Chapter 1: That Night, I Stopped
It was raining that night.
Not heavy… just enough to make everything uncomfortable.
The kind of rain that sticks to your clothes and makes you want to get home faster.
Min-Jae was riding his cycle slowly through the wet streets.
His mind wasn't calm.
He reached into his pocket, pulled out some crumpled money, looked at it for a second… then put it back.
"I'll manage tomorrow…"
He muttered it like a habit.
He should've just kept going.
But he didn't.
His hands pressed the brakes before he even realized why.
There was a man lying on the side of the road.
At first glance, it looked normal.
Probably drunk. People pass out like that all the time.
Min-Jae stared for a few seconds.
Then looked around.
People were passing by.
No one stopped.
Not even for a second.
"Forget it…"
He whispered and started to move again.
But something didn't feel right.
What if he's alive?
That thought was small.
But it didn't go away.
"…Damn it."
Min-Jae sighed and got off his cycle.
He walked closer and knelt down.
Rain kept hitting the man's face.
"Hey… can you hear me?"
No response.
He touched his neck.
There was a pulse.
Weak, but there.
"He's alive…"
Now it was a problem.
His problem.
He tried stopping a taxi.
The first one slowed down… then drove away.
"Not getting involved."
The second didn't even stop.
The third one looked for a second and said—
"Looks like trouble."
And left.
Min-Jae stood there, holding the unconscious man.
Rain getting heavier.
Clothes getting colder.
"I could just leave…"
He thought.
And honestly…
That would've been the smart choice.
But deep down, he already knew—
No one else was coming.
"…Idiot."
He muttered to himself.
And lifted the man properly.
Finally, one taxi stopped.
"Double fare."
"…Fine."
No argument.
The hospital lights were too bright.
Cold.
Unforgiving.
The doctor checked quickly and said—
"Deposit."
"I don't have money right now…"
Min-Jae replied.
"Then wait."
Simple.
No emotion.
For a few seconds, Min-Jae just stood there.
Not angry.
Not shocked.
Just… stuck.
Then he slowly took out his phone.
The screen lit up.
A picture of his mother smiling.
He stared at it for a moment.
Then turned it off.
And placed the phone on the counter.
"Take it."
He added his wallet.
Then his jacket.
"This too."
The doctor took everything.
And the treatment started.
Min-Jae sat outside.
Wet clothes.
Cold body.
Empty pockets.
But inside…
There was a small sense of relief.
"At least… I didn't leave him."
Time passed.
He didn't know how much.
A nurse came out.
She was holding something
A small black packet.
She paused for a second.
Then walked away quickly.
Min-Jae noticed it.
But didn't think much.
Then suddenly—
The door burst open.
Police.
"You brought him?"
"…Yeah."
"Good job."
A pause.
"…Or maybe not."
Min-Jae frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"You know who he is?"
"No."
"He's a criminal."
Everything went silent.
"You brought him here. You paid for him. And you didn't report it."
"Why?"
Min-Jae had a simple answer—
"I didn't think that far."
But what he said was—
"I just wanted to help."
The officer looked at him.
Then said quietly—
"That's the problem."
They grabbed his arm.
Min-Jae didn't resist.
He just turned once…
To look back.
The man he brought in…
Was lying there.
Then—
His eyes opened.
Slowly.
Directly at Min-Jae.
And he smiled.
"Perfect."
Min-Jae froze.
Everyone walked past him.
No one stopped.
Only Min-Jae did.
And in that moment…
He understood—
This wasn't an accident.
This wasn't kindness.
He was chosen.
That night, Min-Jae made a mistake.
Not because he helped someone…
But because he stopped.
END OF CHAPTER 1