[ tw warning: ual assault , human trafficking, physical and mental abuse, death, Stockholm syndrome, r*pe, drug ]
Continuation Part 3:
Without no one spotted her, Aeri ran toward the gate as fast as she could before punching the code that she accidentally saw it on his phone but that one glance actually saved her life. She immediately opened the gate as she exit the house that trapped her for the past two years, slowly realizing that she could only trust herself from now one. It was good thing that the place they lived at was near a public road, she walked down the road slowly when she spotted a place that would be her last resort and might be her safe haven which was a police station. She rushed toward the station with her heart kept racing faster by the second, she pushed the door open where she was greeted by a female officer. " is there anything I can help you with, miss?" said the officer," You seem to be in a hurry, please calm down and tell us what you need help with." Aeri took a deep breath to calm herself down while walking toward the bench, she tried her best to explain the whole story from the moment she was sold to the human traffickers by her parents, then to ual traffickers before sold again to the man she just escaped from.
The police officers that was there were all shocked at her experiences that happened in the past 6 years of her life, they looked at each other with disbelief at how much this young girl been through and also glad that she got away from life in hell. With the lead that was given by Aeri they were able to located the house she was living in for the past two years, and who was the man that she had spend time with. The identity of the man was a shocker to everyone, he was a big CEO of an international business that had been engaging in human trafficking ever since he established his own company. As for Aeri, she was just the lucky one that got a chance to escaped. They found out that there were girls went missing years prior to this that was also spotted around the same house of this so called CEO who had a deep connection with this human trafficking ring, he was actually one of the many people who invested into this business so they could get those pretty and young girls for themselves. As for the leader of this whole operation was someone that the government had been searching for years, and now with the lead that Aeri gave them they were able to tracked down the location of the main operation.
It had been months since she was rescued by the police, the memories of her past would forever hunts her even after a few months but what happen in both houses were engraved in her memories. But she was brave enough to use everything she learned back she was in the human trafficking's house to her own advantage especially how to use her body and post for the camera, she decided to try modeling since that fits her skill set the most.
After trying for few agencies and got rejected because of lack of experience in the industry made her decided she would have to go somewhere else that would accept her for who she was, been recommended that she could go to Korea since it is one of the most famous country for fashion. Aeri used the money that was stolen from the CEO she traveled to Korea to start a new life and leave everything behind her, which she was gladly doing.
It has been 3 years since she moved to Korea, and that includes one year in Seoul and two years in Haepung. This new life has been one of her happiest years as long as she can remember things, she is still looking for new chance to shine on the catwalk. But maybe not for long, something new is coming her way.
[ tw warning: ual assault , human trafficking, physical and mental abuse, death, Stockholm syndrome, r*pe, drug ]
Continuation Part 2:
The guards escorted her and the man out of the mansion and into his car, she sat next to the men who she knew from the conversation they had in the past that he was only 25 which was only few years older than she was. They had some okay conversations along the drive back to his place which was owned by himself, he was an entrepreneur after graduating from university with his own money that he saved for years. Aeri thought he was someone he could trust with her life, but little did she knew that it was the beginning of true nightmare of her life that was about to start.
Soon enough they arrived back at his house which was a single house with three storage, she was amazed at the sight that was in front of her as she exited the car with his help. She felt a bit of warmth coming from this man as she knew that it was something she need to slowly get use to it, the life off being an item was over the moment she enter this man's car. The house was pretty on the inside as well with maids and butlers helping with the day to day life for him, the man told one of the maids to take Aeri to her own room that was prepared just for her. That moment she felt loved and cared after hearing those words from someone she barely knew, she felt welcomed as she walk to her own room following the maid's lead. They walked upstairs to the second floor as she was directed to a room that was at the end of the hallway, she was amazed at the room size and the setting of the room as well. A much bigger bed with a window which she could see the sun shining through into the room, a dressing table where she can apply makeup which was all prepared for her in advance by the man. It was something she could never imagine, something that she was dreaming about having when she was still in the family. This had been something she always wanted when she grow up as a woman, and this house was something she wish she had when she was young as well. Just then she was hit with a wave of headaches with a unfamiliar scent that surrounded her in the room, she didn't have to react as she passed out on the floor just a few moments after the scent appeared in the room. Next thing she knew that she was being throw on the bed in the room, she felt her body hit the mattress as she slightly opened her eyes to see the man she thought was her angel and survivor turned out to be the one that was on top of her taking her clothes off. Although she tried to fight him off, the effect of the drug was too much for her to handle. She was forced to take everything off, everything turned black not long after she got stripped out of all her clothes with a man she thought she knew but turned out to be a monster that was worst than anyone other customers that she ever served back in the mansion.
By the time she woke up as the drug worn off it was already dark outside, she could see the night slowly creeping up through the windows in her room. The pain between her legs was something she could never imagine, it was like something being torn apart and the blood that was left on the bedsheet told her that she was forced to with the one she trusted. Aeri panicked as she grabbed onto the blanket to tried to cover herself up when she heard the door being opened by someone, it was the man who just did this to her. She stared at the man with anger and sadness as she back off towards the corner of the bed to get away from this monster, but the night had just began as she was pulled toward the man by force as she tried her best to fight off the man once again. Although the strength between man and woman was the obstacle as she lost her chance, looking at the man as she was thrown into the shower to clean up so they could eat dinner together. He acted like nothing had happened before as he waited for her outside of the bathroom, holding her new clothes as he looked at her body and toss the new clothes to her before walking out of the room with amusement on his face. It was a peaceful dinner as they sat at each end of the table in the dining room as the butlers and maids served them food one dish at a time, but to her it was torture ever since what happen during the day.
