An Unsettling Encounter

The silence that followed Sangwoo's question seemed to stretch on forever, with Jason's friends shifting uncomfortably around him. Sangwoo's piercing gaze still fixed on Jason, he slowly nodded, his eyes never leaving Jason's face. "Nice to meet you, Jason," he said, his deep voice sending a shiver down Jason's spine. Jason's friends, sensing the awkwardness, tried to intervene, but Sangwoo's intense focus on Jason made them hesitant to speak. Adapt, always the voice of reason, attempted to break the ice. "So, what brings you to the mall?" he asked, trying to sound casual. Sangwoo's gaze finally shifted, and he turned to Adapt, his expression still unreadable. "Just needed to get out of the house for a bit," he replied, his voice low and smooth. Ron's curiosity got the better of him, and he piped up, "What do you do, if you don't mind us asking?" Sangwoo's eyes flicked back to Jason, and for a moment, Jason thought he saw a glimmer of something there, but it was quickly extinguished. Sangwoo's response was measured, "I'm a writer. I'm working on a novel." Silky's eyes lit up, "No way! I'm a huge fan of books. What kind of stuff do you write?" Sangwoo's smile was enigmatic, "I'm still working on it, but I think it's going to be a bit of a dark fantasy." Max's eyes widened, "That sounds awesome! I love dark fantasy. I've read all of Neil Gaiman's books." As the conversation continued, Jason found himself becoming increasingly withdrawn, unable to shake off the feeling that Sangwoo was hiding something. His friends, however, seemed to be hitting it off with Sangwoo, discussing everything from books to music. As they chatted, Jason noticed that Sangwoo's gaze kept drifting back to him, and he couldn't help but feel like he was being studied, like a specimen under a microscope. The sensation made him uneasy, and he found himself glancing around, searching for an escape route. Lacy, sensing Jason's discomfort, nudged him with his elbow. "Hey, man, you okay?" he whispered. Jason nodded, trying to play it cool, but Lacy's concerned expression told him that he wasn't fooling anyone. As the group continued to chat with Sangwoo, Jason's mind began to wander. Who was this guy, really? What was with the intense staring? And why did he get the feeling that Sangwoo was waiting for something to happen? The fluorescent lights of the mall seemed to flicker and dim, and for a moment, Jason felt like he was trapped in some kind of surreal dream. He shook his head, chiding himself for being paranoid, but the feeling lingered. As they prepared to leave, Sangwoo stood up, his eyes locking onto Jason's once more. "It was nice meeting you all," he said, his voice low and smooth. "Maybe I'll see you around sometime." As they walked away, Jason couldn't shake off the feeling that Sangwoo's words were more than just a casual goodbye. He glanced back, but Sangwoo was already sitting down, his eyes fixed on some unknown point in the distance. The group's laughter and chatter seemed to swell around him, but Jason's mind was elsewhere, his thoughts consumed by the enigmatic stranger and the unsettling encounter they had just shared.