The exhilaration of the tournament lingered in Ji Yoo's heart as she walked home, trophy in hand. The cheers of her friends echoed in her mind, but a sense of hollowness began to gnaw at her. She entered her small apartment, the familiar scent of home clashing with the uncertainty that weighed on her heart. Her mother greeted her with a tired smile, but Ji Yoo could see the worry lines etched deeper on her face.
"Did you win?" her mother asked, her voice a mix of hope and curiosity.
"I did, Mom! I won the tournament!" Ji Yoo exclaimed, her face lighting up with pride, but the joy was fleeting.
Her mother's expression shifted from surprise to joy, and she enveloped Ji Yoo in a warm hug. "I'm so proud of you, Ji Yoo. You've worked so hard." But even as her mother spoke, Ji Yoo felt a familiar sense of dread settle in her stomach. The victory wouldn't change the reality of their situation.
The next day, Ji Yoo awoke to the sound of raised voices drifting from the living room. Curiosity piqued, she tiptoed out of her room and pressed her ear against the door.
"I can't keep doing this! We can't afford to feed our family with your gambling," her mother's voice trembled with frustration.
"Just give me one more chance! I'll win back what I lost!" her father shouted, desperation lacing his tone.
Ji Yoo's heart sank. She had seen this pattern before—her father's gambling had always put a strain on their family. She felt a sense of helplessness wash over her. Gathering her courage, Ji Yoo pushed open the door.
"Dad, please… We can find a way to make this work," she said, trying to sound more confident than she felt.
Her father turned to her, his eyes bloodshot and filled with regret. "I'm sorry, Ji Yoo. I didn't mean to raise my voice. I just thought… I thought I could fix things."
"Fix things? By gambling?" her mother snapped. "You're only making it worse!"
"Stop it!" Ji Yoo interjected, feeling the tension in the room spike. "We can't keep fighting like this. We need to support each other."
Her father looked down, shame etched on his face. "I'm trying my best, but it's hard…"
"Let's just focus on finding a way to get through this together," Ji Yoo suggested, her heart heavy with the weight of their struggles.
After the confrontation, Ji Yoo's mood darkened. Despite her victory, the reality of her home life cast a shadow over her accomplishments. She spent the day reflecting on her father's gambling and how it affected their family. As she stared at her trophy, a thought crossed her mind: she could use her newfound skills to help them financially.
That evening, while eating dinner, Ji Yoo made a decision. "I want to start working," she announced, her voice steady.
Her mother looked surprised. "What do you mean? You're still in school, Ji Yoo."
"I know, but I can help bring in some money. I've been training hard, and I could find a part-time job," Ji Yoo explained, her determination shining through.
"Where do you plan to work?" her father asked, his tone skeptical.
"Anywhere I can," she replied. "Maybe I could help at the gym or find something that involves my self-defense skills."
Her mother hesitated before nodding. "If you think it'll help, then we can discuss it."
The following day, Ji Yoo set out to find a job. She scoured the local area, visiting gyms, community centers, and cafes. Her confidence surged as she presented herself and her skills to potential employers. Finally, after days of searching, she received an offer to teach basic self-defense classes at a community center. The pay was modest, but it was a start.
Ji Yoo's heart swelled with pride as she accepted the position, feeling a sense of responsibility toward her family. As she settled into her new role, Ji Yoo discovered a passion for teaching others. She found joy in helping students learn how to protect themselves, and she felt a newfound sense of purpose. However, her commitment to her job soon clashed with her responsibilities at school.
Balancing her classes and the new job was challenging, but Ji Yoo was determined. She studied late into the night, often sacrificing sleep to prepare her lessons. Though the workload was overwhelming, she felt invigorated by the progress she was making.
But the happiness was short-lived. One fateful evening, Ji Yoo returned home to find her father sitting on the couch, his head buried in his hands.
"What happened?" she asked, rushing to his side.
"I messed up again. I lost everything at the casino," he confessed, his voice barely a whisper.
Ji Yoo's heart sank. She had hoped this time would be different. "What do you mean everything?"
"They took our car as collateral. We can't afford to get it back," he said, tears of frustration spilling down his cheeks.
"What do you mean? How could you let this happen?" Ji Yoo felt anger bubbling within her, but it quickly morphed into concern for her family's well-being.
"I thought I could win. I thought I could fix this," he sobbed, his despair weighing heavily on Ji Yoo's heart.
For a moment, she stood frozen, trying to process the news. Her father's gambling had led them down this path once again, and she felt the weight of their struggles crash down on her.
Taking a deep breath, Ji Yoo shifted her focus. "Okay. We can figure this out," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "We'll find a way to get the car back."
Her father looked up, his eyes filled with shame. "I don't want you to be involved in this. It's my mess."
