14 January 2025
Huh…?
What—what is going on?
Why does my body feel so strange?
Everything around me felt impossibly large, as if the world itself had expanded overnight. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't move the way I wanted to. My limbs felt weak… small.
Then a cheerful voice suddenly broke through my confusion.
"Hey, isn't our baby the cutest?"
Another voice followed immediately, full of laughter and warmth.
"Yes, honey! He's the cutest baby in the whole world! Hahaha!"
Baby…?
The word echoed inside my head.
Wait—what?
I clearly remembered moments ago I was—
My thoughts stopped.
Did I… die?
Did I perhaps get… reincarnated?
The realization sent a silent shock through my mind as everything slowly faded into uncertainty!
14 January 2025
Rain poured relentlessly from the sky, soaking the streets and darkening the day even further.
It was a truly gloomy day.
But inside Kim Dohyun's heart, there was only nervous excitement.
I'm going to propose to her today.
They had already made plans for their date. Even if the rain ruined everything, it didn't matter. They could always watch a movie, and afterward he would take her to the place where they first met—the place she held most dear.
I can't wait anymore, he thought. I really hope she accepts me.
If she wanted to remain just childhood friends, he would have no choice but to accept it.
Even so, he clenched his fists.
I'll still do my best today.
Let's change our relationship—from childhood friends to lovers.
With a glimmering smile on his face, he stepped out of the house, unaware of what awaited him next…
Kim Dohyun took out his phone and called Kyun-hi, expecting to hear her familiar voice, but instead feeling an uneasiness slowly creeping into his chest as the call connected.
"Hello, where are you?" he said, trying to sound calm despite the rain pouring around him. "I'm still waiting for you at the entrance of the movie theater. It's okay if you're late, we can—"
He stopped abruptly.
From the other end of the call, faint and broken sobs reached his ears, uneven and trembling, and it took him only a second to realize the truth—those cries belonged to her.
"Kyun-hi?" he asked hurriedly, panic creeping into his voice. "What's wrong? Why are you crying?"
Before she could answer, a rough and furious voice suddenly interrupted, filled with anger and contempt.
"Hey, bitch, who the hell are you calling?"
Immediately after that, another voice spoke, shaking with fear and desperation.
"I—I'm sorry, sir. I forgot to snatch her phone after kidnapping her. I'll take it right now!"
The word kidnapping hit Dohyun like a blow to the chest.
"W-who… who the hell are you?" he asked, his voice trembling as fear finally surfaced.
The man on the other end burst out laughing, clearly amused.
"Oh? Are you the girl's boyfriend?" he said mockingly. "Hahahaha! You called him for help when you could've called the police or anyone else?"
Then his tone turned sharper, more threatening.
"Hey, I asked you something. Why the hell are you ignoring me, huh?"
Before Dohyun could respond, a loud, sharp sound echoed through the phone.
Kyun-hi gasped painfully.
She didn't scream. She didn't cry out.
She was so terrified that her voice simply disappeared.
"Kyun-hi!" Dohyun shouted desperately, his heart pounding violently. "Are you there? Answer me!"
The man laughed again, sounding pleased.
"Do you really think she'll talk just because you're yelling into the phone?" he sneered. "She can't even speak when I ask her something. Hahahaha!"
Rage burned through Dohyun, overpowering his fear.
"You better not touch her," he said, his voice shaking but firm with anger.
"Oh my?" the man replied sarcastically. "What's this? Are you some kind of big shot?"
After a brief pause, the man continued in a colder, more calculated tone.
"Alright then. I'll give you a place where you can find us. We'll talk properly—face to face."
"But don't do anything stupid. No police. No tricks."
Dohyun clenched his teeth hard.
If I refuse… who knows what they'll do to her?
"Give me the location," he said without hesitation.
"Alright, alright," the man replied lazily.
A moment later, the location was sent to his phone.
"Remember what we talked about," the man warned. "If you really want this pretty girl in one piece."
"I'm coming," Dohyun said immediately as he began running. "Don't worry. I'll be there."
Through the phone, Kyun-hi's weak and trembling voice reached him.
"No… please don't come… I don't want you to get into trouble—"
The sound of a slap abruptly cut her off.
