P.S  :  

Before reading...

The writer recommends playing the song that serves as inspiration for writing this fic in the background. For an increased enjoyment of more than 70%

{This episode's fic was inspired by the song "

Bird Set Free"  

of

Sia 

}

'The wings that were cut off, I am the thing that is broken.

I have a voice that I want to say. But I couldn't tell anyone.

You might make me fall

However, I will continue to struggle on the ground.

Loss, a path full of thorns

I have words I want to say. But couldn't tell anyone.

You might drag me down there

But now I will strive to soar.'

….Um, I'm crying again. This kind of feeling swirls and flows, seeps into the bloodstream. Spread and cover the whole body

feeling…

…that is disgusting

My whole body hurts. It hurts...to the point of wanting to die.

Funny.... Heh, really funny. What a shameful fate joke.

When? When?

When will the filthy breath….will it finally end….

“Wipe away your tears. I'll puke when I see it.”

“A worthless person like you. You don't even have the right to cry…”

The pungent smell of nicotine permeated this narrow room. In the dim light, a fragile figure appeared. Without any clothes, he lay on a futon spread on tatami mats. Next to him was a young man with a muscular build. His face was sharp and fierce, sitting cross-legged with a proud, arrogant expression. There was only a small piece of cloth covering his lower body.

The young man slowly supported his mutilated body. Struggling, he dragged himself to reach the yukata that lay on the floor nearby. A yukata that was dirty because it was worn by him was dirtier, more fishy, ​​and filthier than a rag.

“Ugh…”

His body was thin, soft, but tainted with fishy fluid and traces of blood, green and bruised, twitching from the sharp pain that shot through his hips. Breaths come in and out quickly. You alternately gasping for breath, pumping air into your lungs to gather up the last bit of strength you have. Use to move your body

If you can't fly and fall on the ground, then run...

If you can't run, walk...

If you can't walk, crawl...

If you can't crawl anywhere...

I could only let myself die here…

In front of these people

pitch black eyeglasses Glittering under the light, it reflected the image of a young boy putting on a yukata. His thick, well-formed lips twitched into a satisfied smile when he saw the little bird he owned standing there taking care of himself. The tear stains that were smeared and running down his cheeks… really matched this child.

“I won't come here tomorrow. I probably won't be able to come for a few days."

A low, cold voice spoke out. Cold eyes stared at the small hand that was adjusting the yukata to make it look beautiful again.

"yes…"

The young man received the short words, the sound was almost swallowed up by the air, the pain was excruciating, even uttering a sound was difficult, as if a huge rock was pressing against his abdomen.

In a moment, a muscular, naked body suddenly appeared behind him. The young man reached out and pinched the tip of the other man's chin. His light brown eyes were swollen and bruised. But you have to look at your own body. that was touched by this man through the glass that stood on the floor in front of him

“You were born for me.”

“You were born to be my property,” the young man whispered timidly.

“You were not born to have a life of your own, Nam Woohyun.”

“But you were born to be imprisoned by me.”

"Your life...

“It's mine…”

                                                                          XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

My name is Nam Woo Hyun, as far as I can remember. grew up in this teahouse People here tell me that my mother has been a prostitute here since she was a young girl. And two months after she gave birth to me He died because of disease. No evidence left Or what can indicate that what people say is true? But it's probably true.

Because ever since I can remember, I've been running around here.

As time passed, I grew up and grew up with these unclean things. Even though all this time I have longed for the freedom that normal humans have, But he is always dragged down into this hell hole every time.

This scar on the waist From the first attempt to escape

wound on wrist It came from the second attempt to escape.

and the third wound It came from being chained for more than three months. For three months I had to suffer physically. Suffering from being detained Delayed like animals ...The suffering that I was used to dealing with has disappeared.

' If I try to escape just one more time I'm going to kill you..'

That's what he said to me, or maybe

… Would it be better to just 'die' than if I lived?

“Hey, there's singing tonight, right?”

