Episode 5: The Hidden Truth (Rewritten)
800 Words
Hye-jin was a gentle woman.
Kind.
Soft.
But life had never been kind to her.
From a young age, she carried burdens most couldn't even imagine.
No one to rely on.
No one to share her pain.
Just herself.
She raised her two sons alone.
No husband.
No support.
Only strength.
Only will.
She owned a small kitchen.
Nothing special.
Nothing luxurious.
But enough to survive.
From morning until night—
Customers came without end.
The sound of cooking never stopped.
The air was always filled with warmth.
Even in freezing winters.
Even under burning summer heat.
She never stopped.
Even when her hands trembled.
Even when her body begged for rest.
She kept going.
Because she had children.
Because she had no choice.
But now—
Everything was changing.
She was sick.
A quiet illness.
Slow.
Cruel.
Draining her strength day by day.
Maybe…
She didn't have much time left.
…
"Brother… why are you still sleeping?"
A voice broke the silence.
Hyun woo opened his eyes slowly.
"Where's Mom?" he asked immediately.
Something felt wrong.
Tae-sun lay carelessly on the bed.
Annoyed.
Unbothered.
"Why are you making noise?" he groaned. "How would I know?"
His tone—
Cold.
Sharp.
"Mom…?" Hyun woo whispered.
A strange anxiety tightened in his chest.
She had never disappeared like this.
Never.
He stood up quickly.
Searched every room.
Step by step.
"Mom…?"
No answer.
Only silence.
And that made it worse.
…
"Aren't you cold, sister-in-law?"
A quiet voice.
"I'm fine…" Hye jin replied softly.
Weak.
Tired.
"You know my condition…" she continued slowly.
"I don't know how much time I have left…"
The words hung heavy in the air.
"Please…" she lowered her gaze,
"After I'm gone… take care of my children."
The woman hesitated.
Then—
"Don't worry. Everything will be fine."
Hye jin smiled faintly.
"Can you forgive my husband…?"
Silence.
"I forgave him long ago."
No anger.
Only acceptance.
"Then… why don't you live with us?"
"No… it's better this way."
A quiet pause.
"Forgive me…" Hye jin whispered.
"I couldn't do enough for you…"
"Don't say that. You've done more than enough."
There was history between them.
Pain.
Unspoken.
…
Hyun-woo ran outside.
His heart raced.
Too fast.
Then—
He saw her.
His mother.
Stepping out of a black car.
Relief hit him instantly.
"Mom, you're back?"
"Yes, my son…"
Her face—
Pale.
Tired.
"Who was that man?" Hyun-woo asked quietly.
The car drove away.
Slow.
Suspicious.
"He…" she hesitated.
"Just someone I know."
Something felt wrong.
But he didn't push.
"Let's go inside," he said. "You must be cold."
He walked beside her.
But his thoughts stayed behind.
That man…
Why did he feel familiar?
…
"Doctor, is she okay?"
"Yes. Don't worry," the doctor said calmly.
"She has a mild concussion. It's not dangerous."
"Really?"
"She'll recover."
Relief spread.
The doctor leaned closer to Ji-woo.
"Don't be afraid," he said softly.
"This is a good sign."
She looked at him.
Confused.
"It means… your memory is returning."
Her heart skipped.
Returning…?
Everything?
…
That night—
Hyun-woo lay in the dark.
Eyes open.
Mind restless.
"Who was that man…?"
Why didn't his mother explain?
Why did it feel wrong?
Even the car—
It wasn't ordinary.
Something about it…
Didn't belong.
He closed his eyes.
But the questions only grew louder.
…
Tae-sun had grown up watching everything.
His mother's struggle.
Her exhaustion.
Her pain.
No father.
No protection.
Only hardship.
And humiliation.
"Fatherless."
They used to laugh.
Mock him.
Every word burned.
So he fought.
At first—
To survive.
Then—
Because he wanted to.
It became a habit.
A release.
Over time, he wasn't alone.
He found others.
Boys like him.
Angry.
Lost.
Broken.
Together—
They became something else.
A group.
A gang.
School lost its meaning.
His mother wanted more for him.
A future.
A different life.
But it was too late.
Hatred had already grown.
Deep.
Uncontrolled.
And now—
He had changed.
Into someone dangerous.
Someone who could hurt others…
For money.
…
The phone rang.
Sharp.
Cutting through everything.
"Mr. Jae-sung?"
"Yes…"
"We're calling from the investigation department."
A pause.
"We have information about the attack on your daughter."
Silence.
"What…?" his voice shook.
"This attack…"
A breath.
"…was carried out by a gang."
Everything stopped.
The air.
The sound.
Time itself.
And somewhere—
A truth began to rise.
Slowly.
Dangerously.
Too close.
👉 A gang attacked her…
But what if it wasn't random?
💭 What if someone close to her… is connected to it?
And if the truth comes out—
will her own family survive it?
💬 Drop your theory — I'm reading every single one
🔥 Support with Power Stones for the next episode
#amnesia #thriller #mystery #darkstory #drama #w******l #romance
- Writer
