Banished Divinity: Learning to be Human

Yuna was devastated by the smile she saw on Jaehyun's face for days.

And to make matters worse, her parents had summoned her for a family dinner.

It was always the same. Her father sat at the head of the table, busy cutting his meat, barely saying a word. Her mother arrived late, making excuses about her mani-pedi taking too long, then launched into her high-flying social life gossip. Junho, her older brother, was nowhere to be found—as usual. He was somewhere out there, spending their father's money like he owned it, living the high life while Yuna sat here, picking at her food like a bird.

The dining room was cold. Not in temperature—the heating was always set to an uncomfortable warmth—but in atmosphere. The walls were adorned with expensive art that no one ever looked at. Everything was perfect. Everything was sterile. Everything was dead.

Yuna's father sat at the head of the table, his broad shoulders hunched over his plate. He was a man who had built an empire from nothing—a self-made tycoon who had clawed his way to the top and never looked back. He was used to controlling everything and everyone around him.

Yuna had learned, over the years, that she was not something he could control. Not anymore.

Her mother sat across from her, picking at a salad that looked more like art than food. She was immaculate, as always—her hair perfectly styled, her makeup flawlessly applied, her designer dress clinging to her slim figure. She had traded her youth for security, her dreams for comfort. She had made her peace with it.

Yuna had not made her peace with anything.

It was always like this.

But this time was different.

Her father suddenly spoke. "Yuna, what will you do after university?"

Yuna almost choked on her water. Her father had never been interested in her before.

She sat up straighter. "I would like to pursue acting. I'm taking Theatrical and Drama—"

Her father slammed his utensils down.

The sound echoed through the dining room like a gunshot. Her mother froze. Yuna froze. The silence was deafening.

"So," her father said, his voice dangerously low, "you went behind my back to choose something I told you not to."

Her mother tried to intervene. "Oh, darling, she's just a kid. We should support what they want, right? As parents—"

"Shut up." Her father slammed his fist on the table.

Yuna was terrified. She knew that temper. She had seen it before—directed at her, directed at her mother, directed at anyone who dared to cross him.

"Since you like to act," he said, his eyes boring into hers, "then don't expect me to bail you out when you're in trouble."

Yuna had no idea what that meant. But in her heart, she knew her father knew something.

"Darling, you can't say that to our daughter." Her mother came around the table and hugged Yuna. Yuna was crying now, sobbing into her mother's expensive blouse.

Her father stood up and looked down at her. He was tall, with broad shoulders that seemed to block out the light.

"I know what's happening in school. And you are doing it again—for a boy. We have gone through this before."

"No, Dad, I didn't do anything. I swear."

"Oh, honey, you are getting out of line. Your daughter would not do that," her mother said.

Her father looked at Yuna, and for a moment, something softened in his eyes. He reached out, almost as if to stroke her hair like he used to when she was little.

When did she grow up so big? he thought.

Then he looked at his wife—actually looked at her, really looked at her. When did she suddenly come into this family? he wondered.

Yuna knew the story. After she and Junho were just little, their birth mother passed due to a complication of the heart. Her father was heartbroken, as he loved her very much, and this woman basically came into his life, took care of the children, and he married her out of convenience.

And from that point on, her father buried himself in work.

Her father always knew something was wrong with Yuna. At age five, she had pushed a little girl over a boy she liked. At first, he thought it was just young kids being young kids. But between the ages of fourteen and sixteen, trouble came. Yuna had to be transferred many times just because of bullying other teenagers.

Her father tried to think what went wrong. And as he looked at this woman—his second wife standing in front of him—he just couldn't shake the feeling that maybe it was her. Maybe it was her fault from the very beginning.

But he also wouldn't have minded Yuna being an actress. It would have been wonderful for one of his kids to excel. But because the boy she liked was in one of her classes, that was the problem. Her father tried everything to keep her away from trouble. But it seemed it wasn't enough.

So here he was. Standing before his daughter who was crying.

He walked out.

Her mother took Yuna over to the sofa and comforted her. "Parents are just so hard on their children," she said. "I know I was there too."

Yuna cried and looked at her.

And then she looked harder.

When did her mother become like this? When did she become so different? She had short hair, tanned skin, a flawless figure. She was so slim. When did she become so slim? Who was this lady in front of her whom she called Mum?

"Oh, baby, I am always Mum, and I will always protect you. Your dad was being so dramatic. I mean, what's wrong with liking boys, right?" She smiled. "And why are you looking at me like that?"

Yuna smiled between cries. "I didn't know you look so beautiful. You never spoke a word to me and sat me down before."

"Ah, yes, about that. Well, I did, but you had raging hormones and would storm right out. Besides, I invited you for mani-pedis or some girls' time, but you always refused." She pouted. "So, tell me about this boy."

Yuna explained everything. How she met Jaehyun. How she loved him. How Sera came into his life. When she mentioned Sera's name, it was like there was poison in her mouth.

Her mother noticed. "So, let me guess... You want this girl named Sera to disappear?"

"Can you do that, Mum?" Yuna asked in surprise.

"Well, I know someone who can help with your little problem. Remember that old lady whom we caught stealing a few years back? The one who said she knew your dad and needed to tell him something? Guess what—she vanished because I hired his help." Her mother's eyes gleamed. "It was frightening. It was like today she was here, and the next day, she was gone. I even went to her children and asked, and they said they didn't remember seeing that woman and claimed they didn't have a mother. How strange. And yet, how exciting."

Yuna heard the whole thing. And a sudden realization came to her.

Sera can be gone. Jaehyun would not even remember her.

"How are we going to do that?" Yuna asked.

"Now, now, I must warn you. If you really want his help, you need to sacrifice something. In order for him to help you."

"Like what? Money? You have money, and I have my trust funds. Houses? We have plenty. Dad wouldn't even notice if one or two went missing."

Her mother laughed and giggled like a schoolgirl. But that giggle was slightly off. Maybe Yuna was imagining it.

"Silly child. This person doesn't ask for money or fame. It wants something else. Something within you that you can only give. A trade for a trade."

A trade for a trade.

The words sent a shiver down Yuna's spine. But she recovered quickly.

"When can we see him?"

"We can go now." Her mother stood up. "You're in luck. I'm meeting him for an exquisite dinner—not what your father feeds us."

She turned. "You coming?"

Yuna hesitated. But then she straightened her back, lifted her chin, and said, "Let's go."