The kidnapper scoffed.
"Wow. You weren't talking a while ago, but now you're speaking because this boy is on the line, huh?"
Her breathing became shallow, her strength fading as fear consumed her.
Her eyes went blank.
She collapsed.
Another man spoke from the background, his voice quieter.
"Let her be. She isn't the target anyway. If we go too far, the boss will get angry."
The first man clicked his tongue in irritation.
"Damn it. I would've had my fun if the boss wasn't the concern…"
Dohyun ran as fast as he could, rain blurring his vision as desperation filled his mind.
Just in case something terrible happens, he thought, I should tell someone.
He called his parents.
No answer.
Of course.
They had always cared more about their business than about their own child.
He clenched his teeth until his jaw hurt.
I can't rely on anyone.
I have to get there myself.
Kim Dohyun screamed her name desperately, his voice echoing through the empty space as fear tightened around his chest.
"Kyun-hi! Kyun-hi, wake up—please! Hey, wake up!"
At the sound of his voice, her body stirred slightly, and as her consciousness slowly returned, panic took over before she could even understand where she was. She flinched instinctively, her breathing turning uneven as she cried out in a trembling voice filled with terror.
"Don't hurt me… please… don't hurt me…"
"Kyun-hi, listen to me," Kim Dohyun said quickly as he knelt beside her, his voice firm yet gentle, trying to calm her before fear consumed her again. "You're not going to get hurt. It's me. Everything is fine now, so let's leave. It looks like they aren't here right now."
For a moment, she stared at him in confusion, her eyes unfocused as if she were still trapped between fear and reality. Then, slowly, she recognized his face.
"Dohyun…?"
The instant she realized it was truly him, her emotions broke free. She wrapped her arms tightly around him, clinging to him as her body trembled uncontrollably.
"Why are you here?" she cried through her tears. "You shouldn't have come. What if they come back? What if they hurt you?"
"It's alright," he replied, holding her carefully while keeping his voice steady despite his racing heart. "We'll be fine as long as we get out of here as soon as possible."
With effort, they stood up together and hurried toward the entrance of the temple, both of them focused only on escaping.
Suddenly—
"Argh—"
Kyun-hi cried out in pain and nearly lost her balance.
Dohyun immediately turned to her, alarm flashing across his face. "What happened? What's wrong?"
She clenched her teeth, gripping her ankle as pain shot through it, making it clear that she had injured herself earlier while desperately trying to escape from the kidnappers.
"I'll carry you," Dohyun said at once, urgency filling his voice. "Hold on tight, we have to hurry."
"No," she said weakly, shaking her head despite the pain. "It'll only slow us down. Let it be… I'll just walk."
"No," he said firmly, cutting her off without hesitation. "We don't have time for that."
Before she could protest again, he bent down and lifted her into his arms, holding her securely as determination settled in his expression.
"I'll carry you," he said decisively. "We're getting out of here right now--
A sudden, violent pain exploded inside his skull.
Before Kim Dohyun could even react, his vision spun uncontrollably as his body gave out beneath him. He collapsed heavily onto the floor, the shock of being struck by a metal bat reverberating through his head, and within seconds, darkness swallowed his consciousness completely.
Time passed—how long, he couldn't tell.
Slowly, painfully, his awareness began to return.
The first thing he felt was the throbbing, trembling agony inside his head, so intense that it made his thoughts feel fractured. He tried to move, to lift even a finger, but his body refused to respond. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't move at all. The only things still functioning were his mind—and his eyes.
As his vision gradually cleared, he realized he was surrounded by darkness. Shapes moved somewhere around him, but it was far too dim to make out any faces clearly.
Then, without warning—
"Boo."
Someone suddenly leaned close and spoke directly into his face.
Kim Dohyun flinched internally, startled by the sudden voice, but his body remained completely motionless, betraying him.
"Who… who the hell are you…?" he asked weakly, his voice barely more than a strained whisper.
The person laughed softly, the sound dripping with mockery.
"Oh? You still have that vile tongue of yours, huh?" the voice said coldly. "Even though you're already on the verge of death."
The man chuckled again, as if amused by Dohyun's condition.
