When I stepped out of my room, I found the four of them gathered around the TV, completely absorbed in their show.

None of them noticed me at first. I watched Vivi and Zain—both smiling brightly alongside the other two.

Watching them smile, a dull ache settled in my chest. I knew they were still worried about me.

They just hid it well.

They were three years younger than me, yet sometimes they behaved far more maturely than their age.

Mom was preparing dinner, and it was almost time for our tutor to arrive.

Although he was mainly assigned to me, he occasionally helped Vivian and Zain with their lessons as well.

I quickly freshened up and grabbed something small to eat before starting my homework.

I wanted to finish at least one or two assignments before he showed up.

Even though this routine was familiar, this was already the third assignment I had picked up today.

No matter how hard I tried, the fear from those haunting dreams followed me into the day, leaving me tense and distracted.

It clung to my thoughts, making it difficult to focus on even the simplest schoolwork.

Still, I refused to let them control my life. Even if I had to suffer through those nightmares, I wouldn’t let them dictate my reality.

Someone’s intense stare snapped me back to the present. I glanced sideways—Yuriya’s eyes were fixed on me.

Her gaze was sharp, piercing… cutting straight through the haze in my mind and pulling me back to the task at hand.

Before returning to my assignment, I asked,

“Do you have something to say to me?”

She nodded but didn’t speak, as if gathering her thoughts.

I waited, smiling softly to ease her nervousness.

After a few moments, she finally whispered, “Are you okay?”

Her question caught me off guard. My eyes widened briefly before I forced myself to stay composed.

“Of course, I’m fine. Why do you ask?”

I hadn’t expected that question.

"Big sis Vivi and brother Zain always look sad when they look at you. And you always have nightmares. That’s why.”

“They’re just dreams. Don’t you have nightmares?”

“I do… but not as often as you.”

“That’s because you’re still young. You’ll get more when you’re older.”

I started teasing her—but her expression instantly paled. I couldn’t stop myself and burst out laughing.

She quickly realized I was teasing her, and her frown deepened.

I reached over and ruffled her hair.

“I’m fine. And you won’t have nightmares like mine. Now go finish your homework. I need to finish mine too.”

She left without another word. 

Growing up in our intense household had made Yuriya mature, but she and Aria still carried more innocence than Vivi and Zain.

Those two were forced to grow up far too quickly.

I shook off the thought and glanced at the clock.

“Is he going to be late again?”

For months now, our tutor hadn’t kept his promised schedule.

If it were just me, I wouldn’t care—but Vivi and Zain depended on him too. And lately, his behavior has been getting worse.

At first, he was a competent tutor—punctual, patient, professional. But over the past few months, everything has changed.

He started arriving late every day, his temper growing shorter, especially with Zain.

He punished him over the smallest mistakes, his aggression worsening with each lesson.

I told my parents, but their reaction only disappointed me.

They believed physical discipline was necessary for Zain.

Despite my objections, their opinion remained unchanged.

I could have accepted the scolding. But the bruises… those were unbearable.

He claimed he only disciplined Zain “once in a while.”

But the marks left behind said otherwise.

Ding-Dong…

I almost sneered. Speak of the devil.

Vivi and Zain hurried to the study room at the sound. Their faces were blank — no smiles at all.

They’d told me many times that they didn’t like him, but…

Sigh…

He didn’t enter the room right away. He was probably talking to my mom.

Being late wasn’t enough — now he was wasting time chatting.

After a few minutes, he finally walked in. The smile he wore outside vanished the moment he stepped through the door. 

It always puzzled me how my parents failed to notice this side of him.

Half an hour passed. I was still working on my assignment. He helped me occasionally, but his attention stayed glued to Vivi and Zain.

They worked quietly, desperately trying to avoid any punishment.

But after barely twenty minutes, he snapped at Vivi — just for overwriting. 

Zain and I both tried to say something, but before we could, he struck Zain across the back with his stick.

When he raised his hand for another blow, I instinctively pulled Zain behind me, shielding him.

My body started acting before my brain could think of anything.

I didn’t care what happened to me — I just wouldn’t let him hit Zain again.

“Bian, move aside,” he barked.

But I glared back at him. “That’s enough. What do you think you’re doing?”

“What?” He looked stunned by my tone.

“All he did was try to explain. There was no need to—”

My voice cut off as I looked at the stick.

It was stained with blood.

For a split second, everything went quiet.

Shock rushed through me. I turned to Zain — his shirt was torn. Blood seeped through the ripped fabric.

Something inside me snapped. My chest tightened, my hands shaking as heat rushed to my face.

“ARE YOU INSANE? How could you hit him so hard that he’s bleeding? You piece of shit!”

“W–w–what? How dare you talk to your teacher like that? What I did was—”

“Don’t talk crap about ‘teaching methods,’” I spat before he could continue.

"YOU......!!"

Click…

Mom stepped into the room, her brows drawn together in irritation — not at him, but at me. 

Her eyes hardened with disappointment, as if I were the one who had crossed a line.

“What do you think you’re doing, Bian?” she asked sharply.

“Did you hear, ma’am? Look at your daughter—”

Relief flickered across his face. With an adult present, he knew the blame would shift.

However—

“Is it your job to beat my brother until he bleeds?”

I saw it instantly—the way he was about to twist the story and turn me into a problem.

