This story unfolds within walls that leave no escape, where time weighs heavily and emotions become more acute.
Walls that imprison the body but not the heart.
There are painful waits, words that don't come, looks that confuse.
Here, every emotion weighs twice as much: fear is sharper, sweetness rarer, love more dangerous.
There are silences that wound, gestures that save, and feelings that blossom where they shouldn't.
Those sensitive to mature themes, psychological tension, slow romance and moments of unexpected tenderness, are invited to proceed with awareness.
NorthBridge Structural Group Offices, Midtown Manhattan.
The elevator opens with a metallic clang, and Chan enters the still-nearly empty corridor of the executive floor.
He walks down the executive floor corridor with a stride meant to appear confident, but his body betrays him: slightly hunched shoulders, slow breathing, eyes lined by a night too long.
He's not wearing a jacket; he left it on his office chair hours earlier. The sleeves of his white shirt are rolled up to the elbows, revealing tense forearms, crisscrossed by clearly visible veins.
The fabric is a little creased, like him.
The top button is undone, not for style, but for air. On his wrist, the stainless steel watch shows a time that shouldn't belong to a man who hasn't slept.
The room is still bathed in that milky early morning light, when the sun hasn't decided whether to shine or stay out. He holds a black folder under his arm filled with documents he's checked at least three times.
He holds it tightly as if it contains something extremely fragile.
After a few steps, he reaches his destination.
He raises his hand and knocks twice on his boss's door.
Chan enters. The smell of strong coffee and fresh paper greets him.
His boss, Richard Hale, CEO of NorthBridge, sits behind the desk, glasses perched on his nose, his expression stern but not hostile.
«Good morning to you too, Chris. What do you have for me?»
Chan places the folder on the table and opens it with a precise gesture.
«These are the updated documents for the new building complex. I've reviewed the deadlines, recalculated the costs of materials, and verified the availability of workers for the start of construction.»
The boss flips through the pages, then looks at him over his glasses.
«You've been working all night, Chris.»
Chan breathes in slowly, as if trying to hide his fatigue.
«I wanted everything ready by this morning.»
The man shakes his head in exasperation and slowly flips through the pages.
«Has the cement supplier confirmed the timeline?» he asks without looking up.
«Yes. I spoke to them last night. We can start within two weeks.»
The boss nods, then looks up at Chan.
«Already assigned. I've prepared a list with shifts and skills. You'll find it in the last section.»
The boss closes the folder and pushes it gently toward him.
«Great job, Chris. As always.»
Chan doesn't really smile, but his eyes do.
He closes the folder and picks it up.
«Now go home and rest. You've been working like a madman for three nights straight...»
«But sir, i have to go to the sports center to check on the construction site—»
The man immediately interrupted him good-naturedly.
«You'll go this afternoon. The workers know what to do. You've done enough for now...you're not a robot, you're a human being. You need rest too...please.» says the middle-aged man.
Chan often stayed late at the office, even staying until the next day. The staff were now well acquainted with his habits.
«Okay, sir, i'll take your advice.»
The man smiled and nodded happily.
«Go on, son, i don't want to take up any more of your time...but before you go, stop by Hyunjin's office and compliment him on the floor plan he sent me yesterday. That boy is quite good with a pencil.»
Chan smiled at those words.
Oh yes, Hyunjin really knew how to use a pencil.
When he leaves the office, he pauses for a moment in the hallway.
He takes a deep breath, as if trying to free himself of an invisible burden.
He heads to the coffee maker on the floor and makes a coffee to take to Hyunjin.
He's probably stayed in the office to finish his work...
NorthBridge Structural Group Offices, Midtown Manhattan.
Hyunjin's office is a perfectly organized chaos: scattered papers, sharpened pencils, metal rulers, sketches hanging on the walls like works of art.
He is bent over the drawing table, wearing a soft white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. The fabric slides naturally over him, revealing his slender yet defined forearms.
He wears elegant black pants, comfortable enough to allow him to move freely as he shifts from one sheet of paper to another.
His hair, slightly disheveled, falls in front of his eyes, and every now and then he brushes it back with a slow, almost distracted gesture.
