The Overcoat's Secret

Despite my efforts to ignore his presence, the sensation of his gaze was inescapable, like a tangible weight pressing against the back of my neck. The café, usually a haven of chatter and clinking cups, was eerily silent, accentuating my discomfort. I knew I should have just left, but the thought of walking past him, the stranger who had trailed me since the train station, filled me with a cold dread. The familiarity of his brown overcoat haunted me. What could he possibly want from me?

I took a moment, gathering my courage with a few deep, steadying breaths. Then, summoning every ounce of resolve, I rose from my chair. My legs, heavy with apprehension, begrudgingly carried me forward. With each step, I was acutely aware of the possibility that he might continue his pursuit. But I had to reach the exit.

As I neared my escape, my heart pounding in my ears, the man suddenly stood up. He blocked my path with an unsettling calmness. A lump formed in my throat as I nervously swallowed, trying to find my voice.

"Excuse me," I managed to utter, though he remained motionless, an unyielding obstacle.

"Fuk Kim," he said, his voice eerily calm. The sound of my name on his lips sent a shiver down my spine. He knew me. But how?

"Please, let me pass," I pleaded, my voice barely concealing the tremble of fear.

"I have something for you," he said, his voice even, as he extended his arm. In his hand was a small, white envelope. "It's meant only for your eyes."

My mind raced with uncertainty and fear. "Will you leave me alone if I take it?" I asked before I could stop myself. He nodded slowly, an enigmatic expression on his face.

Reluctantly, I reached out and took the envelope from him. The moment it was in my grasp, he turned and walked away, disappearing through the café's exit. Confusion swirled in my mind. Why had he followed me, just to deliver this mysterious envelope?

With trembling hands, I opened the envelope, revealing the letter inside.