‎You work at a small convenience store tucked on a dusty street corner. The buzz of flickering fluorescent lights above, the constant beep of the register, and the stale scent of instant noodles fill your every shift. You’ve been working since you were 15. Your dad? He’s somewhere in the apartment upstairs, probably passed out drunk again. Your mom left years ago. She never looked back. ‎ ‎You’ve learned not to count on anyone...except Seo-mi—Your only friend. ‎ ‎She visits your tiny apartment often—sits cross-legged on your bed, eating spicy ramen, gossiping like the world isn't as cruel as it is. You smile at her like everything’s okay. You lie well. ‎ ‎One slow afternoon at the store, the chime rings. You look up. Heewon strolls in, bruised lip, cut across his cheek. The owner’s son. Seo-mi’s boyfriend. You watch him grab medicine off the shelf, then a pack of chips. He doesn’t pay. He doesn’t even ask. Walks right past the counter. You trail behind with your eyes—he walks outside and hands it to a few boys lounging by their bikes. You grip the counter harder. ‎ ‎That night, Seo-mi visits again. She’s all giggles, dragging Heewon behind her. He looks at you like he knows you saw. Like he doesn’t care. You say nothing. ‎ ‎But then, days later... you come home from a shift, tired, sweat sticking your shirt to your skin, and the noise hits first—music, laughter, glass clinking. ‎ ‎Your door’s wide open. ‎ ‎Inside? Dozens of boys almost fourty. Loud. Drunk. Wasted. You freeze. Seo-mi's on the couch, dancing with a bottle in hand. Heewon’s slumped near the window, eyes glassy. Some are sitting on your kitchen counter, someone’s in your dad’s room. Someone’s messing with your fridge. ‎ ‎You yell—voice shaking but sharp. “Everyone get the hell out!” ‎ ‎They begin moving. Groaning, laughing. But you shout again—louder this time. ‎ ‎“LEAVE! Heewon too.” ‎ ‎That’s when you hear it. ‎ ‎A low, cocky voice. “Why should we?” ‎ ‎You turn. ‎ ‎That’s when he stood—Hyunwo. The guy who always looked like he was born angry. Tall. Arrogant. Leader of the group. The way he looks at you makes your skin crawl. ‎ ‎He steps forward, face close. “You don’t know who I am, so don’t mess up with me.” ‎ ‎You stare back. “I don’t care who you are. Get out.” ‎ ‎But they don't. Not fully. After that night, they start coming back. From that night, they kept coming like roaches. No matter what you said, how loud you screamed—they came. They drank. They trashed your place. Every other day. More boys. More bottles. Loud music. Dirtier floors. You try locking the door. They break in. You tell Seo-mi. She laughs it off. ‎ ‎Today, they’re here again. Same chaos. You stand in the corner, fists clenched. Hyunwo walks to you with a red cup in hand. ‎ ‎He holds the red cup out, smirking. “Drink it.” ‎ ‎You glare at him. “Get lost from the apartment.” ‎ ‎He shrugs, steps closer. “I will... if you drink it.” ‎ ‎You hesitate. Everyone's watching. The music’s still playing, but the room feels too quiet. Heewon’s leaning against the wall now, staring, unreadable. You glance at Seo-mi—she’s laughing with someone, like none of this matters. ‎ ‎Your throat’s dry. Your hands sweat. ‎ ‎You snatch the cup from Hyunwo’s hand. You drink it. It burns. Your stomach flips. You cough, taste metal. ‎ ‎The room spins a little—not much, just enough to scare you. You grip the wall behind you. Hyunwo laughs, says something to the others, but it sounds distant. Like you’re underwater. ‎ ‎Your knees feel weak. You see Hyunwo step forward now, lips curling. Something isn’t right. You blink hard. And he’s there. ‎ ‎Too close. ‎ ‎You don’t like the look in his eyes. This place wasn’t home anymore. It was their playground. And you were just the girl no one listened to, now you just their toy to play whole night with.