I cut him off before a single lie could leave his mouth.Abuse

When I stepped out of my room, I found the four of them gathered around the TV, completely absorbed in their show.

None of them noticed me at first. I watched Vivi and Zain—both smiling brightly alongside the other two.

Watching them smile, a dull ache settled in my chest. I knew they were still worried about me.

They just hid it well.

They were three years younger than me, yet sometimes they behaved far more maturely than their age.

Mom was preparing dinner, and it was almost time for our tutor to arrive.

Although he was mainly assigned to me, he occasionally helped Vivian and Zain with their lessons as well.

I quickly freshened up and grabbed something small to eat before starting my homework.

I wanted to finish at least one or two assignments before he showed up.

Even though this routine was familiar, this was already the third assignment I had picked up today.

No matter how hard I tried, the fear from those haunting dreams followed me into the day, leaving me tense and distracted.

It clung to my thoughts, making it difficult to focus on even the simplest schoolwork.

Still, I refused to let them control my life. Even if I had to suffer through those nightmares, I wouldn’t let them dictate my reality.

Someone’s intense stare snapped me back to the present. I glanced sideways—Yuriya’s eyes were fixed on me.

Her gaze was sharp, piercing… cutting straight through the haze in my mind and pulling me back to the task at hand.

Before returning to my assignment, I asked,

“Do you have something to say to me?”

She nodded but didn’t speak, as if gathering her thoughts.

I waited, smiling softly to ease her nervousness.

After a few moments, she finally whispered, “Are you okay?”

Her question caught me off guard. My eyes widened briefly before I forced myself to stay composed.

“Of course, I’m fine. Why do you ask?”

I hadn’t expected that question.

"Big sis Vivi and brother Zain always look sad when they look at you. And you always have nightmares. That’s why.”

“They’re just dreams. Don’t you have nightmares?”

“I do… but not as often as you.”

“That’s because you’re still young. You’ll get more when you’re older.”

I started teasing her—but her expression instantly paled. I couldn’t stop myself and burst out laughing.

She quickly realized I was teasing her, and her frown deepened.

I reached over and ruffled her hair.

“I’m fine. And you won’t have nightmares like mine. Now go finish your homework. I need to finish mine too.”

She left without another word. 

Growing up in our intense household had made Yuriya mature, but she and Aria still carried more innocence than Vivi and Zain.

Those two were forced to grow up far too quickly.

I shook off the thought and glanced at the clock.

“Is he going to be late again?”

For months now, our tutor hadn’t kept his promised schedule.

If it were just me, I wouldn’t care—but Vivi and Zain depended on him too. And lately, his behavior has been getting worse.

At first, he was a competent tutor—punctual, patient, professional. But over the past few months, everything has changed.

He started arriving late every day, his temper growing shorter, especially with Zain.

He punished him over the smallest mistakes, his aggression worsening with each lesson.

I told my parents, but their reaction only disappointed me.

They believed physical discipline was necessary for Zain.

Despite my objections, their opinion remained unchanged.

I could have accepted the scolding. But the bruises… those were unbearable.

He claimed he only disciplined Zain “once in a while.”

But the marks left behind said otherwise.

Ding-Dong…

I almost sneered. Speak of the devil.

Vivi and Zain hurried to the study room at the sound. Their faces were blank — no smiles at all.

They’d told me many times that they didn’t like him, but…

Sigh…

He didn’t enter the room right away. He was probably talking to my mom.

Being late wasn’t enough — now he was wasting time chatting.

After a few minutes, he finally walked in. The smile he wore outside vanished the moment he stepped through the door. 

It always puzzled me how my parents failed to notice this side of him.

Half an hour passed. I was still working on my assignment. He helped me occasionally, but his attention stayed glued to Vivi and Zain.

They worked quietly, desperately trying to avoid any punishment.

But after barely twenty minutes, he snapped at Vivi — just for overwriting. 

Zain and I both tried to say something, but before we could, he struck Zain across the back with his stick.

When he raised his hand for another blow, I instinctively pulled Zain behind me, shielding him.

My body started acting before my brain could think of anything.

I didn’t care what happened to me — I just wouldn’t let him hit Zain again.

“Bian, move aside,” he barked.

But I glared back at him. “That’s enough. What do you think you’re doing?”

“What?” He looked stunned by my tone.

“All he did was try to explain. There was no need to—”

My voice cut off as I looked at the stick.

It was stained with blood.

For a split second, everything went quiet.

Shock rushed through me. I turned to Zain — his shirt was torn. Blood seeped through the ripped fabric.

Something inside me snapped. My chest tightened, my hands shaking as heat rushed to my face.

“ARE YOU INSANE? How could you hit him so hard that he’s bleeding? You piece of shit!”

“W–w–what? How dare you talk to your teacher like that? What I did was—”

“Don’t talk crap about ‘teaching methods,’” I spat before he could continue.

"YOU......!!"

Click…

Mom stepped into the room, her brows drawn together in irritation — not at him, but at me. 

Her eyes hardened with disappointment, as if I were the one who had crossed a line.

“What do you think you’re doing, Bian?” she asked sharply.

“Did you hear, ma’am? Look at your daughter—”

Relief flickered across his face. With an adult present, he knew the blame would shift.

However—

“Is it your job to beat my brother until he bleeds?”

I saw it instantly—the way he was about to twist the story and turn me into a problem.

I cut him off before a single lie could leave his mouth.