The very next day he changed his attitude 180 degrees as he was loving and caring for her, she was confused as she felt sick to her stomach as she remembered what happen the day before so she was trying to back away from him. It had been peaceful for a couple of months as he kept trying to show her love and give all of his attention to her, especially in front of his friends that made her question that was this who he truly was or it was just an act that he put on in front of his friend to make sure that they won't suspect a thing? Very confused, Aeri looked at the man with a fake smile that no one else notice except this monster. She excused herself so she could back to her room where she would feel a little bit safer from everything, not to mention she got tested when he was creeping his hand behind her to touch her private parts. Everything he did so far was disgusting to her, she came back to her room as she secretly wrote down a little note and hid somewhere no one would find it before she laid in bed to rest a little. Time passed as she felt her bed creek, opening her eyes as she saw the monster's face in front of her up close. " What the do you want?" She questioned him with an anger tone in her voice, he looked at her with care and sorrow in his eyes as he put his hands on her laps. "I.. I'm sorry, I shouldn't make you feel uncomfortable." Said the man," I will make it to you, okay?" The soothing voice coming from him that she missed so much was something that made all of her doubt and thought about him disappeared the moment she heard that voice. But it happened once, that mean it could happen again which was exactly what happen every 3 months. He would abuse her in a ual and physical way, and sometime even mentally abuse her to make her think that no one would want her anymore which was the reason why she was sold to the human trafficker in the first place, and he was the only one that could save her. She believed his words for one year and half, slowly trusting him that turned into something that would effect her for a long time.
It was the day when they were hanging out in the house as he planned a birthday party for Aeri since she was turning 20, cakes and food was served in the kitchen for their friends who came to celebrate with them. As she was unboxing all the gifts that was given by the guests she was surprised to find that in one of the boxes was a key that look exactly the one for the house, but she wasn't sure until she glanced over at him as he nodded his head." I think it is time since we have been together for almost 2 years, this is your key to be one of the owner of this house along side with me, baby." said the man." Hopefully this will make you happy and we can live a happy life together for a long time." Confused, Aeri took the key and gave back to him with a smile on her face." I.. I want to be with you for a long time, but I don't need to have the key because I'm with you all the time." She said with a very happy tone in her voice, he flash a soft and satisfied smile before grabbing the key back.
They continued to celebrate Aeri's birthday as they eats and just keeping her company, she was really that everyone came for this special day. It was something truly amazing, at least for her that is. The night ended on a good note as everyone was enjoying themselves, Aeri watched everyone leaving and there was only the two of them left. They went back to her room to celebrate this special day using their own way which was having some fun in bed. Just when she thought everything was heading in the right direction she was hit with another major issue in this relationship, she found something that she knew wasn't meant to found. It was a hidden camera that was on her dressing table behind the mirror, she realized that everything the were doing in her room for the pass two years was being filmed by him. And that's when she had decided that it was time to leave this , even though his attitude changed over the years and she felt the need to be with him. She knew something was wrong with her and remembered what this was, she grew and got attached to him. Aeri was slowly packing her stuffs when no one was around especially knowing that there would a period of time in the house that no one would be around so she could be calm and prepare her escape. Even though it was hard for her to actually accomplish such thing with guards and security so tight around the house, she decided that she would escape when he was on his busy trip oversea so he won't have time to come back and handle this.
Few weeks had passed, she was in her room after biting goodbye to him for his trip she immediately pull out her bag that she packed, counting the time to her chance to escape this life who she thought was her dream but turned out to be another life in hell. Looking at the time as she slowly walking toward the door, making sure everyone was distracted with other things as she slowly peeked out of the room before she runs toward the front door of the house. her heart was racing so fast that she could barely breath, but the thought of her leaving this place and life behind was the only thing that gave her strength.
[ tw warning: ual assault , human trafficking, physical and mental abuse, death, Stockholm syndrome, r*pe ]
Being the middle child of the Unchinaga family, Aeri wasn't being treated the best in the family especially when her parents had always been favorite to her sister and younger brother. she was being outcasted during everyone holidays, family gathering, and even family outing. Since the family was living in the village in the city of Hiraizumi their family wasn't the wealthiest in the big family, as of a result being in the middle of the three children she was always abandoned by her parents whenever there was something special going ion in the family. As time goes on she slowly developed depression and like to be alone and got used to being left out by her family. Aeri thought it couldn't be worst as things already been bad for her as a girl in the family, but she was in the mess of her parents biggest plot they were planning.
When Aeri was celebrating her 14th birthday with only few of her friends at their house someone knocked on the door in the middle of their happy moment, she went to answer the door only to be met with two men with suits in front of them. She thought it was someone in the family when she was suddenly grabbed by them without any words that shocked her friends who were with her, being dragged to the car that was parking on the street and blindfolded before getting pushed into the car. Not knowing this was all because what her parents did behind her back, with a long drive in the back seat of the car with two other people they finally stopped somewhere. Being dragged out of the car as she was still blindfolded, they used forced so hard that she knew her skin would be red with bruises all over. They took her into the building with a little to no light in the room, not knowing anything she was so confused at the situation she got caught in. Aeri was pushed to sit on a chair that felt so cold the moment her skin touched the surface while the other men were walking around the room checking on something, she couldn't see anything as her sight still being covered with the blindfolds. All she could hear was people discussing in a foreign language that she couldn't understand, trying to get away but her body was tied to the chair so she won't run away. It was few moments later when they took off her eye cover as a small light source shined on her face as the only she could see was the people that was standing next to her. The young Aeri was so nervous as she had no idea who these people were and why did they take her here without any reasoning, she looked up at the man that was the leader of others in Japanese to get to know the reasoning for them to take her as a hostage. " Let me go... What do you guys want..." And of course they had no idea what she was talking about since they were speaking in a different language earlier, all they knew was shew was trying fight and leave. She was trapped and kept in this room a few weeks with people who captured her feeding and giving her a small bed that was broken for her to sleep.
It was 2 months after Aeri was captured, she was woken up by one of the guards outside of her room. She was brought to a room with other girls that she hadn't seen before, looking around the room as she realized that she was in a room with glasses around them that looks at see-through glasses which allow people to look at them through it. The speaker at the corner of the room sounded with someone call the name of one of the girl that was with her, just a few moments later that said girl was dragged out of the room by one of the guards but this time she understood everything that was said because the person speaking was talking in Japanese. That's when she realized that all the girls here were sold by their families to the human traffickers, now she started to panicked because what if she got sold to a family that didn't treat her well or she was killed by a family that she was sold to. Everything that might happen just run through her mind as she watched girls gets sold one by one until there were only her and another girl left, just when she thought she might be the last one but she was wrong and was the next one to be called and dragged out of the room to be sold to a old man that seem like in their forties. She got immediately pushed toward the old man as she noticed the man's eyes were looking up and down at her, it was money and them some.
