I used to smile easily once...
A light, weightless smile, hiding deep, festering wounds beneath.
But inside me, there was a roar of silence.
No one listened; no one cared.
Behind walls, I learned to hide behind hollow words.
I feigned strength—just so no one would see my weakness.
Then came that night...
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 appeared on the outside.
But inside, I was trapped.
Alone, with no one truly by 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... the 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.
Kim opened his eyes; he had been sleeping.
"Ah... it's Mary."
— "Hello... Mary."
— "Mary: Where are you, you idiot?!"
— "I'm... at home."
Kim smiled as he heard Mary's shouting. He asked:
— "Why is your voice so loud?"
He thought to himself: Even in my dry, lifeless days, Mary was always close to me. I truly loved her.
A sharp shout cut off his thoughts through the phone:
— "You dimwit! Are you even listening?!"
He replied with a faint smile:
— "Sorry, Mary... I was distracted."
— "Don't tell me you forgot! We're going shopping today for the wedding supplies!"
— "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 soft 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 phone 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 along?"
His mother smiled: "Of course."
He said: "We're going to buy things for our wedding, Mom."
Later, in the mall parking lot...
Kim called:
— "Mary, where are you?"
— "I'm outside, near the parking lot," she said.
He replied:
— "Why didn't you tell me you were here from the start?"
Mary smiled tenderly:
— "To make it a surprise."
She had bought many things for the wedding and their home. Kim looked at the bags in amazement:
— "Wow, what is all this?"
Mary laughed:
— "These are things for us."
Kim thought: We are only engaged, preparing for the wedding.
But his mother whispered: "Kim... she is truly happy with these things. She wishes to be with you."
And he told himself: And I as well... I want no one but her to be the mother of my children in the future.
Mary approached with heavy steps and said:
— "When are you coming? Carry the bags... I'm tired."
He smiled as he walked toward her:
— "Can't you see I'm coming to you?"
She shouted with mock anger:
— "Ah! I'll kill you!"
And she rushed toward him...
Suddenly—
Gunshots! A speeding car!
Kim 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... he looked back. "Mom?!"
She was lying on the ground... blood flowing from her mouth. It was her last breath.
He shrieked, "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.
She whispered:
"We chose the colors for the walls of our new home, Kim... but it seems fate decided to paint your life red. Don't let this color swallow you, Kim... Damn it, is this the end?"
She smiled sadly:
"Don't cry, you fool... your tears make my path to heaven dark. I planned for us to live together in our new home, but it seems I'll wait for you in a house without walls... take my farewell kiss, and lock my breath in your chest, for I have no room left for air.
Kim... I bought tiny clothes for our children in those bags... don't leave them for the dust; embrace them when the longing kills you. I wanted to live for you, but the bullet was faster than my dream."
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 internally: Do I look alright? I was already dead.
In the hospital...
The nurse begged him to eat, but he remained silent.
Time had stopped inside him since the incident. He could not accept the truth.
Finally, he realized... they were gone.
His mother... Mary... they would never return.
Choking on tears and sobs, he whispered:
— "Forgive me, Mom... Mary... I'm sorry."
I wanted to be strong, to protect those I love... but I failed.
And what use is strength if you 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 a burning fire.
Once, he wished to be a hero...
But now?
He swore...
"I will kill them all."
Would you like me to help you write the next chapter where Kim begins his hunt for those responsible?