Monisha stayed with him for two full days.
She didn't ask much.
She didn't push him to talk.
She cooked for him, kept the room warm, and stayed nearby—
as if she feared he might disappear the moment she looked away.
On the second night, Kalin sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the floor, his fingers tightly intertwined.
Monisha entered quietly and sat across from him, without touching him.
Her voice was low. Steady.
"Kalin…
I'm not going to ask you what happened.
But I want to ask you one thing."
He slowly lifted his eyes.
"Do you want to keep living like this?
Running for the rest of your life?
Or do you want a real chance…
a real life?"
Silence.
His breathing was heavy, as if he were carrying years instead of days.
Finally, he spoke—his voice broken, but honest.
"I'm tired…
and I don't know how to live alone."
She didn't smile.
She didn't offer comforting words.
She simply said:
"That's why… I made a decision."
His heart stopped.
The Decision
She took out a small photograph from her bag and placed it between them on the bed.
A man.
A woman.
Simple faces… warm expressions.
"They're a married couple.
They don't have children."
He looked at the photo, then back at her. Anxiety crept into his eyes.
"They saw you.
The way you smile.
The way you stay silent.
The way your eyes are full of unspoken words."
She took a deep breath.
"They said you're a kind boy.
And they want to take care of you.
Not for a day… not for a month.
They want to be your family."
His voice came out as a whisper.
"And you?"
She stayed silent for a long moment.
Then she said:
"I'll still be by your side.
Just… not in the same way."
The Moment That Changed Everything
A tear fell from his eye without a sound.
"I'm scared," he said.
This time, she moved closer and placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Fear isn't weakness.
Weakness is staying alone while you're broken."
He looked at her.
For the first time, he didn't see a savior.
He saw someone who loved him enough to let him live.
He nodded slowly.
"If I'm going to have a home…
then let me try."
Monisha smiled.
A sad smile…
but a reassuring one.
A Quiet Ending
A few days later, they stood in front of the new house.
It was small.
Warm.
Filled with a woman's laughter and a man's welcoming voice.
Monisha bent down and adjusted his collar.
"Remember…
not every beginning has to be perfect.
But it has to be honest."
He stepped inside.
And when the door closed behind him…
it wasn't an escape.
It was a second birth.
The morning was cold.
Monisha's small bag rested beside her.
The street was almost empty.
Kalin stood in front of her, his hands in his pockets.
He seemed taller…
or maybe stronger.
"I'm traveling today," she said softly.
He raised his head quickly.
"Far?"
"Far enough…
away from all this pain."
He hesitated.
"And me?"
She looked at him with warm eyes.
"You're safe now.
That's all I ever wanted."
She placed a folded paper in his hand.
"If you ever need me…
not today, not tomorrow…
one day."
He took it without opening it.
"You were the only one who stood by me," he said.
She smiled, her voice full of longing.
"And you're the reason I believed there's still hope."
She hesitated…
then hugged him.
A short hug.
Honest.
Without tears.
She stepped back.
"I'm going to live a happy life.
I'll love…
and I'll get married."
Then she added, looking at him with confidence:
"And you…
you'll be okay too, Kalin."
She waved her hand and walked away.
She didn't turn back.
And Kalin…
didn't call her.
For the first time,
he let someone he loved leave—
because that was real love.
Kalin stood in front of the door.
The house was quiet… too quiet.
He raised his hand, hesitated,
then pressed the doorbell.
The sound rang inside.
Short…
but it felt long.
The door opened slowly.
A middle-aged man stood there, surprised—but not unkind.
"Yes?"
Kalin swallowed hard.
His fingers intertwined, afraid the words might escape.
"My name is… Kalin."
The man paused, then smiled gently.
"Welcome, Kalin."
A woman appeared behind him.
She looked at him calmly, then met his eyes.
"Come in.
Don't stand outside."
He stepped inside.
Just one step.
But it was the heaviest step of his life.
He stood in the middle of the entrance, unsure where to place his hands, unsure where to look.
He spoke quickly, afraid silence might get him sent away.
"They told me to come here…
if you're still willing."
The man nodded calmly.
"We are."
The woman moved closer and bent to his level.
"We were waiting for you."
Kalin fell silent.
No farewell.
No familiar voice behind him.
Just this house.
These strangers.
And a future without a name.
The door closed behind him.
And for the first time,
he entered a new place
without anyone holding his hand.
That night was strange.
A new room.
A clean bed.
A window opening onto a silence he wasn't used to.
For the first time in a long while, he slept feeling something close to peace.
He lay on his back, staring at the ceiling, a faint smile on his tired face.
He whispered, as if afraid someone might hear him:
"Mom…
you were the best person in my life.
I didn't want anyone to replace you…
but I had no choice.
I'm sorry, Mom."
He fell silent.
Pulled the blanket closer.
Closed his eyes…
But sleep didn't come.
Minutes later, his eyes opened.
Something inside him wouldn't settle.
He slowly got up and walked to the small computer—the one he had used to copy the files.
The papers were still there, half torn.
He opened the files again…
out of curiosity.
Or fear.
Scrolling.
One by one.
Until—
His hand froze.
A name.
A name he had never seen before.
An old file.
Almost hidden.
But now, it was clear—as if it had been waiting for him.
Han Jae-Min
File Content:
Name: Han Jae-Min
Status: ACTIVE
Surveillance Level: High
Notes:
"Do not approach. Subject unaware."
Subject unaware…
Kalin's breathing quickened.
He opened the file.
The shock hit him all at once.
Another boy.
Around his age.
Under surveillance.
Details. Notes. Movements.
The same structure.
The same language.
He whispered, staring at the screen, his mind refusing to understand:
"Who is he?
Why him?
Why me?"
Something tightened around his chest.
He sat down heavily, running a hand through his hair.
"So… there's someone else?"
Silence.
Then, in a broken voice:
"Am I the only one who lost everything?
Or is there someone else…
who will pay the same price?"
He imagined the other boy.
Living normally.
Laughing.
Sleeping.
Dreaming.
Unaware…
That the eyes of the dark world were watching him.
He closed the file slowly.
But the truth had already been opened.
Now it was clear—
This wasn't just about him.
There were many.
Faces. Names. Lives.
All of them…
actors under surveillance
in a game far bigger than he ever imagined.
And the worst part?
He was already inside it.