"Nothing, I was just looking at the door." Eero touched his head, caught by Elena as he was glaring at Athena.
"Oh my, don't be so jealous. I won't steal him from you." Athena smiled at Elena, wearing a short, elegant skirt.
Eero glanced at her again, but when he turned to Elena, she looked furious—like a volcano ready to erupt.
As the sun set, they both returned to their room.
Elena was changing, while Eero kept looking at her.
"Are you angry?" Eero asked in a soft voice.
"No. Do I look angry to you?" Elena didn't even glance at him.
Eero hugged her from behind. "Please, don't be mad. I was just looking at her dress."
"Oh yeah? If you like her so much, why don't you lick her feet?" Elena turned to face him. She was in the middle of changing, standing in just her undergarments.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Elena gasped as Eero suddenly grabbed her feet and pushed her onto the bed.
"Let go, you pervert!" She tried to pull away.
"Didn't you say I should lick the manager's feet? Why would I do that? If I ever wanted to, I'd lick yours—because you're mine." Eero moved his head toward her feet, his warm breath brushing against her skin.
Elena's face turned red. "Idiot....…" she muttered, pulling her legs back.
Eero chuckled. "Sorry, I won't do it again."
"Please...… forgive us..…"
Eero froze. He saw Viktor and Tomasz being whipped mercilessly by Wolfsbane.
"This is nothing....… This is nothing compared to what my mother went through," Viktor muttered, biting his lip hard to suppress his screams. Tears rolled down his face as he kept his head lowered, enduring the pain.
A teardrop hit the ground, followed by a woman crashing into a wall.
"You bitch!" A man struck her again.
The woman desperately shielded herself, but he didn't stop.
"Don't forget who pays for your worthless life—and your good-for-nothing son." The man finally walked away, leaving her on the floor.
As soon as the door slammed shut, a small boy ran down the stairs.
"Mom! Mom!" Tears streamed down his face.
"Mom, please say something!" He hugged his mother tightly.
"Don't worry, Viktor. Mom's just….... tired. Don't cry. Isn't my son strong?" She forced a smile, one so bright it could compete with the sun.
"Mom...… I swear, I'll never be like that man. I'll never be a drunk who hits the people he's supposed to protect." Viktor buried himself in her lap, sobbing.
"I told you, bitch, didn't I?"
Viktor's father grabbed his mother by the neck.
"Don't you dare touch her!" Viktor shoved him with all his strength, sending him crashing into the wall.
"No, Viktor!" His mother held him back.
"You little bastard!" His father staggered to his feet. "Just because you've grown up doesn't mean you can fight back. Don't forget—I gave you and that woman everything for free. Just because you got a part-time job and took her away doesn't mean you're out of debt!"
"Fine." Viktor clenched his fists. "Just don't touch Mom again. If I ever see you do it, I'll chop off your filthy hands. I'll pay you back every cent."
Taking his mother's hand, Viktor walked out of the apartment.
"You idiot! Why did you interfere?" his mother sobbed. "If you'd just kept quiet, this wouldn't have happened!"
"What was I supposed to do? Just stand there while he kept hurting you?" Viktor hugged her.
"How are you going to pay him?" She looked away.
Viktor recalled a news story about a man who became rich by selling in-game items.
A week later, his phone rang.
"Viktor, where are you?" his mother asked.
"I'm on a trip. Don't worry, I'll be back in five months," he replied, standing before a glowing portal.
"Oof! I'm stuffed. Go dig more stones." Wolfsbane kicked Tomasz in the chest as the whipping session ended.
Tomasz collapsed, panting. "No more…... please. I'm sorry…..."
"Who cares? Take that! And that!" A group of children swarmed Tomasz, beating him.
The caretaker watched from the gallery, indifferent as the kids bullied him. Behind them, a torn photograph lay on the ground—a picture of little Tomasz with his mother and father.
"Hey! Let go of him, you swines!"
A boy, no older than them, charged in with a stick.
"Aaahhh! You'll regret this!" The kids scattered, leaving Tomasz curled on the ground.
"They tore my only family photo...… What am I going to do now, Skyler?" Tomasz sobbed.
"Don't cry, please. Let's go to the room," Skyler said gently, helping him up.
"I don't want to stay in this orphanage. Everyone's mean to me. They steal my food, bully me every day. Even the caretaker just watches and does nothing." Tomasz gazed at the sky.
That night, Skyler stayed awake. He kept glancing at Tomasz as he worked on something in his bed.
The next morning, Skyler approached Tomasz. "Here. A gift for you."
The gift was wrapped in a newspaper.
Tomasz took the wrapped item. "What is this?"
"Just open it," Skyler grinned.
"Look at that! A gift? How lame!" The other kids laughed.
"It's alright," a girl whispered. "For Tomasz, it's the best gift ever."
"I don't want it. I'm leaving." Tomasz threw the gift at Skyler's face and ran away.
"Wait, Tomasz!" Skyler picked up the gift, watching him go.
Laughter echoed behind him.
That night, when Tomasz returned to his bed, he found the gift on his blanket.
"I told him I didn't want it…... Why won't he listen? Does he like seeing me embarrassed?"
Annoyed, he was about to toss it out the window when he noticed something written on the back:
"Please, just open it once. When you're alone, please."
Curious, Tomasz glanced around. Everyone was asleep. He quietly unwrapped it.
Tears welled in his eyes.
It was his family photo, fully restored.
Skyler, sleeping in the bed next to him, felt something heavy on his chest.
When he opened his eyes, Tomasz was hugging him. "Please….... forgive me."
Years passed. Tomasz and Skyler were now over twenty, working as waiters.
One morning, Tomasz was sweeping the floor. "Skyler's late today...…"
His phone buzzed.
A doctor's voice came through. "So, you can't pay that much money? I'm afraid we can't keep a patient in a coma if their bills aren't covered."
"Please...… just give me six months. If I can't pay by then, take all my organs." Tomasz fell to his knees.
The doctor sighed, handing him a contract. "Fine. Sign here."
Tomasz signed without hesitation.