Sarah, Samuel, and Dohyun had arrived in Italy, their figures standing out against the bustling streets of the crowded city. Dohyun's clothing and hairstyle were unlike anything anyone had seen before, drawing eyes in all directions - some intrigued, others bewildered. Despite the strange looks, Dohyun seemed unfazed, walking alongside Samuel and Sarah with confidence and an air of nonchalant grace.
Sarah excitedly looked at Samuel who was walking beside her with his hands inside his pockets and she eagerly asked, "It's been four years since you were last here, how are you feeling?"
Hearing her question Samuel answered her without interest and without looking at her, "Nothing."
Sarah playfully nudged Samuel with her arm, a glimmer of teasing in her eyes. "Come on," she grinned. "Don't the school days come flooding back? Doesn't it feel a bit nostalgic?"
Samuel responded with a nonchalant shrug, his expression remaining neutral. "Yeah, I'm remembering some stuff, so what? Now I can't erase them" he replied, his voice unperturbed.
Sarah chuckled, not deterred by his lack of reaction. "You're so indifferent. Can't you at least pretend to be excited?"
Dohyun, who was walking beside Sarah, interjected with a smirk, adding his own perspective. "If this hero starts showing excitement, he'll look like a total joke," he quipped.
Samuel's face finally showed some expression, revealing a hint of annoyance as he turned to Dohyun. "You're the one who looks like a joke," he retorted. "Take a look at how people are looking at you. It's making me uncomfortable, having you next to us."
Dohyun casually glanced around, noting the way people were staring at him. He flashed a proud smile and waved his hand to them before turning to Samuel and responding, "These are just my fans."
Samuel rolled his eyes, clearly not amused by Dohyun's self-assured attitude. "As if anyone could be a fan of that weird look. You stick out like a sore thumb," Samuel muttered.
Dohyun ignored Samuel's comment and continued walking through the crowd, seemingly unfazed by the looks thrown his way. Sarah watched the exchange with a mixture of amusement and unseriousness, used to the playful banter between Samuel and Dohyun.
Dohyun's attention was suddenly drawn to the street singer performing in the crowd nearby. His eyes lit up excitedly as he exclaimed, "I can sing too!"
Without a moment's hesitation, he dashed towards the singer, with Sarah quickly following behind him, wearing an amused smile on her face. Samuel watched the scene unfolding before him, his face betraying a mixture of embarrassment and annoyance. After a moment of hesitation, he followed after Sarah and Dohyun, knowing he couldn't leave them alone.
Dohyun squeezed through the crowd and snatched the mike from the street singer's hand. He immediately began singing loudly and enthusiastically, oblivious to the fact that his voice sounded absolutely terrible. The crowd around him was taken aback by his unexpected performance, some covering their ears to block out the painful noise.
Sarah watched, amused, standing a few feet away from Dohyun. She couldn't help but chuckle at his confident yet disastrous attempt at singing. Meanwhile, Samuel stood nearby, cringing and covering his face in embarrassment, praying for this ordeal to end quickly. He peeked through his fingers to observe Dohyun's performance, flinching at each off-pitch note he hit. While Dohyun continued to sing his heart out, paying no attention to the reactions around him.
Suddenly, Sarah and Samuel were stricken with alarm as they noticed two muscular men, who had previously been standing beside the street singer, making his way towards Dohyun with a rather menacing expression. Samuel and Sarah exchanged anxious glances, their eyes widening in surprise at the men's approach. Without wasting a moment, Sarah and Samuel hurried towards Dohyun, determined to get him out of there.
However, Dohyun, in his typical stubborn fashion, refused to budge, even as they attempted to pull him away from the crowd. Sensing the seriousness of the situation, Sarah and Samuel made the tough decision to forcibly drag him away from the area. They pushed and wrestled with him, managing to pull him out of the crowd and through the throngs of people.
The men who were previously approaching them seemed to take offence at this, as they followed closely behind them, trying to approach Dohyun again. Sarah and Samuel moved quickly, practically dragging Dohyun away from the scene, their hearts beating fast as they tried to put some distance between themselves and the dangerous-looking men.
The intense situation had both Sarah and Samuel on edge, their concern for Dohyun fueling their adrenaline. They ran through the bustling crowd, their only goal being to get Dohyun to safety and away from the men's pursuit.
As they finally managed to put some distance between themselves and those men, they slowed down and caught their breath. Sarah looked at Dohyun with a mix of disbelief and amusement, while Samuel stood beside them, visibly annoyed by Dohyun's lack of self-preservation.
