The seaside air was thick with the scent of salt and sweat. Far from the noise of the city, hidden away among the cliffs, this massive structure looked nothing like a conventional gym. Here, the silence was intermittently broken by the heavy thuds against punching bags and the sharp, rhythmic breathing of fighters.

​On the open space of the first floor, a group of men were training with ferocious intensity. One was inside the boxing ring, while others occupied the mats for jiu-jitsu and karate. From the open balcony of the second floor, which offered a bird's-eye view of the entire hall, three men were observing the progress. They were around 45 years old, wearing suits that sharply contrasted with the raw, rugged atmosphere around them. Standing silently beside them were two teenagers—a boy and a girl, roughly 15 to 17 years old.

​_ Your generation is promising, said one of the men, addressing the one standing in the center, whose gaze was as sharp as a knife's blade.

​He merely nodded and turned to the youth:

— Feel free. The space is yours.

​The moment the adults withdrew into one of the rooms to discuss serious matters, the teenagers instantly shed their reserved personas. They ran down to the first floor.

​— Well then, hyung, are you ready to lose? the girl said with a smirk, immediately dropping to the floor to do rapid push-ups.

​— Only in your dreams, the boy replied, dropping to the floor as well.

​They began to compete. First push-ups, then lifting massive dumbbells. The fighters, who just moments ago were battering each other, stopped and began to watch the two. Tension built up in the air. Seeing that their strengths were perfectly matched, the boy glanced toward the ring.

​— The final showdown is up there.

​They climbed into the ring. The crowd gathered in the gym began to place bets. Some were confident in the boy's strength, while others knew the girl's agility.

​The match began. The boy was heavier and more powerful, but the girl moved like a shadow. She evaded his strikes, slipped under his arms, and landed short but precise blows. The boy tried to grab her neck, but the girl used a jiu-jitsu technique to turn his own weight against him, spun around, and slammed him to the ground, pinning her knee tightly against his chest.

The boy was not about to give up just yet. With the girl's knee pinning his chest, he used his massive strength to slightly free his hands and delivered a sharp strike to her ribs. The girl momentarily loosened her grip from the pain, which was just enough for the boy to twist around and slip out from underneath her.

​— Wait, not so fast, the boy said, going back on the attack. He tried to use his weight to drive her into a corner. The girl, however, did not stop moving. She continued to evade the strikes, but this time she was much more cautious.

​— Well then, my little one, now I'll show you, the boy said, attempting to grab her arm. But the girl was faster. She managed to dodge the grip and delivered a sharp kick to the boy's knee. The boy dropped to the floor in pain.

​— Do you yield? she asked, out of breath. The boy laughed, barely catching his breath.

​— You're good... you won this time.

​Exhausted, sweating, but satisfied, they left the building and walked toward the seashore. The night sea was calm, and the moon cast an amber-silver reflection upon the water.

​— In reality, your left hook has gotten much stronger, the girl said, sitting down on the sand.

​— But your reaction time was better, the boy replied.

​Silence fell over them. Only the sound of the waves could be heard. Slowly and hesitantly, the boy placed his hand over the girl's hand. The girl turned her head and looked at him. Under the moonlight, she saw the boy's cheek, which had reddened from her strike. Her heart softened for a moment. She moved closer and gently kissed that reddened cheek.

​The years flew by rapidly, like precise strikes thrown in a ring. Those two children who once sat by the seashore had transformed into flawless fighting machines. The girl was now a 19-year-old wild beauty, whose gaze blended coldness and passion, and the boy had become her inseparable shadow, her anchor, and the only person to whom she had confessed her love amidst blood and sweat.

​Today, however, the ring was not the soft mat of a gym. Today, the ring was an abandoned factory site in the city, where a brutal and ruthless war had erupted between two of the most powerful clans.

​The air had grown thick with the smell of gunpowder and fresh blood. Only the muffled echoes of gunfire, the clinking of metal, and the final groans of the dying could be heard. The girl and the boy fought back-to-back, operating as a single, unified organism.

​The girl, knife in hand, glided through the enemies, cutting throats and tendons with lightning speed. Her movements were graceful yet lethal. The boy covered her back, crushing anyone who dared to approach her with his powerful blows. He fired without missing, and when his ammunition ran out, he shifted to hand-to-hand combat, carving a path toward the center of the enemy forces with his fists.

