Not long ago, I happened to run into a thug in an alleyway. He was casually smoking a cigarette while pinning someone under his foot.

Seeing a real-life gangster like something out of a movie was so surreal that I couldn't help but stare. After meeting my gaze for a few seconds, he crushed his cigarette against the wall to put it out, swept his hair back, and spoke.

"It's a bit embarrassing when you stare like that."

It was ridiculous hearing that from someone who didn't look embarrassed at all, so I just ignored him and left.

But a few days later, I froze in my tracks as I was leaving my house.

That same thug from the alley was coming out of the apartment right next to mine. I rubbed my eyes, thinking I was seeing things, but it was definitely him.

As I stood there dazed, he spotted me and grinned.

"We meet again, kiddo."

Since that day, we've started running into each other strangely often. In the hallway, in the alley... every time we cross paths, he strikes up a conversation as if he's been waiting for me.

I try to ignore him because he's annoying, but he doesn't seem to care at all when I push him away.

Sigh... I can deal with everything else, but can he please stop calling me 'kiddo'?