Jinu picked up his jacket and walked toward the door.
The truth about his past as an orphan still lingered in the air,
but Jia's eyes held no pity—only a deep,
newfound respect for the boy standing before her.
"I'll be back in two hours,"
Jinu said softly.
"I've left some fruit in the fridge if you get hungry.
And remember... keep the door locked from the inside."
Jia nodded, watching him leave.
However,
as soon as Jinu reached the coffee shop,
he sensed something was wrong.
People were huddled around the TV screen,
watching a breaking news report.
At the main intersection—the very road that connected Jinu's place to the rest of the city—there had been a horrific accident.
A black sedan had collided head-on with a speeding truck.
When Jinu saw the license plate of the car on the screen,
his heart skipped a beat.
It was the same car he had seen parked outside Jia's house the night before.
Without a second thought, he sprinted away from the shop.
By the time he reached the hospital, it was too late.
Jia's father, who had driven out in a drunken rage to find her, had passed away on impact.
Jinu's first thought was of Jia.
How could he possibly break this news to her?
He ran all the way back to the apartment and gave the secret knock.
Jia opened the door immediately, but one look at Jinu's pale,
trembling face told her that something terrible had happened.
"Jinu?
What's wrong?
Why do you look like that?"
Jinu took her hands in his and explained everything.
Jia collapsed onto the floor, stunned into silence.
He had been her tormentor, but he was still her only blood relative.
The next few hours were a blur of grief and cold reality.
During the funeral,
Jinu didn't leave her side for even a second.
He stood there in absolute silence, acting as her human shield.
In that crowd of distant relatives who only came to gossip,
Jinu's presence was the only thing keeping Jia from falling apart.
After the funeral,
as they approached Jia's large, desolate house, she began to cry.
"I can't go back in there,
Jinu.
That house... it will swallow me whole."
Jinu looked her in the eyes,
his gaze steady.
"I am with you.
I'll stay there with you until you're not afraid anymore."
When they entered the house,
Jinu dropped his bag on the sofa.
He went to the kitchen,
heated some water for her,
and made sure she was settled comfortably in a corner.
He had made up his mind—he wasn't going to leave her alone.
That night,
Jinu made his bed on the sofa right outside Jia's room.
In that massive house,
where there had once only been shadows of fear,
Jinu's presence finally brought a sense of belonging.
From behind the closed door,
Jinu spoke softly,
"Go to sleep, Jia.
I'm right here.
Nothing will happen to you."