The air in the room was stale, heavy with the phantom scent of antiseptic from the clothes I'd just changed out of. I looked down at the woman nestled beside me, her breathing shallow and steady, the exhaustion visible even in the dim light filtering in from the balcony.
She must have been exhausted...
A sharp BZZZZ shattered the quiet. My phone, lying face-up on the desk, vibrated with frantic urgency. Who could this be? I wasn't expecting any calls. It was late. I picked up the glowing rectangle, my brow furrowing at the unfamiliar number.
I walked out to the balcony, holding the phone to my ear, the city lights a distant, blurry mosaic below. "Hello...?"
"AH, HELLO. MAY I SPEAK TO JUNSEO YUN?"
"Yes, speaking. May I ask who's calling?"
"My name is Gwanghyeon Park. I am your mother's attending physician. I believe we met a few times while your father was in my care."
A cold knot tightened in my stomach. Dr. Park. I remembered now-the polite, reserved doctor who had delivered the worst news of my life before. "Right. You were my father's attending physician as well. Yes, I think I remember now... What can I do for you, Dr. Park...?"
The pause on his end stretched, heavy and meaningful. "I'm calling in regards to your mother, Jiseon Hwang. She is currently... suffering from chronic kidney disease. I'm afraid her condition is deteriorating rather quickly."
"Chronic... kidney disease...?" My voice was a surprised, strained whisper.
"Yes, she's in Stage Five kidney failure, to be exact. Her kidneys are functioning at less than 15% capacity... which is life-threatening without dialysis or a transplant..."
I gripped the railing of the balcony, the metal cold beneath my fingers. "Wait, that's not possible. I saw her just a little while ago and she looked fine to me. Are you sure there hasn't been some kind of mistake?"
"The thing about kidney disease is... that the symptoms can be nonspecific and patients often shrug them off, assuming they're caused by other things... until things become very dire."
I closed my eyes, a rush of self-recrimination washing over me. She was exhausted. I saw her so tired, and I just told myself it was stress.
"Mr. Yun, your mother is currently at our hospital... awaiting dialysis or a transplant. She has expressed to me that she'd like to pursue a kidney transplant and... she believes you're a prime candidate to be a living donor."
I stared out at the cityscape, the words echoing in my head. A cold, cynical edge entered Dr. Park's voice, as if this was the practiced, closing line of a sales pitch.
"This might not be a bad deal for you, Mr. Yun."
"You're kidding, right...?" I finally managed, the world tilting slightly on its axis.
The doctor's words cut through the night, but what followed hit me harder.
"If you become a living donor, you will be exempt from the army... And your mother is offering to transfer a portion of the golf resort shares to you."
The realization hit me like a physical blow. "Did she ask you to call me and make an offer for my kidney?! I would barely have considered it, even if she begged me!!"
For a split second, I thought to myself that she finally got what she deserves. Her illness felt well-deserved. My mother was a horrible person... "GET THAT DISGUSTING FREAK OUT OF MY SIGHT!!!"... and permanently scarred Ajin...
"Please calm down and consider it for the sake of your mother. If you agree to become a donor, we'll run the tests and schedule the surgery at your convenience--"
I ran a hand through my hair, the anger boiling over into a raw, painful sense of injustice. "I don't care. I don't want the golf resort shares either."
I took a ragged breath, the desperation of the situation finally giving me a horrifying leverage I could use.
"Just tell her she has to apologize. If she apologizes to Ajin for everything she did to her... I'll do whatever it is she wants me to do." My voice was thick, choked with emotion.
"Apologize...? Mr. Yun, I'm afraid I don't understand..."
I turned my back on the distant lights, my eyes closed against the sting of tears. "Just tell her what I said and she'll understand what I'm talking about. Let me know what she says."
I ended the call and stood there for a long time, the silence after the frantic buzzing a heavy pressure in my ears. It was 20:26 on the digital clock I could just see inside the room.