The frighten Aeri was taken to the old's car since they needed to finish the transaction before she was officially sold, the guards were standing to her as they waited for the old man to come out so they could release her. It was just a few mins after as the old man walked of the building where she was kept for the past few months, her eyes were locked on the man who she just sold it to as he approached them with a satisfying smile on his face. Not knowing what her future would look like Aeri was seated in the backseat again just like when she first got here, with two guards on each side of her as the man's driver start the journey to his place. A place she would spend probably the rest of her life, but that was something she didn't have the time to think as she was blindfolded again as they travel to the estate of the old man. Within an hour or two she felt the car stopped as they parked, she got pulled out of the car as the cool breeze pass by them before she was led into the mansion and was taken to a small room that she could feel air really thin and dry. One of the guard took off the blindfold so she could see the room that would be hers for the long term, a bed just like the one she lived for the past few months back in the cage. Aeri felt lonely again as the door closed by the guard as she was left alone in the room with no windows and only a chair and the bed as her companions, she heard other captives in the other rooms as she was walking towards her own.
Now she had settled in with the others they could finally start their dirty business, being the younger one in the whole mansion she was nervous to say the least as she often had to be trained and look down at from the others as they were together to please the customers that was brought to this mansion. The reception area for the customers were pretty nice unlike the rooms they lived in, but to all the girls that was captured and treated like an item there was no difference since they were just the money makers for the people that took them. All this time she hadn't seen the sunlight nor anything outside of the mansion because everything was sealed up for privacy reasons, she was still dreaming one day she could be saved by someone.
Years pass as Aeri grown up to be a pretty woman among everyone else, which was also the reason why her price was risen more than once due her beauty and all the attention she was getting from the customers. She learned as time went on how to save herself from dangerous situations when customers was too harsh on her, even though she tried her hardest to survive for as long as she could her mental health was going down the drain by the day as her depression got worst over the years.
It was the year when Aeri turned 18, she was about gave up on surviving this hell hole someone came to the mansion one day, it was one of her regular customer that she always served which she took liking on the man. She wasn't expecting anything from the man, just doing her usual routine of serving him with drinks and some teases using her body. Making sure the customer was happy as she worked up the man she was told to stop everything and back to her room, she had no idea what was coming to her as she was walking back to her room. Moments later she was told to pack everything she had and wait down stairs, she didn't have that many things with her even they bought some things for her over the years but wasn't much. Not sure what was going on she followed the order that was given to her as she walked down stairs into the lobby while holding her belongings in hand, looking around as she saw the old man that she was sold it to talking to the man she was serving earlier. Aeri soon realized that the man was smiling the entire time he was talking the old man that brought her here, her heart sunk to the bottom of the ocean knowing what had happened. She was sold the second time, and it was to the man that had been giving her all the attention the past few years. Little scared, she clenched on the bag she was holding as she looked at the man that potentially just became her new owner, but there was nothing she could've done since she had no right or saying in anything the moment she was captured and sold to the old man that was the ring leader of this operation.
Ahn Hyoseop was humming in happiness as he cleaned up the house he had been living in together with his girlfriend for two years. Despite being away from his hometown, he had found a home in this quaint seaside town, a home that soon, hopefully, grew bigger if the doctor confirmed that Somin was indeed pregnant with their child. He asked her if he should come along with her to the clinic but she refused the idea, saying that it would be a surprise for him. So he waited at home, after finishing his freelance work; waiting patiently for the good news from her.
They might be still young, but Hyoseop was sure that they are ready to be parents, and would be a good one too after seeing how Somin dealt with the kids at the place she worked at. Even though right now he only does freelance work, money was never a problem for Seop, as he was born with a platinum spoon in his mouth. That’s why he could live comfortably even though he took a few years off after finishing his degree and went to Haepung after hearing about the beauty of the place.
And that was when he met Jeon Somin. The love of his life. She drew him in so effortlessly and he was helpless to resist her charm. They got together after a year and honestly speaking, that moment was one of the happiest times in Hyoseop’s life and he vowed to always make her happy, just like how she brought happiness in his life, something that even money couldn’t give. At the same time though, he wasn’t ready to tell her who he really is, afraid that all the affection from her would change when she knew that he came from an important family in South Korea. Maybe when he proposed to her to be his wife, then she would learn the truth.
He had planned it all. The beautiful diamond ring sat in his drawer, hidden away from her sight so he wouldn’t spoil the surprise. Even without news about them having a child, Hyoseop would still get on one knee and ask her to marry him. He loved her that much and two years of relationship was enough for him to know that she’s the one.
Everything went normal until the doorbell rang. Confused, Hyoseop made his way to the front door. Why would Somin rang the bell? He didn’t recall that anyone would come to visit anyway since he didn’t have many friends in Haepung and they wouldn’t come if they didn’t text him beforehand. Imagine his surprise when all he saw was his father and his bodyguards standing in front of his house.
“Father-”
“You’re not even going to invite me inside, Ahn Hyoseop? I did not raise you to be a mannerless man.”
His father’s words made him flinch as he stepped aside, to let the older Ahn inside his apartment room. He followed his father as the old man looked around, taking in the small space he deemed not suitable for an Ahn heir to live in. Ahn Inseop took a seat on the couch, his eyes bore through Hyoseop as they had a staring contest, neither willing to look away; Hyoseop silently challenged his father to just spill out his business with him. A few minutes passed with neither of them moving or talking, just sizing each other, then the older Ahn broke it by letting out a sigh.
“Come home, Hyoseop. This place is not for someone like you. Look at this place you lived in. Even our dogs’ house is bigger than this hole.”
Hyoseop clenched his fists to keep his anger in check. It wouldn’t do him any good if he chose violence right now, not when his father brought his bodyguards with him.
