Meanwhile, on the far away sight of the building, Minhae and oasis joined the drama.
"Woah! What's happening here? Take a look Minhae!"
Following his suggestion, Minhae stopped and turned his head. As soon as he witnessed the scenes, he crunched his high bridge and sighed in pain, "Fu! There they go again!"
"I know right? It hasn't been a day of our arrival and yet- Um, maybe they're doing this to welcome us, haha?"
Just a glance of Minhae was enough for an oasis to shut his mouth.
That small boy was curled up gripping his stomach tightly with one hand and the other hand covering his head as though he was avoiding the direct fatal kicks from them. From the way he was defending his body with his tiny, thin arms, it seemed like it wasn't the first time he was being bullied. However, seeing how they're kicking with their legs, anyone's hair would straighten up in range. And one of them was newmoon.
Taking one step back, Minhae turned around. It wasn't an unusual occasion to see the students bullying other students. Such unsightly sight, Minhae disliked it the most.
"HEY!! STOP ALL OF YOU!"
Newmoon shouted with a disgusted look.
"??"
Hearing it, all of the bullies halted their movement and turned their heads toward them.
"…"
And so did oasis too!
As if oasis was shaking in excitement, he instantly shivered, "HoHo~ Now that's called the thrilling part! Oi Minhae are you sure you don't want to stay for a minute? It seems like things are about to get heated! A little boy has come as a savior! Haha!"
However, It wasn't enough to make Minhae trapped in the scenario.
Just then, the little boy who was on the ground coughed a mouthful of blood.
Seeing it, newmoon's eyes shot up once more. Veins popped out in his small forehead and he began to curse up yelling from the top of his lungs knowing whatever slang words he knew!
"You !@#$#^&*....*&%^@#$$...[BEEP], [Beep]..!!"
The fact the area was vacant, newmoon's yelling echoed like a rolling thunder from the sky. Now, this was enough to hold the Minhae back into the scene.
His steps halted and he turned his head around, "…"
While a few distances away, Seeing the unbelievably courageous act of newmoon, he burst into laughter.
"Who do you think huh?"
A tiny trembling voice could be heard from backstage.
He heard nahee saying, "Newmoon please stop! You don't know who are you talking to! That fatty has a Gansta sister who ruled the other senior upper classes. Whoever touches him, ends up with a pimp body!"
Responding to him, newmoon ranged in even a violent tone, "Ohho~ So, you are an infant child taken care of by the elder sister huh?"
"Pfft~ haha! This guy is funny AF! I give thumps up to his bold action!"
Oasis sure was having fun out of this world.
Minhae, "…"
A coldness shivered down the back of nature's spine when he heard him. He said the truth so that newmoon could calm down but no! Instead he got heated up and used the words against him.
Now he gets on the nerve of the main boy. All the rest of the group turned their head toward him too! A horror radiated through his eyes.
"CARE TO REPEAT? I didn't hear what you said just now?"
The big boy approached newmoon with the face of Dracula. Only a sharp tooth was missing. A hideous and dangerous expression. Only did he stand in front of newmoon, did he figure out the vast difference in their height and power.
Others wanted to tag along with the boss too but stopped when he raised his hand into mid-air as if he was hinting to them to stop.
His shadow completely gulped the tiny newmoon's body. It was like a lion and a rat. The strength ran out of the newmoon's legs. He wanted to run away but the unknown pride kept him grounded. Meanwhile, nahee on the back side already fled away.
He bend down and leaned forward to newmoon. He turned his ears and asked, "repeat?"
Newmoon gulped down. The sweat dripped down the back of his neck. Given the situation, he couldn't even run away now that his cowardness would reveal. Deep down a regret began to fill up his heart but he swiftly shook his head.
He clenched his hands and shouted, "Why are you bullying too!"
With a large 'Thud' newmoon fell upon the ground. His fists came so fast that he only saw the hand retracting back after getting hit.
His head rang a thousand bells while his vision spun rapidly.
"Ouch! That was big!"
Oasis flinched a bit.
The big boy crouched and glared at him, "repeat?"
One of the boys behind him laughed and yelled at newmoon, "haha! Yo! Did you get the taste of your medicine? How dare you yelled at our boss? Now, Get lost you weak prick!"
Another one shouted, "Boss give-!"
"-Shhh!"
The big boy turned around and showed the gestures to shut up.
All of them remained pin-drop silent and only the intense breeze could be heard at the moment.
Once more he leaned forward and whisper the same words, "Repeat?"
Meanwhile, on the far away sight of the building, Minhae and oasis joined the drama.
"Woah! What's happening here? Take a look Minhae!"
Neither newmoon could hear it nor he could lift his goddamn single arms. It was his cheeks that were hit but from his condition of him, it seems all of his muscles got malfunctioned for a while.
That big fatty hit him again but from the opposite cheeks and sent him flying in the air. Like earlier, it happened so quickly that this time he only felt the sharp piercing pain when he got smacked on the ground. With the sensation of teeth falling, he felt the nerve-wracking pain from his gums. Newmoon choked on his blood and coughed a few mouthfuls of blood. Just from the first hit on the cheeks?
