She pulled over and looked at him.

“How are you feeling now?” Mani asked.

His chest rose and fell, he was still heated up. Daehyun looked outside, “You brought me to a trampoline arena?”

Mani unbuckled her seatbelt. “Clearly you're still upset. What better place to release that energy in a positive and nonviolent way?” She looked at his bloody fist and was reminded of his injury, “But first.”

She turned her body towards him and reached over behind his seat. Pulling the small first aid kit on her lap, Mani took his wounded hand.

“We need to work on the violent outbursts, Jung Daehyun.” she told him.

He looked at her and recoiled his hand. “I can't.”

She uncurled his fist and pinched his palm as a punishment. “That's why I said we need to work on it.”

Taking the small package of disinfectant wipes out of the box, Mani ripped it with her teeth and gently pat it on his cut. He winced from the contact. Her eyes rolled up to look at him.

“Imagine how much worse this is for Youngjae-sshi.”

Just hearing his name, Daehyun pulled his hand back but Mani pulled it towards her.

“I thought you weren't supposed to compare or something like that.” he scorned.

“Well, maybe you should think about your actions.” She continued to dab some more and reached for the cotton roll. “I know you hold a lot of anger towards him, but your beating was not necessary.” She paused and looked at him, “Especially to that extent.”

Daehyun stayed quiet as she bandaged his hand. He knew he was in the wrong, but he couldn't help it. His emotions were uncontrollable. His father’s mistreatment was unjustified and although he was too stubborn to admit it, Daehyun was jealous of the love and attention his father had for Youngjae.

“That's why we’re here.” Mani gently rolled his hand with the medical tape, making sure it wasn't too tight. “To help you channel all that anger inside,” she said, index finger on his heart, “in a healthier way.” She put his hand back on his lap and pressed the release button of his seatbelt. “C’mon let’s go.”

Mani got out of the car and Daehyun sighed, feeling like an idiot. They were two adults about to enter a children’s recreation area. Getting out of her car, Daehyun scoffed.

“Mani this is stupid.” He turned back to her car, “Take me back.”

“Nope.” She pulled him back, “If it doesn't work, I'll do any favor for you.”

Daehyun looked at her. She was the only person who was able to help him with a willing heart. Mani had done so much for him and tolerated such a scary side of him no one could deal with. Without her there, he knew that he would’ve killed Youngjae. Im Mani tamed the wild beast Jung Daehyun when everyone wanted to lock him away. Sighing in defeat, Daehyun walked towards the entrance.

“You're paying,” he told her from ahead.

Mani grinned, feeling accomplished. She jogged to reach him and looped her arms with his.

“This is going to be so fun,” she said with a goofy smile on her face.

“We’re going to look like adult children.” Daehyun’s lips couldn’t help but curl into a tight half-grin. Seeing her radiate with excitement made him feel a bit better.

“Who cares!” Mani pulled the entrance doors open. “They have this new Ninja Warrior arena set up and I think I can beat you.”

Daehyun narrowed his eyes at her. “Loser pays for dinner.” He stuck out his hand.

Mani rose a brow and shook his hand, “Deal.” They made their way to the front desk. “Two adults, please.”

Immediately after purchasing their wristbands, the two took off their shoes and ran to the arena. Welcomed by floors and walls of tens of mega trampolines, they looked at each other with childish smiles on their faces.

“We have an hour.” Mani told him.

“Bet I can jump higher than you.” Daehyun challenged.

Mani pulled on the hairband on her wrist and tied her hair. “We’ll see about that.”

Awoken by the sound of weeping, his eyes painfully tried to spring open but couldn't.

“Mom?” croaked Youngjae.

“Oh god!” Eun ran to her son and hugged him, “My baby, you're alive.”

Hearing his broken voice, Goeun couldn't help but tear up. She walked towards his placement and looked over the shoulder of his mother to look at him. His face was swollen and beaten to a pulp. The eyes that captured so much life and happiness was blocked by the punches of her brother. The corner of his lips was torn with fresh bruises as the blood dried from the time.

Goeun looked away and cried to herself. Yongguk walked into the room and saw the despair and relief that steamed the area. From his five years with Goeun, never had he seen her cry so much before. Just seeing how pained she was made him realize just how much damage Jung Daehyun did. As if one glance at his victim wasn't enough, the emotional distress was overwhelming.  

Yongguk pulled his fiancé into a hug. “I'm sorry.” he apologized. “Things should not have been this way.”

Goeun cried on his shoulders, feeling herself grow angry by her brother’s behavior.

“It's all my fault.” Goeun sobbed, “He doesn't deserve this.” She looked back at the mourning mother, “None of them deserve this.”

Wiping her tears under the arms of her fiance, Goeun stepped away from Yongguk and walked to the rooms of the guest home.

“Goeun.” Yongguk followed her.

Entering Eun’s room, she went to the closet and looked for a suitcase or luggage of some sort.

“They can't stay here anymore.”

“What?” Yongguk sharply exclaimed.

Spotting the item she was looking for, Goeun took it down from its high storage and brought it out of the closet.

“Goeun you need to stop.”

She was quickly moving back and forth. Grabbing suitcases, large traveling bags, storage bins — anything that was filled with possessions out of the closet.

“No Yongguk,” Goeun argued, “you don't see the things that I see.” She briskly paced to Youngjae’s room to do the same. “Today was the last straw and now it's my turn to protect Youngjae and Eun.”

Yongguk knew for a long time that Goeun and Youngjae shared feelings for each other. Although she did a good job of hiding it, Yongguk appeared at times he shouldn't and saw things he didn't care to emphasize. Seeing how Goeun was able to proactively care for the person she loved made him think about how weak he was five years ago.

How he was unable to help Maru when he lost his visions.

Incapable of keeping Mani with him in his life.

Goeun brushed past Yongguk and walked to the living room.

“Eun,” she walked to the mother and sat on her knees, “you and Youngjae need to leave.”

Eun shook her head, “What are you talking about?” she asked as she wiped her tears away. “Leave? Where?”

“I have a place in the woods that my family doesn't know about. I built it a few years ago and from time to time I visit it when I want to get away. You and Youngjae will live there, do you hear me?”

“No, that's too much we can't.”

“No!” she shouted through clenched teeth. “I can’t let you two stay here anymore, dammit!”

Goeun began to cry. She looked at Youngjae and only felt her heart drop deeper and deeper into her core. He was awake now but his eyes could only show the swollen slit of his beatings. There was a wet, stream of tears down his eyes and teeth were clenched to keep his cries away. Holding his hand, Goeun felt so guilty. Her lips whimpers and her teeth unknowingly chattered in from the pent-up emotions she had in her heart. She swallowed her cries to speak again.

“I'm so sorry, Youngjae.” She whispered to him and kissed him on the forehead. “I'm so, so sorry.”

She turned to Eun, “I watched Youngjae get beaten and yelled at by Daehyun ever since we were children.” Goeun shook her head, “I won't let him hurt your son anymore.”

Before Eun could open to refuse the offer, Goeun interjected.

“Don't you feel sorry for your son? Aren't you angry at all? Let me help you both and provide you a safe haven. If it's money that's the issue, I will pay you double the amount my father is giving you both. Just please let me help you escape this hell hol