Dohyun's focus shifted again, this time to the street dancers performing in the crowd nearby. He immediately became eager and excited, exclaiming, "I'm going to dance too!" Without a moment's hesitation, he dashed in the dancers' direction.
Seeing this Samuel's frustration increased in Dohyun's impulsive behaviour. Sarah chuckled in amusement and quickly followed suit. Samuel trailed behind them, feeling resigned to his fate. Dohyun pushed his way through the crowd and joined the dancers, immediately starting to dance passionately and confidently.
Sarah, who had always been interested in dance and passionate, followed suit, without any hesitation joining the dancers and dancing alongside Dohyun.
Samuel, who had reluctantly followed them both, watched the scene unfolding before him. He facepalmed with a mixture of surprise and frustration, seeing Sarah also joined him, knowing Sarah had passion in dance and she was experienced but just then he realised that Dohyun was also a surprisingly skilled dancer despite his failed attempt at singing.
The street dancers were amused by Dohyun and Sarah's unexpected arrival, but they quickly welcomed them into their group and allowed them to dance beside them. The audience was thoroughly enjoying the impromptu performance, cheering and clapping as Dohyun and Sarah danced with undeniable energy and skill.
They both moved in perfect synchrony, complementing each other's dance style effortlessly. It was clear that both of them had a natural affinity for dancing, and they seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely.
Samuel watched from the sidelines, feeling a mixture of awe and annoyance. On one hand, he was impressed by Dohyun's unexpected dancing abilities and Sarah's expertise, but on the other hand, he was still frustrated by both of them inability to stay out of trouble.
The crowd continued to cheer as Dohyun and Sarah danced with passion and finesse, their performance quickly becoming the highlight of the area. Despite his initial reluctance, Samuel soon found himself unable to look away, amazed by the spectacle before him. Suddenly Sarah grabbed hold of Samuel's arm and forcefully pulled him into the centre of the dance area, determined to make him join in the performance.
Samuel attempted to resist, trying to escape, but Sarah's grip was firm, and she refused to let him go. Meanwhile, as the crowd noticed Samuel's reluctant inclusion in the dance routine, they began to cheer and encourage him. Samuel, feeling pressured by the cheers from the crowd and Sarah's insistence, reluctantly gave in and started dancing alongside Dohyun and Sarah.
Despite his initial reluctance and embarrassment, Samuel proved to be a proficient dancer as well, his movements seamlessly blending with Dohyun and Sarah's. The crowd continued to cheer and clap, energised by the trio's and dancers' performance.
Sarah glanced over at Samuel with a satisfied smile, pleased that she had managed to coax him into dancing with them. Samuel, although still feeling a bit flustered, couldn't help but enjoy the moment, finding himself lost in the music and the crowd's cheers.
As the trio continued to dance, the crowd around them began to join in, slowly but steadily. The open space where the group was performing was gradually transforming into a thriving dance floor, filled with joyous individuals of all ages, dancing in harmony.
The trio, initially at the centre of it all, found themselves in the midst of a bustling dance party, their performance having attracted a multitude of enthusiastic participants.
Amidst the lively dance party, Dohyun suddenly realised that a pickpocket had snatched his wallet from his pocket and was swiftly making his escape. Dohyun immediately signalled Sarah, pointing towards the fleeing thief before running towards there.
Sarah, sensing the urgency, gestured to Samuel, indicating that they needed to give chase.
Without a moment's hesitation, Samuel joined Sarah and Dohyun in the pursuit.
Although they were determined to catch the thief, there was a hint of amusement in their faces, as if they were enjoying the thrill of the chase. The trio weaved through the crowd, their target in sight. They navigated the sea of dancers with agility, their movements synchronised as they pursued the street pickpocket. The atmosphere was filled with a mix of excitement and determination as they closed the distance between themselves and the thief.
The thief, sensing their closing in on him, suddenly increased his pace, causing the trio to step up their own speed in order to keep up. Yet, undeterred by the increased difficulty, Dohyun, Sarah, and Samuel pressed on, refusing to let the thief escape.
As they came to the ice cream stand and abruptly braked to a halt, a sense of bewilderment crossed their faces. The thief had vanished from their sight, seemingly disappearing into thin air.