Morning light streams in through the large windows and illuminates the drawing table where Hyunjin is bent over, headphones in his ears, his pencil gliding across the paper with an almost natural grace.
He is redesigning the main entrance to the complex.
Soft lines, precise curves, notes written in elegant handwriting.
A light knock makes him look up.
Chan is in the doorway, a steaming cup of coffee in his hand.
«Good morning, i see you've been up late too...» he says, entering with an amused smile.
He places the cardboard cup carefully on the desk, without making a mess.
Hyunjin removes an earbud and smiles slightly.
«Thanks, Hyung. You know, staying up all night reviewing tables has its benefits.» he says, taking his coffee slowly and carefully.
He blows lightly on the surface and takes a slow sip. As soon as the liquid touches his tongue, a satisfied sound escapes him.
«I still can't believe you don't drink coffee. With the work we do...without coffee, i could die...»
«I told you, i don't like the taste.»
«What if you add sugar to it? Would you like it?» he asks curiously.
Hyunjin smiles exasperatedly as he takes another sip of coffee.
«How are the floor plans going?»
The architect sets his cup on the desk and shows him the sheet he was working on.
«I'm sorting out the layout. I want the entryway to have more natural light.»
Chan observes carefully and then he smiles satisfied.
«Richard told me yesterday he wants to see everything by friday. And also, he liked your work that you emailed him yesterday. He really liked it.»
Hyunjin lowers his gaze, a satisfied smile touching his lips. «I had no doubts.»
«I'm just being realistic.»
Chan shakes his head amusedly and leans against the table.
«I was thinking…this weekend we could all have dinner together. You, me, and the others. It's been a while since we've all seen each other. Work always keeps us busy.»
Hyunjin looks up, surprised but happy.
«Perfect. Then i'll organize.»
«Well, after i'm done here, i'll take a break. I'm going home to rest. I'll be back here tonight to finish the other projects.»
«Yes, I'm going home too. Richard made me, he said i have to rest.» he says, rubbing his eyes slowly.
«Hyung's right, you work too much...you need to rest.»
«Yes, but you need it too...» he says, gently scolding him.
«Not as much as you...now go, otherwise you'll distract me and i won't be able to finish the work.»
He picks up his pencil and ruler, continuing to draw.
Chan chuckles and turns to leave.
The penitentiary is a place that never sleeps.
The fluorescent lights are always on, the hallways always filled with noise: footsteps, keys, slamming metal doors, voices bouncing off the walls.
Changbin enters his office with a tense expression.
He's already had a difficult morning.
«Hey, are you okay?» a colleague asks.
«No» Changbin replies without thinking. «Two inmates decided that this morning was the perfect time to start a fight. And one even tried to challenge me.»
Changbin rubs the back of his neck, then sits at his desk. He opens a file, leafs through it, and makes a note.
Every now and then he sighs, irritated.
An inmate passes by in the hallway and makes a provocative remark.
Changbin looks up, his eyes hard.
«Do you want another disciplinary report? Or maybe you want me to extend your sentence for a few more years?» he says in a low, controlled voice.
The inmate immediately falls silent and is led back to his cell.
Changbin returns to his papers.
He's tired, stressed, irritated.
But he chose this job; it gives him an unnatural pleasure to see criminals behind bars.
The operating room is bathed in white, almost unreal light.
The air is cold, controlled, and the regular beeping of the machines sets a rhythm that feels like a metronome on everyone's nerves.
Minho enters last, as always.
The automatic door hisses shut behind him.
He's wearing a sterile gown, a mask, his hair tucked under a cap.
Only his eyes are visible: dark, focused, sharp like a freshly sharpened blade.
«Good morning, everyone.» he says in a calm voice as he approaches the operating table.
It's not a greeting: it's a signal.
The patient is already ready, monitored, asleep.
The operation is delicate: a cerebral vascular malformation, one of those that leaves no room for error.
Minho pauses for a moment, surveying the operating field like a general studying a war map.
Then he holds out his hand. «Scalpel.»
The nurse hands it to him immediately.
His fingers don't tremble.
Minho begins to work with small, precise, almost elegant movements.
Every gesture is pure concentration and experience.
