Midnight Thoughts (BBANGSAZ)

Prologue

The night was unusually serene, the kind that made you believe in fairy tales and happy endings. Seven-year-old Minji Kim stood on the deck of the yacht, her tiny hands gripping the rail as she stared out into the infinite expanse of the ocean. The moon hung low and full in the sky, casting a silvery glow on the waves that lapped gently against the boat. Stars dotted the night like a scatter of diamonds, promising dreams and wishes to anyone who looked up.

Minji’s mother, a graceful woman with kind eyes and an infectious smile, stood beside her. She was Minji’s world, her constant source of comfort and love. Tonight, they were celebrating her father's promotion, a rare occasion that brought their busy family together. The yacht was filled with laughter and music, the kind of joyous noise that made Minji's heart feel light.

“Mama, look at the stars!” Minji exclaimed, her eyes wide with wonder.

“They’re beautiful, aren’t they?” her mother replied, wrapping an arm around Minji’s shoulders. “Just like you, my little star.”

Minji beamed up at her mother, feeling an overwhelming sense of happiness. But this blissful moment was destined to be short-lived.

Without warning, a violent jolt shook the yacht. Minji was thrown to the deck, her small hands scraping against the rough surface as she tried to steady herself. The yacht shuddered again, more fiercely this time, causing glasses to shatter and people to scream in panic. The vessel was listing dangerously, water beginning to rush over the deck.

“Mama!” Minji cried out, her voice thin and terrified.

Her mother was at her side in an instant, her face a mask of fear and determination. “Minji, stay close to me,” she instructed, her voice steady despite the chaos erupting around them. She pulled a life vest from a nearby storage compartment and slipped it over Minji’s head, tightening the straps with urgent hands.

“Minji, you have to listen to me,” her mother said, her voice breaking slightly. “You need to be brave now. Can you do that for me?”

Minji’s eyes filled with tears, her small body trembling. “Mama, I don’t want to be alone. I’m scared.”

“I know, sweetheart. I know,” her mother whispered, pulling her into a tight embrace. “But you’ll be safe. I promise you that.”

With a final, desperate kiss to her forehead, her mother lifted Minji over the side of the yacht and lowered her into the freezing water. The life vest buoyed her up, but her heart sank with a dread that she could not comprehend. She kicked her legs frantically, trying to stay afloat, her eyes never leaving the sight of the yacht.

The vessel was sinking faster now, tilting dangerously as more water poured in. Her mother stood on the deck, her eyes locked on Minji’s. The distance between them felt like a chasm that could never be bridged.

“Mama!” Minji screamed, reaching out with tiny hands, her heart pounding in her chest. “Please, come with me!”

Her mother’s face was pale but resolute. She blew a kiss to Minji, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I love you, Minji. Always remember that.”

And then, with a final, heartrending creak, the yacht was swallowed by the merciless sea. Minji was left bobbing in the cold water, her cries lost in the vast emptiness around her. She kicked and paddled, her small arms growing weary, but she kept her eyes on the spot where the yacht had vanished, hoping against hope to see her mother resurface.

But there was nothing. Only the dark, silent ocean and the echo of her mother’s last words.

Minutes felt like hours as Minji floated in the water, her teeth chattering from the cold. The stars above seemed indifferent to her plight, twinkling serenely as if nothing had happened. The once comforting moonlight now felt harsh and unfeeling. Her tears mingled with the salty sea, her sobs eventually fading into the stillness of the night.

As the cold seeped into her bones, she felt herself growing numb, both physically and emotionally. Her limbs ached with exhaustion, and her mind was a whirl of fear and confusion. She closed her eyes, unable to keep them open any longer, the world around her blurring into a dark haze.

When the rescue boat finally arrived, Minji was barely conscious. She felt strong arms lift her from the water, heard muffled voices shouting and the sound of the boat’s engine roaring to life. She opened her eyes briefly, seeing the concerned faces of the rescuers. But all she could think about was her mother, her beautiful, brave mother who had promised she would be safe.

“Where’s my mama?” she whispered, her voice weak and broken.

The rescuers exchanged glances, their expressions heavy with sorrow. “We’ll find her, sweetheart,” one of them said, though his voice lacked conviction.

Minji’s eyes fluttered shut again, her body shivering uncontrollably. The last thing she saw was the face of her mother, smiling and brave, before darkness claimed her.

The days that followed were a blur of hospital rooms and whispered conversations. Minji was treated for hypothermia and shock, her small body wrapped in warm blankets as doctors and nurses fussed over her. But no amount of physical care could mend her shattered heart. The news came gently, delivered by kind voices and sympathetic faces, but the impact was devastating.

Her mother had not survived. The yacht had sunk too quickly, and the cold, unforgiving sea had claimed her. Minji was the only survivor of that fateful night.

In the weeks that followed, Minji was sent to live with her aunt and uncle, her father too consumed by his own grief to care for her. They tried their best to make her feel at home, showering her with love and attention. But Minji was a shadow of her former self, her once bright spirit dimmed by the weight of her loss.

Every night, she lay awake in bed, haunted by the memories of that night. The sound of the yacht creaking, the cold bite of the water, her mother’s desperate embrace—these images played over and over in her mind, refusing to let her find peace. She would close her eyes and see her mother’s face, hear her final words, and feel the crushing guilt of having survived when her mother had not.

As the years passed, Minji’s grief hardened into determination. She threw herself into swimming, finding solace in the rhythm of the strokes and the feel of the water against her skin. It became her sanctuary, the only place where she felt connected to her mother. She trained tirelessly, pushing her body to its limits, driven by the memory of her mother’s sacrifice.

By the time she was a teenager, Minji was one of the most promising swimmers in South Korea. Her coaches praised her dedication and skill, but they could never understand the depth of her drive. Every race, every lap, was a tribute to her mother, a promise that she would never let anyone she loved slip away again.

But beneath the surface of her success, Minji remained haunted by the past. Her heart was encased in ice, her emotions buried deep beneath layers of pain and guilt. She kept everyone at a distance, afraid to let anyone get too close, afraid to lose again.