Jaehee, my only friend She was always cheerful even though she was imprisoned in this place.

“Um, I'm so tired of dressing like a woman.”

“Kick..”

She chuckled at my bored expression.

“You are suitable to dress like that.”

“Im Jaehee…”

“Really, you are very suitable. Look at this milky skin and those light brown eyes. Do you see that? Now look at that tight nose that I like. Look at those full lips that I am so envious of.”

“But I'm a man. Why try to impose? Trying to make me not be me.”

Why?....

“It's only when singing, Woohyun. There is a lack of female singers here. Everyone turned to prostitution. Because it earns better money and can go out with guests You…is it not better like this?”

She said while putting on makeup. And put a beautiful necklace on me

Jaehee is the youngest prostitute in the tea house. Because of her cuteness and brightness, most of the guests fell in love with her. and frequently call for her services But there are always other prostitutes who find her a favorite of their guests. and saw that she seemed to have more privileges than anyone else, so they resented and detested her It's just like that.

Because in truth, it turned out to be Jaehee who suffered more than anyone else. More traumatized than anyone They resented and detested her.

"Finished. Wow, you're so beautiful, Woohyun-chan."

“That's enough…”

I stood up and prepared to sing the song of this long night. Even though tonight is like every night that has passed But I can't deny that the thing that still makes me breathe in this miserable world is music.

The moment the light shines on me It was as beautiful as the sunlight falling from the sky. Smoke from the steam generator It's like a fluffy cloud that floats past little birds that are flying and singing beautiful songs. The time I sang on stage It was as if I was free and released from all bondage.

That moment….the moment that I was me The time when I was Nam Woohyun…the time when I didn't have to care about anything anymore. A time when there was just me, freedom, and music…..

“It's already 8:00 p.m. I'm going now. There's a guest reserved.”

“Um, thank you for… the nice hairstyle.”

I speak with a bit of sarcasm. Who would want to do this style?

“Um, see you later.”

After that, she immediately disappeared from the dressing room. I sighed heavily. Let go of all your worries.

From this moment on I will sing for myself. and will sing for love for Jaehee For the love I long for and for freedom Even if there is a day when my voice is hoarse or distorted, I will shout with all my might so that I can experience freedom from captivity again.

' I won't care anymore even if I sing out of tune.

I'm going to find my true voice.

I'll sing for love, I'll sing for myself

I'll sing like a bird set free

No, I don't care anymore even if I sing out of tune

I'm going to find my voice.

I'll sing for love, I'll sing for myself

I will sing like a bird set free'

                                                                                 XXXXXXXXX

I spent my life forgetting days and nights, every second of suffering interspersed with little moments of happiness as I stood on the stage. But nothing is lasting and sustainable. This worthless life, who would have thought that it could be even more depressing and miserable than this? What is hell…what is beyond hell? I found out when I met that man.

…Kim Sunggyu

One winter night After I sang The teahouse owner asked someone to take me from the dressing room.

Even though I still don't understand anything. But when I got there In front of me is him…the person who changed my life from gray to black forever…

'The child has never passed through anyone's hands before. I only work behind the teahouse. When night fell, he came to sing. What most people know is that there will be women providing services here. If you want to buy services from a boy, you have to go to another teahouse.'

Shining eyes Fuck that couple. I remember and will never forget...

'Oh...actually, I'm secretly disappointed. This kid sings beautifully. Dressed as a woman, she is so beautiful that the girls here can't compare. If you were to buy it as your own property for your sole use…'

'How much do you think?'

'Ouch...try making an offer.' She looked so delighted that she was dancing.

After agreeing on the price until the teahouse owner was satisfied She quickly ordered me to sit with him. I also don't know how much money I can exchange for one life. I don't know how much the teahouse owner charges to support me throughout my life with this person named Sunggyu. I don't know how much my freedom was bought for.

But captivity is more than captivity. Suffering that is greater than suffering

I experienced it because of him….

