My uncle told me he'd spare Grandpa if I delivered just one package. Just one.
It was drugs. I didn't even know.
When I returned, the house was burning.
My grandfather was dead inside… and so was my dog.
The only thing I had left.
He made me press the detonator.
He lied — told me it was just a warning, to scare Grandpa. Said they'd be fine.
But when it exploded… ten people died in that fire."
He looked up at me, broken.
I rushed to him and wrapped my arms around him. He cried….. and cried as if he was holding back his tears and pain for years.
My guilt for using him.. grew bigger. I wanted to save my mother. But I never knew that he went through hell at this age. My regrets, my pain was nothing compared to him.
Oh God, I want to comfort him. Before I knew it I was already crying while patting him.
I-i didn't know what my expression was, how to comfort him, how to lessen his pain. I just held him so he would not break.
"The gun my grandfather was shot with — it had my fingerprints. He added.
The witnesses they brought in… they said they saw me light the fire.
Said I pulled the trigger.
All of them were fake, paid off.
The police didn't even question it. Why would they?
They wanted an easy conviction.
And now I'm here.
Hated. And blamed.
For something I didn't do."
His voice fell into a whisper.
"I didn't kill him. I didn't kill any of them…"
I swallowed hard, then asked the only question I could.
"…How does my mom know you're not a criminal?"
Ah, after asking him this question, I felt so disgusted by myself that how could I think about my pain when he went through this hell?
He looked at me.
Quiet.
Then said softly, "She looked at me like she already knew."
I frowned. "What do you mean?"
He hesitated, then continued.
"She asked questions no one ever asked. She knew names I never told anyone. She mentioned the orphanage. The will. My grandfather. She even knew the date he left the syndicate. I thought maybe she was one of them. But she said this wasn't about gangs or networks or revenge."
He looked away.
He closed his eyes.
"She believed me… without needing proof.
She believed me… because she saw the part of me I was trying to bury."
Aha…
I sighed in relief. He's not a criminal. He didn't kill my mother.
After holding each other for hours… he went to sleep.
Something in my stomach crawled up. I felt disgusted by sitting beside him not because of him but on myself that what a cruel creature I am. He is younger than me, just a boy… who lost everything. It was the first time I heard him talking.... and showing his emotion.... and yet, all I was thinking about myself.
To clear my mind and guilt. I went to the park. I didn't call Ha-rin—bringing her into this might put her in danger too.
But somehow, she showed up anyway. Sat beside me like she knew. Like always.
We talked.
I said, "My mom thinks he's innocent. And now I believe it too. She's sending him overseas. So... I guess we don't need to dig anymore."
She let out a long breath. "Finally... things will go back to normal."
But I couldn't agree.
Because I knew... even one day is enough to get someone killed.
—--
On my way home, something felt off.
Footsteps. Too slow to be casual.
I crossed the road. The sound crossed with me.
I pulled out my phone and spoke aloud—pretending to be on a call.
"Yeah, I'm going home to eat chicken with my brothers. Might even convince Dad for a beach trip."
Just loud enough for whoever was following to hear.
—---
When I got home, it was already dark.
I locked the door. Curtains closed. Lights off except one.
I called my parents into one room.
"Someone's following us."
Dad's face stiffened. "No one saw us. I deleted the CCTV from that convenience store."
Mom looked more serious than scared. "They know I'm working the case. They think I hit them first. They'll come for us next."
A pause.
"We can't keep him here anymore."
—
The boy didn't say a word as we moved.
We wrapped him in a carpet—quiet, fast, like we were hiding a body, not a person.
Outside, in the car, Dad handed him my hoodie and a wig.
"Dress like her."
He hesitated. Looked at me for the first time—not in fear, not in suspicion.
Just a silent question: Why are you helping me?
I didn't answer. I just turned away.
He was taller than me. The clothes barely fit.
But Dad waved it off. "No one knows her exact height."
—
We drove through the night.
Not a word. Just the sound of wheels, wind, and the occasional horn.
He sat between my parents—dressed like their daughter, silent like a ghost.
When we reached the shore, the ship was already waiting.
No goodbyes. No "take care."
Just a rushed, trembling exchange of fake documents and a nod.
Before they left, they locked me in the car, hidden under sheets in the backseat.
Because there can't be two Ji-ahs.
I watched through the tiniest slit in the window.
Him walking away in my place.
My mom—strong, unshaken—climbing aboard too.
My dad—hugging her quickly, like he might never get to again.
—----
Morning.
The car door opened.
Mom returned, alone.
She didn't speak. Just started driving back.
Surprisingly… no one followed us.
They bought the story.
We'd survived the night.
But in our hearts, every heartbeat whispered:
It's not over yet.
After 6 year.....
After that, I never heard from Kang-Dae again.
He left the country quietly.
No goodbye. No updates.
It was like he disappeared into thin air.
Life slowly returned to normal... at least on the surface.
But something inside me stayed tense—unsure.
Because I didn't know if my mother would survive.
Even though Kang-Dae was gone, and the danger was "over,"
a weight clung to my chest as summer vacation slipped by.
The date... the date my mom was supposed to die crept closer.
Every day felt like walking toward a cliff edge, not knowing if the ground would still be there.