I walked back in, my gaze falling on the sleeping woman, Ajin, her hand wrapped in a bandage. Ajin... I gently knelt beside the bed and lifted her hand to mine.
Would you be able to live a normal life... if I could help you heal at the cost of my kidney...?
The cold logic of a transaction mixed with the burning need for justice and protection. If I had to give a piece of myself to save the person who had hurt Ajin, I would at least demand a full accounting first. Everything depended on my mother's reply.

I woke to the soft, rhythmic sound of a distant fan, the quiet unfamiliar after the stress of the previous night. I blinked, my gaze lingering on the ceiling for a moment before dropping to the nightstand. There, a small, square note sat beside Junseo's credit card.
I reached for the note and read his hurried, familiar script: "I have to go take care of something. I'm leaving you my credit card so you can order yourself whatever you're craving. I'll see you in the evening."
I settled back against the pillows, a contemplative frown on my face. He left. He always left to "take care of something," a pattern of solitude that had become standard for him. I didn't like ordering in. I prefer to see what I'm going to eat, to touch the ingredients.
I got out of bed and walked to the small refrigerator. I opened it and peered inside. It was mostly empty, save for a bottle of water. What has he been eating these days...?
I knew he barely cooked. He probably subsisted on whatever quick, processed meals he could find or takeout he picked up on the way home.
Maybe I should go get some groceries.
I grabbed the water bottle and took a sip, leaning against the counter as I thought. What kind of food... did Junseo like?
A memory surfaced, one from a lifetime ago, back when I lived with him and his family. I remembered simple meals, shared in a house that felt both warm and desperately tense.
He used to love Sujebei. Back when I lived with him, we had Sujebei at least once a week.
I sighed, a faint memory of the dense, hand-torn noodles and rich broth crossing my mind. I didn't even like it back then... and had to force myself to eat it-
I pulled a baseball cap low over my eyes and slipped on a pair of sneakers. The sudden decision felt necessary-a small, tangible way to anchor myself after the emotional turmoil. He was dealing with his own crisis, and I could, at least, make sure he had a proper meal waiting for him.
I stepped out of the apartment and into the bright sunlight, the urban sprawl of buildings like XANADU looming around me. The memory of the past was like a low hum, but the present demanded action.
I had to find a store and buy fresh ingredients. I had to focus on the future, one meal at a time.
I was walking back toward the apartment, a small bag of groceries in my hand, when I passed the shop where I used to work. A sign was taped to the door: "CLOSED DUE TO PERSONAL REASONS." I paused, staring at the familiar storefront.
Suddenly, the door flew open and someone burst out. "AJIN!!"
I turned quickly, surprised. "Yusik..."
He looked relieved and slightly breathless, a paper cup of water in his hand. He was one of the few kind faces from the shop.
"We're closing down for a while, so I was taking care of a few things." He gestured back at the shop, then settled in a small seating area nearby and offered me a drink. I took a seat, noting the plant on the table-a familiar touch of greenery.
"After our boss was arrested... and you didn't come into work, things were a bit of a mess."
He slid a pink box across the table toward me. "Oh, here. Boss asked me to order this for you."
I looked at the box, then back at him. "I know it's a bit late now that the stalker has been caught and everything, but... you know, I went to visit him earlier today... It was really weird to see him behind bars."
Yusik took a drink from his cup, his expression earnest. "Hey, Ajin... Boss is really worried about you. I think he feels terrible about what he did to your father."
The mention of my father made me tighten my grip on the edge of the table.
"I know you must be going through a lot right now... but do you think you could pay him a visit? He really wants to apologize to you in person."
I looked away, staring down at the pepper box on the table. Apologies. The word felt hollow.
"I decided to cremate my father without a funeral..." I said quietly, my voice flat. "He has no one else to come to his funeral but me anyway."
I met Yusik's eyes again, making sure he understood the finality in my next words.
"Once he's cremated, I'm going to move away. I don't think I can handle being in this neighborhood for one more minute." I pushed the box back toward him gently. "I don't think I'll have the time to visit Mr. Choi. Sorry, Yusik."