«Dr. Lee...» says one of the young specialists «the blood pressure is stable.»
«Good» Minho replies without looking away. «Monitor it every ten seconds. Not every thirty. Every ten. I want margin.»
The boy nods, a little tense.
«Breathe.» he murmurs, still without raising his voice. «If you tense up, you'll miss the details. And details are everything.»
Then he continues operating.
The nurse hands it to him.
Minho uses it with a delicacy that contrasts with the tension in the room.
«Dr. Smith...» he says, turning to another assistant, «I want you to look at this. See this bifurcation? This is where many people go wrong. You don't have to follow the obvious line. You have to follow the most logical one.»
The assistant approaches, holding his breath.
«Don't tell me you understand. Tell me what you see.»
«The bifurcation... it's deeper than it looks. The lateral vein is more fragile. If we touch it, we risk a hemorrhage.»
«Exactly. Now shut up and watch.»
He continues working, his hands steady, his breathing slow.
The room is silent except for the beeping of the machines and the faint sound of the instruments.
«Come on, guys.» Minho says, with that calmness that's more authority than kindness. «This isn't an operation. It's a balance. And we're the ones who mustn't let it fall apart.»
Long, tense minutes pass, but Minho never loses control.
Every now and then he tilts his head, observes, evaluates, decides.
It's like watching an artist paint a picture that no one can afford to mess up.
Finally, after one last precise gesture, he steps away from the table.
The assistants breathe a sigh of relief.
Minho removes his gloves with a fluid, almost elegant movement.
«Now cover the patient, take him back to his room and when he wakes up, call me immediately.» he says.
Then he adds, in a lower tone:
«And remember one thing: you're not here to be good. You're here to be reliable. Being good is a luxury. Reliability is not.»
He turns toward the door and leaves.
The operating room door closes behind him with a soft, almost muffled sound.
Minho pauses for a moment in the sterile corridor, letting the warmer air touch his sweaty skin beneath his cap.
He slowly removes his mask, revealing a tense face, his cheekbones slightly red from the effort, his eyes still focused, as if the surgery wasn't truly over.
He walks toward the filter area, his steps silent, measured.
Every movement is controlled, but his body betrays profound tiredness: his shoulders stiff, his back seemingly carrying an invisible weight.
He washes his hands with automatic, almost ritualistic gestures. The water runs over his fingers, washing away the sweat, but not the tension.
«Doctor, the surgery went very well.»
A young nurse smiles at him, trying to lighten the mood.
He dries his hands, then removes his cap. His hair falls to his forehead, slightly damp.
He runs a hand through his locks, as if to restore order within himself.
An assistant approaches, still emotional.
«Doctor...that bifurcation was really complex. I don't know how you—»
Minho interrupts him with a calm wave of his hand.
«It's not a question of how. It's a matter of not making mistakes.»
The assistant lowers his gaze, respectfully.
Minho sighs softly, then adds:
«Remember this: security doesn't come from trust. It comes from the fear of losing someone. It's what keeps you awake. It's what makes you precise.»
The assistant nods, impressed.
Minho turns, ready to leave.
But before taking a step, he leans against the wall for a moment.
A second that no one notices.
His breathing slows, deepens.
And the thought comes, inevitable, like a whisper he can't ignore:
Every life I save...reminds me of how many I could lose.
His expression becomes impenetrable, professional, perfect.
He pushes himself away from the wall and starts walking again. His figure recedes along the sterile corridor, straight and composed, but with a thin shadow trailing behind him.
A shadow he always feels.
George Washington Educational Campus
The music room is already alive when Jisung enters, with his usual light gait.
The door closes behind him and the sound of the instruments hits him like a wave: guitars out of tune, drums beaten mercilessly, laughter, chatter, a chaos that would be unbearable for anyone.
Jisung puts his bag on the floor, runs a hand through his hair, and smiles.
A real smile, the kind that lights up his eyes.
«Okay, guys...» he says, clapping his hands once, loudly. «Let's pretend this is a civilized place.»
It's always like this: he enters, and the atmosphere changes.
Jisung takes a guitar from the stand, lifts it delicately, as if it were a precious object.