It wasn't surprising though! It was the first time he had ever tasted the flavor of big fists and boxing. Off course, it was no different from his father's beating but something stands out still.
It was blood!
"Hey! Let's go!"
Oasis urged Minhae in a serious tone.
"You do know how my grandparents are!"
Oasis exhaled a long breath of hopelessness.
Seeing him, Minhae suggests, "Instead, Why don't you call the teacher?"
Oasis snapped, "Right? Why didn't it come to my mind first?"
Then, he dashed downstairs. The current building was a few blocks away from the actual ones. Knowing it was beyond the teacher's sight, bullies often dragged the students there and used it as a ground punching ground.
It was only for a specific moment but newmoon felt the blurred vague vision and sensation of his cheeks, mouth, and overall face stretching back and forth. Veins were popping out of blue and he even had a slight illusion of the heart beating in his face.
Newmoon was a second away to lost consciousness. His half face was buried down on the ground while the remaining rest stared towards the little boy who was laid down in a similar position too.
A voice in his mind said, "Woah! He is still hanging there like a pro. While I…!"
Somehow, his eyes locked with that little wounded boy.
"…"
If it was his drifting consciousness or the blurred vision, the boy's eyes were shrunk in contempt.
And soon after, before he could finally close his eyes he saw the familiar big figure running towards him. His heart relaxed,
"Oh! Noona you are here!"
…
Half an hour later, All of them including newmoon, Jina, and the unfamiliar faces were sitting in the office room. In one row there was a bunch of bullies with a few big girls and on the opposite, there were only two: Newmoon and Jina noona!
Newmoon's face was all bruised up and swollen especially on the cheek area with severe muscle aches talk about Jina, her forehead was the only place that was bulked up. They were the only least people who were wounded lightly.
As it turned out all of them were beaten to a pulp by Jina. The fact is, the knew he had an elder sister.. amid the panic, he goes and seeks help from her. As soon as Jina knew, she dashed towards him. And the second she set the foot on the ground, newmoon passed out at the same time.
Then, the rest is history. First, she beat every single living being that was present at the moment. Then, somebody saw and bought the gangster noona of that big boy too. Even though it was a match of 3 Vs 1, other than a hit on the forehead, she almost ended up choking the main leader on the spot.
"Oh! Thanks. Mr. XX.Thank you! XX!!"
Out of blue, somebody got out from the main office of the principal and stood right in front of newmoon and Jina.
"Let's go!"
Mum's firm voice sounded.
"…"
…
At home:
After doing the rest of the first-aid treatment, newmoon and Jina sat face-to-face with mum. Unlike the usual expression, she was plopped with a scary face.
Sincerely, newmoon gulped the mouthful of saliva and so did Jina.
The atmosphere was super stiff to the point they couldn't even move the tip of their finger.
One thing was for sure. They were about to get beaten once again. Mum stood up and as expected she lift the right side of her hands..up in the mid-air.
Newmoon flinched and closed his eyes as he made his mind up to hold the beating.
"?"
Instead, he heard the delightful word, "Good job!"
And the following phrases, "Keep it up!"
Lifting his chin and looking up, he saw a thumbs up from his mom!
Newmoon's eyes widened in surprisement.
"??"
Mom's lips were all curled up into a decent big smile. A pride smile.
Sitting back, she continued in a bouncy tone, "I like how you handle the situation as usual, Jina!"
Jina nodded her head as if she felt happy with the appreciation part.
"Especially, newmoon!"
Hearing his name called out, he straightened his back subconsciously.
"Y-yes?"
"Today, Your bold unexpected action..caught me off guard! Keep it up!"
"W-What? Aren't you gonna scold us?"
Stretching her legs to their fullest, mom slide down on the floor in a sleeping position, one hand resting as well as supporting her entire body.
"W-What? Why should I? Is there any reason to?"
Yawning over, she continued in a mild tone, "I heard everything from the principal. You both did nothing wrong. One helped some pitiful boy while the other one avenge her younger brother!"
With a pause, her tune shifted into a serious one, and a cloud of courage covered her expression,
"You see you gotta learn from the incident. As long as you know you're on the right path and did nothing wrong, don't hold back. Fight with your everything!"
Remember this!
"Don't make mistakes in the first place, But if you're accused of doing one, then don't hold back and fight for it!"
Newmoon, "..."
"And to talk about the consequences, I'll handle it one way or another. I just have to pull up the act of trying to be strict in front of you, scold you and they will simply back up!"
"So, did you apologies then?"
After being silent for a long time, she finally, Jina opened her mouth.
"Earlier I heard somebody bowing and apology-!"
"..Do you seriously think I would bow my head in front of some shithead?"
Mum raised her eyebrows and waited to hear the answer.
Jina shook her head.
"It goes the same for me. You did nothing wrong. So, there was no reason to apologize for your action. But of course, the guardian of the opposite team was throwing tantrums to bow my head. But what am I? A fucking chicken head? Do they think I would shake my legs in fear and piss my pants in front of them? Hell no!"