The trio stood there in front of the ice cream stand, dumbfounded by the thief's sudden disappearance. They exchanged bewildered glances, trying to figure out how he could have vanished so quickly. The air now filled with disappointment and frustration, but there was also a hint of amusement in their eyes, as if they were still relishing the chase, despite the lost wallet.
Dohyun's eyes darted towards the ice cream stand, where the owner was handing over two ice cream cones to a customer.
In a flash of impulsive decision, Dohyun lunged forward and snatched the two ice creams directly from the owner's hands. Without a moment's hesitation, Dohyun started running away, leaving the perplexed owner and other customers stunned by his unexpected action.
Seeing Dohyun's audacious move, Sarah and Samuel exchanged widened eyes, both surprised and slightly amused. And they quickly ran after Dohyun, and the ice cream stand owner started chasing them, shouting for them to stop.
Dohyun, ice cream cones in hand, darted through the crowd with nimble footwork, weaving past people and dodging around obstacles. Sarah and Samuel followed closely behind, their hearts racing as they tried to keep up with Dohyun's quick pace. The ice cream stand owner hurried after them, calling out in protest as his precious products were now in the hands of a dashing thief.
***
The trio, managed to escape the ice cream owner, now at a safe distance from the ice cream owner, stopped in a small clearing near a pretty lake. Dohyun, Sarah, and Samuel collapsed onto a nearby bench, huffing and puffing from their exhilarating chase. They couldn't help but laugh and catch their breath, the adrenaline still coursing through their veins.
Dohyun gave Sarah the one ice cream cone and they both happily devoured the ice cream cones that Dohyun had snatched, enjoying the taste of their stolen treats.
As the trio sat there on the bench, surrounded by the tranquillity of the lake. The sunlight shimmered off the water, creating a tranquil ambiance.
Samuel, still catching his breath, was looking at the lake with a mix of disbelief and amusement. He let out a lighthearted laugh and shook his head slightly as he said, "You really shouldn't have done that."
Sarah, still enjoying the ice cream, smiled affectionately at Samuel and said, "Yeah, it was wrong, but you have to admit it was fun as well."
Hearing this they all chucked.
Then Dohyun added sagely, "My philosophy is to live life on my own terms because in the right or wrong way we've to die someday. And about these ice creams, I would pay the owner later."
Sarah nodded at his words and the trio sat there in silence for a minute, savouring the ice cream and the moment. After Dohyun and Sarah finished their ice cream, Samuel, who had been looking out toward the lake, spoke up with a contemplative tone.
"And my philosophy is different," he said, his eyes still fixed on the water. "Don't desire something so much that when it starts causing you pain, you shouldn't be able to hold back. To live and move forward in this world, everything should not exceed the limit but should be within the limit, otherwise it becomes poison, slowly killing you alive from within."
As Sarah listened to Samuel's explanation, she raised a question. "So, you're saying you've never experienced the thrill of wanting something intensely, beyond limits?"
Samuel shook his head in response and said, "No, I don't view exceeding limits as enjoyable. I find pleasure in staying within my boundaries."
Just then Dohyun whispered something into Sarah's ear, which caused a mischievous smile to spread across her face. And she quickly stood up followed by Dohyun, and they both stood before Samuel, making him look at them in bewilderment.
Suddenly, Sarah and Dohyun grabbed Samuel's arms tightly from either side and Sarah exclaimed, "You should experience the excitement of wanting something beyond limits."
Before Samuel could protest, they pulled him towards the lake with surprising strength. As he struggled to resist, Samuel protested, "What are you two stupid doing? Let me go!"
But Sarah and Dohyun's grip was firm, and they quickly dragged him to the lake's edge, Samuel desperately attempting to break free. But then, with an excited scream, Sarah and Dohyun jumped into the lake, pulling Samuel along with them, creating a noise and a small wave of water around them.
***
Sarah, Samuel, and Dohyun were now standing in the middle of a vast deep forest, surrounded by towering trees and enveloped by the sounds of nature. They stood before a massive, ancient tree, its trunk so wide that it would take several people to encircle it. Its branches stretched out like protective arms, creating a canopy overhead that filtered the sunlight into speckled patches on the forest floor.
Just then Dohyun pointed towards a deeply carved circle on the tree trunk and said, "This is not just a tree, this is a secret passageway. See that small circular groove? If you tap that then a door will emerge from this tree."
Sarah and Samuel's gaze fixated on the circle, their eyes widening in disbelief at Dohyun's revelation.
Sarah, still processing the information, asked, "So, you're saying that this tree trunk is actually a secret entrance?"