He tunes it with quick, confident movements, then plays a short sequence of chords, soft and clean, that fills the room like a caress.
«This is today's rhythm. Listen, don't memorize. Feel it.»
The students fall silent.
It's amazing how he manages to capture their attention without raising his voice.
Jisung walks between the desks, watching the students' hands on the strings.
«You...» he says, pointing to a boy who is pressing too hard. «Not only are you hurting yourself, but you're hurting the guitar's feelings.»
The boy looks at him, confused, almost amused.
«But guitars don't have feelings...»
«Oh yeah, think about it for a second. Pretend that guitar is a girl...if you pluck the right strings, a perfect melody will come out, but if you pluck the wrong ones, well, she'll give you a hard time...and trust me, i know what that means...»
His students chuckle, and he smiles.
«Your fingers should be light, not heavy.»
He gently takes his hand and adjusts his fingers one by one.
The boy blushes slightly but nods and begins to play the correct melody.
«Nah don't call me professor, it makes me feel old.» he says jokingly.
The students laugh at his statement.
Jisung smiles, but then turns serious, focused.
He approaches a girl who has been playing an out-of-tune note for five minutes.
He kneels beside her, takes her hand, and guides it across the strings.
«Like this. Slowly. Breathe. Music isn't about rushing...it's about expressing yourself through it.»
The girl looks at him, surprised by the sweetness of his statement.
Jisung stands up, runs a hand over the back of his neck, a little embarrassed.
«Okay, now everyone together. One, two...and three.»
It's not even close to perfect.
But Jisung smiles anyway.
Because he feels something warming in his chest: the passion, the growth, the life vibrating in the wrong notes of his students.
He walks among them, corrects, encourages, jokes, pauses, listens.
Every now and then he closes his eyes, letting himself be carried away by the imperfect melody.
And in a moment of pause, while the students laugh at a wrong chord, Jisung leans against the piano and thinks:
If i could stop time, I'd stop it here. In this room. In this chaos that makes me feel alive.
Then he straightens up and claps his hands again.
«Okay, break over! Let's start again. And this time...let's try not to destroy the harmony of the universe.»
The music fills the classroom again.
And Jisung, at the center of it all, smiling, unaware that that morning, so ordinary, so full of life...will be one of the last before everything changes.
New York Capital Technologies
Felix's office is a small universe that thrives on its own light.
The large window lets in a soft sun, which settles on the scattered papers as if illuminating them one by one.
There are Post-it notes everywhere: yellow, pink, green, with notes written in a slanted, rapid, almost anxious hand.
Three cups of coffee: one full, one half-full, one already cold. They describe his morning better than any words.
Felix sits at his desk, hunched over his computer.
His back is slightly hunched, his shoulders relaxed but not too much. His eyes, dark and focused, skim across the screen with a speed unlike anyone else's. His fingers move across the keyboard as if playing a piano.
He's developing a new program.
A complex function, full of variables that don't want to cooperate.
«Okay...if i implement this logic...» he mutters to himself, unaware that he's speaking aloud.
Then he starts typing again, faster, more decisively.
Felix looks at it, sighs, and answers without taking his hands off the keyboard.
«Hey...yes, I checked the data. Yes, the revision too. No, I haven't slept much...»
A tired smile softens his face.
«I know I shouldn't, but when I have an idea, I can't just leave it there.»
He listens, nods, then ends the call with, «Okay, we'll catch up.»
He puts the phone on the table and massages the back of his neck. His fingers slide through his slightly tousled blonde hair.
He has light circles under his eyes, but they don't detract from his vision: in fact, they give him the look of a boy who thrives on ideas rather than sleep.
The code scrolls across the screen like a secret language only he understands.
Every now and then he stops, drums his fingers on the table, then starts again.
It's a rhythm all his own: thought, pause, intuition, explosion.
Felix huffs, but doesn't get angry.
He smiles, as if it were a personal challenge.
«Ah, you really want to make my morning difficult, huh?» he mutters to the monitor.
He reopens a window, checks a function, corrects a missing parenthesis.
Felix slumps back, raising his arms in a gesture of silent victory.