"Don't worry," he continued casually. "It'll still take a while for you to die. Looks like you haven't lost that much blood yet."
As Kim Dohyun lay there, unable to move even a finger, he suddenly heard footsteps echoing slowly from the doorway, each step deliberate, unhurried, as if whoever was approaching had all the time in the world.
Then a voice rang out, casual and mocking, cutting through the darkness.
"Hey," the man said lightly, almost cheerfully. "Why are you all having fun without me?"
The sound of that voice made something twist violently inside Dohyun's chest.
It was familiar.
Terrifyingly familiar.
The footsteps grew closer, and the figure finally stepped out from the shadows, his face slowly revealed by the dim light. He smiled as if this were a friendly reunion, his expression relaxed, almost pleased.
"Hey," he said again, tilting his head. "How are you doing? It's been a few days since we met, hasn't it?"
Dohyun's eyes widened as recognition hit him like a second blow.
"You—" he tried to speak.
Before he could finish, the man waved his hand dismissively and leaned closer.
"Shh, shh, shh, shh," he said, his voice sharp and irritated. "You shouldn't talk right now. You're in very bad condition."
Dohyun's throat tightened, his voice cracking as fear and disbelief tangled together.
"Why… why are you doing this, Han Taeyong…?" he asked, his words breaking apart as they left his mouth.
Han Taeyong chuckled softly, clearly amused.
"What do you mean, why?" he replied casually. "I just came here to take what's mine. Don't worry about it."
"M-mine…?" Dohyun whispered. "Yours…?"
Taeyong's smile widened, his eyes gleaming with something unstable.
"Of course mine," he snapped suddenly, his tone turning sharp. "The thing you stole from me."
Dohyun struggled to understand, his mind racing.
"What are you—"
"I came for my Kyun-hi," Taeyong interrupted coldly, his voice dropping into something possessive and dangerous.
Dohyun's breath hitched.
"What… what do you mean…?"
Taeyong laughed, a harsh, unhinged sound that echoed in the room.
"You know," he said, his expression twisting. "I've liked her since middle school. I had a crush on her long before you ever mattered."
His smile vanished, replaced by fury.
"She rejected me," he continued, his voice rising. "And I kept asking myself—why the hell would she reject me? I have everything. Everything!"
His eyes burned with obsession.
"So I decided something that day," he said slowly. "I decided I'd make her mine at any cost. No matter what it took."
He stepped closer, looming over Dohyun's helpless body.
"And look," he added with a grin. "Today's the perfect day."
He spread his arms slightly, as if presenting a stage.
"Today's the day I propose to her again."
His smile sharpened into something cruel.
"So," he said lightly, clapping his hands once, "let's start the show."
Bring her out," Han Taeyong said loudly, his voice echoing through the dark space. "All of you—now."
The kidnappers immediately moved, and a moment later Kyun-hi was dragged forward. She struggled weakly, trying to say something, but no words came out—her mouth was tightly bandaged, muffling every sound. Her face was swollen, her expression filled with terror.
Taeyong's eyes narrowed the moment he saw her.
He stepped closer, tilting his head as if examining a possession that had been damaged.
"My pretty girl," he said softly, an unsettling smile stretching across his face. "Don't struggle. I'll untie that."
Then his expression snapped, rage flashing without warning.
"Who tied her like this?" he barked. "Why is her face swollen?"
The leader of the kidnappers stumbled forward, shaking.
"I—I'm sorry, boss—"
Bang.
The sound exploded through the room.
The leader collapsed instantly, blood spreading across the floor as his body went limp.
Everyone froze.
Taeyong lowered the gun slowly, his face twisted with fury.
"Did I ever order you to touch her like that?" he snarled. "Who gave you permission to hurt her?"
The others backed away in terror.
Kyun-hi, completely overwhelmed, dropped to her knees, her body shaking uncontrollably.
Kim Dohyun could only watch.
He couldn't move.
He couldn't speak.
He couldn't do anything except witness everything unfolding in front of his eyes.
Powerless.
Taeyong turned his attention back to Kyun-hi, his expression shifting unnervingly fast—from rage to calm.
"Alright," he said casually. "Let's not drag this out."
He crouched slightly so he was level with her.
"There's something I wanted to ask you."