Newmoon realized one thing at that time. Mum had a great undefeatable ego. How could he forget it was their mum who taught Jina to be violet in her action? There were no slight moments in hell mum would bow her head to just anybody. She would rather die.
If the situation was worst, how did they manage to slide? They took the whole discussion to several hours until the school was empty. In the end, the teacher apologized to the parents of the bullies on behalf of her.
It was an eye-opener for newmoon.
"If I see any one of those assholoses on the street, I'll beat the crap of shit out of them. Those &*%$@!% #$%$@#@@_ Beep__Beep!"
"Ah! Those slang words!"
Newmoon recalled the memories of him swearing earlier on the ground and he flushed in embarrassment. It was the words he learned from his mother.
"I heard you fought to the death at the school! Is that right newmoon?"
To talk about luck!
"Y-Yes father!"
Newmoon lowered his chin and once again he straighten his back.
Off course, if the mum's presence wasn't there then, as expected, he would get an earful of father scold, even beating but mum's presence changed everything.
Rather dad grits his teeth and assured, "You won't die if you get beaten a bit. Otherwise, follow the same path, and one day it might lead to a greater incident."
"Honey! Are you serious? Hah! Don't listen to him. He is just being a coward!"
"I'm serious. You can't get anything sorted out with fists. This time. I'll let it go. The other time I won't!"
Then he swift his gaze to newmoon and glared for a while.
Newmoon lowered his chin more to a point where it almost touched his upper chest.
It was obvious he was warning newmoon to withdraw from the upcoming misfortunes.
"Mum you two! Stop being so unreasonable and stop supporting them. This time we're lucky. But who knows what unfortunate accident might be waiting in the future door? Don't be reckless. If something happens, we don't have any cents to send you to the hospital. Most importantly, what if your eyes pop out, hit your head, or broke your vital bones and organs? So-!
"-So my children, be cautioned and be fast as lighting! Make sure they would be sleeping on the floor, inhaling dust and dirt before they could get their hands on your precious organs got it?"
"YES!"
Jina agreed in a loud voice while newmoon agreed internally.
Dad, "??"
Following his brows, dad went upstairs stomping his feet in range, saying, "I'm telling you! Because of you, one day all the children would take the wrong path! Remember that!"
…
Two years later:
"NEWMOON!!! WHAT'S UP WITH THIS? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?"
A thunder-like voice roared inside the house, almost exploding the roof.
"Your grades are shit!"
Holding the annual report card in his hands, dad was interrogated in a ranged.
"…"
Newmoon couldn't help but keep on pursing his lips silently.
"Cat got your tongue? How can your GPA keep on dropping since last year? You almost repeat the same class!! Do you even know what that means? How lowly you've fallen?"
Once again, there was no response.
Dad stared at him in utmost surprise.
Due to some unfinished business, dad was out of town and only recently got home. Of course, he missed the date of the annual report result day but he sees as soon as he returned.
Truth to be accepted, Newmoon barely managed to get to the next grade. Within those two years, His academic level hit the rock bottom just like how the homeroom teacher of his predicted his future in class. Once he was known for his excellent result but not anymore. Not only that, even his one and an only friend got transferred to a different province after 1 year.
From then, he was left all alone. To talk about Jina noona, who just cleared middle school a month ago and migrated to one of her mum's relatives' home in Seoul. She got accepted into one of the nearby high schools and began to study there. So, there was an extra foreboding feeling attached to newmoon's heart. One by one his closet person were distancing away from him.
In an admist of that, dad kept on blabbering on and on. While thoughts and concentration were crossing the physical realms.
"Honey! Give it a break now! It's enough! You're scolding him for about an hour straight."
Glancing at newmoon, whose head was hunched with a bare thread, she asserted in her thought, "Like he gives a damn about it!"
"It must be hard to deal with her too!"
Mum tried to console him.
"And..what about us? Are we chilling here? Everybody's life is hard! He must know it too! Let him know it's way harder to put the food on the table than just spreading the book on the face."
Dad raised his voice higher than before. While getting carried away with it, he kept on smacking the annual report card on the table.
Now, that dad's eyes were popping out in range, mum waved her hand to newmoon as if she was hinting at him to go away. After seeing the gestures, the newmoon smoothly slides away.
"Honey! Relax! Don't make a fuss!"
Still, dad wasn't naming to give it aside, Pointing at a blank space where newmoon stood earlier, he continued to distort the fact with a darkened expression,
"Man, how can he slack off? It's not like I'm asking for him to do work to run the family or something! All he had to do is study! Is it that hard to deal with? Like other parents, I'm not commanding him to run errands. Not asking to do some impossible thing like become a scientist or doctor? So why? Even after giving him all the freedom that one student desire in their life..?"
Mum slowly patted him on his shoulders and suggested he calm down, "Let's wrap it here today! Both of you are right in your perspective. Newmoon must be facing a lot of difficulties in his studies too. Otherwise, he would exceed. You know that too! He must be working hard. I'll try to talk with him and get to know the root cause of it."