«Yes!» he says softly, a smile lighting up his entire face.
He gets up, stretches, and walks to the window. He looks outside: the city bustles, alive, noisy, far from his little world of computer code and coffee.
And as he gazes at the clear sky, a thought crosses his mind, light but sudden:
I wonder if one day all this will actually be useful to someone.
It's a sincere, fragile question, born from the heart.
Then he shakes his head, returns to his desk, and gets back to work.
Because that's Felix's nature: when the world is too big, he reduces it to lines of code he can control.
His calm is almost meditative.
It's as if he can find light even in the most monotonous things.
The baseball field is already alive when Seungmin arrives.
The morning air is fresh and crisp, and the sun illuminates the ground with a golden light that sparkles in the dust raised by the boys' footsteps.
He walks along the sideline with his whistle in his hand, his posture straight, his gaze attentive.
He wears a dark blue sweatshirt, the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, and black workout pants. His hair is slightly tousled by the wind, but he doesn't care: he's in his element.
The school had given him that day to train the boys' baseball team.
«Boys, get ready!» he picks up his New York Yankees cap and puts it on.
His voice is clear, firm, not too loud.
He doesn't need to shout: they listen because they respect him.
The students line up on the field, some still sleepy, others already pumped. Seungmin watches them one by one, as if he can read their energy just by the way they hold their gloves.
«I swear, if you don't win the next school game... I'll kick your ass even harder at the next practice. Am I clear?»
The sound cuts through the air.
«Passes! I want precision, not power. Power comes later.»
The boys begin to throw the ball back and forth.
Some do well, others... less so.
Seungmin walks among them, hands behind his back, his gaze alert.
He stops next to a boy who keeps receiving the ball late.
«Stop.» He gently takes his wrist, adjusts the position of his fingers.
«Look at my hand. Not the ball. My hand. Follow the movement, don't anticipate it.»
Seungmin tosses him the ball.
«Better.» Seungmin says, and the boy smiles as if he's won a game.
He continues down the field and stops next to two students arguing.
«Problems?» he asks, not harshly, but with the calm that keeps everyone in line.
«He says i run too slow.» one mutters.
«You're not here to compete with each other. You're here to compete with yourselves.»
Then he adds, with a half-smile: «And yes, you run slow. But we're working on it.»
The boys laugh, the tension easing.
Seungmin blows his whistle again. «Reception speed! I want rhythm. One, two, three... go!»
The ball begins to move from one player to the other, quickly, precisely.
Seungmin paces back and forth, checking the timing, correcting the postures, urging, calling, encouraging.
Every now and then he stops, observing the court from the sidelines.
The wind stirs his sweatshirt, the sun warms his face.
And for a moment, just a moment, he allows himself a thought:
I wish they could understand how proud I am of them, even when they make mistakes.
Then he shakes his head, turns serious, and whistles again.
«Last lap! And I want it to be the best!»
The boys give it their all, running, catching, throwing.
The ball flies, the pace increases, the energy rises.
And Seungmin, at the center of it all, feels that sensation he only gets here: the certainty of being exactly where he's supposed to be.
Jeongin's office is a small refuge from the rest of the world.
The walls are painted in soft colors, a light green that's easy on the eyes. The shelves are lined with psychology books, as well as stuffed animals, board games and building blocks. On the soft carpet in the center of the room, a low table with papers and colored pencils.
The light from the window streams in gently, without being intrusive.
Jeongin sits in a low armchair, facing an equally low chair.
There's no desk between him and the child: just space.
He wears a simple white shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, and comfortable dark pants.
On his wrist, a discreet watch.
His appearance is neat, but not formal: he wants to appear approachable, not distant.
Across from him, Connor, a boy of about ten, clutches a stuffed animal. A small lion.
The fingers grip it tightly, as if it were an anchor.
«Is it okay if we talk about what made you angry this week?» Jeongin asks in a calm, soft, unhurried voice.
The boy looks up for a second, then looks down again. He nods slowly.
Jeongin smiles, but not exaggeratedly.
A small, reassuring smile.
«You don't have to tell me everything right away,» he adds. «We can start with a little bit. Whatever comes easiest to you.»
