Boiling Point

On a stormy night, Han Seon-ah, an ordinary convenience store worker, extends a small act of kindness to a stranger. But she never expected that kindness to tether her to Hwang Min-jae, a man as dangerously captivating as he is unpredictable.

Ever since that night, Min-jae keeps returning—shaking off his umbrella before leaving, lingering too long, pushing boundaries. Then one evening, he makes an unsettling proposal:

“Three hundred a day, is it still valid?”

Seon-ah’s voice trembles as she responds, caught between fear and something she can’t quite name.

“Take me with you.”

But Min-jae’s offer isn’t as she imagined. His terms are different.

“Three hundred at once.”

The meaning is clear—whatever she thought she was agreeing to, he wants it paid in full, upfront. There’s no slow descent into whatever lies ahead. It’s all or nothing.

A cigarette rests between his lips, the rising smoke concealing the scar at the corner of his mouth. His next words carry a quiet, unsettling weight:

“I just wanted to enjoy it more.”

That single motion—lighting the cigarette with practiced ease—feels like an act of violence in itself. The air freezes, the power dynamic shifts, and for the first time, he doesn’t bother gauging Seon-ah’s reaction.

As their entanglement deepens, Seon-ah finally gathers the courage to ask:

“Why did you come to this neighborhood? ……… Do you like me?”

Min-jae doesn’t hesitate.

“I like you. No one’s going to come looking for you, Seon-ah.”

His pale, curved eyes gleam as he speaks, his words tearing through her mind like a storm. A primal instinct screams at her to run. Desperation overtakes her.

“I can’t do this……. I want to leave. Let me go.”

But Min-jae only smirks, his voice laced with unsettling amusement.

“I’m saving your miserable life. Right now, I’m playing along with your little game.”

Then, in a voice softer than expected, he murmurs a single word: “Baby.”

The affectionate yet chilling term sends her tears spilling over. Her vision darkens, and she finds herself longing for the kind manager who once chased away troublesome customers.

Then, Min-jae’s voice drops, carrying an unmistakable warning:

“Let’s try this again while I’m still being nice. You don’t want to see the worst of me, do you?”

What started as a fleeting encounter turns into a dangerous game of control and submission. Seon-ah is trapped in a web she never saw coming—but is it truly her choice, or was it never hers to begin with?