He smiled.
"Will you be my girlfriend?"
Her eyes were wide and empty, fear having completely overtaken her ability to respond.
Taeyong's smile slowly faded.
"What's this?" he said, irritation creeping into his voice. "You're not answering again?"
His gaze suddenly shifted—to Kim Dohyun, lying helplessly on the floor.
"Oh," Taeyong said softly, realization dawning. "So you're already in love with someone else."
He chuckled darkly.
"That's unfortunate. I guess I don't stand a chance."
Kyun-hi tried to speak.
"I—"
Taeyong cut her off instantly.
"Then I'll just finish him first," he said coldly. "If he doesn't exist anymore, you'll stop loving him. Simple."
He straightened and barked an order.
"Bring me a knife."
"Yes—yes, sir!" one of the men rushed to obey.
Taeyong took the knife, turning it slowly in his hand as he walked toward Dohyun, his footsteps unhurried, deliberate.
"So," he said mockingly, "how should we do this?"
"Slowly? Painfully? Piece by piece, maybe—so you feel all the pain you caused me by being loved by her?"
Kyun-hi cried out, forcing herself forward.
"No! Please—don't hurt him! I beg you! Please!"
Taeyong stopped and looked at her, amused.
"Oh?" he said lightly. "But don't you think he deserves punishment for stealing you from me?"
"Move," he ordered.
She didn't.
"I said move."
She still didn't.
Taeyong's expression snapped.
"I SAID MOVE!"
He grabbed her violently and shoved her aside.
As he turned back toward Dohyun, Kyun-hi forced herself to speak again, her voice shaking but firm.
"No—you can't!"
Taeyong laughed harshly.
"Why can't I?" he snapped. "It's a punishment he deserves."
She stood her ground, tears streaming down her face.
"Why does he deserve punishment?" she said bravely. "I'm the one who fell in love with him!"
Kim Dohyun's vision began to blur. His head spun violently as he tried—desperately—to move, to speak, to do something.
But his body wouldn't respond.
Kyun-hi looked at Taeyong again, her voice breaking.
"Please… let him go. I'll—"
Taeyong burst into aggressive laughter.
"Hahahaha! Seriously?" he said loudly. "You're still trying to save him—even now? That's insane."
He leaned closer, his smile twisted.
"Alright," he continued mockingly. "So you're saying he doesn't deserve punishment. Then who does? You?"
He laughed again.
"How would I even punish you?" he sneered. "You're supposed to be my beloved."
She shook her head, tears falling freely.
"If I were really your beloved," she said, her voice trembling but resolute, "would you hurt others just to force me to choose you?"
That was enough.
Taeyong's hand came down hard across her face.
"What do you mean?" he shouted. "You were always mine! How dare you—"
"I was never yours," she said, cutting him off despite her fear. "But if this is what you believe… I'll do whatever you want."
She swallowed hard.
"Just please… let Kim Dohyun live."
Taeyong stared at her for a moment.
Then he laughed.
"Hahahaha… I see."
His expression turned cold.
"I think I'm starting to hate you now," he said flatly. "Maybe you were never meant to be loved by me in the first place."
He turned sharply toward the kidnappers.
"Take her away," he ordered. "Do whatever you want. I have no business with her anymore."
They moved to grab her.
At that moment, Kim Dohyun dragged himself forward with everything he had left and weakly grabbed Taeyong's leg.
"Please…" he begged, his voice breaking. "Let her go…"
Taeyong looked down at him.
"Let her go?" he repeated coldly.
"No."
He smiled cruelly.
"There's no way I'm letting her go that easily."
"N-no… please…" Kim Dohyun begged, his voice breaking apart as the words barely escaped his throat. "I'm begging you… please…"
Han Taeyong stared down at him for a moment—and then suddenly burst out laughing.
It wasn't normal laughter. It was loud, sharp, and wildly unhinged, echoing through the space as if the entire situation genuinely amused him.
"It's really crazy," he said between laughs, shaking his head as though he couldn't believe what he was seeing. "The way you two love each other so desperately." His lips curled into a twisted smile. "Maybe I was never meant to be loved by her in the first place. Hahahaha…"
His laughter continued, growing louder and more unstable, until it abruptly stopped.
