REALITY HURTS | GO HYUN-TAK | WHC²

REALITY HURTS

NA RA-MI.
One of the two of NA siblings.
The younger one.
She knew nothing about their biological parents.
Since she could remember, she and her brother were raised in an orphanage.
Surrounded by women who cared enough, that Ra-mi called them their aunties.

But in reality, there was only two of them.
Baek-jin wanted to protect his younger sister at all costs.
He never told her about being bullied at school.
Because he didn't want her to see him being weak.
He wanted to be her rock.
The one that she could rely on in every situation
Even if he, himself, was young.

One day, Ra-mi found out about how Baek-jin was treated.
She intervened.
But what could a weak, small girl like her do against a group of older boys.

That's when they've met Park Hu-min.
Baku.
The boy was like a ray of sunshine in rainy, cloudy day.
He could make everyone smile by just his presence.
That's why Ra-mi loved him.
Platonically, like a second brother.
He was their family.

Baku wanted to teach them both how to fight.
Defend themselves.
Mostly because of Baek-jin's school situation.
The most of time when they practiced, Ra-mi just watched.
Because she didn't like violence.
But it wasn't that she didn't learn anything.
After that, she could throw a good punch.

Park Hu-min 'the strength'
Na Ra-mi 'the heart'
Na Baek-jin 'the brain'

As kids, they were inseparable.
They were each other's rocks.
Each other's worlds.
They hoped that it'll stay like that always.

But nothing that's beautiful lasts long.

Baek-jin got caught in the underworld, world of the Union, illegal cases and deals.
To earn money.
To build an empire.
To be a person who people will respect.
To be someone.
Not a weak link that people made him think he was.

For Ra-mi, he never was.

All Ra-mi wanted was to be with her brother.
So she let Baek-jin pull her with him.
She never really understood how the Union worked.
She didn't want to be involved further into the business.
She just wanted them to be together.
To not break.
Not fall apart.

Since Baek-jin became her legal guardian, he promised himself that she won't suffer.
So, he thought, it will be best if she stays with him.
No one else.
Even if it was selfish.

When Baku refused joining, something inside the siblings cracked.
Ra-mi was heartbroken.
It wasn't his world.
She knew.
But still, it hurt so much.
She had hope that at least, they will have contact.

Unfortunately.

When Ra-mi wasn't home, Baku and Baek-jin got into a fight.
Punches throwed.
Sharp words traded.
When Baku said Ra-mi's name, Baek-jin didn't hesistate.
Even if the regret in his heart still lingers.
He told him to stay away, because she needs family.
Don't let her suffer.
With choosing.

It hurt. Deeply. Badly.
But Baku agreed.
To protect Ra-mi.
Maybe one day, she'll somehow find out what really happened.
What was said.
Maybe not.
Maybe she will forgive.

Ra-mi and Baku were in the same school.
Eunjang High School.
It was difficult for Baku to avoid her.
He tried.
He did. With a heavy heart.

Ra-mi felt confused.
She felt hurt when he didn't even look at her.
He walked past her like she didn't exist.

Slowly, she was moving on.
Because maybe that's for the better.
But the hope, a bit burned out but still there, in her heart lingered.
That one day, they'll talk like they used to.
That they'll reunite.

Ra-mi changed a lot in that time.
She wasn't the same weak girl that used to run up to every person when they fell, only to help.
It wasn't that she didn't help at all.
She did.
To people who she thought about as worth her time, worth her words and her presence.
To those, she was more understanding. More soft.

Most people knew better than to mess with her.
Not just because of her last name.
Not just because of who her brother was.
Because they knew what she's capable to.
They've saw. They've heard. They've experienced.

There were still people who tried to.
Often, it didn't end well. For them.
Some even called her a 'psycho'.
She wasn't offended. Quite opposite.

So, when her school is pulled again into Union's mess,
her phone is missing,
new classmate joins,
old wounds are opening,
people are reuniting,
what will she do?

Even if she promised herself she won't get involved in anything further connected to Union?

What most unexpected,
she didn't predict falling for Park Hu-min's bestfriend.