Dohyun nodded and confirmed, "Yes, it is."
Sarah excitedly said, "Then let's go!" and stepped toward the tree, ready to venture forth. But Dohyun's words halted her tracks.
"Sarah," Dohyun said, his tone now serious. "Our journey together ends here. I can't come with you both further."
Sarah and Samuel turned to look at Dohyun, confusion and disappointment evident on their faces.
Sarah protested, "What do you mean?"
Dohyun looked at them with a tight lipped smile. "There are some places I can't go, and this is one of them. So I have to go back from here."
Sarah let out a disappointed huff, her frustration evident. "That's not fair," she protested. "You've been with us all this time, and now, when we're near our destination, you're leaving at the final step?"
Hearing her, Dohyun just shrugged his shoulders.
But after a moment of contemplation, Sarah accepted Dohyun's decision with a sigh. "I hope we'll meet again," she said, a hint of sadness in her voice.
Dohyun nodded in agreement and said, "Yes, I hope this won't be the last time we meet."
Samuel, sensing the emotional moment, placed a hand on Dohyun's shoulder and added with a hint of playful sarcasm, "Well, even though you were a constant pain in the ass, you'll always be remembered."
Dohyun leaned slightly towards Sarah, whispering conspiratorially, "This hero's ego knows no bounds, what can I say?"
Hearing him Sarah and Samuel both couldn't help but chuckle. Dohyun turned around, waved at them with a smile, and said, "Okay, good luck."
He started walking away, creating a growing distance between them. Sarah and Samuel stood there watching him go, their hearts feeling bittersweet.
Dohyun's unique and unconventional personality had left a lasting impression on them both, one that they knew they would never forget. As Dohyun disappeared from their sight, Samuel took a deep breath and suddenly heard the sound of Sarah's soft sobs. He quickly turned his head towards her and noticed her crying.
With a look of disbelief, Samuel inquired, "Why are you so emotional?"
Sarah, still sobbing, ignored his question and instead asked, "Can I just put my head on your chest and cry for a while?"
Samuel, initially surprised and hesitant, looked at her for a moment and after a moment of hesitation, reluctantly agreed. "Fine, but just for a little while, okay?"
Sarah didn't waste any time and quickly hugged Samuel, gently placing her head on his chest. Her sobs continued, her tears streaming down her face and dampening his shirt. Samuel, feeling a mix of surprise and responsibility, wrapped his arms around her, providing a comforting embrace. Despite his usual gruff demeanour, he couldn't help but feel a hint of tenderness in this moment.
Then Sarah looked up at Samuel with teary eyes, still sobbing, and confessed, "I don't like crying because my nose starts running."
Samuel couldn't help but chuckle mockingly at her statement. He managed to compose himself and responded, "Don't worry, you still look cute even with a runny nose."
Sarah, still sobbing, thanked him through her tears, "Thank you."
Upon hearing her gratitude, Samuel smiled despite his efforts to remain composed.
Then Sarah continued to have her head buried in Samuel's chest, continuing to sob softly, as she felt a sense of comfort in his strong presence. Samual, still hugging her tightly, tried to keep his own emotions in check, but a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He found himself slightly enjoying this unexpected moment of vulnerability between them.
Just then Sarah abruptly stopped crying and pulled away from Samuel's embrace, pointing with determination towards the tree, she said in a loud voice, "Let's go inside."
Samuel, caught off guard by Sarah's sudden change in demeanour, shook his head in disbelief at her rapid shift in behaviour. He then agreed, saying, "Yeah, let's go."
They both stepped towards the tree, and once they reached the deeply carved circular groove, Samuel reached out and tapped it. To their surprise, the trunk began to transform into a doorway, opening inwards. As the door opened, Samuel and Sarah stood there, both dumbfounded and intrigued.
Sarah's face lit up with an amused smile as she whispered, "Hidden passageway."
They briefly peeked inside the doorway and witnessed a small staircase leading underground. They exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with both excitement and a hint of hesitance, but if it meant walking to the truth, they would take the step.
Samuel took the first step, carefully placing his foot onto the staircase and cautiously descending one step at a time. Sarah followed closely behind him, also descending the steps.
As they descended, the surroundings grew increasingly brighter, and soft sounds of music and chatter reached their ears. They continued descending the stone steps, gradually leading them deeper into the hidden path. As they approached the source of light and sound, Sarah glanced at Samuel, her eyes wide with anticipation, and Samuel looked back at her, his expression holding a mixture of curiosity and caution.
