Scene: Inside a room, Lin Gean is sitting on a chair. In front of him is a large table where Precious, Bit, and R. Kizu were sitting earlier—but now they've left.
Lin rests his hand on the table, then brings it to his face with a serious expression and closes his eyes.
Lin:
"My family wasn't rich… nor did we belong to any sect. We were very poor. And when I was 8 years old…"
Scene — Many Years Ago
A dirty area filled with garbage and filth.
Three people stand there with a child. Their faces are blurred. One of them is a woman, the other her husband.
Husband:
"How many coins will you give for him?"
Third Person:
"He's 8 years old… young and healthy. I'll give you 20 silver coins."
Female:
"What? Really?! Then give it now."
Third Person:
"Sure, here are 20 silver coins."
He hands over a pouch.
Child:
"…um…"
The child looks at his parents with an innocent face… but they leave him there and walk away.
Present Lin (voice-over):
"They didn't even look back at me… not even once.
And the one who bought me… was a small restaurant owner. He made me work day and night…"
Scene — Restaurant
A plate-breaking sound echoes. A plate lies shattered on the ground.
A 9-year-old Lin stands there, scared and trembling.
Lin:
"Ah…!"
Owner:
"Hey! What did you do?!"
The owner arrives.
Owner:
"Will your father pay for this?! Do you even know this plate costs 25 silver coins?! It's worth more than you!"
He slaps Lin.
Lin:
"Agh…! ahm… um… cry… sob…"
Owner:
"Shut up, you bastard!
Hmm… I'll earn this money by selling your body…"
Lin:
"Haa…! haa…!"
Owner:
"There are people who like hitting kids… I'll rent you out for 5 silver coins per hour… hahaha… at least you're useful for something."
The owner leaves.
Lin, lying on the ground, stands up trembling… about to fall again—
But another child catches him.
That Kid:
"Are you okay, Lin?!"
Lin looks at him and gives a small smile.
Lin:
"Yes…"
Present Lin:
"But the only good thing there… was my one and only friend.
He stood with me in all my pain… and he had come there just like me…
But… he wasn't what I thought…"
Scene — Kitchen
The boy is cleaning plates while Lin is cleaning the floor.
Suddenly, a bowl slips from the boy's hand and breaks.
Lin freezes. His face fills with fear.
The owner arrives.
Owner:
"What happened here?! Who did this?!"
Boy:
"H-he pushed me! That's why the bowl slipped from my hand! It wasn't my fault! It was all his fault!"
Lin is shocked. His broom falls.
Lin:
"…what?!"
Owner:
"You bastard again?! In one week you already broke two plates and now this bowl too?! Come with me!"
He grabs Lin and drags him away.
Lin slowly turns his face toward his friend—
His friend looks scared.
Lin:
…!
But Lin smiles… and goes with the owner.
The boy relaxes… and smiles creepily.
Boy:
"Safe…"
Scene — Restaurant (Later)
The sound of Lin being beaten echoes.
Lin:
"Ahhh! haa..! aaah..! aahh…!!"
Scene — Same Night
Lin and his friend are in the same room.
The boy is putting bandages on Lin's wounds.
Boy:
"I'm sorry… I blamed you… even though it was my fault…"
Lin:
"…No, it's okay. If I were in your place… I would've done the same."
Boy:
"Yeah but still… how can someone put their own friend into trouble like that…?"
He starts crying slightly.
Lin turns toward him and wipes his tears.
Lin:
"Hey… you're my friend.
And for a friend, another friend can do anything… so this beating is nothing."
Boy:
"…Let's run away from here!"
Lin:
"W-what are you saying…?"
Boy:
"Yes! Let's run away and live somewhere far away… happily…"
Lin:
…
Boy:
"Why aren't you saying anything?! Tell me—are you with me or not?
…You'll come with me, right?"
His voice starts loud, then becomes softer.
Lin:
"…Okay." (nod)
Boy:
"Great! Then we'll escape tonight!"
Lin:
"But how?!"
Boy (excited):
"The owner leaves every night at 12 and comes back at 3. That's our chance!"
Lin:
"But he locks the door…"
Boy:
"And there's a spare key in his room—look!"
He shows a key hidden under the mattress.
Lin:
"When did you take it…?"
Boy:
"This morning, when he was busy with a female customer."
Lin:
"I see…"
Present Lin:
"But who knew… something like that would happen…"
Scene — Night Escape
The owner locks the restaurant and leaves.
Inside, Lin and the boy come out of their room and go to the door.
The boy gives the key to Lin.
Boy:
"I'm too short. You open it."
Lin:
"Okay."
Lin opens the door.
Moonlight shines outside.
Lin:
"Wha…!"
He steps out… then runs outside happily.
A big smile on his face.
Then he turns—
Lin:
"…What happened?"
The boy is still inside… smiling.
A creepy smile.
Suddenly—
THUD!
Lin is kicked and slammed into a wall.
It's the owner.
Owner:
"How dare you step outside the restaurant?!
You stole the key from my room?!
A pig like you dares to do this?! Enter my room?!"
He kicks Lin multiple times.
Lin:
"Agh…! ahh…!!"
Lin (thinking):
"But… he said…?"
Lin slowly turns his face toward his friend—
The boy is inside… smiling… even laughing.
Boy:
"Hehehe… hehe…"
Lin (thinking):
"…N-no way…"
Lin, who didn't cry even while being beaten—
Now tears finally fall from his eyes.
Present Lin (Monologue)
"My own friend betrayed me… I still don't know why.
But at that moment… I felt like—why was I even alive? Why didn't I just die?
My parents' betrayal… my one and only friend's betrayal…
I saw all of that at just 9 years old.
I lost faith in this world…
To me, everyone in this world became betrayers… untrustworthy.
I understood that at the age of 9…
But still… I don't know why…
WHY…!!
Even after that… I kept working in that restaurant for a long time…
I didn't end my life…
I don't know why!
I stayed with that same friend…
And acted as if nothing ever happened…
…I don't know why I did that!!"