​The body count multiplied exponentially. It was no longer a fight; it was a slaughter.

​Suddenly, through the dust and smoke, the sniper of the rival clan appeared. The girl was occupied with two behemoths who were trying to slam her to the ground. She did not notice the cold, metallic gleam aimed directly at her heart.

​— Watch out! the boy's voice thundered.

​Time seemed to freeze. Without a second's hesitation, the boy threw himself forward, shielding the girl with his body. The dry crack of a gunshot rang out. The bullet pierced the boy's chest—precisely where, years ago, the girl had pressed her knee during their sparring match.

​The boy fell to his knees. Seeing this, the girl eliminated those standing before her with a savage cry and rushed to his side. She caught him, lowered him to the ground, and cradled his head in her lap.

​— No, no, no... Hyung, look at me, breathe! the girl sobbed, trying to staunch the blood gushing from his chest with her hands. Her hands, which just minutes ago were dealing death, were now trembling with despair.

​The boy's breathing became shallow. With difficulty, he raised his bloody hand and touched her cheek—right where she had kissed him all those years ago. A faint but infinitely warm smile appeared on his lips.

​— Finally... he whispered barely audibly, and that same mischievous spark from their childhood flashed in his eyes. — Finally, I beat you... I saved you...

​His hand slid slowly down her cheek and fell onto the cold ground. His final breath escaped his lips, leaving the girl in absolute silence and irreversible grief.

​The girl embraced his lifeless body and let out a loud scream—a sound that carried love, hatred, and a vow that from this moment on, her life would belong solely to vengeance.

​— Kang Haerin, stop it! The voice thundered through the empty space, echoing off the walls. — Learn to stop when your opponent is already lying motionless on the ground.

​The scene was inside the exact same gym, but the sight was horrifying. The fighters who had tried to resist the girl just moments ago were now scattered across the floor with broken bodies. Haerin, covered in blood and enraged, had pinned one of the boys to the ground and, sitting astride him, continued to strike him without stopping.

​When her father's voice rang out, she froze with her hand raised, poised for another strike. She slowly turned her head toward the sound. Her eyes were cold and soulless, like those of a wild predator that had already tasted the kill.

​— Don't forget, they belong to your clan; this is training, not a war. Come to your senses, Jinho continued.

Haerin slowly let go of the boy's collar, stood up, and indifferently brushed off her clothes. Without uttering a single word, she walked away in silence.

​She went to the seashore. Under the sun's rays, the water sparkled like thousands of diamonds. With bloody hands and trembling fingers, Haerin lit a cigarette. Looking out at the horizon, she smoked slowly, the smoke blending into the sea breeze. When she finished, she simply stepped into the water, allowing the waves to lift her exhausted body up, as if the water could wash away not only the blood, but the emptiness inside her.

​In the evening, Haerin returned to the completely emptied gym. She went up to the second floor, entered her father's private office, and asked in a cold voice:

— How much money did we make this time, *Aboji?

*father

​Kang Jinho had just finished counting the straps of a massive amount of banknotes laid out on the desk. He was silently placing them into bags. He did not answer the girl's question; instead, he raised his head and said:

— A nice new place has opened on the shore. They say they prepare very delicious seafood. Will you come have dinner with me, *Uri Ttal?

*my daughter

​Haerin agreed silently.

​They sat in an open-air restaurant where the sound of the ocean waves was the only music. Spotting some familiar business associates, Kang Jinho stood up for a moment.

— Order whatever you like until I return, he said and walked away.

​The waiter approached Haerin. The girl, with a sullen and cold gaze, did not even look in his direction. She mechanically rattled off her order while her thoughts were far away.

​When her father returned, steaming, delicious dishes were already being set on the table. They ate and talked about various topics, as if they were not powerful gangsters, but a simple father and daughter. However, the topic shifted unexpectedly. Jinho looked into his daughter's eyes:

— Is there anyone in your life, Haerin?

​The girl abruptly set down her fork. A fire ignited in her eyes.

— Until I have my revenge, there will be no man in my life.