“And that woman you’re seeing, she’s not worth your time.”
That was the last straw for him. No one shall talk bad about Somin. Especially not in front of him, it didn’t matter even if it’s his own father. His feet moved first, followed by his fist, but before it could connect with his father’s face, the bodyguard stopped him. No matter how hard he tried to shake the bulky man off, he just couldn’t pull his hand back.
“Look at you. Turning into a savage after spending time in this slump. You did not belong here, Ahn Hyoseop. You are my heir. The one who will take over our business empire. I let you do as you pleased and I honestly didn’t think you’d stay this long here.”
He could only glare at his father as Inseop stood up, walking toward the picture of Hyoseop and Somin that was placed on the table, both of them smiling happily to the camera. Inseop scoffed “Is she the reason why you refused to go back home and marry the woman I’ve chosen for you? I have to admit, she was pretty. But when that pretty face is ruined, I wonder, will you still love her as much as you claimed you are right now?”
Hyoseop’s eyes widening in fear. He knew what his father’s capability and those words might be, not just an empty threat. No. He couldn’t let this man get his hands on Somin. He closed his eyes, weighing his options, the pros and the cons. And finally his body went limp, a sign of surrender.
“Fine. You win. Just… don’t hurt her, please father, I beg you.”
Ahn Inseop let out a surprised laugh. Never in his life did he hear his son beg for something. This woman surely meant a lot to him, and now he got Hyoseop’s weakness, he wouldn’t let it go so easily.
“I know you are a smart man, my son. So I believe you know what you have to do now, don’t you?”
Tears fell from Hyoseop’s eyes as he gathered his belongings, removing every trace of him ever being in that place, all while his mind replaying all the precious memories he shared with Somin. His heart clenched painfully. He did not want to leave her like this, not when they were looking forward to the new chapter of their life together, but he knew, if he stubbornly refused to go back to Seoul, God knows what his father would and could do to her. So if she cursed him for leaving her, even if she hated him, it’s fine for him. As long as she'd stay healthy and alive; in the future, maybe she could find her happiness, even though it was not with him. No matter how much he hated that possibility.
After ten minutes, he finally finished packing his stuff, throwing his bags to his father’s bodyguard’s feet for them to carry back to his car. His eyes were lifeless, he couldn’t bring himself to smile right now. Not when he’s going to leave the most precious woman in his life like this. He couldn’t even write her a note to say goodbye and to at least explain why he had to leave. Before they left the house, his father reached his hand out.
“Your phone. We’ll get you a new one once we’re back. You don’t need this.”
Reluctantly he handed him his phone, and while his father rode his own car, Hyoseop got inside his car with another driver. Maybe it was his father’s plan so he wouldn’t be able to run away. As the car slowly moved away from the driveway, Hyoseop finally broke down, letting go of the tears he had been so desperately holding back. His heart was breaking into a million pieces as the car zoomed out away from Haepung, without knowing that she was just arrived at their home shortly after he left.
If he could dare to wish, he only wished for one thing, for Jeon Somin to be able to find her happiness after he left. Hyoseop couldn’t even wish for her to forgive him, he was sure if it was him in Somin’s shoes, it would be a very hard thing to do, maybe even impossible. The words that were coming out from his lips were only “I’m so sorry Somin” until the exhaustion took over and all he could do was just staring out of the window, hand clenching tightly to the jewelry box inside his pants that now would never meet its owner. Maybe in another lifetime. Or maybe if God was nice enough, he could meet her again. Not now, but maybe in the future. He would then try to beg for her forgiveness, although she might never forgive him.
Somin sat in the clinic waiting room, her leg bouncing as her eyes flickered nervously toward the door leading to her doctor’s office. She had been feeling off for weeks—fatigued, queasy, and her period was more than a month late. After a faint line appeared on the pregnancy test at home, uncertainty gnawed at her, and she decided to come in for a professional check.
When her name was called, her heart skipped. She nearly stumbled as she stood, quickly moving into the doctor’s office. Her hands shook slightly as she took a seat across from the doctor, her voice unsteady. "What…what’s the result?"
The doctor looked at her with a gentle smile, his eyes crinkling as he held up the paper. "Congratulations," he said warmly. "You’re pregnant."
Somin's eyes widened, her hand instinctively going to her stomach, as if cradling the new life forming within her. "I… I’m really pregnant?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. The doctor nodded, explaining the next steps for her care, outlining what she would need throughout her pregnancy.
Overjoyed, Somin left the office with a new sense of purpose, holding the confirmation paper close to her chest. She waited a few minutes in the lobby as the clinic staff scheduled her next appointment and provided prenatal vitamins, but her mind was already racing to Hyoseop. She imagined his face lighting up when he found out he would be a father. The thought made her heart swell with anticipation.
But as she neared their home, she noticed a sleek black car pulling away from their driveway. A strange feeling settled in her stomach. She recognized that car—it was Hyoseop’s. Why would he leave when he knew she’d be coming home with the results? Anxiety crept up her spine as she made her way to the front door, which was slightly ajar.
"H-Hyo?" she called out, her voice shaking as she stepped inside. The house was eerily silent. Her eyes swept over the living room, and her heart sank. The space looked like it had been torn apart in haste—papers scattered, drawers half-open, and items strewn across the floor. Her mind raced, piecing together the horrifying implications.
"No… no, this can’t be," she whispered, her voice cracking. She stumbled further inside, her chest tightening as if a vice was closing around her heart. "Hyoseop!" she cried, desperation clawing at her words. But the silence was deafening, confirming her worst fears. He was gone.
She sank to her knees, clutching the crumpled paper still in her hand as a hollow ache spread through her chest. Memories of their last conversation flashed through her mind. How she’d casually mentioned her missed period and her plan to see the doctor. Could he have known? Had he left because of this??
"No.. NO HYOSEOP NO!" Sobs wracked her body, and she clutched her head, fingers tangling in her dark hair as tears spilled down her face. Her vision blurred as the weight of abandonment and betrayal settled over her like a dark cloud. The man she trusted, the man she loved with every fiber of her being, had walked out, leaving her to face the most significant moment of her life alone.
