The air was thick with smoke, the scorching heat pressing down on Jihoon like a suffocating weight. It felt as if his skin would melt away, the searing heat licking at the walls around him. His lungs burned with every breath, each inhale tainted by ash and smoke.
Jihoon squinted against the stinging smoke, his eyes burning as he struggled to move, but his body refused to obey. His leg was trapped beneath a heavy slab of debris, leaving him helpless, with nothing to do but lie there and wait for the inevitable as the flames closed in.
It had all happened so fast. Jihoon had just returned home from his late-night academy classes when his little brother began throwing a tantrum, insisting on having ice cream. With his parents unable to calm him down, Jihoon, still in his uniform, stepped out to buy it from the convenience store, hoping to appease him.
The elevator was taking too long, so he opted for the stairs instead, unaware that his fate would change in an instant. He was halfway down when the ground beneath him trembled violently.
The lights flickered, and a low, ominous rumble echoed through the building. Suddenly, everything around him shattered.
The walls groaned, and Jihoon barely had time to process what was happening before chunks of concrete and metal came crashing down. The deafening noise rang in his ears as he tried to run, but the force of the impact sent him sprawling. Pain shot through his body as debris trapped his leg, pinning him in place.
Somewhere above, an explosion shook the building, sending tremors through the collapsing structure. Within seconds, flames began their descent, creeping closer with each passing moment.
Panic seized Jihoon as he cried for help, his voice barely rising above the deafening crash of falling beams and the desperate screams of those trapped in the apartment complex. The fire spread rapidly, consuming everything in its path, while thick smoke billowed around him, making it impossible to see.
Noonewascoming.
Lying helplessly, a sob rose in his throat, but the scorching air stole it away. Tears welled in his eyes, only to dry instantly in the suffocating heat.
Werehisparentssafe?Hislittlebrother?Hadtheymadeitout?
'Isthisreallyhowitends?'
There was still so much left undone. He had yet to graduate, yet to go fishing with his father, yet to challenge his mother to a cooking contest...yet to spoil his little brother. So many unfulfilled promises.
Lifewasn'tfair,wasit?
His limbs felt heavy, the pain dulling into a distant ache as numbness crept in. His eyelids grew heavier, his body on the verge of surrendering until, suddenly, the crushing weight on his leg was lifted.
Strong arms wrapped around him, pulling him against a solid chest. The scent of smoke and burnt fabric clung to the person holding him, but even through his hazy vision, Jihoon recognized the bright yellow of a firefighter's uniform.
Before Jihoon could process what was happening, he was lifted with ease. The man carried him through the wreckage with steady steps, shielding him from the flames with his own body.
Through the blaze, he moved with unwavering resolve, holding Jihoon close as he navigated the destruction. His bright jacket bore the brunt of the embers raining down, his arms positioned to block the worst of the heat. Jihoon could feel the tension in the man's muscles as the fire scorched his uniform, but he kept moving forward, unfazed even in the heart of the inferno.
"…Mister… am I going to die?" Jihoon asked weakly, his hands trembling as he clung to the firefighter. Tears clung to his soot-covered cheeks, shimmering in the firelight.
"Everything is going to be alright. Don't worry, okay?"
The man's calm reassurance cut through the chaos, firm like an anchor in a raging storm.
Jihoon didn't know why, but those words made the fear in his chest waver, just a little. His frantic heartbeat gradually slowed.
He let himself sink into the firm embrace, his body growing heavier as his consciousness slipped away.
And then, darkness swallowed him whole.
- - - - - -
Jihoon stood before the mirror, fastening his tie and smoothing out the wrinkles in his suit before crouching to help his little brother with his. Haneul, now nine, watched him patiently as Jihoon tightened the knot.
Years had passed, but the memories never faded. The fire had taken everything-- their home, their parents, and their sense of security. The only physical mark left on him was a faint burn on his hand, barely noticeable, yet it served as a constant reminder of that night.
A commotion erupted from the living room, making them both pause as they listened, though they already knew what was coming.
"Why are we the ones stuck taking care of them?" Their aunt's sharp words cut through the morning air. "We can barely afford to live as it is!"
Jihoon lowered his gaze, his grip tightening slightly on Haneul's collar.
It was the same argument every few days.
"Let's not do this today," their uncle replied in a hushed tone.
With an exasperated scoff, she grabbed her purse and stormed out, the door slamming shut behind her.
The silence that followed was always worse.
Haneul shifted beside him. "Hyung… when can we leave?"
Jihoon managed a weak smile and placed a hand on his little brother's head. "Soon," he said, ruffling his hair gently.
Buthowsoonwassoon?
After the fire, their uncle had taken them in as their legal guardian, but Jihoon knew their presence strained the household.
He had been working tirelessly, juggling multiple part-time jobs on top of college, trying to save enough so they wouldn't be a burden.
But no matter how much he helped with chores or contributed financially, it was never enough.
For the past few weeks, he had been searching for a place where he and Haneul could start over.
Now, all he needed was a little more time.
Just a little more.
And then, they would finally be free.
A soft knock on the door broke the silence before it creaked open. Their uncle stepped inside, adjusting the cuffs of his black suit. The fabric was slightly worn, stretched thin at the seams, much like the man himself.
His tired eyes flickered between the two before settling on Jihoon.
"Are you both ready?" he asked, his voice carrying a quiet weariness. "We should get going."
Jihoon nodded and reached for Haneul's hand, giving it a light squeeze and then followed their uncle out.