Flashbacks
Beom's childhood was a mix of love, loss, and resilience. Born the youngest in his family, he grew up idolizing his father, who was a pilot—a man who embodied discipline, adventure, and strength. Beom was just a little boy when his father left for work one day and never returned. The tragic news came as a shock to his family. His father's plane had gone down, and there were no survivors. At the time, Beom was too young to fully grasp the weight of what had happened. He only knew that his dad wasn't coming back, and his world felt emptier because of it.
In those days, his big brother became his pillar of strength. Beom looked up to him, seeing him as both a mentor and a hero. His brother, the eldest of the family, was determined to follow in their father's footsteps—not as a pilot, but as an agent. He believed in making the world a safer place, and Beom was deeply inspired by his brother's courage and conviction.
However, tragedy struck again. When Beom was just 16, his brother was assigned a mission to Tanzania. Beom remembered the bittersweet farewell at the airport, his brother's confident smile, and the promise to return with stories of adventure. But that promise was never fulfilled. His brother's plane exploded before it even reached its destination, killing everyone on board. The loss was devastating, leaving a gaping hole in Beom's heart and the family's once warm and lively home.
Now it was just Beom, his twin sister, and their mother. Beom clung tightly to his mother, who became the anchor of his world. He admired her strength, how she held the family together through unimaginable pain. His love for her grew into something fierce and protective—she was everything to him. But Beom also had dreams of his own, dreams inspired by his brother. He wanted to become an agent, to continue the legacy of bravery and honor.
At first, his mother was vehemently against it. She had already lost a husband and a son to the dangers of the world. The thought of Beom putting himself in harm's way terrified her. But over time, she saw the fire in his eyes, the determination that couldn't be extinguished. Eventually, she let go, trusting in his strength and willpower, though it pained her deeply.
Life shifted again when Beom's mother remarried. Her new husband was a kind and dependable man, someone who had been a close friend of her late husband. At first, Beom was apprehensive about the idea of another man stepping into his father's place, but over time, he grew to respect him. The new family dynamic brought a sense of healing. For the first time in years, there was laughter in their home.
But even happiness came with its challenges. Beom's twin sister, his other half and closest confidant, received a scholarship to study abroad in the United States. While he was proud of her achievements, the thought of her leaving tore him apart. They had shared everything since birth—their secrets, their joys, their sorrows. She was his twin, his anchor in the storms of life. On the day of her departure, Beom hugged her tightly, tears streaming down his face despite his best efforts to appear strong.
"Take care of yourself, okay?" he said, his voice trembling.
"I will," she replied, her own tears falling. "And you… take care of Mom. Don't cause trouble, you hear me?"
Her departure left a void in Beom's life, but it also fueled his determination. With his father and brother gone, his sister in a faraway land, and his mother relying on him, Beom channeled all his energy into becoming the best version of himself. His path wasn't easy, but he carried the weight of his past with a sense of purpose, hoping to honor the memories of those he had lost while protecting the ones he loved.
As Beom grew older, the unease surrounding his stepdad only intensified. The casual remarks about how "handsome" or "beautiful" Beom was seemed to take on an uncomfortable edge, with lingering glances and inappropriate comments that felt more unsettling each time. Beom couldn't shake the feeling that something was deeply wrong. He tried to bring it up to his mom, explaining how strange his stepdad's words and behavior were. But she brushed it off, reassuring him that he was "just being paranoid" and that his stepdad only meant well.
Feeling dismissed, Beom confided in his twin sister over the phone. "It's weird, Luca," he said, his voice low and anxious. "I don't trust him. He's always watching me. I don't feel safe."
His sister listened, her heart aching for her brother. "Be careful, Beom. You're not overreacting. If it feels wrong, trust your instincts." Her words gave him a bit of comfort, but he couldn't shake the fear that grew each day.
One night, everything shattered. Beom's mom returned home after a late shift, her heels echoing in the quiet house. She called out to him, but silence answered. The air felt heavy, something was terribly wrong. She hurried to his room, her heart racing, and froze at the doorway.
There on the floor lay Beom, his body curled into itself, his arms wrapped tightly around his stomach, his face contorted in pain and humiliation. His clothes were disheveled, bruises already forming on his skin. Tears streamed down his face, and his breath came in short, shaky gasps. His eyes, wide with terror, looked up at her as he tried to speak, his voice trembling.
"He... he... did it, Luca..." Beom managed to whisper, his voice breaking. "He di—"
Before he could finish, his eyes fluttered, and he collapsed, his body going limp. His mother's heart shattered. In a panic, she gathered him in her arms, calling out his name, pleading for him to stay awake. Without hesitation, she rushed him to the hospital, her mind reeling, unable to fully comprehend the horror of what had happened.
As she waited for answers, her mind replayed his words: "He… he did it, Luca." Her grief quickly turned to rage. She clenched her fists, her jaw tightening as she realized the full weight of what her husband had done.
Beom's hands trembled as he sat in the courtroom, the events of the past few weeks playing over and over in his mind like a terrible nightmare he couldn't escape. His stepfather sat across the room, shackled but still exuding an unsettling arrogance. Beom felt his stomach churn every time their eyes met, the man's twisted grin sending cold shivers down his spine.
The trial was grueling. Beom had to recount every harrowing detail, each word cutting into him like a blade. He watched as his mother sat in the audience, her face pale and streaked with tears, guilt etched deeply into her expression. Beside her, his sister Luca clenched her fists tightly, anger burning in her eyes as she glared at the man who had destroyed their family's peace.
The prosecution built a strong case against Beom's stepfather, presenting evidence that painted a chilling picture of the man's true nature. Witnesses testified to his manipulative behavior, and forensic evidence corroborated Beom's account of the assault.
When the verdict was finally read, the weight of the judge's words hit Beom like a tidal wave.
"Life imprisonment without the possibility of parole," the judge declared, his voice firm and resolute.
The courtroom was silent for a moment before a quiet murmur of relief spread through the audience. Beom exhaled shakily, tears streaming down his face as he clutched Luca's hand. His sister squeezed it tightly, grounding him as the world around them blurred.
But as the guards moved to drag the man out of the courtroom, his stepfather turned to Beom, his eyes dark and filled with venom. "I will be back for you, Beom," he hissed, his voice low but filled with menace.
Beom froze, his breath catching in his throat as those words echoed in his mind. The man's face, twisted with anger and malice, burned itself into Beom's memory as he was dragged away. Even as the courtroom doors slammed shut, Beom couldn't shake the feeling that his nightmare was far from over.