---
D-Day.
I didn't let my mom leave the house.
She looked confused. "Why are you acting like this?"
dream," I said, voice shaking. "You died today, please don't go anywhere just for today " I begged.
She stared at me. Long and hard.
And then… she nodded.
She stayed.
We all stayed.
The hours crawled. I kept checking the clock. Kept peeking at her like she might vanish if I blinked.
But… the day passed.
And she lived.
—----
I sat alone that night, staring at the ceiling.
Relief crashing into me like a wave I didn't see coming.
She lived.I questioned myself how. How has everything changed? The boy went overseas. My mother lived and the future I saw was changing…. Changing for good.
Was it because I saved him that day?
I saved him…..
And that changed everything.
If I hadn't stepped in—if I hadn't saved Kang-Dae in that broken building— he would have been kidnapped by them.
she would've been the one to save him.
She would've died if she went to save him again.
Ah….
I didn't just save him.
I saved her.
And... I saved myself, my family from that future.
—--------
Six years later —
As you probably guessed by now, I'm Kim Ji-ah.
Yes, that Ji-ah.
The one who inherited her mom's detective brain and her dad's "grumpy charm."
And yeah, I'm flexing.
Not only did I major in criminal justice — I passed the civil service exam.
No drop year this time.
No messy detours.
I'm officially a rookie detective.
In exactly one month, I'll step into the office.
Now I am one of them.
Back in my past life?
I graduated a year later. Took time off.
And one year after that… I died.
Poof. Gone.
But this time?
I'm dancing in the sun. Literally.
I was in the middle of an awkward solo celebration on a park bench when—
> "You know how embarrassing it is to see you dancing in public like this?"
Ugh.
Dae-hyun.
Let me introduce them properly now.
Dae-hyun and Dae-yoon.
My devilish, chaotic, irritating, loveable younger twin brothers.
Middle schoolers now.
Sharp-tongued and sassier than me on a bad day. Not to mention they are annoyingly handsome.
They used to follow me around like baby ducks — now they just drain my wallet.
Still... They're mine. Well what else I could say.
I smirked. "People should dance when they graduate. You wouldn't know since you'll never pass your exams."
Dae-yoon stepped forward, holding something behind his back.
Then, he offered it to me — a bouquet.
"Sis, congrats. We came to celebrate."
My heart melted a little. Just a little. Okay.
I hugged them both, grumbling, "You should've come alone. Why'd you drag Mom and Dad out? You know how precious their holidays are."
"They wanted to come," Dae-yoon laughed. "They were excited. You're the first detective in the next generation."
Dad gave a rare smile. "Even if they won't say it, they're proud."
I rolled my eyes. I know because now they have a claim in my income.
Cue twins: laughing, denying, and calling him "soft."
—-----
We cut the cake. Took a hundred photos.
Then went out to eat at a ridiculously overpriced restaurant. It was for my graduation celebration. So I wanted to kick twins out of it. Just because mom said to eat together today, I forgave them.
That night was perfect — noisy, sweet, chaotic in the best way.
Just... family. Just living. Just happy.
—-----
Then came day one at the new office.
I didn't join my mom's old department. They don't assign rookies there.Too high-risk.
So the plan was: build up a year of experience first, then transfer. My eyes shined.
One day, I wanted her to look at me not just as her daughter, but as her equal.
So that I could openly mock those devils. Hehe… I was practicing my laugh that i would show to my twins that day.
That morning, I was glowing.
Excited. Nervous. Practicing my "I'm a professional now" face.
I arrived early. Way too early.
No one was there.
Great.
I am just "that girl" who shows up an hour early on her first day.
Overachiever alert.
But hey — if I'm gonna be extra, I'll go all the way.
I bought coffee. For every desk
.
Espresso diplomacy. Caffeine peace offering.
At 9:00 AM, the room filled up.
Buzz of footsteps. Desks creaking. Computers booting.
"Hello everyone!" I said with my brightest, not-awkward smile.
"I'm Kim Ji-ah. I look forward to learning from you all!"
Then I heard it—soft, not even meant for me to hear:
> "That's Detective Eun-ji's daughter."
Ah.
Of course.
Reputation.
Then came my assigned senior.
Serious-looking. Lines carved into his face like stone.
No smile. Not even a muscle twitch.
He looked me over once. Then:
> "Don't flatter yourself just because you're someone's daughter. Prove yourself. Or leave."
Wow.
Nice to meet you too, sir.
As I stood there, blinking, trying to decide whether to fake-laugh or cry quietly,
a guy from the other desk leaned over.
> "Hey, I'm Jung Min-ho," he said with a grin. "Rough start, huh?"
"Why? What did I do?" I whispered.
> "You got assigned to Detective Han Dae-sik. He's... intense. Rookies don't last long under him. Some quit in a week. Others just... vanish into paperwork hell."
Wonderful.
K-drama soundtrack: starts playing tragically in my head
Should I escape through the bathroom window?
Why me? Seriously, let's just run away from here.
But nah.
I'm Ji-ah.
Daughter of Kim Eun-ji and Kim Kyu-bok.
Sister of twin menaces.
I'm not going down that easy.
---