Pierced by fate

Chapter 1

~~~~~

In the silent night, your absence weighs heavy,
Tears like rivers flow, endless and steady.
Lost in memories, I yearn for your touch,
In the emptiness left, I miss you so much.

~~~~

I was standing there, my heart pounding in my chest. I wanted to shout, to let it all out, but the words were stuck in my throat. The ground beneath me felt unsteady, as if it was slipping away. And then, I saw it. A sight that shook me to my core. It was something I never expected, something that changed everything. The world seemed to spin around me, and I struggled to find my balance.

I woke up with a start, my heart racing as sweat trickled down my forehead. It was the same nightmare that had haunted me for the past fifteen years. Every time I closed my eyes, it would find its way back to me, like an unwelcome visitor. The details were etched in my mind: the darkness, the eerie silence, and the feeling of being trapped. No matter how hard I tried to escape, I couldn't break free from its grip.

Breathing heavily, I sat up in bed, running a hand through my damp hair. The moonlight filtering through the curtains cast a soft glow in the room, doing little to calm my racing heart. I glanced at the clock on my nightstand. 4:00 AM. It was still early, but I knew there was no point in trying to go back to sleep.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand, the screen lighting up with an incoming call. I picked it up, seeing Mr. Kim's name flashing on the screen. Confusion furrowed my brow as I answered, "Mr. Kim?"

"Hoseok, I hope I didn't wake you," his voice was calm and composed, but there was a hint of urgency behind it.

"No, it's alright. What’s going on?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

"I wanted to let you know that YN is coming back today. She finished her studies in the US and will be arriving this afternoon."

My heart skipped a beat. YN. It had been years since I last saw her. We had grown up together, best friends since childhood, but time and distance had pulled us apart. I hadn't thought about her in years, yet hearing her name brought a rush of memories flooding back.

"That's great news," I managed to say, though my voice sounded distant even to me.

"Yes, it is. I just thought you should know. She'll probably head straight to the training center once she gets in."

"Of course, I'll be there. Thanks for letting me know," I replied before ending the call.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. YN was coming back. It felt like a lifetime ago that we had shared everything, from laughter to secrets. But now, as I prepared to face her again, I couldn’t help but wonder how much had changed.

I got out of bed, deciding that a workout would clear my mind. I changed into my training gear and headed out to the training center, the place that had become my sanctuary over the years. It was early, but I knew I wouldn’t be the only one there. My friends—Namjoon, Jin, Jungkook, Yoongi, Taehyung, and Jimin—would probably be there too, along with their girlfriends. Except for me, of course.

The training center was a sprawling estate, equipped with everything we needed to hone our skills. It had been our playground as kids, and now, as adults, it was where we trained to maintain our dominance in the mafia world. My father had built it with the intention of making us the best, and it had certainly served its purpose.