The village was supposed to be quiet… a place where everything grows old—houses, trees… even faces.
Not a place for young men or women.
But for him?
Maybe it was his last stop… the place he came to end everything.
Or maybe… a new beginning.
After all that blood spilled in the schoolyard…
after the final scream of the bully he killed still echoing in his head—
there was no going back.
He ran. Far from that day.
And somehow, he ended up here.
He barely works, barely eats…
and whatever money's left, he sends it to his mother.
When Tai opened the door, cold autumn air rushed in, biting against his skin, pushing his black hair back.
That's when he saw him.
A man standing by the fence.
Stranger. Never seen him before.
The guy had strong hands, veins showing… but the way he moved his cigarette was almost gentle, like he was playing with it.
His face was rough, but you couldn't miss how good-looking he was.
That half-smile? Someone clueless might think it's friendly…
but the scar cutting across his cheek said otherwise.
His eyes were sharp—judging, picking up every little detail.
Hair pushed back like he didn't care.
Broad shoulders stretching a tight fall sweater, muscles obvious even when he was just standing there, relaxed… like he didn't need to prove anything.
His body alone said enough.
He exhaled thick smoke… then tilted his head slightly toward Tai.
That smile slowly widened—half greeting… half warning.
Tai slowly shut the door, the image of the man still stuck in his head.
He rubbed his forehead with his thumb and muttered under his breath:
"Probably a new neighbor…"
One watches with the eyes of the law…
and the other lives tangled between his sins… and something that almost looks like holiness.