I used to smile easily once.
A light, weightless smile... hiding the wounds beneath.
But inside me was a crowd of silence.
No one listened. No one cared.
Behind walls I learned to hide behind empty words.
I pretended to be strong — just so no one would see my weakness.
Then that night came...
the night everything ended.
Hello. My name is Kim, an ordinary man.
I used to be simple and cheerful — at least that's how I looked on the outside.
But inside... I was trapped.
Alone. With no one truly at my side.
Even when people were around me, I barely noticed them. They were just empty shells.
I always wished to be strong, to protect the weak — as someone once told me:
> "A man must protect his brother from evil."
I tried to help everyone... but over time I stopped taking care of myself.
Was I really helping others? Or was I only fooling myself?
No one ever helped me.
People... days... fate — they all conspired against me.
I was neither strong nor important.
My school years — my whole youth — were nothing but a chain of pain.
Bullying... mockery... insults.
All of it just for fun.
Just to pass the time.
Why? Why was I like this?
Ah... how harsh this feeling is.
... A ring.
The phone screamed in the room.
I opened my eyes. Ah... it's Mary.
— "Hello... Mary."
— "Mary: Where are you, idiot?!"
— "I'm... at home."
Kim smiled as he heard Mary shouting. He asked:
— "Why is your voice so loud?"
And he thought: even in my dry, lifeless days... Mary was always there. I truly loved her.
A sharp shout cut him off through the phone:
— "You idiot! Are you even listening?!"
He smiled and answered:
— "Sorry, Mary... I was distracted."
— "Don't tell me you forgot! We're shopping today for our new house!"
— "Ah... right. I'm on my way now."
But Mary shouted:
— "What? Damn you! You forgot? You idiot! I'll kill you!"
Kim replied with a faint smile:
— "Thank you, Mary... that gives me a reason to stay home. Goodbye."
She cut in:
— "What are you waiting for?!"
He ended the call quickly. Then another call rang.
— "Hey... I'm really coming. Wait for me. Goodbye."
Then he heard a soft knock on the door.
— "My son, are you awake?"
— "Yes, Mom."
She opened the door and asked:
— "Where are you going?"
— "I'm going with Mary. Do you want to come?"
His mother smiled: "Of course."
He said: "We're buying things for our new home."
---
Later, in the mall parking lot...
Kim called:
— "Mary, where are you?"
— "I'm outside, near the parking lot."
He replied:
— "Why didn't you tell me you were here from the start?"
Mary smiled softly:
— "To surprise you."
She had bought so many things for the house. Kim looked at the bags in amazement:
— "Wow, what's all this?"
Mary laughed:
— "These are things for my children."
He thought: we're only engaged...
But his mother whispered: "Kim... she's really happy with these things. She wishes to be a mother from you."
And he told himself: I do too... I only want her to be the mother of my children.
Mary approached with heavy steps and said:
— "When will you come? Carry the bags... I'm tired."
He smiled as he walked toward her:
— "Can't you see I'm coming to you?"
She shouted angrily:
— "Ah! I'll kill you!"
And she rushed toward him...
Suddenly—
Gunshots! A speeding car!
He screamed: "Watch out!"
He threw his body toward her, taking a bullet in his shoulder. He fell holding her tightly... she survived.
But his eyes widened... his mother?!
She was lying on the ground... blood flowing from her mouth. Her last breath.
— "Mom!!"
A stray bullet... she was gone.
He turned to Mary:
— "Mary! Help me! We must save Mom! Hurry!"
She ran toward him... but — bang! — a bullet pierced her back.
She fell before him with a faint smile, her hand touching his face:
— "I wished... to have at least two children by you... damn it, is this the end?"
She smiled sadly:
— "You fool... don't ever sleep with another girl after me, or I'll curse you. Got it?"
Tears streamed down his face as he screamed:
— "Mary!"
Her eyes closed forever...
---
Sirens... the police arrived. But it was too late.
The doctor told the officers:
— "Seven dead."
— "Any survivors?"
— "Only one..."
The doctor approached Kim:
— "Are you alright?"
Kim looked at his hands, at his body soaked in blood...
And answered inside: Do I look alright? I was already dead.
---
In the hospital...
The nurse begged him to eat his food. But he remained silent.
Time had stopped inside him since the incident. He could not accept the truth.
At last, he realized... they were gone.
His mother... Mary... they would never return.
Tears choked him as he whispered:
— "Forgive me, Mom... Mary... I'm sorry."
He had wanted to be strong, to protect those he loved... but he failed.
And what use is strength if it cannot protect the ones you love?
Something inside him shattered.
And from his wound, a new darkness was born.
A dark laugh escaped... not from joy, but from fire.
Once, he wished to be a hero...
But now?
He swore...
I will kill them all.