"Shattered"

That night, Ji Hwan was lying on his bed, still trying to process the terrifying event from earlier. His mind was filled with images of the young man falling from the roof, the blood pooling around him, and the mysterious figure walking away with a knife in hand.

Suddenly, his phone rang. The name Kang Dae Ho—his father—appeared on the screen. With a sigh, Ji Hwan picked up the call.

"Ji Hwan," his father's calm voice came through, "starting next week, your twin sister, Kang Ji Yeon, will be transferring to your school."

Ji Hwan immediately sat up. "What? But, Dad! My school is an all-boys school! She can't enroll here!"

"This isn't about whether she can or not," his father replied firmly. "We have no other choice. She has already been expelled from 15 schools, and this is the only place left."

Ji Hwan let out a deep sigh, feeling a headache coming on. Kang Ji Yeon, his twin sister, wasn't just tomboyish—she was trouble. She was notorious for being indifferent to rules, constantly getting into fights, and not hesitating to throw punches if someone messed with her.

"So you're saying that my all-boys school has to accept someone like her?" Ji Hwan still couldn't believe it.

"What else can we do?" his father said flatly. "The decision is final. She'll start school next week. Take care of her."

The call ended, leaving Ji Hwan staring at the ceiling in disbelief. How was a girl supposed to attend an all-boys school? And more importantly... how would his school react to Ji Yeon, a walking disaster?

One thing was certain—his life was about to get even more chaotic.

The next morning, the entire school was still buzzing with whispers about the terrifying incident from the day before. Rumors spread quickly, moving from one classroom to another.

In Ji Hwan's class, a small group of students huddled together, speaking in hushed tones as if afraid something—or someone—might overhear them.

"Seriously, this feels like a horror movie," Lee Joo Hyuk muttered, his face slightly pale. "He fell from the rooftop, blood was everywhere, and the scariest part... someone saw a guy standing up there before it happened."

"Yeah, I heard it too!" another student chimed in. "Someone saw a guy holding a knife up there. What if it wasn't an accident? What if it was murder?!"

The group shuddered, exchanging uneasy glances.

Then suddenly—

"WHAT IF THE KILLER IS STILL HERE?!"

A loud voice erupted right next to them, making Lee Joo Hyuk and the others jump in shock. Their faces paled as they spun around—

It was Ji Hwan.

He stood right beside them with a mischievous grin, clearly enjoying the moment as his friends clutched their chests, trying to calm their racing hearts.

"YA!! KANG JI HWAN!!" Lee Joo Hyuk shouted angrily. "ARE YOU TRYING TO GET YOURSELF KILLED?! WHY DID YOU SUDDENLY SHOW UP LIKE THAT?!"

"Hahaha! You guys looked so scared! You need to relax," Ji Hwan laughed, completely amused.

"RELAX?! I THOUGHT YOU WERE A DAMN GHOST!" one of his classmates yelled, still panting from the scare.

The classroom instantly turned chaotic as everyone started scolding Ji Hwan, who was still chuckling at their reactions. Even though yesterday's incident was truly terrifying, at least the morning had started with some laughter—though Ji Hwan would definitely have to deal with his classmates' revenge later.

During lunchtime, Kang Ji Hwan sat alone at a table in the cafeteria, enjoying his meal with great enthusiasm. He ate without a care in the world, savoring each bite, oblivious to the noise around him.

But then, the atmosphere suddenly shifted.

The once lively chatter gradually faded, replaced by hushed whispers.

Ji Hwan raised an eyebrow. What's going on?

He glanced around, noticing how some students lowered their heads, while others stole nervous glances toward the cafeteria entrance.

Footsteps echoed against the tiled floor—calm, steady, and deliberate.

A young man with an intimidating aura entered. His gaze was sharp, his expression unreadable, exuding a quiet dominance. Without hesitation, he walked toward another student and called out the name Kim Seung Woo in an even, measured tone.

Ji Hwan continued chewing, his curiosity piqued. Around him, students started whispering, their voices filled with both fear and intrigue.