"Ajin-" he started, concern flooding his face.
"W-WAIT-" he stammered, but I was already standing, the need to escape the familiar, painful surroundings stronger than the need for polite conversation. I had groceries that needed cooking. I had a life that needed rebuilding, far away from all this history.
"You know what, I'm so sorry..." Yusik said, running a hand over his face. "You're going through a lot and I really overstepped..."
He had reacted to my rejection of his Boss's apology attempt with a sheepish retraction. He pushed the pink box, which I now recognized as a self-defense spray, further toward me.
"Oh, and I don't think I'll need this," I said, sliding the box back across the table. "You keep it, Yusik."
He slid it back. "Please take it with you. It's a scary world out there, and it could be useful."
I took a sip of my drink. "I know. I already have one so I don't think I'll need this one."
"Huh...? You already have one?" he asked, surprised.
I shrugged. "If anyone overstepped, it was Mr. Choi... I never needed this kind of stuff to begin with, but he went ahead and made a bunch of assumptions." My tone was clipped, dismissing both the gift and the man who sent it.
Yusik simply looked at me, a silent question in his eyes.
"Anyway, Yusik..." I tapped my glass on the table. "I'd like to ask you a favor."
I finally left the café, the weight of the earlier conversation still heavy on my shoulders. STEP STEP STEP My own footsteps echoed in the relative quiet of the street. I was still near the XANADU building.
I paused, realizing the neighborhood felt different-more exposed, less safe. I reached into my small bag and my hand closed around a small, familiar object. I looked over my shoulder, my eyes scanning the shadows.
A second later, a figure darted out of the darkness and lunged for my wrist. It was a man, dark clothes, hat pulled low.
?!
I reacted instantly, pivoting away from the grab and yanking my arm free. My adrenaline spiked. I saw the fear in his wide eyes as he tried to secure his grip.
GRAB
With the hand he hadn't managed to restrain, I quickly pulled out the canister I was already holding. It wasn't a phone. It was a pepper spray, its pink color matching the one I'd just refused from Yusik.
SHHHHHHHH
I pressed the nozzle, directing a sharp, blinding mist directly into his face.
"AAAAAHHH!!" he screamed, instantly recoiling and clutching his eyes, his form crumpling in pain and shock. The attack was over before it began.
I stood there, the grocery bag forgotten for a moment. I looked down at the screaming man, then back at the dark alley he'd emerged from. My eyes were cold, assessing. I
put the spray back in my pocket. I had to get home. I had to finish making that Sujebei.
I spared one last, steady look over my shoulder, and then continued walking toward Junseo's apartment. The scary world was out there, but I was ready for it.
"Thank you for understanding, Yusik," I said, a wave of gratitude washing over me. Yusik was one of the few kind souls I knew, and his support felt like a lifeline.
He took my words to heart, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Okay, Ajin. I understand. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. It's nothing to be proud of anyways."
I shook my head slightly at his protective tone. It wasn't about shame; it was about survival.
"I'll always cheer you on, no matter where we are in life. You're a kind and hard-working person, so I'm sure things are going to work out for you."
He looked slightly worried, his eyes flicking away from me. "I was worried journalists would be on this, but... this seems to have completely escaped their radar thanks to the stalking serial killer getting arrested."
Oh... that's true... It wouldn't be good if people heard about this. The truth about my father's death and my plan to leave was a secret I needed to guard closely, especially if I was going to pursue a public life.
I took a deep breath, the time for pleasantries over. I had something vital to ask him.
"Anyway, Yusik..." I tapped the table again, leaning in slightly. "I'd like to ask you a favor."
M Correctional Facility Interlude: Provoke
THWMP.
Inside the stark, gray walls of M Correctional Facility, a group of inmates was gathered, a conversation lazily drifting through the air.
"Did you hear? The newbie that just came in is only 20 years old!"
"Yeah, I heard he just got transferred here from Juvie."