The boy plays with the ear of the stuffed lion.
«At school...» he murmurs. «They laughed at me.»
Jeongin doesn't interrupt him.
He tilts his head slightly, his eyes attentive, present.
«Why did they laugh at you?» he asks after a few seconds, delicately.
«Because...I read wrong in front of the class.»
The boy's voice trembles a little.
«My words got stuck. And they laughed. Even though the teacher told them to stop.»
He doesn't get angry, he doesn't comment right away. He leaves space.
«And how did you feel?» he asks, choosing his words carefully.
The boy clutches the stuffed animal even tighter.
Jeongin shifts slightly forward in his chair, resting his forearms on his knees.
His voice becomes even lower.
«Can I tell you something?» he asks.
The boy looks up, uncertain but curious. He nods.
«Missing a word doesn't make you stupid. It makes you human.»
He pauses briefly, then adds: «And you know what I think? That it takes a lot more courage to read in front of everyone…than to laugh at someone who tries.»
The boy looks at him, his eyes a little watery.
«But they laughed anyway.»
«I know.» Jeongin replies, without minimizing it. «And that hurts. It's right that you say it. It's right that you're angry.»
He picks up a sheet of paper from the table and a crayon. He hands them to him.
«Do you want to draw how you felt in that moment? It doesn't have to be beautiful. It has to be real.»
The boy hesitates, then puts the stuffed animal beside him and picks up the crayon. He begins to draw something dark, confusing, full of broken lines.
Jeongin watches him silently.
Every now and then he nods, as if listening to a story told in colors rather than words.
«It looks like... a tangle.» he says softly, when the boy stops. «A tangle that's holding you tight.»
«Okay.» Jeongin continues. «Now let's do something together. Let's try to draw, next to this tangle, something that makes you feel a little better.»
He takes the box of crayons and hands it to Connor.
«What color do you choose for something that makes you feel a little better?»
The boy thinks about it, then picks a blue one.
He draws a small figure next to the tangle.
«Who is it?» asks Jeongin, with a faint smile.
«The teacher.» the boy replies. «Because she told me it wasn't serious.»
Jeongin nods, his eyes soft.
«It made you feel less alone.»
«And now...» Jeongin continues, «if you could say something to that you who was reading in front of the class...what would you say?»
The boy thinks about it for a long time.
Then, in a low voice, he says: «I would tell him... that it's okay to make mistakes. That he shouldn't be ashamed.»
Jeongin feels a tightness in his chest, but he doesn't show it.
He simply smiles, a proud light in his eyes.
«That's a very important thing to say.» he murmurs. «And you know what? I'd say it to him too.»
He leans back, letting silence settle between them, but it's a good silence, full, not awkward.
Then he adds, calmly: «Here, with me, you can make mistakes as many times as you want. I will never judge you for it. We'll use every mistake to get to know you better. Not to make you feel worse.»
The boy nods, clutching the stuffed animal again, but this time less tightly.
His shoulders are a little less stiff.
His gaze is a little less heavy.
Jeongin watches him and thinks, without saying it: If I could, I'd put a shield between you and the world. But for now... I'll teach you how to build it yourself.
He looks at the clock, but not impatiently.
Time flows differently in here.
«We can stop here for today,» he says sweetly. «You did a great job, I'm proud of you.»
The boy nods, smiling, gets up, and picks up the stuffed animal.
Before leaving, he turns around for a moment.
«Can I... take the drawing home?» he asks.
«Thank you, Mr. Yang.» the boy says with a smile.
Jeongin chuckles lightly.
«You can call me Jeongin. Mr. Yang makes me feel really old. I'm still young.» his tone is playful and exudes calm.
Connor chuckles and nods, running slowly toward the door.
When the door closes, the studio falls silent again.
Jeongin sits for a few seconds, looking at where the boy was sitting.
On the table, the blue crayon is still open, as if the boy might return at any moment to draw something else.
Jeongin inhales slowly, letting the tension slide off his shoulders.
Then he stands up, straightens his shirt, gathers the papers from the session, and carefully places them back in the folder.
A light knock on the door.
«Come in.» he says calmly.
The child's mother, Sarah, enters with an uncertain step.
