After leaving the school, Daeho and Woojin found themselves sitting on the steps of a nearby park, the cool night air doing little to ease their troubled minds. They were far from the school now, but the tension still hung heavily between them.
Daeho kept fidgeting with his hands, his mind racing with a mix of fear and determination. Woojin, on the other hand, was deep in thought, trying to come up with a plan that would protect Daeho and put an end to Taejoon's reign of terror once and for all.
"I don't know how much longer I can keep this up," Daeho finally said, breaking the silence. His voice was shaky, but there was a steely resolve in his eyes that hadn't been there before. "But… I don't want to run anymore."
Woojin looked at him, a faint smile of understanding on his lips. "Then we don't run. We fight back."
He didn't know where he found the courage to say it, but one thing was clear—he wanted to help Daeho get out of Taejoon's group, just like how Renji had helped him.
Daeho glanced at him in surprise. "But how? Taejoon and his group… they're not the type to back down easily."
"They're not," Woojin agreed. "But bullies like them thrive on fear and control. If we take that away from them, they lose their power."
Daeho nodded, but he still looked unsure. "But what can we do? I mean… it's not like we can fight them head-on. We're just… like you said, we're prey."
Woojin's eyes narrowed slightly as an idea began to form in his mind. "We don't have to fight them directly. We just need to expose them. Make sure everyone knows what they're doing so they can't hide behind their reputation anymore."
Daeho frowned in confusion. "Expose them? How?"
Park Woojin think carefully then after a few minutes, he said...
"Video," Woojin said simply. "We'll record them bullying someone, preferably you, and then we'll post it online. Once it's out there, it'll be impossible for them to deny it. They'll lose all the respect and fear they've built up, and they'll be forced to back off."
Daeho's eyes widened at the suggestion. "Are you sure that'll work? What if it just makes them angrier? What if they come after us even harder?"
"They might," Woojin admitted. "But if we do it right, the school will have to get involved. If the video goes viral, they won't be able to ignore it. Taejoon and his group could get suspended, maybe even expelled."
Daeho considered this, his mind whirling with possibilities. It was risky, but it also felt like the first real chance he had to fight back. And he wasn't alone anymore—Woojin was with him, and that gave him a strength he hadn't felt before.
"Okay," Daeho said finally, his voice more confident than before. "Let's do it. But… how are we going to record them without getting caught?"
Woojin leaned back, thinking for a moment. "We'll need to be smart about it. Maybe we can set up a camera somewhere they won't notice. Or… we could use our phones. Pretend to go along with whatever they want, and then record them when they start pushing you around."
Daeho nodded slowly, the plan taking shape in his mind. "We'll have to make sure we get everything—everything they say, everything they do. It has to be undeniable."
"We will," Woojin assured him. "We'll make sure there's no way for them to talk their way out of it. And once we've got the footage, we'll post it everywhere. Social media, the school's online forum… anywhere it'll get seen."
The two boys sat in silence for a moment, the gravity of what they were planning sinking in. It was dangerous, but it was also empowering. For the first time, they felt like they had some control over their situation, like they could finally stand up to the people who had made their lives miserable.
Daeho took a deep breath, feeling a strange mix of fear and excitement. "I'm scared, Woojin," he admitted quietly. "But… I'm also tired of being scared all the time."
Woojin nodded in understanding. "Me too. But we've got each other now. We're not alone in this."
With that, they stood up, ready to put their plan into action.
As they parted ways, each heading home, they knew that the next few days would be crucial. The success of their plan depended on their ability to stay calm, stay focused, and most importantly, stay together.
The following day at school, Daeho and Woojin went about their routines as if nothing had changed. But beneath the surface, both were keenly aware of the tension that hung in the air. Their plan was risky, and one misstep could lead to serious consequences, but they were determined to see it through.
During lunch, they met in a quiet corner of the school courtyard, away from the prying eyes of other students. Woojin had his phone out, his hands slightly trembling as he checked the camera settings one last time.
"Are you ready?" Woojin asked, his voice steady despite his own nervousness.
Daeho nodded, but his hands were clenched into fists at his sides. "I'm a little nervous… What if they catch us?"