Finally, they reached the bottom of the steps, and the sight that greeted them took their breath away. They had arrived at the entrance of a secret underground party. The secret underground party was in full swing. Lights of various hues illuminated the dimly lit space, creating a mesmerising atmosphere. People present there were looking VIPs engaged in vibrant conversations and moving to the beat of the music. The hidden location added an air of mystery and excitement to the gathering, making it feel like a scene straight out of a hidden world.
At that moment, an armed guard standing near the party's entrance noticed Sarah and Samuel. He immediately became alert and aimed his sniper rifle at them, approaching them with a strict demeanour.
While seeing him and the sniper rifle pointed at them, Samuel immediately pushed Sarah behind him, shielding her with his body.
And the guard strictly demanded, "Who are you two?" As he asked, at the same time, the guard observed their faces closely, and his eyes slightly widened with recognition. "You're Sarah and Samuel, right?"
Sarah and Samuel exchanged a brief glance, their eyes betraying a mix of surprise and confusion. How did this guard know their identities?
Sarah, maintaining her composure, answered standing behind Samuel, "Yes, we are. Who are you?"
Ignoring Sarah's question, the guard lowered his rifle and instructed them to follow him. "Come with me," he said, gesturing for them to follow him.
Sarah and Samuel exchanged perplexed glances, their eyes silently communicating their confusion. Samuel reached out and grabbed Sarah's hand tightly, guiding her to follow the guard, who was leading them somewhere. Sarah looked at Samuel at his protective gesture and a smile plastered on her face.
As they walked behind the guard, following him down a dimly lit corridor, they both could feel the weight of the situation pressing upon them. They remained silent, their minds buzzing with questions. She glanced at Samuel, a mix of concern and curiosity in her eyes. Samuel, holding her hand, gave it a slight reassuring squeeze, silently asking her to trust him.
The guard came to a halt outside a central room and gestured for them to enter. "Go inside," he said, opening the door.
Sarah and Samuel exchanged glances, then hesitated for a moment before taking hesitant steps into the room. As soon as they were inside, the guard closed the door behind them with a loud thud. They immediately turned to look back, their expressions a mix of surprise and confusion, seeing the door firmly shut behind them.
Then they both found themselves standing in the centre of a room. The room was dimly lit, creating an air of mystery and intrigue. They looked around, taking in their surroundings. The space was empty, except for a few chairs arranged in a circle in the middle of the room. The lack of any further information or instructions only heightened their sense of unease.
Sarah and Samuel looked at each other, silently communicating their uncertainty. Despite their unease, they chose to take a seat in some of the chairs, their eyes darting around, constantly vigilant for any sign of what might happen next.
Just as Sarah and Samuel settled into their seats, a second door in the room opened with a creaking noise, and a commanding female voice echoed through the space.
"So, you finally found me, Sarah."
They both snapped their heads towards the source of the voice, and the sight that greeted them was enough to send a shock wave through their entire being.
Samuel choked out a whisper, "Aunt Mia?!"
Sarah's eyes widened in shock, and her mouth hung open in disbelief. There, standing in front of them, was a familiar figure. Mia, Jia's so-called aunt. It seemed she had been the one they were seeking all this time. Mia stood in front of them, her figure appearing almost ethereal in the dimly lit room. Her presence was unexpected and imposing, and her eyes held a steely gaze that commanded attention.
Sarah and Samuel were completely dumbfounded, their minds struggling to process the surprise of seeing Mia in this unexpected setting. Mia walked to a chair nearby and settled into it, crossing her legs and looking directly at Samuel.
She let out a soft chuckle and remarked, "Oh, look, Samuel is here too."
Samuel's eyes remained wide, his shock still evident as he listened to Mia's words. Sarah, beside him, remained equally stunned, her gaze flickering between Samuel and Mia.
Then finally, Sarah's voice quivered as she asked the question that had been weighing on her mind. "Were you the one sending me flowers?"
Mia's response was tinged with a hint of satisfaction as she replied, "Yes, the beautiful pink carnations, weren't they lovely?"
At Mia's confirmation, Samuel and Sarah exchanged baffled glances, their disbelief growing with each passing moment.
Mia, noticing the expressions on their faces, chuckled lightly and said, "I know your minds must be swirling with a multitude of questions right now. How about I help clear them up?"
Samuel and Sarah sat silently, their gazes fixed on Mia, willing to hear what she had to say. Mia took a moment to consider her approach and then suggested, "How about we start from the beginning in short?"
