One hand — came from behind his back.A cloth was forcibly pressed against his nose and mouth.
yeo jun tried to struggle — his hands, his eyes, every part of him began to panic.He tried to scream loudly, but his voice was getting choked.His phone slipped from his hand and hit the ground with a "thakk!"On the screen, it still said: "Call connecting..."His body began to give up with pain.
His hands went limp, his breath grew heavy...And within moments, yeo jun was unconscious — hanging in someone's arms.
Everything faded into darkness.
Past...Four years ago…
"Ugh, Sang... what are you doing?"Yeo Jun whispered to him, as if he were becoming a part of some secret.The two of them were hiding in a cold, old classroom in a corner of the school.A sliver of sunlight was falling through the classroom window, where Sang was mixing some paint colors — red, blue, green... making a strange mixture.
There was a mischievous smile on Sang's face."Shhh... Yeo Jun! Speak softly, or someone will hear! If we get caught, the principal will call our parents right away."He winked playfully and lifted a small pouch of the cold, sticky paint with his fingers.
Yeo Jun looked at the pouch in confusion, then at Sang's face."What's all this for?"With a devilish grin, Sang said,"For Ji A. It's time she gets a lesson. She behaves rudely with everyone — she's fine with most people, but yesterday she disrespected me. No one says anything to her. I'm saying, if her temper's that hot, let's throw some of this cool paint on her face to calm it down!"
Yeo Jun let out a small laugh but then slowly his smile faded into a thoughtful seriousness."But Sang... don't you think this is a bit too much? I mean, we're doing exactly what she does to others. Instead of being better than her, we're becoming like her…"
Sang widened his eyes and said,"Bro, are you my friend or hers? Are you explaining this to me or have you become her lawyer? Yeo Jun, why are you always so righteous?"
Yeo Jun paused for a moment and replied,"I'm just saying… if we react the same way she acts — then what's the difference between us and her? I'm your friend, Sang… that's why I want you to think about the consequences of what you're about to do."
Sang gave a slight laugh and lifted the packet of paint."Just watch… this 'result' will be a lesson for her."
And that's exactly what happened.When Ji A entered the classroom and Sang threw the color on her, a wave of laughter spread across all the students' faces.Her face was completely splattered with colorful paint — red, purple, blue… like it was some kind of festival.Ji A started screaming, "Sang! Have you gone mad?"But everyone was laughing — this 'revenge' for her rude behavior felt justified to them.
Yeo Jun quietly watched everything.He didn't feel good about it, but he knew Ji A had humiliated many students before.Maybe this lesson was necessary for her.
That same day during break time, a few classmates came up to Yeo Jun."Yeo Jun, it's your birthday today, right? Don't forget to invite us to the party!"Yeo Jun smiled and nodded."Yes, this evening. You're all invited."
Like every year, he celebrated his birthday only with his classmates. because, his family never had time for him.His father never showed any happiness on his birthday.For his father, Yeo Jun's birth was a reminder of sorrow.
That very day — his mother, his father's first wife (whom he had deeply loved) — had died.During childbirth.
Yeo Jun's innocent face, the beauty of his eyes, the way he spoke so gently — everything reminded others of his mother.So much so that his father couldn't even look him in the eyes, because in Yeo Jun's gaze, he saw hers. His heart was filled with broken memories… and seeing Yeo Jun's face brought them all back.
Later, his father remarried — to provide someone who could raise Yeo Jun.But that woman never truly became a mother to him.
She always considered Yeo Jun to be a curse."The moment he was born, his mother died."She could never have children after marriage, and for that, she blamed Yeo Jun."He's the reason my life was ruined. He came between me and my husband!" she'd say.
And that's why their relationship never really worked.But the truth was, she was never interested in the family to begin with.All she wanted from Yeo Jun's father was his money, his fame, and a place in high society.
Even with both his parents alive, Yeo Jun was completely alone.He was raised by the house servants.
That's why he became an introvert — shy, quiet, and innocent.He had no friends, except Sang.He'd go to school, come home, and lock himself in his room.He didn't talk to anyone, nor did he ever ask for anything.
Sang was like a ray of light in Yeo Jun's life.But Sang's way was different. He handled the world with laughter — through mischief and fun.And Yeo Jun? He just watched… silently.He was like that mostly because of the environment at home.
Whenever Yeo Jun's parents were at home together, they always ended up fighting over something.The shouting, the harsh words — it all became a recurring nightmare for him.That's why he slowly started distancing himself from relationships.As soon as the arguments started, as soon as their anger exploded over the smallest things, Yeo Jun would feel overwhelmed.He'd silently run to his room, shut the door, turn off the lights, and sit curled up in a corner.He'd cover his ears with his hands, as if he could block the voices from reaching inside him.
It was the same pattern every time — that same loneliness, that same silence, screaming from within him.Because of this, his father gradually started coming home less often.Whenever Yeo Jun's birthday came around, instead of being there, his father would simply arrange a party and send an expensive gift.Maybe that was his way of showing "love" — or so Yeo Jun told himself to feel a bit better.Still,"He found some comfort in the fact that, at the very least, his father hadn't forgotten him."
Yeo Jun never said anything.He never complained, nor did he ever share any of this with anyone.He would just ask himself quietly, "Is this normal?"He used to think maybe this is just how relationships between two people always are.
Coming out of that deep thought, when he noticed his classmates gathering around him —They all wished him a happy birthday and asked, "Are we part of your party this year too?"He smiled faintly and said,"Of course. You're all invited."Sang immediately shouted,"But don't forget to bring awesome gifts!"
Everyone laughed.
It was his birthday today, and he was going to the restaurant with his driver uncle, where the party had been arranged.Only a few months were left for his 10th-grade exams, and he had a private tutor teaching him every day —But today, he had forgotten everything else.Today was his day.
His father was a well-known politician,
As soon as Yeo Jun entered the restaurant hall, all his friends shouted:"Happy Birthday, Yeo Jun!"He looked at them with a sparkle in his eyes, and that innocent smile — the one that rarely appeared — lit up his face.Sang was the first to step forward and hug him tightly, handing him a beautifully wrapped gift.
Everyone greeted him with love, gave him gifts, and shared joy.Most of his friends were from the art club — the kind of people who understood his emotions without needing words.Yeo Jun's heart was full — these people were his small world, a world with no fights, no loneliness.
They spent some time having fun together — smiling faces, jokes, and that youthful, teenage energy brightened every corner.Then came the most special moment of the evening — the three-tiered birthday cake. Everyone stood around the cake, happy and excited, mobile cameras were recording, and in that moment, life felt like a small fairy tale.