The Deepening Obsession

Roy’s second chance at life seemed to revolve entirely around Hana. Every day, his obsession grew more profound, more suffocating, as if the very air he breathed depended on her existence. He spent hours replaying their brief encounters, analyzing every glance, every smile. Was she beginning to feel the same pull that he did, or was she simply being polite? The uncertainty gnawed at him, yet it only fueled his desire to claim her.

Hana, meanwhile, lived her life as she always had. She was a quiet presence, soft-spoken and kind hearted, with an almost ethereal beauty that Roy couldn’t help but admire from afar. To him, she represented everything good in the world everything he had been denied in his previous life. He watched as she navigated her classes, interacted with her friends, and lived her simple, peaceful life, unaware of the storm brewing around her.

Roy’s fascination turned into something darker. He began following her more closely, learning the patterns of her life with frightening accuracy. He knew when she left for class, where she liked to sit in the library, and even what kind of tea she ordered at the small café near campus. The more he learned, the more he convinced himself that he was meant to protect her that his obsession was justified because he was looking out for her. But deep down, he knew that what he was feeling was far from normal. It was dangerous, even to him.

One afternoon, Roy’s silent watch came to a halt when he saw something that shook him to his core. Hana was sitting outside the café, her face lit up with a smile he hadn’t seen before, and across from her sat a man someone Roy didn’t recognize. The two were laughing, clearly comfortable in each other’s presence. The way she looked at him, the softness in her eyes, made Roy’s blood run cold.

Jealousy, a feeling Roy had never experienced before in either of his lives, flared up like wildfire. His mind raced with questions. Who was this man? How long had they known each other? And why was Hana giving him the smile that Roy had convinced himself was meant for him?

That night, Roy couldn’t sleep. The image of Hana and the stranger haunted him. His obsession, which had once been contained in the shadows, was beginning to spiral out of control. He found himself consumed by thoughts of her, of the life she was living without him, of the possibilities that were slipping through his fingers. In his previous life, Roy had always been in control of his business, his decisions, his emotions. But now, for the first time, he felt utterly powerless.

The next day, Roy’s obsession pushed him to do something he had never thought he would. He confronted Hana.

It was late afternoon, and Hana was alone, sitting on a bench near the campus garden. Roy had followed her there, as he often did, but this time, he didn’t remain hidden. Taking a deep breath, he walked toward her, his heart pounding in his chest.

Hana, he said, his voice catching slightly as he spoke her name aloud for the first time.

She looked up, surprised to see him. For a moment, her eyes flickered with recognition he had been in some of her classes, after all but the surprise quickly turned to curiosity. Yes?

Roy struggled to find the right words. His carefully constructed plan had never involved speaking to her so soon, but the image of her with the other man had driven him to act. he hesitated, his mind racing. He had never been this nervous in his entire life. “I’ve noticed you around. I wanted to say hello.”

Hana smiled, a polite but distant gesture. Oh, hello. You’re in my literature class, right?

Yes, Roy replied, relief washing over him that she at least remembered him. But he couldn’t stop there. The burning need inside him pushed him forward. I see you at the café sometimes, too.

Hana blinked, surprised by the statement. Really? I didn’t realize.

Roy tried to smile, but it felt forced. His heart was pounding, his mind buzzing with thoughts of the man she had been with. I saw you there yesterday, actually…with someone.

At this, Hana’s expression softened. Oh, that was Akira, my friend from high school. We were just catching up.

Friend. The word echoed in Roy’s mind, but it didn’t bring him the relief he had hoped for. He didn’t believe it or maybe he didn’t want to believe it. Either way, it wasn’t enough. He wanted more than a passing explanation. He wanted to be the one she spent time with, the one she smiled at like that.

I see, he said, though his tone betrayed his inner turmoil. He needed to change the subject, to shift the conversation back to something that would give him an advantage. “Do you come here often?

Hana nodded, seemingly unaware of the intensity behind Roy’s calm façade. Yes, I like to come here after classes. It’s peaceful.

Roy felt a pang of satisfaction. He had known this already, of course, from his countless observations, but hearing her confirm it felt like a victory. It meant he was getting closer, even if just by inches.

The conversation was brief after that, a few pleasantries exchanged before Hana excused herself, saying she had to meet a friend for dinner. Roy watched her walk away, a mix of satisfaction and frustration swirling inside him. He had finally spoken to her, finally broken the barrier that had kept them apart. But it wasn’t enough. Not yet.

As the days passed, Roy’s obsession continued to grow. His brief conversation with Hana had only fueled his desire to be closer to her, to make her see him as more than just a stranger from her class. He began to escalate his efforts bumping into her more frequently, finding ways to strike up small conversations, positioning himself in her world in ways that seemed accidental but were anything but.

Hana, for her part, remained polite, even friendly, but she was oblivious to the darkness lurking behind Roy’s interest. She didn’t see the depth of his obsession, the lengths he was willing to go to in order to claim her. But Roy knew. And he knew that it was only a matter of time before she belonged to him whether she realized it or not.