Daewon sat in the bustling cafeteria, sharing a lunch table with Seojun. The atmosphere around them was lively with the chatter of students, but Daewon felt a sense of calm he hadn't experienced in a while. Sitting with Seojun, he didn't feel like a target, just another student having a meal.
As they ate, Daewon noticed Hyeri entering the cafeteria. She walked gracefully towards the table where her friends usually sat, her eyes scanning the room until they landed on Daewon. She smiled warmly as she passed by his table, a simple but sincere gesture that caught him off guard. Daewon's heart skipped a beat, and he couldn't help but smile back, feeling a strange mix of excitement and nerves.
As Hyeri continued to her table, Daewon quickly turned back to Seojun, trying to act like nothing had happened. He was about to comment on the upcoming exams when Seojun interrupted him, a teasing grin spreading across his face.
"So, Daewon," Seojun started, his tone light, "how do you know Hyeri? And more importantly, is there something going on between you two?"
Daewon blinked, caught off guard by the question. "What? No, nothing like that. We just... we ran into each other at the store yesterday. She was the cashier. That's all."
Seojun leaned in, clearly intrigued. "Come on, man, don't be shy. She smiled at you just now. That's not nothing."
"It's really nothing," Daewon insisted, though his face was starting to flush. "She was just being nice. We talked for a bit, that's all."
Seojun chuckled, shaking his head. "Daewon, my friend, you've got to be more confident. You never know, maybe she's interested. You're a good guy, and if anyone deserves some good in their life right now, it's you."
Daewon looked down at his food, feeling a mix of embarrassment and warmth from Seojun's words. "Thanks, Seojun. But honestly, I don't think she sees me that way."
"Not yet, maybe," Seojun replied with a wink. "But who knows what might happen? Just keep being yourself, and things will fall into place."
Before Daewon could respond, he felt a sudden force slam his head into his lunch tray. The sound of laughter erupted around him, and as he struggled to lift his head, he heard Joon's voice sneering behind him.
"Here's a taste of what's to come, loser," Joon said with a twisted grin. He and his gang snickered as they loomed over Daewon, who was now covered in his lunch—rice, kimchi, and a side of bulgogi smeared across his face and clothes.
The cafeteria fell silent, all eyes on the scene. Daewon's face burned with humiliation as he tried to wipe the food from his face, his hands trembling. He could hear the whispers and see the looks of pity from the other students, but what hurt most was the feeling of utter helplessness.
Seojun, however, wasn't about to let this slide. He stood up, glaring at Joon with a fierce intensity. "What the hell is wrong with you, Joon? Can't you find something better to do than bully people who haven't done anything to you?"
Joon's grin faded as he turned to face Seojun. "Mind your own business, Seojun. Or do you want to end up like your little friend here?"
Seojun stepped closer, his eyes locked on Joon's. "You're nothing but a coward, Joon. You only pick on people you think won't fight back. But let me tell you something—keep this up, and you're going to find out that not everyone's afraid of you."
Joon's eyes narrowed, and his bravado faltered for just a second. Then, with a sneer, he raised his fist to strike Seojun. But before he could land the blow, Seojun grabbed Joon's wrist, twisting it just enough to cause pain without breaking anything.
Joon winced, trying to pull his hand free, but Seojun's grip was firm. "Let go," Joon hissed, trying to keep his voice steady despite the pain.
Seojun released him, but not before leaning in close. "This isn't over, Joon. And next time, you won't get off so easy."
Joon rubbed his wrist, glaring at Seojun before turning to his gang. "Let's go," he muttered, trying to maintain his composure. The group left the cafeteria, the tension in the room easing slightly as they walked out.
Seojun turned back to Daewon, who was still wiping the remnants of his lunch from his face. "You okay, man?"
Daewon nodded, but there was a forced confidence in his voice. "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for stepping in, Seojun."
Seojun handed Daewon some napkins, concern etched on his face. "You sure? You don't look fine."
