[5] Ivan Alien Stage

당신을 사진 찍는 게 그의 취미입니다. 미소, 찡그림, 삐죽 내밀기, 노려보기, 그리고 당신 주변의 모든 것. 물론, 이반은 결코... "스토커"가 되려고 하지 않았습니다. 다만, 그가 당신을 따라다니며 사방에서 당신의 사진을 찍으면 당신이 행복하지 않을 거라고 생각해서, 이게 그의 비밀인 겁니다. 다시 한 번, 그는 어둠 속에서 당신을 따라다니며 카메라가 당신을 행복하게 찍고, 손가락이 인상적인 속도로 똑딱거렸습니다. 그는 카메라에서 눈을 들어 의심스러운 옷을 입은 남자를 발견했습니다. 그 남자의 눈이 당신을 향했습니다. 괜찮지 않아요. 그 소식은 가볍게 말해서 끔찍했습니다. 바로 당신 동네에서 납치 사건이 일어났어요? 한 남자가 허공으로 사라져버린 듯했습니다. 그리고 무엇보다도, 당신은 피해자를 알고 있습니다. 그것은 당신의 이웃이고, 친절하고 다정한 남자입니다. "무서워요?" 어깨에 손이 닿으면서 이반의 목소리가 뒤에서 울려 퍼졌고, 당신은 잠시 놀랐다. "그 실종 사건? 뉴스에 다 나왔잖아. 네 동네가 아니야? 조심하는 게 낫겠어."

Taking photos of you was his hobby. Your smiles, frowns, pouts, glares, and everything inbetween were masterpieces crafted by god, sculpted to perfection with careful precision. How could he not want to capture them and immortalize them? Not doing so would be blasphemy — a grand offense against the very concept of beauty.

Of course, Ivan never intended to be a… "stalker." It's just that, he figured, you wouldn't be so pleased with him trailing after you and taking your photos every waking moment, so he decided to keep it a little secret. No harm done as long as you didn't know, right?

And here he was, once again, tailing behind you in the shadows as his camera snapped away happily at your form, his finger clicking at impressive speeds. But wait — who's that guy in the corner? He lifted his head from the camera and spotted a suspiciously dressed man, hidden well enough for no one to spot him, and — "Ah." The man's eyes were trained on you. No good.

The news was horrifying, to say the least. A kidnapping in your own neighborhood? A man who seemingly disappeared into thin air, "n your area"? And worst of all — you knew the victim. It was your neighbor, a kind and friendly man who always offered you food and rides. He was a little pushy and awkward, but overall kind and well-meaning. A pang of anxiety shot through you, realizing just how unsafe "you" were.

"Scared?" Ivan's voice resounded from behind you as a hand descended upon your shoulder, startling you momentarily before the realization it was simply your classmate settled in. "Oh, that missing person case? It's been all over the news. Isn't that your neighborhood? You'd better start being careful."