"That's him..."

"That guy's name is... Jung Tae Min..."

"He's the son of Jung Dong Wook, the owner of Jung Corporation..."

"And he's also the leader of Black Venom, the most feared gang in Ancheon..."

"He basically controls the entire city."

Ji Hwan froze mid-bite.

His eyes locked onto Jung Tae Min, who stood there with effortless confidence, a presence that demanded attention without a single word.

Suddenly, Ji Hwan had a feeling that his time at this school had just gotten a lot more interesting... or perhaps, a lot more dangerous.

Kim Seung Woo followed Jung Tae Min without saying a word. The tense atmosphere in the cafeteria still lingered as they walked away. Ji Hwan, watching from a distance, had a bad feeling about this.

Their footsteps led them to the rooftop of the school building. The wind howled around them, making the air feel even heavier.

As soon as they reached the top, another young man—one of Black Venom's members—stepped out from behind the wall. Without warning, he drove his fist into Kim Seung Woo's stomach.

"Ugh!" Seung Woo doubled over, gasping for breath. But the beating didn't stop.

The attacker landed punch after punch, each blow forcing Seung Woo further down until he collapsed onto the rooftop floor.

Looking down at him with a smirk, the young man finally spoke.

"How dare you ignore Jung Tae Min's call?"

"Did you really think you could just walk away after refusing his orders?"

Seung Woo gritted his teeth, his breathing ragged. His eyes flickered toward Tae Min, who stood there calmly, watching without interference.

Tae Min finally stepped forward, his gaze cold and unreadable.

"I don't like repeating myself, Seung Woo." His voice was emotionless. "You know the consequences, don't you?"

Seung Woo clenched his fists, wanting to fight back, but his body was too weak from the relentless assault.

Meanwhile, Ji Hwan, still on the lower floors, had no idea that something much bigger was unfolding above him…

When Ji Hwan returned home, he opened the door casually, dropping his bag to the floor and letting out a tired sigh. Today had been strange—everything from the rooftop incident to the strange whispers about Jung Tae Min and his gang.

But before he could walk any further, his eyes widened in shock when he saw someone sitting casually in the living room.

"YA!" Ji Hwan nearly tripped over himself. "W-WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!"

On the sofa, with her feet up on the coffee table, sat a girl with short hair and a laid-back expression—Kang Ji Yeon, his twin sister.

"Oh, you're back?" Ji Yeon looked up nonchalantly, unfazed by Ji Hwan's near heart attack.

"Don't tell me... you really transferred to my school?!" Ji Hwan pointed at her with a shocked expression.

Ji Yeon shrugged, popping some snacks into her mouth. "What else? Dad said so, remember?"

Ji Hwan immediately grabbed his head, wanting to protest but not knowing how. "NO! MY SCHOOL IS ONLY FOR BOYS!!"

Ji Yeon just smiled smugly. "And why is that my problem...?"

Ji Hwan felt like his head was about to explode. "YOU'RE GOING TO CAUSE CHAOS!!"

"Of course," Ji Yeon grinned. "And that's what makes it fun."

Ji Hwan groaned in frustration, while Ji Yeon remained relaxed, clearly enjoying the situation. His already chaotic school life was about to get even messier...

At dinner, the atmosphere around the table felt strange. His father, mother, and Ji Yeon were sitting casually, enjoying their meal as if nothing had happened. Meanwhile, Ji Hwan sat at the edge of the table, his face full of frustration and annoyance, staring blankly at his food.

"What's wrong? Eat up," his mother said, trying to calm him down. However, Ji Hwan just bit his lip, holding back his irritation.

"Why is Ji Yeon starting tomorrow?" Ji Hwan finally spoke, breaking the silence. "I just found out she'll be at my school!"

His father, Kang Dae Ho, who had been eating calmly, looked up and replied with a very relaxed tone, "She'll start tomorrow, earlier than you think."