"Wae... W-wae..." Somin's sobs grew ragged, her body shaking as she pressed the confirmation paper to her heart, the fragile proof of her pregnancy crumpled under her trembling fingers. She couldn’t ignore the sharp, relentless ache in her chest, the overwhelming sense of loss that filled her. He was gone. The one person she had trusted above all had abandoned her, leaving her to carry and raise their child alone.
Her tears streamed, unchecked, as she finally gave in to the despair, her cries echoing through the empty house. In that moment, Somin accepted the heartbreaking reality—she would face this journey by herself, with only her love and resolve to carry her through the days ahead.
mingyu had just finished his tasks at the fire station. he was supposed to be home by now, but a small emergency kept him back for a while. by the time he finally reached the house, it was late at night. despite the hour, he brought home a late dinner for him and his sister, minju, just in case she was hungry. sometimes, minju was unpredictable, and it broke mingyu's heart not knowing what was on her mind.
even after their father had been imprisoned for his evil deeds, mingyu had taken on the role of the man of the house. it was tiring and hard for him, especially since he was still traumatized by his father's abusive behavior. people around him often judged him because of his father, insulting him to his face. it was a bitter truth, but mingyu knew he needed to adapt and prove them wrong. if he didn't, they might do something worse to him or his family, and he couldn't let that happen.
for mingyu, minju and his mother were everything. but of course, the pain of his mother's death would never fully heal. how could he seek justice for her when her murderer was his own father? the world seemed so cruel to him and minju. sometimes, mingyu felt so frustrated that he wanted to give up, but when he gathered his thoughts, he knew he couldn't. he couldn't leave minju alone. he loved his sister too much to let her face this world without him. he knew he had to survive, to protect her at all costs, no matter what.
he sighed as he entered the house. the dim lighting greeted him with mixed emotions. then he overheard a voice. he quickly made his way to minju's room, opening the door to find her panicking, clearly in the throes of another nightmare. mingyu rushed to her side, holding her gently and trying to comfort her. "minju, minju, oppa's here. you're safe. you're with me..." he was on the verge of tears seeing his sister like this, knowing the trauma they both carried, all because of their father.
"nobody will hurt you, i'm here. i'll protect you, ju-ya. i won't leave you, i promise." he kissed her forehead, holding her tighter to stop her from pushing him away. after making sure she had fallen back asleep, he wiped her tears and sat beside her on the mattress. there were no words to describe how he felt — it was overwhelming for both of them. right now, he felt numb. his tears had already dried, leaving him sitting there in silence, fixing her blanket, lost in deep thought.
[TW: R**E, mention of self-harm, unstable mental health condition!!! If you are not comfortable with these warnings, please do not read my post!!!]
Tossing and turning, beads of sweat rolled down from her head, the beautiful face of Kim Minju contorted into something that mixed with a good amount of fear even though the slumber was supposed to be a safe haven for everyone, but it was never the case for Minju. Sleep was merely a little break from all the abuse she experienced through her childhood. And it just got even worse after that incident.
Yes. That one incident that changed everything for her.
The cruel moment when she lost something very important for her, something she had been saved for the love of her life. Cruelly. By those irresponsible bastards, and even though they were already behind the bars, the damage and scars they left on her still haunt her to this day, even after a few years.
And tonight was no different.
When before her nightmare consisted of her father beating her, her brother and her mother; now it shifted to the darkest moment of her life. Her desperate fight was futile against five men. Their sickening breath mixed with alcohol, their sneer and rough way were still printed clearly in her mind as they ripped off her clothing in that dirty dark alley, in the process to take her innocence by force. She didn’t know any of them, and for sure she had never ever crossed paths with either one of the bunch, so why did they do it to her?
Her body shook as tears trickled down from her closed eyes as the dream took her back to that moment when she was so helpless, no one heard her plea and cried for help. After they were done tainting her, just like some savage animals in heat, they just left Minju there. Bruised, battered, broken. At that moment, Minju wished nothing more than the grim reaper to just come and claim her life. She had no reason to live after being tainted like that.
She didn’t know how long she had been left alone in the alley when an older woman passed and found her in that state, luckily the woman quickly called an ambulance and a police. She was hospitalized for a week, more because her mental condition was very disturbed. Well, who could blame her? She had gone through a very traumatized event that no one should ever experience in their life.
Two weeks later came a report that the police were able to catch the offenders and asked her to come to the police station to confirm their identity. Reluctantly, Minju agreed and that was a very bad move as her body started to shake violently the moment she saw those animals, remembering everything they had done to her. Her breath ragged, as she crouched down, screaming for help. It took two policewomen to calm her down, assuring her that they wouldn’t be able to hurt her anymore now they are in prison.
Minju decided to drop out of the university, despite how hard she and her brother worked for her to be there. She was having a hard time trusting other people or simply to just interact with others and it was starting to affect her academic score. She slowly changed into a whole different person. No longer smiling and just completely shut herself off from everyone. Every day she would scrub her body harshly as if to scrub off the dirty feeling of those men’s hands on her while sobbing hard since she knew no amount of scrubbing would really make those feelings disappear.
She wanted to die.
Notes after notes she wrote, expressing how she felt about the whole ordeal and about herself, asking God why this thing happened to her.
She was a mess.
No days passed without her crying, refusing to eat that it actually started to affect her health more and more. And that was when she decided to move back to her hometown, Haepung. With her father now also behind the bars, no one would hurt her there, right? Plus with her brother around, she might just feel safer there. Without much thinking, Minju packed all her belongings and left Seoul. The city that once was so beautiful to her, the place where she thought that she could be able to achieve her dream, turned into a city that she wished to never visit again for the rest of her life.
But it was not as easy as it sounds like.
The first week was hell. Minju didn’t have it in her heart to tell Mingyu about what exactly happened to her in Seoul. She just told him that she was too stupid to continue to study there, and that she chose to be a novel writer. That's why she moved back to Haepung so she could write better. While there was some truth in it, Minju still felt bad for lying to her brother when all he wanted was just the best for her. She tried to put on a happy face whenever Mingyu was around, teasing him just enough to not make him worry. But once Mingyu left for work, she retreated back into her shell, shutting out even her best friend.