"So," he said casually, as if reaching a simple conclusion, "I think killing you both right here is the best solution." He tilted his head slightly, eyes gleaming with cruelty. "Lovebirds dying together—doesn't that sound romantic? Hahahaha!"
He slowly shifted his gaze between the two of them, savoring the fear written on their faces.
"So," he asked coldly, "who's dying first?"
"So," Han Taeyong said slowly, his voice dripping with cruel amusement as his eyes moved between the two of them, "who is dying first?"
The question hung in the air like a sentence already passed.
Without hesitation, he reached into his coat and pulled out his gun, the cold metallic sound echoing sharply and making Kyun-hi flinch despite herself. For a brief moment, he seemed to enjoy the fear that spread across their faces—then suddenly, he paused.
His lips curled upward.
"Wait," he muttered, tilting his head as if a new thought had just occurred to him. "I think I have a better plan."
His gaze shifted toward Kyun-hi, and the madness in his eyes deepened.
"How about I beat her right in front of you?" he said casually, almost cheerfully. "Of course, you'll feel every bit of the pain too—after all, you love her so much."
He turned sharply and barked his order.
"Hey. Bring me that metal bat."
So… I think we should start the process now," Han Taeyong said, a twisted grin spreading across his face as uncontrollable laughter burst from his throat.
"Hahahaha—ARGHHH!!!"
There was no sanity left in his eyes—only excitement, only satisfaction, as if this moment was something he had been waiting for.
Then his voice softened unnervingly as he looked at her, the words dripping with false affection.
"I'm sorry, my beloved, pretty girl," he said. "But I think this is what you deserve."
Kyun-hi's body trembled.
Slowly, she closed her eyes.
And in that moment, she accepted what felt like an unavoidable certainty.
Bang… bang… bang…
The sound echoed again and again as the metal bat came down, each strike ringing through the space like a final verdict.
Kim Dohyun could only watch.
His body refused to move.
His voice wouldn't come out.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't do anything at all.
He was completely powerless.
Bang… then—silence.
"Huh?" Han Taeyong said casually, tilting his head as he looked at her unmoving form. "Don't you think she isn't moving an inch anymore after that last hit?"
One of the men swallowed hard.
"B-b-boss… she… she isn't breathing."
Taeyong blinked once, genuinely surprised.
"Huh?" he muttered. "Was she really that weak?" He clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Of course, I didn't expect her to give up and lose this easily."
He turned his attention back toward Kim Dohyun.
"Now then," he said lightly, "should we move on to—"
"B-boss…" another man interrupted, his voice shaking. "H-he isn't breathing either."
Taeyong froze for a moment.
"…Huh?" He frowned. "He died too?"
He let out an irritated sigh.
"Damn it. I wanted to beat him up a lot more before that."
Straightening up, he waved his hand dismissively.
"You all know what to do, right?" he said coldly. "Bury them somewhere."
"B-but boss, we—"
"Didn't you hear me?" Taeyong snapped sharply. "Just get lost and do your job."
He scoffed, irritation clear on his face.
"I'm heartbroken right now," he added mockingly. "I got rejected, you know?"
"Y-yes, boss!" the men replied quickly.
Later that night, when the rain finally stopped and the forest fell into an eerie silence, the men stood near the freshly dug ground, unease settling into their voices.
"Hey… shouldn't we bury them somewhere else?" one of them muttered nervously. "What if someone finds out?"
"Y-you're right—" another began, then suddenly froze.
"Wait."
His eyes widened in shock.
"The girl… she's still breathing."
"What?" the other snapped back in disbelief. "But you said earlier that she was—"
"No," he interrupted quickly, his voice shaking. "Seems like I was wrong."
For a brief moment, uncertainty hung in the air.
"S-so what should we do?" one of them asked hesitantly. "Should we go ask the boss—"
"No," the other cut him off immediately, his voice turning cold. "There's no need."
He glanced at the open pit.
"Let's bury her alive."
"This hole is enough for both of them."
Without looking back, they dragged the bodies forward.
"Just toss them in," he said flatly. "And let's get back home its already Mid-Night...
They buried them.
And with that—
My first life ended.
Along with the love of my life.....