Ryu Seungho thought his life, though simple, was perfect.
A small apartment in northern Seoul. A father who worked as an accountant, a mother who smiled even when she was tired, and a little sister who followed him everywhere as if he were her whole world. He was only six, but he already knew the warmth of a home.
He remembered mornings filled with the smell of toast, his mother humming as she tied his scarf, and his father reading the newspaper while sipping his coffee. And his sister, barely able to walk, chasing after him babbling nonsense like it was the most important language in the world.
But everything changed that morning.
His mother had dropped him off at school, just like every other day. She kissed his forehead and promised she would pick him up later. But she never came back.
On her way home, a truck lost control at a slippery intersection. No one saw it coming. No one had time to react.
That was the day Seungho's world shattered.
The funeral was quiet. Too quiet. He didn't understand why everyone was wearing black or why his little sister kept asking when their mother would come home. What hurt the most wasn't her absence—it was that all the warmth she brought disappeared with her.
And then, his father changed.
The man who once held his hand became a shadow. He drowned his sorrow in alcohol, coming home every night smelling of soju and anger. He began blaming Seungho.
"It should've been you."
"It's your fault."
"If you hadn't needed her to take you to school—!"
Those words hurt more than any slap.
At night, Seungho stayed silent, his bruises hidden under long sleeves, pretending not to feel anything. But his sister… she was different. Even when he said nothing, she would come hold him. Even when he thought it was better to be alone, she stayed. She was the only light in his darkness.
Years passed.
By the time he turned sixteen, the beatings stopped—not because his father changed, but because he left. One day, without warning, he packed his bags and vanished. He started over. Found another woman. Began a new life.
And just like that, Seungho was alone.
Alone with the bills, the rent, his sister's tuition. He began working night shifts as a delivery rider, skipping meals so she could eat, pedaling through snow and rain. Not because he wanted to be strong, but because he had no choice.
She was all he had left.
He never asked for more. No power, no miracle. Just a quiet life. One more morning with his sister's smile.
But fate doesn't care about what you wish for.
The clock was ticking. And soon, the world would change again.
But this time...
It wouldn't be just his family falling apart.
It would be **everything**.