WWBU - 20

Yoon Guk reached out and gently stroked Hyun-soo’s hair. As his fingers brushed past her earlobe, she flinched slightly. Looking down at her, Guk placed a hand on her narrow, rounded shoulder and whispered softly.

“Hyun-soo.”

“...”

“Kim Hyun-soo.”

“Yeah.”

“Let’s make a promise, okay?”

It was happening again—his voice, overly sweet and deep, just like last time. Hyun-soo exhaled carefully, her white breath dispersing around her reddened lips.

“What... kind of promise?”

“Until graduation. Or until we enter university. Or, better yet, until we both agree to it—let’s not see anyone else.”

Hyun-soo’s expression crumpled as she looked up at him.

“Why do we have to do that?”

“I don’t know. I just want to.”

Guk’s answer was concise, almost as if he didn’t think there needed to be a reason. For some reason, this made Hyun-soo’s emotions surge.

“I’m not in the mood for jokes.”

“It’s not a joke.”

“If it’s not a joke...”

“I don’t like the idea of someone else being by your side. And you... do you like the thought of someone else being by my side?”

She was speechless. How could he even ask such a thing? Without hesitation, the image of another girl by his side was unbearable.

“Answer me. Do you like it?”

“...”

“Really?”

“No.”

Hyun-soo swallowed the lump of emotion rising in her throat and shook her head.

“That’s why I’m saying this. What do you think about my proposal?”

“...”

“If, by that time, neither of us has anyone else by our side, let’s get serious then. Deal?”

“...”

“Will you stay by my side like this?”

Guk tucked a strand of Hyun-soo’s snow-dusted hair behind her ear as he asked.

Hyun-soo wasn’t stupid. His request was clear—it was an overt demand for her to stick close to him like a needy puppy, circling only around him.

Her gaze dropped to the snowy ground beneath them. Their sneakers, standing parallel like they were, caught her eye.

Hyun-soo clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, causing pain. Then, she nodded. She would do it; she would stay by his side, no matter what. It was her way of agreeing.

“But, Yoon Guk, let me say one thing.”

“Go ahead.”

“I want you to know something. The reason I’m doing all this...”

“...”

“Maybe... maybe it’s because I li—”

CRASH!

A sudden, deafening noise shattered the moment. The unexpected sound froze their thoughts midstream. Startled, Guk and Hyun-soo locked eyes.

Sometimes words aren’t necessary for understanding. In the brief silence that followed, they both sensed something—a dark, sticky, and utterly filthy premonition.

Flakes of gray snow continued to fall heavily from the sky. Together, they retraced their erased footprints toward the front door.

Do you remember?

The eerie stillness of the house, the strange sounds, the nauseating smell, the ominous feeling. And Yoon Guk that day.

When Hyun-soo and Guk stepped inside, the living room was empty. Not even an ant stirred—it was completely silent.

“Did I hear wrong?”

They briefly discussed whether it had been a misunderstanding, standing there without taking off their shoes.

Then, Hyun-soo kicked off her sneakers, slipped into her indoor slippers, and called out to Guk. She insisted he come upstairs with her, promising to make him a delicious cup of cocoa.

But Guk shook his head. Unless it was for tutoring, he never entered her house—it was his unspoken rule. Unaware of this, Hyun-soo persisted childishly, pleading with him to come.

“You’re really not coming up?”

“I’ll go. Cocoa is for tutoring.”

“No! It tastes best now!”

“You’re being unreasonable.”

Guk’s firm tone and faint smile told Hyun-soo everything she needed to know—he wouldn’t spend any more time with her today, at least not willingly. Trying to hide her disappointment, Hyun-soo reluctantly gave up.

“Fine, then wait here. I’ll bring you some cocoa to drink before you leave.”

“I said it’s fine.”

“I don’t care. Let me at least do this much. Take it and share it with Onee too.”

“Kim Hyun-soo.”

“Don’t you dare leave. Stay right there.”

With that, Hyun-soo dashed off to the kitchen. Watching her go, Guk chuckled softly and shook his head. There was something endearing about Kim Hyun-soo’s stubbornness. No, more than that.

THUD.

“...”

Again. Another sudden noise, closer this time.

Still standing with his hands in his pockets, Guk straightened up and scanned the area, searching for the source.

And then he saw it—a slightly ajar door deeper inside the house.

For some inexplicable reason, Guk slipped off his sneakers. He stepped into the living room and headed toward the door.

“Yoon Guk? Where are you going?”

