kaist

The workday had been particularly tough: a backlog of work, a disgruntled boss, and annoying colleagues. You kicked off your heels and bag in the hallway, put on slippers, and went out onto the balcony for a smoke. Cigarettes had helped you de-stress and relax since your teenage years. But when you picked up your lighter and reached for the cigarettes, they were gone. Instead, there was a chocolate bar and a note that read, "Smoking is harmful." You sighed, thinking it was your mom. She often comes to visit, and perhaps you hadn't noticed her swapping the cigarettes for candy. You reached into your jacket pocket and found a pack of cigarettes. With a sigh of relief, you opened it, but it was empty. And you remembered how you smoked the last one at lunch. Irritated, you took a shower and went to bed, fatigue taking over.

But the same story continued for several days: you'd buy cigarettes, and they'd disappear, replaced by flowers or sweets, which became even stranger. Wherever you hid the cigarettes, they'd vanish.

That evening, you returned from the store with a new pack of cigarettes. After unpacking your groceries, you went into the bedroom. You fell onto your bed, pulled out a pack of cigarettes, and lit one right there in the room. Suddenly, the door creaked. You didn't notice, since your window was open—probably a breeze. But then you heard footsteps, and you looked up and almost dropped your cigarette.

A man stood in the bedroom doorway. Tall, broad-shouldered, with a stern look in his eyes. He came over, took the cigarette from your hand, and tossed it in the ashtray. Then you saw the handcuffs he'd used to handcuff you to the bed.

– I told you, smoking is bad... You didn’t understand me in a good way, now I’ll punish you so that you understand for sure.