Rain poured over my head, soaking ever last strand of my hair as i walked from the bus station.

I quietly sighed to myself, one of my arms was in a tight cast hanging around my neck while my leg was still limping but walking was manageable.

Even at night the streets still seemed busy, though mostly from people coming home late or travelling, i ignored most of it as i slowly made my way towards the poor alleyway's.

I knew what i was here for, one last time i was going to come to this place, and I knew I was not to return again.

I took off my backpack and took out my keys, until i arrived at my, well his door, or i guess my now former door, i didn't even have to turn the key i was already holding, the lock had broken so i could just enter without problem.

The door let out a loud screech and i thought the knob might as well just crumble up in my hand. I stomped off my shoes for a moment before entering, the lightbulbs worked even less than I remembered and the smell of wet wood and concrete crept up my nose.

I could see faint flashes of the tv playing before i was suddenly thrown into an unexpected hug.

"Oh sweetheart where were you I missed you so much!"

The smell of cigarettes and alcohol lingered up my nose, so I felt glad when he let go.

"Oh thank the lord your back, I was able to get the loan sharks to wait a bit longer, you job even called because you weren't coming in. Where in the world where you?!"

I paused, contemplating things in my mind, then just reached into my bag and threw the envelope I saved towards him.

"...huh"

I took in air, then spoke, "T-Twohundred million won, use it for whatever the hell you like. I'm leaving this place forever and you won't stop me."

I never thought I could utter these words before, my father just stared at me, then at the money and picked it up.

"Heh... i guess you weren't as huge of a mistake as I thought." He chuckled.

I felt my heart collapse in my chest, "You..." I clenched my fists.

I felt like my heart just shattered in my chest and now I was choking on the shards, no matter how obvious it may have been, I had never

expected to bear such bitter words from a person I believed would love me.

"..mama was right to leave you." I muttered, "ah that was a whore anyways, honestly how can I even be sure your my kid?" He laughed, it made me sick to my stomach.

"Ah by the way, the fuck' happened to you? Sold your body for the money?" I felt anger boil in my chest hotter than lava as he flipped trough the money I gave him, I clenched my hands, dealing with the burn coming up my throat as his laugh sickened me further.

I clenched my hand around the doorknob again, for a second thinking I may have ripped it off, but luckily it held on by a thread, really I just wanted to leave before I did something I might regret, on the way here I convinced myself I didn't need him, that I could finally start living my own live, yet it stung more than anything, hearing the truth for the first time.

I scoffed, threw open the door and stormed out, not even hearing another word from my father. I took a few breaths to calm myself, feeling my heart and body ache, for a moment I really wished I could fall off that damn bridge again. I went to a nearby stop and called a taxi.

I wasn't super dumb, before I had come back I had already organized myself an small apartment so I didn't have to stay at a hotel or wander trough the night, I took the taxi, giving the driver a generous tip, that was something I had never done before, and somehow it made me feel pretty good.

I arrived at the apartment building, it was just as dull as everything else around here, but it was 1000 times better than my old home, I scrambled for the keys I was given, making my way over the staircases up to the apartment that had the same number as the keys on it, I felt a nice feeling wash over me as I unlocked it, like... I finally felt free.

The inside was okay to most, but for me a pure luxury, it was a simple 1 bedroom apartment with a kitchen, a mini lounge and a bathroom, nothing much but enough for me, I dropped my bag and collapsed into the couch, very much hitting my arm but ignoring the pain.

I laid there completely still for a couple minutes, just relaxing, though was quickly woken up from my half sleep my phones ringtone, confused I perked up and looked at the screen.

'Oh... him'

I pressed the answer button, sighing.

"Hey fronty, fancy hearing from you." I turned it on speaker, "Got home well?" His voice sounded pretty smooth, he probably wasn't wearing his mask, "well, physically yes." I replied lowly, "so uh, do you want me to pay you back any of that mon-"

"No no dear don't bother, it was a gift, I wouldn't take it even if you wanted to pay it back." He laughed, sounding strangely soothing. I chuckled a bit, "well, what are you gonna do now anyways?" I asked him.

"Im a busy man y/n, I'm quite certain you don't actually want to hear about it much. Have a good night y/n, ill call you again soon." Before I knew it, I already heard the beeping sound of my phone, '... no manners.' I shook my head sarcastically.

I laid on my couch a bit longer, until I felt my stomach sting, 'I still need to get some dinner...' I roughly dragged myself up again and grabbed my cash, I dreaded going out in the rain again but I needed something to eat.

I made my way to the first connivence store I could find, eager to snuggle into bed, I scanned trough the shelfs and took down stuff I craved, some shrimp crackers, a few different kinds of chips and some drinks, I scanned a shelf for some instant noodles I could have for dinner when I suddenly thought I felt a presence uncomfortably close to me.

