THE BEGINNING OF MY ENDING
WALK INTO THE PAST
No scream.
No fire.
No grave.
Just a white ceiling above him.
A steady beep echoed in the background. A wire ran across his cheek. Cold air filled his lungs.
Jeon Fort opened his eyes.
And for a moment… he didn’t move.
There was no soil under his hands. No blood on his palms. No rain in his hair.
Just silence.
He touched his forehead — the place where a bullet had ended his story.
But there was nothing.
No wound.
Only the dull ache of memory… and a second chance he didn’t ask for.
His breath turned shallow.
JEON FORT
[Why… why am I still alive?]
He looked around, dazed, confused, half-terrified.
JEON FORT
[Who brought me back to this cursed life?]
He gritted his teeth. His hands clenched the hospital blanket. His heart beat fast — not from fear, but from the weight of regret returning like thunder.
And then—
SLAM.
The hospital door flew open with force, like a storm had broken through it.
A man walked in, dressed in full black. His eyes red, jaw tight, fury bleeding from every step he took.
Fort looked up — and the world spun.
JEON FORT
[No. No.
It wasn’t real.
Couldn’t be]
The man standing there… was Jeon Justin.
His brother.
The underworld mafia king.
The man Fort himself had buried — with his own shaking hands.
But now…
Justin was standing at the foot of his bed.
Alive. Fuming. And full of rage.
JEON JUSTIN (JJK) (ISSAC BROTHER )
WHAT THE F*CK ARE YOU DOING, FORT?!
His voice sliced the room open.
JEON JUSTIN (JJK) (ISSAC BROTHER )
I LEAVE YOU ALONE FOR ONE DAMN MONTH AND YOU’RE ALREADY TRYING TO THROW YOURSELF INTO A COFFIN?
Fort couldn't speak. He couldn't even breathe.
JEON JUSTIN (JJK) (ISSAC BROTHER )
YOU THINK DYING LIKE THIS MAKES YOU STRONGER?
CRASHING INTO A STREET POLE LIKE SOME ROOKIE RACER?!
HUH? ARE YOU EAGER TO DIE NOW?
Justin’s voice rose, but not wildly. It was the kind of anger that came from love buried too deep. His fists were clenched, his nostrils flaring — but his eyes… they betrayed the truth.
He was scared.
Scared to lose his brother again.
But Fort was barely hearing his voice anymore. His gaze had fallen to the side.
To a wall Digitalcalendar.
May 20, 2024.
His heart stopped.
JEON FORT
[No… It can’t be…
This date… It’s before everything happened.]
He blinked once.
Twice.
A single breath escaped his lips.
Everything inside him collapsed. Then slowly rebuilt itself — stronger, colder.
JEON FORT
[ I can still protect them.
I can love him properly.
I can kill the ones who destroyed us… in the cruelest way possible]
And his brother was still shouting in the background.
JEON JUSTIN (JJK) (ISSAC BROTHER )
ARE YOU NOT GONNA SAY ANYTHING?!
Fort turned to him, eyes steady now. Breath controlled. Voice low.
JEON FORT
I’ll stop everything.
JEON JUSTIN (JJK) (ISSAC BROTHER )
What??
JEON FORT
No more car races. No more trouble. I’ll be good.
Justin stared at him, confused. Like Fort had been swapped with a stranger.
This wasn’t the brother who always shouted back.
This wasn’t the firecracker he had to drag out of fights
JEON JUSTIN (JJK) (ISSAC BROTHER )
I don’t care about your racing, Fort,
Justin said finally, voice harder.
JEON JUSTIN (JJK) (ISSAC BROTHER )
I Don’t care what you do. I just don’t want to bury you.
The room went silent.
Justin turned, ready to walk out — still burning, still confused.
And then—
JEON FORT
I’ll take care of myself… Hyung.
Justin stopped.
He didn’t turn back.
But his heartbeat faltered for a second.
JEON JUSTIN (JJK) (ISSAC BROTHER )
[Hyung.
That word hadn’t come from Fort’s lips in years.]
He stood still for a breath. Then, without a word, left the room.
Fort laid back against the pillows, his eyes drifting to the ceiling again.
He didn’t blink.
Still staring at the white ceiling above him.
Still waiting to wake up.
The white ceiling still didn’t change.
Neither did the sound of the machines. The oxygen. The scent of antiseptic.
But Fort stayed quiet.
He didn’t want to blink.
Didn’t want to breathe.
Didn’t want to accept that this world — this moment — was real.
A world where the people who died for him were still alive.
Where the blood hadn’t spilled.
Where Sky still smiled.
Where his brother still scolded him like a devil and didn’t lie under soil.
Fort didn’t move.
He just stared at the ceiling.
Like he was convincing himself it wasn’t a dream.
And then—
The door clicked open again.
And the voice that followed was enough to make the air shake.
PARK JAIMIN
Ya… why didn’t you die yet?
Fort turned his head slowly.
Standing there — messy hair, long coat, chewing gum like it was the most important job in the world — was Park Jamin.
His cousin. His headache. His shadow. His unwanted nurse.
Jamin stared at him with dramatic disbelief.
PARK JAIMIN
Tsk. Even death doesn’t want you, huh?
He stood at the entrance, panting slightly, hands on his knees like he’d just run from a battlefield.
His eyes scanned Fort up and down — lying still, eyes open, not screaming, not throwing a pillow — just calm.
Too calm.
PARK JAIMIN
Seriously, ( Jamin huffed, walking in,) I came prepared for crying aunties, incense sticks, and at least three fake wailing cousins... and you’re just chilling here like you’re at a spa?
No reply.
Fort slowly turned his head toward him.
No glare. No insult.
Just... calm eyes.