​Jinho smiled slightly, with a kind and unusually gentle expression.

— I am proud that my daughter's soul is so strong and loyal. But, Haerin, you must move forward; several years have already passed. Look at your foolish, lonely father and understand—your heart cannot be filled by vengeance alone. I advise you to try... you don't necessarily have to fall in love, just allow yourself to feel human again.

​Haerin listened to her father, but her gaze remained unyielding. She had decided long ago that her father's advice could not melt her icy heart. For her, the world was still painted only in the colors of revenge.

​The dinner ended. Kang Jinho had stepped slightly away from the table and was talking seriously on the phone about clan business. Right at that moment, the waiter approached to settle the bill. Along with the change, a fresh, beautiful red rose was placed on the tray.

​Haerin, who had kept her gaze averted the entire time, slowly raised her head for the first time. Standing before her was a young guy—likely a student—who had a simple and honest face. The boy smiled broadly at her:

— I noticed that such a beautiful girl is in a very bad mood. I decided to cheer you up a little, he said in a gentle voice.

​Haerin did not smile. She stared at the boy with an unblinking, cold, almost vacant gaze. Her silence lasted so long and was so oppressive that the boy grew flustered. The smile slowly faded from his face; he apologized and turned around to leave quickly.

​— Tell me your name, Haerin's commanding voice suddenly rang out. — And give me your phone number.

​The boy turned back, a surprised but warm smile appearing on his face once again:

— My name is Lee Sunho, he replied.

​After Haerin took Sunho's number, they met the following Saturday. Sunho invited her to a simple but cozy cafe, far away from high-society and dangerous venues. Haerin arrived in a black, tight-fitting dress, her gaze still cold and calculating. Sunho, on the contrary, was dressed in a light, simple t-shirt and smiled constantly. He told Haerin about his studies, his dreams, and his small joys. Haerin remained mostly silent, but her icy gaze was gradually changing. For the first time, she was seeing someone who wanted nothing from her except her presence. Sunho carefully touched her hand, and to her own surprise, Haerin did not pull away.

​A few dates later, while they were walking in one of the city's old districts, a torrential rain began. They took shelter under a narrow, dark archway. Sunho tried to take off his jacket to drape it over Haerin's shoulders, but the girl stopped him with a sharp gesture of her hand.

​Haerin stepped so close that Sunho could feel the coldness of the rain radiating from her skin. She was not shivering. Her eyes were locked onto the boy's lips. Haerin placed her hand beside Sunho's head and pinned him against the stone wall, blocking his exit.

​— I don't need protection, Sunho, she whispered, looking into the boy's eyes, where confusion and admiration were intertwined. — I only want you.

​She kissed him first—rough, dominant, without asking for permission.

​When they reached Sunho's apartment, Haerin did not even allow him to turn on the light. Right at the threshold, she pushed the boy toward the center of the room. The wet clothing clung to her body, accentuating her athletic physique.

​Haerin slowly removed her wet jacket, dropping it to the floor, but her gaze did not break away from Sunho for a single second. She walked around the boy like a predator circling its prey, inspecting him. Sunho seemed spellbound by her power.

​Sunho tried to step closer and embrace her, but Haerin, with a light yet firm movement of her hand, made him sit on the edge of the bed. Haerin stood before him, placed her hands on the boy's shoulders, and pushed him back with force until Sunho was lying completely on his back. She climbed on top of him, pinning his thighs with her knees. Haerin was not looking for tenderness; she dictated the rules herself. Her touches were confident and dominant. She grabbed Sunho's hands and placed them above his head, pinning them down, as if to show that tonight, she was the master.

​— Are you always this quiet when you get what you want? Haerin whispered, leaning close to his face, her breath burning Sunho's skin.

​— I have never gotten what I truly want... until now, Sunho replied with difficulty, his voice trembling from excitement and adoration. — Haerin, you are magnificent.

​Haerin smirked, satisfied with his confession. She momentarily loosened her grip, but only so that Sunho could reach for his clothes lying on the floor. With trembling fingers, the boy pulled a condom out of his pocket. Haerin watched his movements with impatience, her gaze sliding over Sunho's tense body. Sunho quickly and confidently put on the condom, ready to surrender himself to this wild rhythm.