"Oh hey, what are the odds I'd run into you here?" I perked up, looking behind me only to see a man, mid 20's probably, with messy, white bleached hair, "Uh, sorry you must be mixing me up I, don't know you..." I looked at him skeptical for a moment, trying to push past him to the register, 'god i hope that isn't some creep...'

Though before I could make my way forward he suddenly stopped me, grabbing my shoulder.

"304, was it?"

I froze in my steps at which he seemed to rethink his words, but to be honest I didn't know what to do, and making a huge scene in the store just seemed like a bad idea so I just ...turned around and walked to the checkout, throwing my items across the scanner and paying before rushing out the store.

"Hey hey- wait up I didn't mean to scare ya'" I heard fast footsteps behind me, I took most my courage and turned around at him, "I don't know who the fuck you are but please leave me alone." I blurted out nervously.

He scratched his neck, making me take a step away then striking out a hand at me, "12, im sorry for coming off bold, but its Dae-jung around here."

I almost felt confused at the random number but remembered pretty quickly, I looked him up and down for a second before hesitantly shaking his hand, "Y/n.. here, at least." I quickly introduced myself as well, he smiled very softly.

"I didn't expect you to live around here," he looked me up and down, "still recovering I see?" I chuckled at my own pain and nodded.

"Well, not long, moved in today." I replied, fixing my posture, "ah, well, might I take you to your apartment then?"

I paused, feeling distrustful, it felt strange to let someone I met in such an ....odd way take me home now but to be honest, he already saved my ass once so.. I guess.

"Uh, yeah sure?" I gestured the way I came from, "right this way."

The path wasn't trough any sketchy places or alleyways so it didn't feel super unsafe to let him go with me, he seemed a lot more laid back without the mask and pretty friendly as well, no one you'd suspect to be working in some death game.

I walked up the staircases, making my way back to the apartment door, stopping as I held my keys, "Do you wanna... come in?"

"Well are't you bold?" He raised an eyebrow as I was debating on slamming the door in his face immediately, "yes or no?"

"Sure, why not?" He grinned and stepped inside, looking around, "pretty nice place you got here. I closed the door behind me, placing down my bags, "thanks, I hope I can keep it this tidy..."

"Where did you move from?" He asked, getting comfortable on the couch as i put away the things I bought.

"My dads, I couldn't stay there it was barely even a house..." I couldn't admit it made me uncomfortable to talk about now.

"Oh, didn't take your dad with you?" He asked, "No... that guys a huge dick, he shoved all his debt problems onto me and made me work to finance his gambling... I wish I realized sooner."

I paused realizing I had probably overshared a bit, but Dae-jung didn't seem to be bothered by it, "shitty parents huh? What about your mom?"

"Overseas... probably, I don't know, I barely remember her, but im not mad she left us, not anymore at least." I shrugged.

"I get it, my dad was an asshole too." He replied reaching down his pocket, "is it fine if I smoke in here?"

"Uh sure, just do it out the window, I don't want the fire alarm to go off. But what about your parents?"

He walked over and opened one of the windows, pulling out a lighter and a pack of cigarettes, "Im not actually from here, I was born in the Philippines, my mom was Korean, thats the cause of my name, my dad was a soldier from America." He lit a cigarette, blowing some smoke out the window as I boiled some water for my noodles.

"He pulled out the army after my mom managed to reach out to him, but I don't think he did it because he wanted to, he probably thought the child support could get him a more comfortable life. But after that seemed to fail he mostly let that frustration out on me and my mom." I listened to him cautiously, impressed on how freely he spoke about it.

"We were dirt poor, my dad had to take a job as a construction worker for some rich asshole and my mom was forced to stay at home to take care of me since I was born a very sickly child. When I turned six I had to go into a small shitty school that my parents were barely even able to afford, and as soon as I learned how to talk my dad made it his personal mission to beat the shit out of me for every word he didn't like. And well my mom couldn't really do much about it..."

"Well, when I was 14 my mom decided to take me and immigrate to Korea, and well I was a little shithead about it, as soon as we got there I got into fights every day and eventually got caught up in gang shit. Poor woman, only just escaped from her bastard husband and then had to deal with me." He sighed, throwing the burned down cigarette out the window and closing it again.

"Are you still in contact with her?" I asked hesitantly, "No, thats kind of the end of the story, when I came to my senses and tried to leave the gang they killed her, I barely fled that city with my life. I tried leaving my criminal roots behind but, most people had known of my past and refused to employ me so... well now you know how I ended up." He shrugged, I tried thinking of some comforting words but couldn't think of anything that'd sound too cliche.

I grabbed the cup noodles and sat down next to him on the couch, "How did they even employ you?"

He stayed silent for a moment, "lets talk about that another time, do you wanna watch some TV?"

I shrugged, "sure."