And come the night time where the darkness swallowed everything, including her once peaceful slumber. Tonight was no different, as again, she tossed and turned around in her sleep; her body and muscles were still remembering how she was tormented and violated. With a jolt, Minju woke up, drenched in sweat. Her shoulders were starting to shake as she sobbed. Bringing her palms over to prevent any noise escaping, Minju cried in silence, still not able to completely recover from that. One thing she was grateful about was just the fact that she wasn’t ovulating, so the chance of her getting pregnant because of that inhumane act was next to zero. She couldn’t even imagine how she would feel if she knew she was bearing a child out of that, aborting the baby was not an option since she’s a firm believer that it was not the baby’s fault for the way they were conceived.
She brought her knees up to her chest as she curled up, hugging her legs tightly to remind her that she is fine now. Those bastards were still in the prison, and no one would likely find her here. Her abusive father too. She is safe here with her brother. But then why didn't she feel the peace she had been so desperately searching for? A soft whimper and a whisper escaped from her parted lips, a whisper of hope and longing for someone who could just bring the sun back into her dark life.
Rosé walked through the empty hallway, her heels echoing faintly against the polished floors as she admired the art pieces that adorned the walls. She hadn't planned to come to the wedding at first—her ex-boyfriend’s wedding, no less. But when the invitation had arrived, delivered with kindness and sincerity, she felt it would be too rude not to show. Even though deep down, she knew it might break her heart all over again.
As she walked, she heard the sound of footsteps behind her. Turning slowly, her breath caught in when she saw him—Aiden, the groom, her ex. They exchanged awkward smiles, both taking in the sight of each other. Rosé, in her elegant beige silk gown, and Aiden, looking every bit the dashing groom in his tuxedo.
“Aiden,” she murmured softly, her voice betraying the emotions she had tried to bury.
He chuckled lightly, closing the distance between them with a few steps. “You came,” he said, the surprise evident in his voice as he approached her, his eyes flickering with something unsaid.
“Congratulations on your wedding,” Rosé managed to smile, her fingers gently reaching for a white rose from the pot beside her. The flower felt fragile in her hand, much like her own heart in that moment.
Aiden’s smile faltered, his lips curling bitterly as he replied, “And congratulations on your engagement.”
Rosé’s eyes dropped to the rose, her fingers absently tracing the petals. She sighed softly, unable to find the right words. There was so much left unsaid between them, so many emotions still lingering. But they both knew the situation was complicated now—too complicated for the confessions they once dreamed of. Neither wanted to cross that line again, but the silence weighed heavily on them.
Aiden rubbed the back of his neck, looking away from her as if the weight of their shared history was too much to bear. “You look beautiful, as usual,” he said, his voice quiet.
Rosé rolled her eyes, trying to smile past the ache in her chest. “Save that for your bride, Aiden.”
He shook his head, smiling sadly. “Always a witty reply, Rosie.” He glanced at his watch, checking the time, probably realizing he had to return to his duties as the groom.
Rosé noticed and gave him an out. “You should go get ready. I’ll take my seat,” she said, forcing her voice to remain steady. “Make sure you get your nerves right for your bride.”
Without waiting for his response, Rosé turned and walked away. Her legs felt heavier with every step, and as she reached the hallway, she ducked into a quiet corner, her heart pounding in her chest. Her vision blurred as tears began to well up in her eyes. When Aiden had called her “Rosie,” the nickname he used when they were together, it had sent a pang of longing and heartbreak straight through her. She had always loved the way he said it, and hearing it again was like reopening an old wound.
Their breakup hadn’t been out of lack of love but because of family conflicts—unresolved issues that had forced them apart. She had begged him to run away with her, to start over somewhere new, but Aiden had refused. He didn’t want to drag her into a scandal, didn’t want to ruin her image. So they had parted ways, even though neither of them had truly wanted to.
Rosé pulled a tissue from her purse, dabbing at the tears that slipped from the corners of her eyes. With a shaky hand, she lit a cigarette, inhaling deeply, the familiar burn doing little to soothe the ache in her chest. She exhaled the smoke slowly, letting her head fall forward as she sighed heavily. She wondered why she had come to the wedding in the first place. Was she secretly hoping Aiden would see her, realize what they’d lost, and call the whole thing off? The thought made her laugh bitterly. Of course, that wasn’t going to happen.
She leaned against the wall, her mind swirling with memories of the time they had spent together, the sweet moments that now felt so far away. She felt utterly alone, trapped in a whirlwind of emotions she hadn’t fully prepared for. Attending the wedding had only made things worse. The ache in her heart had tripled, her thoughts consumed by what could have been.
With a sigh, she dropped the cigarette to the ground, crushing it beneath her heel. She straightened herself out, taking a deep breath before stepping back into the hallway. She made her way to the seating area, her heart heavy with the weight of everything she was trying to suppress.
The wedding itself felt like a slow torture. Rosé sat in silence, her hands folded neatly in her lap as she watched Aiden stand beside his bride. The moment they exchanged vows, the words of love and commitment, it felt like a knife twisting in her chest. A single tear slid down her cheek, but she made no move to wipe it away. Instead, she sat still, eyes forward, listening to the promises that she had once dreamed he would say to her.
But those dreams were long gone now. All she could do was watch from afar as the life she had hoped for unfolded without her.
mingyu sighed as he entered his room after taking a shower. sitting on his bed, he wiped his wet hair and glanced at the empty bottle of strawberry milk on the table. he picked it up, smiling at the thought of the girl who had given it to him. too bad she didn’t know he was lactose intolerant — but he hadn’t felt like telling her, not when he saw how excited she was when she handed it over. instead, he’d asked his sister to drink it and kept the empty bottle for himself. he placed it into a small box of keepsakes — all related to her.
inside were plenty of letters he never sent, letters he refused to give her because admitting how he felt was too overwhelming. mingyu knew they were different. she was a social butterfly, and he was... reserved, boring even. he knew he didn’t stand a chance with her. after all the years they'd spent together in school, mingyu understood that much.