Her words resonated with Sarah and Samuel, who were consumed by their questions and the need to know the answers. They remained silent, their minds racing with unspoken queries, eager to get the explanations they sought.
Mia began her story, explaining, "It was many years ago, when I was just 23 years old. I had married Kim Minho, and we had a majestic baby boy."
At this point, Sarah interrupted, her words trailing off when she realised the implications of what Mia was saying. "Kim Minho. Samuel's dad. So does that mean you're..."
Mia held up her hand, stopping Sarah mid-sentence, and firmly stated, "Yes, Kim Minho, Samuel's dad, and Sarah, please don't interrupt me while I'm speaking. If you have questions, please wait until I finish speaking first."
Samuel and Sarah exchanged a glance, both feeling a mix of confusion and eagerness to know more. Samuel, particularly, felt a profound sense of urgency and uncertainty about Mia's connection to him, questioning whether she was truly his mother or not.
Sarah nodded apologetically, silently agreeing to wait until Mia finished speaking before asking any further questions. In that moment, all their focus was turned towards Mia, their minds racing with anticipation.
Mia continued her narrative, her voice unwavering as she explained, "We were living happily alongside our parents and parents-in-law in the same house. Life was perfect, without a hint of trouble. However, an unexpected turn of events occurred when a powerful Mafia boss named Jitoku Shin of Biggest mafia organisation in Asia named Deadly Fangs had arrived with his associates, proposing an illegal deal." Mia took a moment, her expression hardening as she revealed the nature of the deal.
"Jitoku Shin wanted us to engage in organ trafficking, taking advantage of our good reputation and good level. We firmly declined the offer, not wanting to get involved in such unscrupulous activities. Because we were not bad."
Mia's story took a darker turn.
"But Jitoku Shin and his men relentlessly pursued us, blackmailing us in various ways. Despite this, we stood firm and refused their demands."
Mia's voice trembled slightly as she recounted a dark chapter in her life.
"Then, one day, everything changed. Jitoku Shin with his members came and set fire to our house, with our parents, parents in law and my one year old son burning them alive."
The room fell silent as Mia's words sunk in. Samuel and Sarah were left stunned, their faces expressing a mixture of shock and horror.
***
The house was burned from all sides, billowing clouds of smoke, and Mia sat in the burned entrance hall with her burned lifeless one-year-old son clutched tightly to her chest, weeping inconsolably.
Her husband, Kim Minho, sat nearby, shock and trauma etched on his face, speechless as he sat amidst the smouldering remains of his parents and parents-in-law.
The sight was devastating, a tableau of pain and despair. Mia's gut-wrenching sobs, filling the air with a raw and haunting sense of devastation. As Mia held her burned lifeless son close to her chest, her body trembling as she wept uncontrollably.
Over and over, she whispered, "My baby, My baby, Wake up. Your mumma is right here. Aren't you hungry? You've slept for too long. Please wake up."
Each repetition of those words mirrored a mother's desperate plea, her plea for a miracle and a glimmer of life.
Minho, his eyes bloodshot from shock and trauma, rose and approached Mia. He desperately said, "Let's go from here."
But Mia resisted, her voice filled with desperation. "No, I won't leave my parents and my son. I'll stay right here."
Minho grabbed her arm, attempting to pull her up forcefully, and said, "Let him go. He's gone."
Mia, clutching her lifeless son, glared at Minho with anger. "What are you talking about? They haven't died, they're just sleeping. They'll wake up soon." She looked down at her child, her pleading eyes seeking a miracle. "Wake up, my baby. You've slept for so long. It's time to wake up now."
Minho, his frustration mounting, yanked Mia's arm upward and shouted, "I SAID LET'S GO! THERE'S NOTHING LEFT FOR US HERE!"
In response, Mia clutched her deceased child even tighter, her body quivering from sobbing. Between tear-filled breaths, she choked out, "Why did this happen to us? We only wanted to stay away from doing bad things. Why was this our reward for being good?"
As she cried, Minho finally sat down, his own tears falling as he hugged her. Her grip remained tight on her child's lifeless body, which resembled a badly charred doll more than a baby.
The entire house was filled with nothing but the sound of Mia's wails of grief. Nothing else could be heard in the aftermath of the tragedy. The weight of loss and the anguish of the moment settled heavily on them all, the room engulfed in a deafening silence punctuated only by the broken sounds of Mia's mournful cries.
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