"It's our mess, Dad. I'm part of this family," she insisted, determination rising within her.
That night, as Ji Yoo lay in bed, she felt a resolve strengthen within her. She wouldn't let her family's struggles defeat her. Instead, she would fight to create a better future for them.
The following day, she returned to the community center with a renewed sense of purpose. She poured herself into teaching, using every moment to distract herself from the looming crisis at home. But as the days turned into weeks, the weight of her father's actions began to take its toll.
Ji Yoo struggled to keep her focus on her lessons, and her once enthusiastic students sensed her distraction. One evening, after a particularly challenging class, Ji Yoo sat down in the empty gym, exhaustion settling into her bones.
Just then, Min Seo entered, her expression filled with concern. "Hey, you've been distant lately. Is everything okay?"
"I'm fine," Ji Yoo replied, forcing a smile.
"Come on. I know you too well. You're not fine. Talk to me," Min Seo insisted, sitting beside her.
With a deep breath, Ji Yoo finally opened up. "It's my dad. He lost our car again. We're struggling to make ends meet, and I feel like I'm running out of options."
Min Seo listened intently, her eyes filled with empathy. "That's tough, Ji Yoo. You're doing so much already. You don't have to carry this burden alone."
Ji Yoo shook her head. "I can't just sit back and watch them suffer. I have to do something."
"Maybe you could talk to the instructor about more classes? Or find another job?" Min Seo suggested.
"I've thought about it. But it feels like no matter how hard I work, it's never enough," Ji Yoo admitted, frustration lacing her voice.
"Don't lose hope. You're stronger than you think. Just remember, it's okay to ask for help when you need it," Min Seo encouraged, giving Ji Yoo a reassuring smile.
As they sat together, Ji Yoo felt the burden of her worries begin to lighten, if only a little.
In the days that followed, she took Min Seo's words to heart. She began reaching out to others for support, seeking advice from her instructor and exploring additional opportunities.
One evening, as she was leaving the community center, she noticed a flyer for a local martial arts competition. The prize money was substantial, and for the first time, a spark of hope ignited within her.
Perhaps this was the chance she had been waiting for—a way to not only prove herself but also to help her family regain some stability.
With a newfound determination, Ji Yoo decided she would enter the competition. She knew the stakes were high, but she also understood that this was a chance to change her family's circumstances.
But just as she began preparing for the competition, the nightmare she had dreaded most came crashing down.
One afternoon, as she returned home, her mother was sitting at the kitchen table, her expression grave. "Ji Yoo, we need to talk," she said, her voice quivering.
"What is it?" Ji Yoo asked, a knot forming in her stomach.
"There's been a… situation. Your father has sold you," her mother said, the words hanging in the air like a dark cloud.
"What do you mean? Sold me? To whom?" Ji Yoo demanded, disbelief coursing through her veins.
"To a gang. He… he needed money. He thought it would fix everything," her mother explained, tears welling in her eyes.
Ji Yoo's world shattered in an instant. The betrayal hit her like a physical blow, knocking the wind out of her. "How could he do this? How could he even think this was okay?"
Her mother looked down, unable to meet Ji Yoo's gaze. "I'm so sorry, Ji Yoo. I didn't know until it was too late."
"You didn't know?" Ji Yoo's voice rose, filled with anger and disbelief. "This isn't just a mistake! He sold me like I'm some piece of property!"
"I tried to stop him. I swear I did," her mother pleaded. "But he was so desperate."
With a surge of rage and despair, Ji Yoo felt the last remnants of hope slip away. The realization that her own family had betrayed her in the most unimaginable way shattered her spirit. "I can't believe this. I can't believe you both. I've been trying so hard to support us, and this is how you repay me?"
"Please, Ji Yoo—"
"No! I don't want to hear it!" Ji Yoo screamed, her heart racing with anger and heartbreak. "I'm done. I'm cutting all ties. You think you can just sell me and everything will be fine? I'm not your pawn!"
With that, she stormed out of the apartment, tears streaming down her face as she fled into the night. The weight of betrayal crushed her, and for the first time, she felt utterly alone.
As she wandered the streets, the reality of her situation began to sink in. She had lost everything—her family, her sense of security, and her future.
With each step, Ji Yoo felt a part of her heart shatter, leaving only a hollow shell behind. She knew she would never be able to return home. The price of her father's mistakes had become far too great.
In that moment of despair, a newfound resolve ignited within her. She would no longer be a victim of circumstance. She would fight back against her fate and take control of her life, no matter what it took.
As she faced the darkness of the unknown, Ji Yoo understood that this was just the beginning of her fight. She was determined to reclaim her life, to become more than what others had defined for her.
No matter what awaited her in the shadows, she would rise from the ashes of betrayal and carve her own path forward.