I fall to the ground, my bags falling off and sliding across the floor. Looking over my shoulder, I see Lead standing over me, grinning a triumphant smile. He brings me to my feet to punch me, only to get in the crotch. A swift kick to the face sends him flailing to the ground. Thought he would've learned from before.
Lead's two friend come at me now, but they seem much slower compared to before. 1 goes to kick my head while 2 goes for my knee. I grab 1's right leg while raising my own to deflect 2's. A look of surprise crosses their faces. Yanking 1 closer while bringing my right leg down, deliver a spinning elbow to his jaw.
He falls to the ground and stays long enough for me to deal with 2. From my current position, I shift my torso and shoulders right while also thrusting my elbow into 2's plexus. He folds at the midsection forward, allowing me to slam my knee straight into his nose. Like a puppet without strings, he crumples after flying a small distance.
1 and Lead are back up again. 1 goes to support Lead by approaching from behind and putting me in a full nelson while Lead does a running punch straight into my gut. I bend forward a little only to receive another punch, and another and another. After the seventh punch, I jump off the ground and with both legs, kangaroo kick Lead.
His flesh ripples under my feet as he gets thrown back. I then kick 1's right knee twice before rolling to him off of me. I grab his head and slam into the floor twice, just to make sure he's out cold. After that, I stand up and look Lead dead in the eye.
There's a deep fear in there, just forming. Got to make it permanent.
"Hey, Lead, how about we settle this, between just you and me."
With my will said, I get into position. He too gets into position before responding, "My name is Kim Hwan, not Lead!"
We then rush at each other. I jump into the air and land a flying kick straight into his face. To give him his worth, he doesn't immediately fall down. He's dazed yet still standing, so I punch his face. Still he's standing, so I punch again, and again, and again, until my hands are nearly cracking and breaking.
My punches do next to nothing. He's still standing, he's still standing! A fear rises from my stomach. I get back into position and give the hardest kick I can give him. Halfway through, I hear a "STOP!" from behind me, yet I continue. The kick lands into Hwan's dome and he is finally sent sprawling.
After bringing my foot down, I look behind me and see 1 conscious. He calls out again, nearly in tears, "Stop! Stop! We've lost. Hwan is already unconscious, stop hurting him!"
I slowly walk my way towards him and squat down to look into his eyes, "Why should I stop? Why shouldn't I continue? You've all hurt me a lot, why shouldn't I repay the favor?"
My question seems to shake 1 to the very core, as he starts bawling on the spot, repeatedly saying "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.", over and over and over again.
I stand back up and ignore the unconscious and semi-conscious boys in the hall. Limping to my bags and grabbing them, I head out the door to the Martial arts field. It takes me a hot minute to get out to the main field.
Once I am out there, I see everyone is already practicing with their dulled weapons. I limp my way over to the square where Joon Woo is, only to hear, "CHOEHABU! What do you think you're doing, being late to class?"
I stop and walking and slowly, carefully even, turn around. There stands Instructor Kim, who's wearing his black martial arts uniform in this sweltering heat. He also has his arms crossed and a look of drill sergeant reprimanding his troops upon his face. Bad description, but undeniably accurate.
I bow as low as I can go, which is only thirty five degrees, before standing straight again. I tell him, "Sorry, Instructor Kim. I just got some hands on experience of martial arts from some classmates just now. I, am also, in lot of pain. Could I please take it easy today?"
Instructor Kim doesn't respond, in fact, his face darkens at my explanation. He crosses ten meters in a split second and is looking at me up and down. He walks around me while doing this and does it for a solid minute. I start to feel very uncomfortable and just when I'm about to ask him to stop, he says "Alright, you may take a small break for today. Go over to Joon Woo and tell him I told you, to go easy today."
I nod my head, say "Thank you, Instructor Kim.", and high tail it to Joon Woo. He greets me with a raised hand and I greet him back. Walking over to grab the Bastard Sabre I use, I tell him "Instructor Kim said to go easy on me today because I'm injured. Could you please do that?"
Joon Woo nods before taking up his stance. I too take up my stance while saying "Thank you, Joon Woo."
For the rest of class, I had slow duels with Joon Woo. We exchange blows, block each other's strikes, deflect some, and I even start to counter a small amount of his. Out of the twelve bouts we had, I only won one of them, and it was the greatest feeling; ever.
After class, I drop to my knees breathing heavily. Who knew getting to a fight, getting the tar beaten out of you in said fight, and then exercising, would be bad for the bod.