"Remember," Woojin said, his eyes meeting Daeho's with a reassuring smile, "don't do anything out of the ordinary. Just act like you normally would around them. We'll get what we need and get out."
Daeho took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come. "Okay. Let's do this."
With that, Daeho began walking, heading straight for Taejoon and his group. As he got closer, Daeho could see them laughing and talking loudly. Taejoon was in the center, as usual, exuding an air of authority that kept everyone around him in check. Daeho's heart raced as he approached, but he forced himself to maintain a calm facade.
Woojin, hidden behind a nearby wall, readied his phone and held it tightly in his hand. With a deep breath, he pressed record, the small red light indicating that every second was now being captured.
"You can do it, Daeho," Woojin whispered under his breath, his eyes locked on his friend. This was the first time he was the one helping someone else—usually, he was the one who needed saving. But now, watching Daeho face his fears, Woojin felt a strange sense of pride.
Kim Daeho reached the group, his legs heavy with each step. Taejoon noticed him first, his sharp eyes narrowing with a hint of suspicion.
"Well, look who it is," Taejoon sneered, loud enough for his friends to hear. "Did you get the exam key like I asked?"
Daeho's heart pounded in his chest, but he forced himself to stand his ground. "I didn't get it."
Taejoon's smirk faltered, replaced by a look of irritation. "What do you mean, you didn't get it? I need that answer key!"
Daeho clenched his fists, trying to keep his voice steady. "I'm not doing it anymore, Taejoon. I'm done with this."
The group went silent, stunned by Daeho's defiance. Taejoon's expression darkened, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "What did you just say?"
"I'm done," Daeho repeated, his voice stronger this time. "I'm not stealing the answer key, and I'm not doing any of your dirty work anymore."
Taejoon's face twisted with anger. He had always seen Daeho as someone he could control, someone who would never stand up to him. This sudden resistance was not only surprising but infuriating.
"You think you can just back out now?" Taejoon hissed, stepping closer until he was towering over Daeho. "You think you can just say no and walk away? Do you have any idea what you're risking?"
Daeho swallowed hard, but he didn't back down. "I don't care anymore. I'm not your pawn, Taejoon. Find someone else to do your dirty work."
Taejoon's eyes flashed with rage. Without warning, he swung his fist, striking Daeho hard across the face. The force of the blow sent Daeho stumbling back, pain exploding in his cheek.
"You ungrateful little coward," Taejoon spat, his voice low and venomous. "After everything I've done for you, this is how you repay me?"
Daeho held his cheek, the sting of the hit making his eyes water, but he didn't let the tears fall. He looked up at Taejoon, his vision blurry but his resolve unshaken.
"I'm done being afraid of you," Daeho said, his voice trembling but firm. "Hit me all you want. I'm not stealing that answer key."
Taejoon raised his fist again, his fury boiling over, but before he could strike, one of his friends stepped in, placing a hand on his arm.
"Let it go, Taejoon," the boy said cautiously. "He's not worth it. We'll figure something else out."
Taejoon glared at Daeho, his chest heaving with anger, but after a tense moment, he lowered his fist. "You're gonna regret this, Daeho," he snarled. "You think you're safe? You think you can just walk away? This isn't over."
Daeho didn't respond, his silence a final act of defiance. Taejoon pushed past him, shoving him aside as he and his group stormed off, their loud voices echoing through the courtyard.
Woojin, who had been recording the entire encounter, quickly stopped the video and rushed to Daeho's side.
"Daeho, are you okay?" Woojin asked, his voice filled with concern.
Daeho nodded slowly, still holding his cheek. "Yeah… I'm okay."
"Did you get it?" Daeho asked after a moment, looking at Woojin.
"Every word," Woojin confirmed, showing Daeho the video. "It's all here. We've got them."
Daeho let out a shaky breath, relief washing over him despite the pain. "Good. Now let's make sure everyone sees it."
Woojin smiled, a sense of accomplishment filling him. "This is just the beginning. They won't know what hit them."
As they reviewed the footage together, they knew this was a small victory in a much larger battle. But for the first time in a long while, they felt like they were on the path to reclaiming their lives, one step at a time.