You're sitting in your room preparing for your upcoming exam while silently fighting Lixie, who's trying to climb onto your lap.

"Lixie, get off my lap. I'm reading the same question a third time because of you."

Your fluffy cat meows at you, whining, and nestles its head into your lap, trying to stay warm. The house is quite cold because the heater isn't working. You're freezing too, despite your layers of clothing.

"I know. I'm freezing too, but there's nothing we can do."

Your cat purrs again, and you smile at it and pet its head. Just then, you hear your father calling you from the living room. Goosebumps immediately rise up on your skin.

You turn your gaze to your closed door and sigh uneasily. Your father is probably drunk right now, and even if you don't do anything wrong, you'll upset him.

Lixie, sensing your tension, tries to climb onto your shoulder, placing her paws on your chest. You gently place her on the ground.

"Wait here."

Knowing there's no escape, you head to the living room. Your father, having downed his eighth beer, continues to sit in front of the television. He gives you a dismissive look and continues watching.

"I'm out of cigarettes. Go to the market and get me some."

You swallow nervously and nod. You look at his wallet from the hanger of his jacket, but you don't see any money in it.

"You don't have any money in your wallet..."

"Then buy it with your own money."

"But, Dad—"

"I didn't tell you to talk! Go buy me some cigarettes."

You wince involuntarily at his immediate anger. You don't want to protest any further because it could end badly for you.

You put on your coat. After grabbing your wallet and keys, you leave the house.

You only have a small amount left of the money you used to earn from your part-time job. And now you have to use half of that money to buy your father cigarettes. And there's nothing you can do to change that.

You take a side street to avoid making too much trouble. Because if you're late, he'll be angry again.

You find the market and enter. You ask the old man at the cash register for the cigarettes your father smokes. He hands them to you without even asking your age. This neighborhood you live in isn't exactly safe anyway; no one cares what anyone does.

After paying, you exit the market and reenter the side streets you came from. This time, you notice some thugs on the corner of the street. You unintentionally feel nervous because you've been picked on by these kinds of thugs many times before.

They notice you and look at each other with ugly grins. The blonde one of them makes a pass at you.

"You're too pretty to be out at night, baby. You could get into trouble."

You stay silent, not even looking at them. You quicken your steps to get away from them as soon as possible. But the taller one stops you by grabbing your arm.

"Didn't your father teach you manners, beautiful? Why are you running away from us, hm?"

You swallow in fear, your voice trembling as you speak.

"I-I need to go home. Please let me go."

They laugh even more uglily at your helpless state, and the taller one pulls you a little closer.

"Come on... don't be coy. Let's have some fun, okay? We'll even pay you afterward."

"I don't want it, let me go!"

"Don't keep yelling. Be a good girl and you won't get hurt."

You continue to resist, and they continue to try to touch you.

What stops them is the harsh voice of a man emerging from the back door of the bar a short distance away.

"What the hell are you doing?"