"Man, did you see his face? He still has a baby face. F**k, I used to be that young once."
One man, seemingly the leader, looked over his shoulder. "What'd he do?"
Another inmate, watching a young man sitting apart, hunched over a drawing, answered casually. "Murder. He murdered his own dad or somethin'."
A third man scoffed. "Seriously? Wow, kids these days are f**king scary, man."
"Eh, I talked to him and he seems like a sweet kid," the second man countered. "He said the other kids in Juvie kept picking fights with him so he asked to be transferred here. He said he has to stay out of trouble if he wants to get out in three years."
"Oh, yeah? Uhh, what's he drawing anyways?"
The quiet young inmate kept sketching, pencil moving intently over the paper. SNAP. He broke the tip, a small, frustrated movement.
"Who knows? Maybe it's his little girlfriend. Heh... I can hear everything you're saying, you idiots..." the young inmate muttered without looking up.
The two men who'd been talking immediately rounded on him.
"OH, COME ON!! DO YOU THINK I'M A MONKEY IN A ZOO OR SOMETHING?!"
"HA! ARE YOU GONNA FIGHT ME? HEY, I WANNA SEE. SHOW IT TO ME AND I'LL TELL YOU IF YOU'VE GOT ANY TALENT."
The young inmate, looking harassed, flinched. "NO THANKS! HEY, DON'T TOUCH ME!!"
"GIVE IT HERE, YOU LITTLE TWERP! HEY, HEY! PUT THAT PENCIL DOWN! OH, THAT'S HOW YOU WANT TO PLAY IT, HUH?!"
"LEMME SEE YOUR DRAWING!!! STOP TOUCHING MY BUTT!! STOP IT, BOTH OF YOU! WHY ARE YOU ACTING LIKE A BUNCH OF KIDS?! YOU'RE BOTH BEING RIDICULOUS."
A much older inmate finally barked to restore order. The first man, a bald inmate, glared at the young newbie.
"Hey, newbie. I'm getting outta here soon. If you show me your drawing, I'll hire you when you get out!!"
The young inmate, clearly at his limit, yelled back: "SCREW OFF!!"
The conversation with Yusik is still unresolved, and the situation in the correctional facility, marked PROVOKE, hints at escalating tension for the young inmate. Which thread should be followed next?
"Anyway, Yusik..." I tapped the table, my expression shifting from weariness to resolve. "I'd like to ask you a favor."
He looked concerned but willing. "Oh, sure, Ajin. What is it?"
"I told you I was going to debut as an actress once things settle down, right? I'll be working with an entertainment company..." I kept my voice low, my eyes darting nervously toward the street outside.
"A-an actress...?!" he stammered, his eyes widening.
"That's right. So I really don't want people finding out about this. Please don't talk to anyone about me or that you know me." I kept my gaze steady, letting him understand the gravity of the request. My new life-a public life-couldn't be tainted by the ugly truth of my old one.
He quickly collected himself, realizing the implications. "Oh... that's true... It wouldn't be good if people heard about this." He lowered his voice to match mine. "I was worried journalists would be on this, but... this seems to have completely escaped their radar thanks to the stalking serial killer getting arrested." The irony of the situation wasn't lost on me; the terrible crime of another had unintentionally shielded me from scrutiny.
"Thank you for understanding, Yusik," I said, a genuine smile replacing the tension in my face.
He looked relieved to be able to help. "Okay, Ajin. I understand. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. It's nothing to be proud of anyways."
I shook my head slightly, accepting the misplaced comfort. "I'll always cheer you on, no matter where we are in life. You're a kind and hard-working person so I'm sure things are going to work out for you."
I finally accepted the pepper spray I'd refused earlier, sliding the pink box into my bag. I didn't need Mr. Choi's pity or his gift, but I'd already demonstrated that I was capable of defending myself in this "scary world."
I rose from the table, giving Yusik a firm nod of thanks, and headed back toward the apartment, my grocery bag containing the ingredients for Sujebei.