The reason why I'm still here It's because there's still a lack of people singing here. And the man didn't have a problem with me still singing here. He didn't even care. Because he was also not happy and unwilling to take me out to live somewhere else.

I heard that he himself is a mafia who controls the entire country of South Korea. His organization is a large organization. Do everything that is illegal. Starting from human trafficking, drug trafficking, and weapons trafficking.

So it's not strange at all. If he were to just use the scraps of money to buy someone to satisfy his needs in something like that.

And it wouldn't be strange if I was just one of the people he liked a little and bought it for personal use.

'What's your name, sir?'

The first sentence we talked about was so simple. It was expensive to buy. You should probably ask for something better.

' Nam Woohyun...'

' So, it's a good name'

'From now on you are mine. It's only me. Do you understand this?'

'I want to leave here. Or do you still want to sing here?'

The teahouse owner told me It's good for me to be like this. I don't have to host another guest until Sunggyu gets bored, or until the day he doesn't need me anymore.

At least so I can still breathe. Thanks to him for not forcing me to stop singing.

'I want to sing here'

Yes….since there is no way to escape. No matter how high you tried to fly, you would always be pulled down to the ground. I want to be happy singing in hell.

That night...the first night I was abused by him both physically and mentally. Kim Sungkyu liked to have me wear a yukata to accommodate his wild emotions. While we were having sex he treated me like I was just a fleshless wax figure. My sexual and violent tastes make me scared and I think I'm going to die tonight. I was traumatized in every part. Scream at the top of your lungs

But there was no mercy from him. Drops of water the color of cloudy news flowed from him. To the inside of me It's like that. Over and over until I lost consciousness.

Dawn of the next day I woke up to Jaehee gently wiping a warm cloth over my body that looked like it would fall apart with just one more touch. She tried not to look at me like she always does. Her tears welled up. Maybe it was because she felt sorry for me. We didn't say anything, she didn't say anything, I...didn't say anything either.

One week later I saw him again. He came here, looking annoyed, didn't say anything, just went and waited for me in the room because I hadn't gotten off the stage yet. When I changed into a yukata and was about to take off my wig. Instead, he ordered me to keep it on like that. Eyes that seemed to destroy me stared at me.

And he treated me in a way that was no different from the day we first met. Ready to tell me That I was just his sex slave. Derogatory words and swear words stabbed deep into my heart. He said…that I was just something he could use whenever he wanted. It's a support for his emotions, he's just a person.

….that uses scraps of money to exchange

The days passed and passed. It went around like that for over a year and a half. My body and heart were numb, wondering when this cycle of filth would end. When will I find true happiness? that even once in this life I have never encountered true love What's it like to be warm and not be afraid?

What is it like to have a heart that is comforted? What is it like to be looked at with eyes that look like we are human?

How is it……

I want to close my eyes and leave this twisted world to see those things.

Maybe…..death It might be the only way for me to fly out of here with my own wings and find true happiness and freedom.

The end of the pain I had to deal with all this time. It might be a little bit of happiness. It's not too heavy to bear like this.

I don't want to 'die' like this. I want to 'live'.

I won't die I must live

Maybe…it's time for me to….

Fly out of this cage to live the life that is truly my life….

                                                                        XXXXXXXXXXXXX

“Please, please, I have never asked you for anything, just this one time.”

“Jae Hee, it wasn't in my agreement to take you out. I didn't buy you so that you could ask for something that doesn't make sense like this.”

“Please… sir, please…”

“Sigh…just for a moment. If I call you to get in the car You must come immediately.”

“Yes, thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much.”

The young man looked after the petite woman who hurriedly got out of the car with a white flower. She didn't hesitate and headed towards the iron bridge that arched over the river near the place she had just been taken from. A small hand gently lowered a white flower, causing it to float down to the surface of the river.

Her eyes were filled with happiness.

Her smile looked so happy….

' Woohyun...

I've come to find you...'

                                                                                                                             -END-