Ji-hyun had spent years burying the past, drowning herself in lines of codes and endless data streams. As a data engineer, she believed in logic, in patterns, in things that made sense. But nothing about her twin sister's death did.
Three years had...
Ji-hyun stepped inside, her fingers tightening around the strap of her bag. The air smelled of gunpowder and oil, and the sharp bang of gunfire echoed from deeper within the training arena.
Her stomach twisted.
What the hell was she doing here?
She had spent her entire life behind a screen, crunching numbers and breaking firewalls. She wasn't a fighter. Her twin, Soo-ah, had been the fearless one. The one who ran into danger without hesitation. The one who had signed up for the military, even when Ji-hyun had begged her not to.
And now... now Soo-ah was gone.
Ji-hyun took a deep breath, forcing the thoughts aside. She had made her choice. She had to follow through.
"Miss?"
A voice pulled her from her thoughts.
She blinked, realizing a woman behind the front desk was looking at her expectantly. The receptionist had a friendly but professional demeanor, her dark hair tied back neatly. She held a catalogue in her hands, poised to write something down.
"Are you here for gun training or archery training?"
Ji-hyun hesitated. She had never held a gun before. But if she wanted answers—'if she wanted justice—'she had to be prepared for anything.
"...Gun training," she said finally.
The receptionist nodded, setting the catalogue down. "I'll need your ID, please." Ji-hyun reached into her bag with slightly trembling fingers, pulling out her identification card and handing it over. The receptionist scanned it, then tapped a few keys on her computer. "You're registering for a month-long program. That includes firearm handling, safety protocols, and target shooting."
She handed Ji-hyun a form. "Sign here."
Ji-hyun barely glanced at the paper before scrawling her name.
"Great. Follow me."
The training arena was intimidating.
Glass partitions separated individual shooting lanes, each equipped with targets set at varying distances. Some people were already practicing, the sounds of gunfire crisp and controlled.
Ji-hyun swallowed hard.
"Hey, Joon, got a new trainee for you," the receptionist called out.
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A man in tactical gear approached them, his boots clicking against the polished floor. He looked to be in his early thirties, tall and well-built, his expression sharp but approachable. His black training uniform bore a name tag: Instructor Joon.
"She's signed up for gun training for a month," the receptionist informed him, handing over Ji-hyun's form. Joon skimmed through the paper before looking at Ji-hyun with an amused smirk. "First time holding a gun?"
Ji-hyun stiffened. "...Yes."
"Good," he said, nodding. "Means I don't have to break any bad habits."
He reached for a set of ear protectors and handed them to her. "Wear these. You'll need them." Ji-hyun hesitated before slipping them over her ears. The muffled sound of gunfire made her feel more detached from the room, as if she were floating in an unfamiliar world. Joon walked over to a locked case and pulled out a small pistol. He held it up in front of her.
"We'll start with this," he said. "Do you know what type of gun this is?"
Ji-hyun frowned, studying it. It was compact, sleek, and not as bulky as she had imagined a firearm would be.
"...A handgun?" she guessed.
Joon chuckled. "More specifically, it's a Glock 19. It's one of the most common handguns for beginners. Semi-automatic, lightweight, and reliable."
He placed it on the counter in front of her.
"This is going to feel weird at first," he admitted. "But if you want to learn, you'll have to trust me. Can you do that?"
Ji-hyun nodded, though she wasn't sure if she was convincing herself or him.
"Alright." He gestured toward the pistol. "Pick it up."
Her hands hovered over the gun before she finally grasped it. It was heavier than she expected. Cold. Unforgiving. She took a shaky breath, adjusting her grip.
Joon watched her carefully. "You're holding it wrong."
Before she could react, he stepped behind her and adjusted her fingers, repositioning her thumb along the frame. His touch was brief, professional, but it still sent a strange sensation down her spine—a sharp reminder that this was real. This wasn't just theory. This wasn't hacking behind a screen.
This was violence in its purest form.
"Better," Joon said. "Now, stance."
Ji-hyun spread her feet slightly apart, mimicking the shooters she had seen in movies. Joon shook his head. "No. You're too stiff. Relax."
She let out a breath and tried again, adjusting her posture under his guidance.
"Good," he said. "Now, let's talk about aiming. Look at your target."
She turned toward the paper target hanging at the far end of the lane. It was shaped like a human silhouette, the center marked with a red bullseye.
"Squeeze the trigger slowly," Joon instructed. "Don't jerk it, don't flinch. Just breathe."
Ji-hyun inhaled deeply. Her finger pressed down on the trigger.
Bang.
The recoil jolted her wrist. The gun kicked back, and the bullet missed the target completely.
She cursed under her breath. Joon only grinned. "Not bad. First shots are always rough." He reached out and adjusted her grip again. "Try again. This time, focus on your breathing." Ji-hyun exhaled slowly, realigning her aim.
She fired.
Bang.
The bullet landed on the outer ring of the target.
She blinked. She hit it.
Not the center, not even close, but it was a hit. A small spark of determination flared in her chest.
"Again," she said.
Joon smirked. "That's the spirit."
By the time their session ended, Ji-hyun's arms were sore, her fingers slightly numb from the repeated trigger pulls. She placed the Glock back onto the counter, shaking out her hands. Joon watched her with an approving nod. "You're a fast learner."
Ji-hyun wiped the sweat from her forehead. "I have a good teacher." He laughed. "Careful, I might actually start believing that." She managed a small smile. As she packed up her things, she found herself staring at the target. Her last shot had landed closer to the center. She still had a long way to go. But for the first time, she felt like she was getting stronger.
~Sorry for not posting on Tuesday , i've uploaded two chapers to make up for it~