Jamin blinked.
Then frowned.
PARK JAIMIN
Okay, who the hell are you and what have you done with Jeon Fort?
Fort adjusted the blanket quietly.
JEON FORT
When’s the discharge?
PARK JAIMIN
You just survived a full-speed crash. The nurse said your car tried to become a butterfly. And you’re asking about discharge like this is a hotel check-out?
JEON FORT
I want to go home.
Now Jamin actually froze. His eyes squinted in suspicion.
PARK JAIMIN
You sure you didn’t bump your soul too?
What’s with this peaceful monk energy? I leave you for one accident and you come back with a whole personality update?
PARK JAIMIN
Ah, now you call him Hyung (Jamin muttered.)
Next thing you’ll say is ‘please’ and ‘thank you’.
Fort raised a brow.
Jamin sat down dramatically, sighing like the world betrayed him.
PARK JAIMIN
Yeah, your brother came here like a full black thundercloud. Stayed five minutes. Yelled at the nurse. Stared at your face like he was gonna punch your coma.
Then left.
Fort straightened up slowly.
JEON FORT
Where did he go?
PARK JAIMIN
Do I look like I have the guts to ask him?
He’s the king of devils, Fort. He glares — I disappear.
You think I stood there like, ‘Excuse me, mafia king, can I know your personal schedule?’ No thanks.
Fort stayed quiet for a moment.
Jamin narrowed his eyes again.
PARK JAIMIN
You’re very different today.
Like scary different.
If I knew one accident would make you this decent, I would've crashed your bike myself two years ago.
Fort exhaled a tired smile.
JEON FORT
Maybe all I needed was a slap on the head.
PARK JAIMIN
Noooo… don’t say that. Now you’re giving me ideas.
Should I do it properly next time? Steel pipe?
JEON FORT
Let’s just go home
Jamin stood up, brushing invisible dust off his pants.
PARK JAIMIN
Alright, alright, you miracle man. But don’t blame me if you faint halfway. You still look like a rejected ghost
Outside the Hospital – On the Way Home
The car ride was mostly quiet.
Fort sat beside the window, staring at the world like he hadn’t seen it in years.
The trees.
The sky.
The people.
Alive.
> Still alive.
Jamin drove with one hand on the wheel, one elbow out the window, chewing gum like he had no idea how intense the silence was.
PARK JAIMIN
You’re not gonna ask where I parked your bike?
PARK JAIMIN
Wow. Okay, yes. Something is definitely wrong with you
Fort still didn’t answer.
PARK JAIMIN
You gonna start meditating and drinking green juice too?
Should I stop calling you Fort and start calling you Buddha?
Fort chuckled, just barely.
JEON FORT
You never change.
PARK JAIMIN
And you changed too much, so we’re balanced,
They finally pulled up to the Jeon mansion gate.
Guards opened it instantly. Fort looked up at the building — huge, proud, deadly beautiful. Like nothing bad had ever happened here.
But he knew the truth.
Inside these walls… betrayal had bloomed.
Lies were whispered behind velvet curtains.
People smiled — then buried the ones who trusted them.
He clenched his jaw.
> Not this time.
Jamin tapped the steering whe
PARK JAIMIN
We’re home. You still breathing?
Fort opened the car door, stepping out with quiet strength.
He walked a few steps, then stopped.
JEON FORT
You not coming???
Jamin blinked. Then laughed
PARK JAIMIN
Coming with you?
Babe, I survived your brother’s rage this morning. I’m not doing a double feature with your dad.
One mafia glare a day is my limit.
Also—I still have a few flirting lines saved up for a hot kitten. I’m not ready to die yet.
He leaned out of the window dramatically.
PARK JAIMIN
You? You already experienced death. You’re emotionally vaccinated. Me? I still scream when I burn my tongue on hot coffee.
Go be brave. Die again if you want. I’ll light a candle for you.
Fort stared at him. Calm. Silent.
Jamin pointed.
PARK JAIMIN
Text me if you survive, okay? I’ll bring you ice cream... or flowers!
Fort didn’t respond. He turned and started walking toward the mansion entrance.
Jamin rolled down the window and shouted from behind—
✨✨Fort stepped through the massive double doors.
Silence greeted him first. Heavy. Waiting.
And then a slow voice cut through it—
MR JEON (FORT AND JK FATHER)
Ah… I thought you died.
His father’s voice. Cold. Sharp as ever.
Mr. Jeon sat like a king on the velvet chair in the middle of the room, one leg crossed, glass in hand, judgment in his eyes.
He stared at Fort like he was dirt dragged in by the wind.
MR JEON (FORT AND JK FATHER)
Hospital bed couldn’t hold you long, huh?
Shame. That would’ve saved me from your next disaster
Fort didn’t react.
To the side, his uncle, aunt, and two smug cousins stood near the wall — like an audience gathered for a public execution.
The uncle clicked his tongue, pretending disappointment.
The cousins shared a smirk — like they were watching a circus show begin.
Mr. Jeon stood, slow and precise.
MR JEON (FORT AND JK FATHER)
Do you know how much trouble you’ve brought again?
News headlines. Police. Hospitals. Our name being dragged like garbage.
You were born to disgrace me, weren’t you?
MR JEON (FORT AND JK FATHER)
Tell me, Fort. Are you proud of the chaos you leave behind?
Still — Fort said nothing.
No emotion.
No answer.
Not even a blink.
He walked past his father like a shadow, like the words meant nothing to him anymore.
Just as after he reached inside the room, the aunt snapped loudly—
JEIN JIA... (AUNT)
See?
Still walking away like we’re not even worth a glance. No change. No manners. No respect.
Mr. Jeon didn’t speak again.
The room stayed frozen.
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