—
dear sky,
i don’t know why i always look for you in a crowd. i tell myself not to, but my eyes always find you. maybe it’s because you’re always smiling. somehow, it makes me smile too — and even a quiet cloud like me can’t help but be drawn to you.
cloud.
—
dear sky,
today was quite eventful, but my thoughts always drifted back to you. like usual, you're my endless thought. the way you looked today gave me the strength to get through these hard days. thank you — for being there, even as a sky that i can't really reach.
cloud.
—
dear sky,
today was so stressful, but then i saw you with your friends. i wish i could say this to your face, but i’m not that brave. being around you makes me feel things i’m not used to. it’s confusing, but i don’t want it to stop.
cloud.
—
dear sky,
today is your birthday, and i couldn’t even give you my gift because i saw you had plenty from your friends. i’m sure theirs are more precious and worthy than mine, so i’ll keep it for now. i don’t know if there will ever be a time when i can give it to you. i’m sorry. i’m such a coward. i couldn’t even tell you how much i like you. but i hope you had a blast today and enjoyed yourself.
cloud.
—
such letters had been kept inside the box for so long now, but mingyu knew his place. with heejin's brother being one of his friends and heejin also friends with his sister, mingyu did his best not to get caught up in their situation or take advantage of it. he remained calm and quiet about his feelings, acting like nothing happened, even though it was a war within him.
the first time he saw heejin was when he helped her with her lunch. what initially drew him to help her was the mole under her eye — a beautiful mark that made mingyu's heart skip a beat each time he saw it. they gradually became friends, but that’s all they could ever be. mingyu never dared to take a step forward, knowing his rough family background compared to hers. with his abusive father and the trauma that came with it, there was no way he could give heejin the pure love she deserved.
just maybe — not from him.
and mingyu knew better than to blame anyone. he would be happy and cheer for whoever managed to steal her heart. he thought heejin deserved someone better than him, and it was fine to let her go.
Minah arrived at Whisk & Wave, lie expecting to meet lighting warm and hear the drone of the oven that should have been on from the early hours of the day. But as she pushed open the door, she was in for another surprise, the room was even darker now and the smell of was hardly perceptible. The bakery was still, the buzz and bustle of early morning missing from the air.
Perplexed, she extended her hand towards the light switch and turned the room on; there was no one around. She looked down at a sheet of paper lying on a pile of keys on the counter. Opening it, she said what had to be read aloud in the silence, ‘I am going on a long trip, take care of the bakery as if it was your own. I know you will be able to do it.’
Minah's breath hitched as she read the words, she could not believe that was what her boss was asking of her. “You have got to be kidding me,” she said throwing her hands in the air. She was only here to work part-time and had just barely learned how to bake all the pastries and bread that were on the menu. Now she was expected to look after the whole business?
She looked around not knowing what to do, and whispered to herself, “What is it that I am supposed to do?” The familiar space felt overwhelming with the shelves stocked with baking supplies and the glass cases bare for today’s goods. She had the impression that all the responsibilities of the world had just been put on her shoulders, a feeling too familiar, too close to heart, it was the reason why she had left Seoul. She did not know whether she was ready to bear it.
It was the usual routine for Taeyong after ending his work at the kindergarten, one of the last few teachers to leave while his daughter usually waited for him at the staff room after finishing her class, either reading storybooks or busy playing with the toys he bought for her. It was different today, however, the usual bubbly cheerful self turning into a more quiet, somewhat deep in thought demeanor which Taeyong couldn't help but to notice as they walked out of the school, slinging her school bag, a hand holding hers.
"Anything wrong today, Eunchae? You're being awfully quiet... do you want burgers today? I'll buy them for you~" He crouched to her eye level as they waited for the pedestrian light to turn green, brushing her cheek lightly with a finger, but there was no sort of reply whatsoever, even though he enticed her with her favourite burgers, a rare treat. "Or melon-candied bread? Shall we go see Chaewon eonni?" No reply yet again, and he was starting to feel a little bothered by it, mind going straight towards the worst scenarios he could think of. Maybe she was getting bullied. Maybe she was sick. Still, he tried his best to keep calm, going over his day as they walked back to his apartment, talking about her favorite books, cartoons and movies, anything to have a conversation with her, and it soon got a little better.
Entering his simple studio apartment, he placed Eunchae's bag in the usual spot, preparing to make dinner for the both of them, before his daughter called for him, the first time she did so today, and of course, he immediately rushed over right in front of her while she sat on the couch, bending lower, not wanting to appear threatening but rather a source of comfort, patiently waiting for her to speak up about the issue a 6 year old could have.
"Yes, my baby? Dad's here."
"Daddy, why don't I have a mommy? Hyunseo's mom picks her up every day and they're going to visit an amusement park tomorrow. Jiwon's mommy is also bringing her to a barbecue for dinner afterwards. Yerim makes fun of me saying that my mommy doesn't want me. Does she really not want me? Is that why she never appears?"
All of Eunchae's questions tugged at his heartstrings; it was at the age where kids would be curious at everything and some could be harsh like Yerim, and he wasn't sure of how to broach the topic, moving to the couch and slinging an arm over her small shoulders, lightly rubbing it before he spoke in a way that she could understand, even though it reopened his wounds quite a bit.
"Eunchae ah, it's not like that. It's not that your mommy doesn't want to be there for you, it's because she can't."
"Why?"
"You know... remember the movie about fishes that we watched, Finding Nemo? Nemo doesn't have a mommy too, right?"
"Mmhmm."
"Do you remember what happened at the start of the movie when he was still an egg?"
"Yes! A fish protected him."
"That was Nemo's mommy. Your mommy protected you too."
"Did she die while protecting me? Is that why she's not around?" Eunchae looks back at Taeyong with her wide eyes, and his heart clenched with her every word, knowing that it was true but how could he ever bring it up to her? But seeing the way it was now and they were already in the topic, he could only reply with a nod, holding her closer so that her tiny body was now in her arms, unsure and avoiding the fact if she could fully grasp the fact that her mom was dead.
