The next day dawned with a sense of normalcy at J High School. Students moved through their routines, and the usual buzz filled the hallways. For Zack Lee, however, today held a unique significance.
As lunchtime approached, Zack had one thing on his mind: spending time with Mira Kim. He had been trying to convince her to let him accompany her to the library for days. Finally, with some persistence and a bit of advice from her friends, Mira agreed.
"Okay, Zack, you can come along," Mira said, her voice tinged with reluctant acceptance.
Zack felt a surge of triumph. "Finally got a date with Mira," he thought, a wide grin spreading across his face. He knew how much Mira hated fighting, a habit he struggled to control, but today was different. Today, he wanted to show her his best self.
After school, Zack hurried home to prepare. Standing in front of his mirror, he meticulously chose his outfit. "Favorite t-shirt, check. Favorite shoes, check. Confidence, check." As he looked at himself, a sense of determination filled him. He was ready.
Arriving at the library, Zack was momentarily stunned by Mira's appearance. She wore casual clothes, a simple yet elegant look that took his breath away. "She is so pretty," he thought, feeling his heart race.
They entered the library together, and Zack's initial excitement was dampened when he realized the boys and girls had separate seating areas. The common study rooms were already full. As Mira settled into her studies, Zack found himself growing bored. In a moment of distraction, he started carving Mira's name into the table with a cutter. The screeching sound annoyed those around him, but seeing Zack's sour expression, they chose to stay silent.
Unable to concentrate, Zack stepped outside to light a cigarette. As he smoked, a few girls walked by, irritating him further. An elderly woman approached, asking for directions. Zack, despite his frustration, kindly guided her. "Madam, it's quite far from here. Go this way, then that way, and you'll reach it by asking ahead."
As he gave directions, a group from yesterday's bar encounter spotted him. Resentful memories resurfaced, and they recognized Zack. "Isn't he that wuss from yesterday night at the bar?" one of the boys muttered.One of the boy who wasn't present at yesterday event seeing his friends face turning grey asked him " Whats wrong?? " They told them all the experience of yesterday and their body was trembling just by thinking how badly they were played by that handsome guy who wasn't looking muchh but was definitely deadly especially his moves feelinv like teakwondo but were also not that, hearing all these one of girl present there who was not yesterday at the scene mocked them especially her female friend who was there about, " You guys are such a trash got beaten by people like that wuss" While grinning she asks " Why not give them payback by beating the crap out of this wuss? "
Yoo Bin, who had been warned by Daniel at the bar,who is also preparing for SAT exam said, " I wont be involving myself in any of these, you guys can have fun and also i got to prepare for SAT so leave me out of all these drama" She said it plainly but she and other guys who had experienced yesterday's beating from a monster like human are completely out of this plan and they left the talk and went away with the others who had faced Daniel's wrath. But the remaining group decided to take matters into their own hands.
As Mira approached Zack, the group's disdain grew. "He doesn't deserve such a pretty girl," one of the boys thought, while a girl, jealous of Mira's beauty, plotted to make things hard for her.she tried to made things hard for her using these bulls around her and as in cannon zack tried to not get into any fight even when the girl and others were giving him hard time and when he was at the receiving end of all these and couldn't fight back since he has promised mira so he was Trying to avoid a fight, Zack tolerated their taunts. He remembered how he had bullied others, like Jiho Park, who never fought back. Just as Zack's patience wore thin, Mira intervened, telling the bullies to leave him alone. One of the boys put his hand on Mira's shoulder, reaching towards somewhere where it shouldn't . Seeing this, Zack snapped. Anger surged through him, and he punched the boy hard in the jaw, followed by a swift kick to the groin. The boy collapsed, his face becoming unrecognizable.
Fear gripped the others as Zack turned to Mira, saying, "Sorry, Mira. I'm breaking my promise, but I can't tolerate them being that way. I'm going to make them regret even thinking of you in any lewd or wrong way." He then proceeded to beat the rest of the group, sparing only the girl who was paralyzed with fear with a doubt " can even a wuss of j high fight so welll... "
After ensuring Mira was safe, Zack walked her home while hes mood was not very good due to breaking the promise with mira . As he turned to leave, Mira stopped him and said with slight blush, "You can keep coming with me to the library, but don't start fights next time."
Reignited by her words, Zack promised, "I won't start anything and will try to avoid such situations." Even though the day didn't went as zack had thought but they parted on good note with a lot of butterflies in stomach.
---
Meanwhile, the elderly woman Zack had helped ,she followed his direction and finally after some more asking reached a house in slums which was dilapidated, very small and looking shabby and thought, " My danial, i can finally meet you son" Entering the small, shabby home, she saw someone who was short, slightly more healthy but couldn't be said to be fatty and was doing pushups while he had put some food to become ready and he is sweating very hard.. Seeing this she was doubtfull if she has come to right home and she was turning back to go outside and check if this is wrong house,She hesitated, unsure if she had the right place, but then she heard a familiar voice.
"Mom, is that you? Where are you going? Come inside."
Turning back, she saw her son, Daniel Park, smiling at her despite the sweat and strain. "Mom, give me a few minutes to freshen up."
Daniel's mother,seeing this much transformation in his son filled with a mix of awe and worry, asked, "Son, are you eating properly? If not, you should have told me. Look how slim you've become."
Touched by her concern, Daniel reassured her, "Mom, I'm fine. I've been working out a lot along with my studies. My tenant, who's like an older brother, takes care of the rent and living expenses. I do some chores like cooking and exercising. Don't worry, your son is happy and healthy because of your love and support."
Her eyes teary, she smiled gently, "I'm happy for you, son."
Daniel excused himself to freshen up, and as he showered, his other body arrived home. Seeing Daniel's mother, the other Daniel greeted her excitedly," Madam, You must be Daniel's mom He always talks about you and how much you mean to him.Sorry i forget my manners My name is also danial park and me and little danial both share the house in order to tackle the rent and living expenses, seeing you i totally get it why danial was claiming he had best mother ."
Hearing his name she asked in slightly amazed voice "What are the odds of you two having same name and also you two look simillar also " And then thanking him, she replied, "Thank you for taking care of Daniel. I'm really happy he has a good friend like you. But he must be envious seeing how good looking you are you must be popular also" To which danial replied"Mom.. I mean aunty yeah he must be.. "Then in teasing voice slightly loud he said " That why he is working out in order to become more better and do things that are in his hands "after few seconds he continued " He is like little brother to me, when we first met he was feeling very sorry and self guilt about how replied you harshly, how he made you suffer , how he couldn't be of any help and only know how to shout at you when you are the only one who was always there for him.. But after all these he was able to decide and come to the decision of how he will make and be able to change.. How he was trying to do better in order to give you a good life and also some rest.. " Hearing all this his mom was also in tears thinking about how hard must be it for him throughout the years.
They talked slightly more about Daniel's childhood and memories, filling the room with warmth. Meanwhile, the little Daniel finished his shower and prepared dinner. As they ate, his mother was amazed by his cooking, finishing her meal quickly.
"You've grown up well, son. I didn't know you could cook so well," she praised.
The evening was filled with familial love and warmth, a rare and cherished moment for Daniel and his mother.