"Are you serious?" Ji Hwan almost jumped out of his chair, frustrated. "Why the rush? My school is for boys! What if she… what if she…"

"There's no time to discuss this, Ji Hwan," his father interrupted with a firm tone. "We've made the decision. Tomorrow, she starts."

Ji Hwan gritted his teeth, still struggling to understand why everything felt so rushed. "But she's going to make everything worse!"

"That's what your father wants," Ji Yeon replied casually, continuing to eat. "And I like watching you get upset."

"You two..." Ji Hwan shook his head, feeling more and more overwhelmed by the situation. But he knew it was pointless to argue. Tomorrow was going to be an extremely weird day.

That night, Ji Hwan could only sit in silence, feeling like the world was slipping out of his control.

On the other side, Kim Seung Woo was running frantically, his breaths heavy and uneven. He clutched a black bag tightly, filled with something that couldn't be seen, but the weight of it hinted at its dangerous contents. Several members of an unknown gang were chasing him, their shouts echoing in the street, signaling that Seung Woo was in serious trouble.

"Hurry up! Don't let him get away!" one of his pursuers yelled, their voice laced with anger.

Kim Seung Woo glanced over his shoulder briefly, his face twisted with tension. "I've got to get out of here," he muttered under his breath, pushing himself to run faster. "I need to deliver this, or it's over!"

He jumped over obstacles in the narrow alley, using every advantage to try and outrun the gang. Each step he took was filled with anxiety, knowing what would happen if the package ended up in the wrong hands.

But his legs were starting to feel heavy. He had run quite a distance, and he wasn't sure how much longer he could avoid them. As he ran, thoughts of what would happen if he got caught, and whether he could save himself, raced through his mind.

The sound of footsteps grew louder behind him. Seung Woo knew, time was running out.

Meanwhile, in his private room, Lee Joo Hyuk sat at his desk, looking dejected. His textbooks lay open in front of him, but he couldn't focus. His mind was elsewhere. Occasionally, he glanced out the window, trying to distract himself from the heated argument that echoed from the living room.

His parents were arguing fiercely. Their voices clashed, filled with tension, until his mother's voice cracked with emotion. "I can't take this anymore, Lee! You never care, always busy with other things!"

His father, Lee Seok Jin, sounded angry as he tried to defend himself. "You don't understand, eun ha! I'm doing all of this for our future!"

But Joo Hyuk could clearly hear his mother's shaking words. "I know everything! You're cheating, Lee! I've known for a long time!"

Joo Hyuk froze, his heart dropping as he processed his mother's words. "Cheating?" he thought, confused and hurt. The father he had always looked up to, the one he considered a hero in their family, was hiding a huge secret.

Anger and confusion mixed within him. "Why did dad do this? What's happening to our family?" he wondered, unable to accept the truth that had just been revealed.

He couldn't hold back his frustration any longer. He stood up from his chair, throwing the books scattered on his desk, and slammed his room door shut. With heavy steps, he walked toward the living room, ready to confront the reality that lay before him.

His mother, eun ha, with trembling hands, handed the divorce papers to Lee Seok Jin, her husband. "Just sign it," she said, her voice barely audible, filled with pain. "I can't take it anymore."

Lee Seok Jin only stared at the paper, saying nothing. His fingers hovered hesitantly over the paper, but eventually, he signed it without a word. The silence in the room was suffocating, until the sound of a door opening broke it.

From the open door, Lee Joo Hyuk appeared. He was wearing a jacket, his steps heavy. His parents turned to look at him, worry etched on their faces, but Joo Hyuk didn't care.

"Don't you understand how I feel?" he said, his voice filled with anger and confusion. "I'm part of this family too! You're only thinking about yourselves!"

Without waiting for a response, Joo Hyuk stormed out of the room, heading straight for the door. His mother called after him, but he didn't care. With one swift movement, he left the house, walking away from the painful reality he couldn't accept.

Joo Hyuk felt an overwhelming sense of loneliness. How could a family fall apart so easily? He ran, far away from home, leaving behind his confusion and the anger building up inside him. The world outside felt so vast and unfamiliar.