She's clutching a bag, her fingers fidgeting with the zipper. Her eyes immediately search Jeongin's, as if needing a firm foundation.
«How...how did it go?» she asks, her voice low, almost fearful.
Jeongin gestures for her to sit.
She sits down in the chair, but remains rigid, as if afraid of receiving bad news.
He sits across from her, maintaining the same open and reassuring posture he uses with the children.
«It went well.» he begins, with a slight smile. «Today he talked about what happened at school. He was very brave.»
Sarah and her husband had recently separated because of his infidelity. Connor understood this and couldn't accept it. He saw his mother suffer, and in turn, he suffered. That's why Sarah had decided to take him to Jeongin. She'd heard so many positive things about him. He had a reassuring way of interacting with children and teenagers. He's the kind of person who makes you feel at ease just by looking at you.
Sarah lowers her gaze, biting her lip.
«He hardly says anything to me at home. I'm afraid...that he's suffering more than he wants me to see.»
Jeongin tilts his head, observing her carefully.
«It's normal. Sometimes children don't want to worry their parents. But here he opened up. He expressed anger, sadness...and even a little relief.»
The woman inhales slowly, as if she's been holding back an emotion for too long.
«Did he say... something about me?» she asks, her voice faint.
Jeongin smiles, a non-judgmental smile.
«He drew a blue figure next to the tangle that represented his fear. It was the teacher. But that doesn't mean he doesn't trust you. It means she was there in that moment, and he perceived it as immediate help.»
The mother nods, her eyes shining.
«I wish... I wish i could be that figure.»
Jeongin leans forward slightly, his hands clasped between his knees.
«You will be.» he says with a confidence that isn't presumption, but experience. «It takes time. And perseverance. But he looks at you more than you think. And he leans on you more than he tells you.»
The mother wipes away a tear with the back of her hand.
«Sometimes I'm afraid I'm making a mistake.»
«All parents make mistakes.» Jeongin replies softly. «The difference is who tries to understand, who stays, who listens. And you're doing all of that.»
She takes a deep breath, as if those words have lifted a weight from her chest.
«Is there anything I can do... concretely?» she asks.
«Yes. When he comes home, don't ask him right away how it went. Wait. Let him choose the moment. And when he speaks...don't correct him, don't downplay him. Listen to him. Even if he says things that hurt you.»
Sarah nods slowly, absorbing every word.
«And one more thing...» Jeongin adds. «Tell him you're proud of him. Not for what he does. But for who he is.»
The woman smiles, a shaky but sincere smile.
«Thank you, really. I don't know what I'd do without your help.»
Jeongin shakes his head politely.
«You don't have to thank me. It's my job.»
Sarah stands up, lighter than when she came in.
Before leaving, she turns around one last time.
«Can I ask you a question?»
Sarah hesitates but then smiles amusedly.
«You're really young to be a doctor. You could be my son...are you engaged?»
Jeongin's eyes widen slightly. He blushes slightly and smiles awkwardly.
«Not really, but I'd like to one day...For now, I'm focusing on helping others.»
Sarah chuckles and shakes her head.
«Boys your age usually think about having fun.»
He smiles sincerely, the blush still on his cheeks.
«Well, knows business first, then pleasure. I've been taught that way.» he says, scratching the back of his neck lightly.
«Sounds fair, then...Goodbye, Doctor.»
«Goodbye...» he greets the woman kindly as she leaves his office.
He breathes slowly, leaning back in his chair, then runs a hand over his face, tired but satisfied.
If at least in here... I can make a little difference, then it's worth it, he thinks.
And he doesn't know that that morning, so full of small steps forward, will be one of the last before the world around him falls apart.
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Here's the first part of the prologue. This is a Bang Chan x reader story, I want to remind you, but I also wanted to show you different aspects of the other's lives to get a bigger picture. (I'll also have to write spin-offs for the others. I wanted to show you what life was like before Chan was sent to prison.) I hope you enjoyed it, and stay tuned for the next part. We're going to see some great stuff. Bye.
go back to skz prison series masterlist
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© 2026 thereaderinyourmind (auroraackerman11), please don't claim my work.