Shadows of Survival

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📍 Scene 1: Seo Yoon-ah – A Prison of Silence

The penthouse was massive, a masterpiece of modern architecture—but it felt empty.

Seo Yoon-ah sat alone in the dimly lit living room, her fingers tracing patterns on the cold leather couch. The air smelled of expensive perfume and the faint trace of whiskey, the scent her husband left behind after every violent night.

She looked at the grand piano near the window. Once, she used to play. Now, it was just another piece of furniture, collecting dust like her dreams.

Joon-seok had left for a business meeting. She should feel relieved—but instead, she felt something worse.

Loneliness.

The house was silent. The staff never spoke unless spoken to. She had no friends, no family who cared, no one to talk to.

Her phone buzzed.

A text from her husband: “Don’t leave the house.”

As if she ever had the choice.

Her bruises still ached from last night, but what hurt more was the emptiness inside her.

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📍 Scene 2: Baek Ji-hoon – A Fallen Star in the Gutter

The streets of Hongdae were alive with neon lights and laughter. But for Baek Ji-hoon, it was just another night of humiliation.

His shirt was stained, his breath reeked of soju, and his steps were uneven.

“Hey, it’s the drunk loser again!”

A group of four young men, all college students, approached him near a convenience store. Ji-hoon knew them. They did this often.

“Still pretending you were once a big deal, old man?” one of them sneered.

Ji-hoon ignored them and reached for his wallet—he just wanted a drink and some food. But the moment he pulled it out, one of the guys grabbed his wrist.

“What’s this? You still have money?”

Ji-hoon tried to resist, but he was too weak. They shoved him against the store wall, punching his ribs.

A sharp pain shot through his side as his wallet was yanked away.

“Just drink yourself to death already,” one of them muttered before spitting at him.

They left him on the ground, clutching his stomach.

A woman passing by looked at him with disgust.

A store worker sighed, muttering, “That guy’s always causing trouble.”

No one helped. No one cared.

This was his life now.

And he hated every second of it.

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📍 Scene 3: Choi Min-seo – A Nightmare at School

The school hallways were nearly empty after classes. Choi Min-seo walked fast, keeping her head down, gripping her bag.

She knew they were waiting.

The moment she turned the corner, a hand grabbed her wrist.

“Where are you going, Min-seo?”

It was Jae-hyun, the boy who always tormented her. Two of his friends stood behind him, smirking. Two girls from their group leaned against the lockers, watching with amusement.

Min-seo tried to pull away, but Jae-hyun pushed her against the wall.

“Still acting shy? You should be grateful we give you attention,” he whispered against her ear.

Min-seo felt sick.

One of the girls laughed. “Let’s have some fun with her.”

Jae-hyun’s fingers brushed against the hem of her skirt, his grip tightening on her waist.

Min-seo’s heartbeat pounded in terror.

The hallway was empty. No one would stop them.

Her nails dug into her palm as she clenched her fists. Not again.

She had no strength, no power—but she had her anger.

With all the force she had, she kicked Jae-hyun in the shin and shoved him away.

His eyes darkened in rage.

“You little—”

A loud footstep echoed in the hall.

A teacher.

Jae-hyun immediately let go, smirking. “See you tomorrow, Min-seo.”

The group walked away like nothing happened. Like they hadn’t just tried to break her.

Min-seo slid down the wall, breathing heavily.

Her arms were shaking.

Tomorrow, it would happen again.

And no one would save her.

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📍 Scene 4: Jung Hwan – Pain is Survival

Under the Dongdaemun bridge, Jung Hwan sat against the cold concrete wall, his body bruised and aching.

The last fight had been brutal. He had barely walked away.

But he had won just enough money for food.

The cheap instant noodles in his hands were barely warm. He ate them slowly, ignoring the pain in his ribs.

This was his life. Fighting. Bleeding. Eating just enough to survive.

He wasn’t the best fighter. He wasn’t strong enough yet.

But one day, he would be.

As he swallowed the last bite, he saw a man standing nearby, watching him.

Baek Ji-hoon.

The drunk from the park.

Ji-hoon smirked. “Kid, you hit like shit.”

Hwan glared at him. “And you smell like piss.”

Ji-hoon chuckled.

“Wanna learn how to actually fight?”

Hwan paused.

The man was a drunk. A failure. But there was something in his eyes—a shadow of the past.

Something told him this guy wasn’t just an ordinary loser.

Maybe, just maybe, Ji-hoon knew something he didn’t.

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