It had been a month since the house had been calm and peaceful, ever since Kwang-Seok hadn’t come home. Life for Youn-Jae, his mother, and Ji-Won felt strangely comfortable, like a warm blanket wrapping around them. Youn-Jae often found himself wondering if this was how their life should have been all along—peaceful and free from the constant tension.

With each passing day, it became clearer if they had enough money and somewhere else to go, they wouldn't need Kwang-Seok in their lives. And as of now, Kwang-Seok was still completely unaware of Ji-Won’s presence in the house, a fact that brought a mix of relief and anxiety to Youn-Jae and his mother.

Youn-Jae and Ji-Won’s bond grew stronger with every day. At home, they were inseparable; at school, they stayed close, only parting when their classes demanded it. Whenever someone tried to bully Ji-Won, Youn-Jae would step in, shoulders squared and fists clenched, his protective nature shining through as he defended Ji-Won. At home, after chores were done, Ji-Won often sat quietly, lost in his drawings, his brow furrowed in concentration, while Youn-Jae would be beside him, immersed in his books, occasionally glancing over to catch glimpses of Ji-Won's artistic flair.

They spent so much time together, sharing laughter, comfort, and a sense of belonging that Ji-Won had longed for. Ji-Won’s smiles came more frequently now, a light in his eyes that had been dimmed for so long, especially when he was with Youn-Jae. His once shy and reserved demeanor began to soften, revealing the joy that was slowly blooming inside him.

Myung-Hwa often glanced at the two boys, her heart swelling with warmth at the sight of their natural bond. She would watch them interact, her eyes misting over as their faces lit up with joy while they talked and played, looking at each other like true brothers. This simple yet profound connection gave her hope—a glimpse of what life could be without Kwang-Seok’s looming presence. For three months, this newfound comfort and peace filled their lives, a brief reprieve from the storm that always felt like it was just on the horizon.

***

the storm Myung-Hwa had feared finally arrived when Kwang-Seok stormed in. He was a force of nature, his presence dominating the room like thunder rumbling in the distance. She was the only one home while Youn-Jae and Ji-Won were out running some errands. Not long after, the boys returned, with Ji-Won entering the house first, followed closely by Youn-Jae. Kwang-Seok’s eyes widened in shock, his jaw tightening as he took in the unfamiliar face inside his home. The air felt heavy with tension, and his voice, when it erupted, was like a crack of lightning, sharp and searing.

“Who the hell is this?!” he roared, his voice slashing through the tense air like a blade.

Youn-Jae instinctively stepped forward, his heart racing, pulling Ji-Won protectively behind him, shielding him from Kwang-Seok's furious gaze. His body tensed, every muscle primed for a fight.

“Kwang-Seok!” Myung-Hwa shouted, her voice cracking with fear, her hands trembling at her sides.

“I’m asking you—who is this child?!” Kwang-Seok's voice grew more menacing, eyes blazing with fury. “Did you get pregnant by another man before, Myung-Hwa? And now you’re letting his child live here?!”

“This is too much, Kwang-Seok!” Myung-Hwa pleaded, her voice quivering as she stepped closer, desperation etched across her features. She reached out, trying to soothe the escalating tension.

Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

“Ah, I don’t have time for this!” Kwang-Seok snapped, frustration boiling over as he grabbed Youn-Jae's arm roughly. The grip was like iron, and Youn-Jae winced, his eyes flashing with defiance. “Come here, you need to go with me.”

“Wait, Kwang-Seok! Where are you taking our son?!” Myung-Hwa cried, her hands reaching out in desperation, eyes wide with fear for both of her boys.

“It’s none of your business!” Kwang-Seok snarled, dismissing her with a wave of his hand.

Youn-Jae struggled to break free, his heart pounding in his chest as he fought against his father’s iron grip. Kwang-Seok’s fingers dug painfully into Youn-Jae's arm as he dragged him toward the door.

“Let go of me! I don’t want to go anywhere without Mother and Ji-Won!” Youn-Jae yelled, his voice filled with defiance, anger flashing in his eyes.

“Stop being stubborn and just follow me!” Kwang-Seok growled, tightening his hold.

Youn-Jae resisted with all his strength, desperation coursing through him. He finally managed to wrench free from his father’s grasp, darting toward Ji-Won. He grasped Ji-Won’s hand tightly, fear palpable between them, and pulled him along as they ran to the bedroom, slamming the door shut and locking it behind them.

“Youn-Jae! Come out here! Don’t act like this to your father!” Kwang-Seok’s voice was dangerously low, a menacing tone creeping into his words. “You’re just going to help me a little with the Chairman.”

“No! Get out!” Youn-Jae shouted from behind the door, his voice shaking but filled with resolve.

“You’re a good boy, right? So come out here!” Kwang-Seok's tone turned eerily sweet, dripping with sarcasm, but it only made the boys shiver in fear.

“I said no!” Youn-Jae shouted back, holding his ground, determination hardening his voice.

“So stubborn...!” Kwang-Seok sneered. “I’ll count to ten, and if you don’t come out, you know what will happen to your mother!”

Kwang-Seok began counting loudly, his voice echoing through the house like a countdown to disaster. Inside the room, Youn-Jae and Ji-Won huddled on the floor, clutching each other in fear. Youn-Jae’s mind raced, thoughts scattered as he tried to figure out what to do. He knew the Chairman wouldn’t harm him, but the thought of his father using him for some unknown purpose terrified him. And the threat to his mother weighed heavily on his heart.

As the count reached five, Youn-Jae looked at Ji-Won, who was visibly shaking, his wide eyes filled with fear.

“Ji-Won,” Youn-Jae said, trying to steady his voice despite the tremors running through him, “I promise, he won’t hurt you as long as I’m here.”

Ji-Won nodded, his expression vulnerable yet trusting, tears brimming at the corners of his eyes. The bond they had built over the past month strengthened the resolve within him, even in the face of fear.

The count continued, and Youn-Jae knew his time was running out. He glanced around the room, desperate for a plan. His eyes fell on Ji-Won’s bag.

“Ji-Won, where is your drawing? The first one you did?” Youn-Jae asked hurriedly, urgency lacing his tone.

Ji-Won crawled to his bag, pulling out the folded drawing and handing it to Youn-Jae with trembling hands. Youn-Jae carefully tore the drawing in half, keeping the piece with Ji-Won’s image and giving the other half to Ji-Won.

“Ji-Won, I don’t know what will happen when I go out there, but promise me, you’ll take care of Mother. Stay with her, and no matter what happens, wherever you are, I’ll find you,” Youn-Jae said, his voice breaking as he kissed Ji-Won’s forehead and hugged him tightly. He felt the warmth of Ji-Won’s body against him, a reassurance that anchored him in the chaos.

Ji-Won clung to Youn-Jae, tears spilling over as he whispered, “Hyung, I’ll wait for you,” his voice trembling but filled with a flicker of hope.

Youn-Jae gave him a small, reassuring smile, though his heart ached at the thought of leaving Ji-Won and his mother in danger. “Stay here. When I get back, I promise we’ll go to the beach with Mother. You like that, right?” he instructed, trying to instill courage in Ji-Won’s heart before turning to face whatever awaited him on the other side of the door, his resolve hardening with each breath.

The story doesn't end here......