybe we could finally meet up? No pressure, but I'd really love to see you."
She didn't press send.
She already knew he wouldn't reply.
Was he busy? Was she just another girl on a long list?
No. She shook her head. He wasn't like that. Or… maybe she was wrong. Maybe she was just a lonely girl chasing a fantasy.
She stared out her hotel window, watching the lights flicker across the Han River.
Of all the people in this city, he was the one she wanted to see the most.
And he was the only one who had disappeared.
Zoey settled onto the soft hotel bed, her phone buzzing insistently in her hand. She smiled as she saw Tonia's name light up the screen. After weeks of planning, struggles, and finally stepping into a new world, this call was a lifeline to home.
"Hey, Tonia!" Zoey's face lit up as the video connected. The familiar grin of her best friend filled the screen, framed by the cozy clutter of Tonia's small apartment back in Nigeria.
"Toni! You're finally in Seoul! How's it feel? Tell me everything!" Tonia's voice was full of excitement, eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Zoey laughed softly, adjusting her camera so her background showed a glimpse of the city's twinkling skyline through the window. "Oh, Toni, it's like a dream. The city is alive so bright and full of life. The neon signs, the people, the food… everything is just amazing."
Tonia leaned closer to the screen, eyes wide. "I want to hear every detail. What about Min Jun? He said he'd show you around."
Zoey nodded, her cheeks warming at the thought. "Min Jun is incredible. More charming than his pictures, really. The way he talks, the way he smiles ,it's like meeting someone you've only ever imagined. And so handsome, Toni! Honestly, the camera doesn't even do him justice. He's tall, with this calm, confident energy… and he's been so kind, showing me around, making sure I'm okay."
Tonia grinned. "I'm so happy for you, Zoey. You deserve this after everything."
Zoey's smile faded slightly, and she let out a quiet sigh. "There's just one thing…" she hesitated, fingers fiddling with the edge of her shirt. "I still haven't heard from Lonely Tiger. You remember? The guy from the dating app?"
Tonia's brow furrowed. "Wait, you mean lonely tiger? The one you met online?"
Zoey nodded. "Yeah, that's him. But since I got here, he hasn't sent a single message or called. It's like he vanished. I've sent texts, but… nothing. No read receipts, no replies. It's like he ghosted me."
Tonia's expression turned serious, her voice lowering. "That's strange, Zoey. Are you sure everything's okay? Maybe he's busy or something's come up?"
Zoey shook her head, even though Tonia couldn't see it. "I don't know. I was hoping to meet him in person. He's the only reason I felt brave enough to come here. Without him, everything feels… uncertain."
The two friends sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the unspoken fear hanging in the air.
Tonia's face softened, her eyes glistening with concern. "Zoey, you have to be careful. Sometimes people online aren't who they seem. Are you sure he's who he says he is?"
Zoey swallowed hard, memories of lonely nights scrolling through his messages flooding her mind. "I thought so. He's different from anyone I've met. He seemed sincere. But now… I'm not so sure."
The room fell quiet again. Then Zoey brightened a bit, trying to change the mood. "But Seoul is beautiful. I'm going to visit the Han River tomorrow. Min Jun says it's the best place to clear your head."
"Good," Tonia said, smiling warmly. "Just promise me you'll stay safe, okay? If anything feels off, call me immediately."
Zoey nodded firmly. "I promise."
They talked for another hour, sharing stories about home and new experiences, laughter mixing with the quiet ache of missing family. The call ended with promises to keep each other updated and a shared hope that whatever was happening with lonely tiger would soon be clear.
After hanging up, Zoey stared at the dark window, the city lights blinking below like distant stars. Somewhere out there was Lonely Tiger — mysterious, silent, and maybe more dangerous than she realized.