"Then she was a good mommy." The next words were she spoke were not what he was expecting; he expected her to bawl and throw a tantrum, but now he was the one crying, tears flowing out of his eyes, the pain in his heart wrecking his war-torn body. How was she so mature for her age?
Holding back his sobs and dabbing away at his tears, he asked if she blamed her for doing so, and Eunchae shook her head, a soft smile coming out from her and reaching Taeyong's eyes while she held his hands.
"It's okay, I don't need a mommy. Nemo didn't have a mommy too. And his dad saved him from the fish tank! His daddy is strong, just like my daddy too. But I won't cause any trouble like Nemo, I will be a good girl so daddy, you don't have to worry about me. Don't cry, daddy."
A laugh escapes his lips when he heard her words and felt her tiny hands brushing away at his tears - he really did love his daughter so much, and she filled the void that was left in him with her childlike innnocence and her stubbornness, and he couldn't imagine a life without her.
"I love you, Eunchae-ah."
"I know, daddy, you tell me that every morning when you make breakfast for me, when you send me to class, when you tuck me into bed. And I love you too - I love you a lot."
"Thank you, Eunchae-ah." He let out a genuine smile, kissing his daughter's forehead, just seeking warmth and comfort in her hold as his tears fell, before a tug to his sleeve catches him out of his thoughts.
Ever since Wooseok met Doah, he'd been spending his holidays in Incheon with her family instead of going back home to Haepung. Slowly, Incheon had began to feel like home and Haepung began to settle in place as part of Wooseok's past. It wasn't until he got a friendly phone call one day that the thought of returning came to mind.
"Aigoo-yah, is this the Byeon family's son?" A familiar gruff voice called out from the other line, bringing a sweet smile to Wooseok's face.
Wooseok nodded over the phone and answered, "Yes, it is. It's been a while, Captain Kim. Have you been well?"
And so continued a long familiar conversation until Captain Kim finally came about the reason he called Wooseok to begin with, "Ah, that's right! I heard from your family that you're a sergeant now, a marine investigator, right?" The captain let out a drawn out breath before saying, "All you kids are all grown up now, aren't you? Anyway, we've got a senior position that just opened at the station and I thought, 'You know, the Byeon's son does this in Incheon, how about we give him a call?' So here I am, giving you a call!"
For a moment, Wooseok was speechless. He didn't know what to say. It'd been hell trying to rise through the ranks in Incheon. He'd been here for four years and thought he'd have to stick around for ten to even be considered for a senior position like this. Not only would it be a promotion, but he'd finally be near family again for the first time in a decade. This wasn't a reality that Wooseok had considered was possible. Heck, he was actively working toward a future here in Incheon, but this phone call had made him reconsider things.
Eventually, Wooseok uttered the words, "I- I'll consider it, Captain, just give me some time... Do you have a deadline to make this decision?"
"Don't worry, the position just opened up today. We'll be considering candidates and doing interviews in a couple weeks. How about you come down to visit when you have time and we can do a little interview?"
"Ah," Wooseok paused, there seemed to be a multitude of thoughts racing through his mind at the moment, but he answered, "That's doable, sir. I'll keep in touch to let you know when I'll be able to drive down."
"Good, good. Well, I gotta scurry off now, you take care, alright?" Captain Kim seemed to speak to Wooseok with a doting affection as if he were one of his own sons.
And, likewise, Wooseok responded with the same tone of affection, humming with a smile, "Mm, you too, Captain, take care. I'll talk to you soon."
After hanging up, Wooseok took a deep breath. What an unassuming life-changing call that was. Wooseok stood outside alone in silence, considering his options until eventually Doah made her way outside to fetch Wooseok back inside.
"Work call?" She asked as she poked her head outside, then closed the door behind her to give the them a little privacy from her family, "You've been out here for a while, is everything good?"
That's right, he /had/ been out here for a while now. Between catching up with the captain and getting lost in thought, time had slipped by him. Wooseok responded back with a nod, then wrapped his arms around Doah, trapping her in his embrace as he rest his cheek against the crown of her head, asking, "Do you want to go to Haepung with me?"
Doah scooped up his cheeks and craned out her neck from his embrace, then forced him to look her in the eyes. "Why Haepung all of a sudden?" She asked, struggling out of his clutches so she could look up at him, trying to read his expression, worried that something had happened. "Is everything okay?"
Wooseok nodded his head obediently to ease her concerns before answering, "I just got a call about a promotion in Haepung, a senior position." He looked into her eyes with a bittersweet gaze as she pressed her palms against his cheeks. They had been talking a lot about their future together and Haepung had never been apart of the conversation. After all, Wooseok had a steady career in Incheon at the police department and Doah had her career in the city as well as her family, who welcomed Wooseok with open arms. When they settled down together, it'd be somewhere in the city near her family who would be available to help when they had children. They'd so far as to have planned where their kids would go to school, where the best cram schools were, and the kind of future they wanted for their children. A promotion to Haepung? Sure, that sounded great right now, but what about the future? Of course, Wooseok wouldn't take it, but he'd be an idiot not to at least consider it.
Pinching his cheeks, Doah pulled Wooseok out of his thoughts. "Isn't that good news?" She teased with a smile, "Why would you scare me like that? I thought someone died." Doah pushed herself off the ground on her tippy-toes, wrapping her arms around Wooseok's neck as she d her hand over his hair. "Let's go, it's been a while since you've been home," She replied in a low, comforting tone, "What's the harm in taking a look?"
She was right. Wooseok sighed in relief at her answer and clutched onto her, leaning on her like a pillar of support. "Sorry," He apologized for concerning her and peppered her hair with affectionate little pecks, "The captain said they'd be doing intervews in a couple weeks, are you able to take a day off?"
Doah hummed in thought, uttering a small groan as her workload came to mind, but she eventually nodded, answering, "I'll make time, don't worry."
And glued together like a couple of lovebirds, they returned to the lively scene of kids running around Doah's family household, adults making conversation in their own circles, her aunts and uncles doting on their newborn grandchildren. It was a scene the two of them were soon to join, or so they thought.
