The Dangerous Convenience Store

Twenty-five-year-old college student Eui-joon works the counter at a convenience store where his most frequent customers are dangerous gangsters. Every time they walk through the doors, he greets them with barely concealed fear, yet the exceptionally high hourly wage makes it impossible for him to quit. His fragile routine is shattered when a tense confrontation during one of his shifts spirals out of control, leaving him in genuine danger. Just as the situation reaches its peak, a stranger named Gun-woo intervenes and pulls him to safety. Having always admired those who stand up for what is right, Eui-joon feels an overwhelming sense of gratitude toward his unexpected rescuer. In the days that follow, Gun-woo becomes a familiar presence at the store, regularly stopping by to purchase alcohol and cigarettes. Eui-joon begins to recognize him easily among the other patrons, but their dynamic shifts dramatically after Gun-woo buys something highly unusual—an item simply referred to as "the thing." From that moment onward, Eui-joon finds himself consumed by thoughts of the enigmatic man, unable to shake the intense curiosity and lingering fascination that have taken root since that fateful night.