The week flew by in a whirlwind of training and volunteer work. Ji Yoo found herself thriving in the Muay Thai dojo, where her confidence grew with each punch and kick. The energy of the dojo became her sanctuary, a place where she could escape her past and focus on building a new identity.
Her time at the clinic was equally rewarding. She was amazed by how fulfilling it felt to help others, whether it was taking blood pressure readings or organizing medical supplies. The elderly patients often shared their stories with her, and Ji Yoo found joy in their laughter and wisdom. Each interaction chipped away at the bitterness she had harbored, replacing it with a growing sense of purpose.
However, beneath the surface of her blossoming life, a dark shadow loomed. Her family's dire financial situation weighed heavily on her mind. Her parents had grown more desperate, their petty arguments escalating into fights. With each passing day, Ji Yoo sensed that something was about to change.
On a Friday evening, after a grueling training session, Ji Yoo returned home, her muscles aching but her spirit soaring. She dropped her bag on the floor and noticed the unusual quiet in the house. Hesitating, she walked into the living room, where her parents sat together, their faces taut with worry.
"Ji Yoo, come here," her mother said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"What's going on?" Ji Yoo asked, sensing the tension in the air.
Her father ran a hand through his hair, a gesture Ji Yoo recognized as a sign of his frustration. "We need to talk about the situation with money."
Her heart sank. She had seen this coming, but hearing it out loud made it all too real. "What about it?"
"We… we've fallen behind on our debts. The bank is threatening to take the house if we don't come up with the money soon," her mother explained, her eyes filled with unshed tears.
"What are you saying?" Ji Yoo asked, her voice trembling.
Her father glanced at her mother, then turned back to Ji Yoo. "There's a way to solve this. A family friend has offered us money in exchange for… for you."
Ji Yoo's breath caught in her throat. "What do you mean?"
"They want to buy you," her father said bluntly, his eyes avoiding hers. "We would be out of debt, and you could live with them. It's a good opportunity."
The room fell silent as Ji Yoo processed his words. The world around her blurred, her heart pounding in her ears. She felt as if the ground beneath her feet had vanished, leaving her suspended in disbelief.
"You're selling me?" she finally managed to say, her voice shaking with rage and betrayal. "How could you even consider that?"
"It's not what you think, Ji Yoo!" her mother pleaded, tears spilling down her cheeks. "This is for your future. You'll be taken care of, and we won't have to worry about our debts anymore."
"But what about my future? What about what I've worked for?" Ji Yoo shouted, her fists clenched at her sides. "I'm not a bargaining chip!"
"I know it sounds harsh, but sometimes you have to make sacrifices," her father said, his voice cold. "This is the best option for us right now."
"Best for you! You're not thinking about me at all!" Ji Yoo felt a surge of anger, her hands shaking. "You're just throwing me away!"
In that moment, Ji Yoo's heart hardened. She had spent years enduring mistreatment from her family, and now, in their desperation, they were willing to sacrifice her dignity for their own comfort. The realization cut deeper than any wound.
"I refuse to be sold," she declared, her voice steady despite the turmoil within her. "You don't get to make that choice for me."
Her father's expression shifted from frustration to something darker. "You don't have a choice, Ji Yoo. You're just a burden to us. We're doing this for your own good."
Tears streamed down her mother's face, but Ji Yoo couldn't find it in herself to comfort her. The weight of betrayal pressed down on her chest, suffocating her.
"Pack your things," her father ordered, his voice hardening. "You'll meet with them tomorrow."
Ji Yoo stood frozen, her heart racing. She could feel her world crashing down around her. The life she had fought to build was slipping away, and the anger that had fueled her transformation now burned like a wildfire.
"I'll do what I want with my life," she said, her voice low and steady. "You can't force me into this."
With that, she turned on her heel and stormed out of the room, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and resolve. She needed to find a way out of this, to reclaim her power. The thought of being sold like a piece of property was too much to bear, and she knew she had to act quickly.
In her room, she paced back and forth, her mind racing with possibilities. She had spent years training to be strong, but now she had to summon every ounce of that strength to break free from her family's control.
It was time to put her plans into action. She had to find a way to escape this fate.
The darkness of night settled outside her window, but Ji Yoo felt a flicker of determination ignite within her. She would not let her life be dictated by others any longer. She would find a way to take control of her destiny, even if it meant standing alone against her family.
As the hours passed, Ji Yoo crafted a plan. She would leave before dawn, taking only what she could carry. The gang was her last option, the one place that could offer her the freedom she desperately craved. She would find them, even if it meant stepping into a world she had once feared.
With a heavy heart, she packed her few belongings—her clothes, her laptop, and the small notebook where she had jotted down her thoughts and dreams. As she closed the bag, a sense of finality washed over her. This was it; she was stepping into the unknown.
Ji Yoo glanced around her room one last time, the memories of her past flooding her mind. The girl who had been bullied, the daughter who had been abandoned, and the hopeful dreamer—all of those pieces of her life would be left behind. But she would not be defined by them any longer.
As the first light of dawn began to seep through her window, Ji Yoo took a deep breath, her heart steadying. Today marked the beginning of a new chapter—one where she would write her own story.
With determination in her step, she slipped out of the house, her bag slung over her shoulder. The world awaited her, and she was ready to seize her future.