Hyun-soo, who had been scooping cocoa powder into a mug, noticed Guk crossing the living room and rushed out of the kitchen.

“What are you doing?”

As Guk approached the room, the signs of movement inside became clearer. The sound of frantic footsteps grew louder.

From the crack of the partially open door, an ominous smell wafted out, along with a foreboding sense of dread.

“Guk...!”

Just as Guk reached for the door, Hyun-soo grabbed his hand. Her voice trembled with desperation.

He wanted to ask: You feel it too, don’t you? You can’t pretend you don’t sense this filthy, disgusting feeling.

Guk squeezed Hyun-soo’s hand painfully tight, holding it firmly in his own. And then, through the gap in the door, he saw her—his mother. And Hyun-soo’s father, chasing after her, trying to violate her.

Hyeonsung’s bloodshot eyes glared as he pursued Mrs. Ah-san. His belt undone, zipper down, and grotesquely swollen genitals exposed, he chased her relentlessly. Mrs. Ah-san, nearly hysterical, ran frantically in every direction, tears streaming down her face as she begged for mercy—but to no avail.

Hyun-soo couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

When Guk released her hand, when the door flew open and she lunged toward her father, she wished she could just die.

“What the hell are you doing?! Agh! Aaaah!”

Guk immediately moved toward Hyeonsung, slamming him against the wall and twisting his arm behind his back. Pain contorted Hyeonsung’s face as he collapsed, drooling uncontrollably. Guk climbed on top of him and began choking him.

“Die. Just die. Die already!”

Blinded by rage, Guk’s face remained eerily calm as he tightened his grip. Hyeonsung’s face turned crimson, veins bulging as he struggled for air.

At that moment, Mrs. Ah-san, who had been cowering in shock, finally snapped out of it and tried to pull Guk away. Though her strength was no match for his, she clawed and bit at him, using every ounce of energy to separate him from Hyeonsung. A mother’s desperate struggle to prevent her son from becoming a murderer.

Hyun-soo could do nothing. She stood frozen, watching the scene unfold before her. The mug slipped from her limp hand, spilling sweet cocoa powder onto the floor.

“What are you doing here?”

Suddenly, a voice from behind made her heart plummet. Turning around, she saw Young-ae, who should have been in the hospital, standing there. Hyun-soo’s face turned pale.

“What is all this?!”

“Uh, Mom. It’s... let’s talk about this in the living room.”

“What’s wrong with her? Move aside.”

“Mom. Mom! Please.”

“Are you going to move or not?”

Young-ae’s piercing gaze froze Hyun-soo in place. She knew that look all too well—it was the same one Young-ae always wore when she was determined to see something through, no matter the cost. And it always ended with someone getting hurt.

Young-ae shoved Hyun-soo aside like a piece of luggage and entered the room. The sight that greeted her was a disaster.

Her husband lay unconscious, his exposed genitals limp and pathetic. Mrs. Ah-san crouched nearby, her face streaked with tears. And her son stood rigid, bristling with anger.

“This is insane.”

The situation was obvious. These people had dared to do this in her bedroom, of all places. Fury surged through Young-ae, consuming her entirely.

“You filthy whore. Get over here!”

And absurdly, all her rage was directed at Mrs. Ah-san.

“How many times did I tell you not to use that pretty face of yours and focus on making good side dishes?! This is what happens when I take pity on trash like you! Look at you now, crawling into my bed with my husband! Say something! Go on, speak!”

Young-ae hurled her purse and paper bag at Mrs. Ah-san before grabbing her by the hair. Where had this strength come from? Mrs. Ah-san staggered under the assault.

“How dare you! After I took you in, you repay me by sneaking into my bedroom and doing this? Say something! Say it!”

Young-ae slapped Mrs. Ah-san across the face, her behavior utterly unhinged. Hyun-soo tried to intervene but was thrown off effortlessly due to Young-ae’s overwhelming strength. In the end, it was Guk who stopped her.

“Are you going to let go? Are you siding with your mother now?”

“...”

“My husband and this woman were rolling around in my bed! How am I supposed to stay calm?!”

Without a word, Guk grabbed Young-ae’s arm and held her in place, immobilizing her completely. No matter how much she thrashed and struggled, she couldn’t break free.

“You insolent brat!”

Finally losing control, Young-ae swung her other hand and slapped Guk across the face. The force of the blow left a scratch that welled with blood. Guk laughed bitterly, releasing her arm. Young-ae flinched but quickly turned her head, seething.