Daewon forced a smile, though he felt anything but confident. "I'll be alright. Just need to clean up."
Seojun watched him for a moment, clearly unconvinced, but nodded anyway. "Alright, if you say so. But if you ever need help, don't hesitate to ask."
Daewon appreciated the offer, but inside, he knew he had to face this on his own. He couldn't rely on others to fight his battles for him.
Later that day, Daewon found himself standing outside the gym, staring at the door. His heart raced as he considered the possibility that Joon and his gang might be inside. The last thing he wanted was another confrontation, especially after what had happened earlier.
But he couldn't let fear control him. He had come this far, and he wasn't going to back down now. Taking a deep breath, Daewon pushed the door open and stepped inside.
To his relief, the gym was peaceful. The usual crowd of regulars was there, lifting weights, running on treadmills, or practicing their form in front of the mirrors. There was no sign of Joon or his gang.
A small smile crept onto Daewon's face. This was his sanctuary, a place where he could focus on bettering himself without the fear of being attacked. He walked over to the free weights and started his routine, feeling the familiar burn in his muscles as he pushed himself harder than before.
For the next hour, Daewon lost himself in his workout. He focused on each movement, channeling all of his anger, frustration, and fear into building his strength. By the time he finished, he was drenched in sweat but felt a sense of accomplishment that had eluded him for so long.
After a quick shower, Daewon headed home. The sun was beginning to set as he walked through the familiar streets, his mind replaying the events of the day. The confrontation with Joon still lingered in his thoughts, but there was also a sense of hope. Seojun had stood up for him, Hyeri had shown him kindness, and for the first time in a long time, Daewon felt like he wasn't completely alone.
When he arrived home, the smell of dinner greeted him as he walked through the door. His mother was in the kitchen, humming softly as she prepared the meal. Daewon set his bag down and joined her, the warmth of home comforting him after the day's challenges.
"Hey, Mom," Daewon said, trying to sound upbeat. "What's for dinner?"
His mother turned to him with a smile. "Bibimbap. Your favorite. How was school today?"
Daewon hesitated, not wanting to worry her. "It was... okay," he said, keeping his tone neutral.
She looked at him closely, her smile fading as she noticed the faint bruises on his face. "Daewon... were you in another fight?"
"It wasn't a fight," Daewon quickly replied, trying to downplay it. "Just a misunderstanding. It's nothing to worry about."
His mother's expression softened, but there was sadness in her eyes. "I don't like seeing you hurt, Daewon. I wish you didn't have to go through this."
Daewon forced a smile, trying to reassure her. "It'll be fine, Mom. I promise."
She reached out and gently touched his cheek, her voice filled with concern. "Just... be careful, okay? I don't want to see you getting hurt anymore."
"I will, Mom," Daewon said, his voice steady. "I promise."
As they sat down to eat, the conversation turned to lighter topics, and for a little while, Daewon was able to forget about the challenges he faced. But as the evening went on, the weight of his promise lingered in his mind. He knew that keeping it would be harder than he wanted to admit, but for his mother's sake, he had to try.
After dinner, Daewon retreated to his room, hoping to find solace in his studies. He pulled out the scrolls and martial arts manuals he had borrowed from the gym, determined to master the techniques that would make him stronger. The movements, the stances, the discipline-it was all beginning to make sense. He had to focus. He had to become better.
As he spread the scrolls across his desk, his phone buzzed, pulling him out of his concentration. A message from an unknown number lit up the screen.
Unknown: "Hey, Daewon. It's Seojun."
Daewon frowned, confused. He didn't remember Seojun ever using this number. He quickly typed back.
Daewon: "Seojun? Why are you texting from an unknown number?"
Unknown: "Lost my old phone. This is my new number."
Daewon: "Oh, okay. What's up?"
There was a pause before the next message appeared.
Unknown: "I need to talk to you. Can you meet me right now? It's urgent."
Daewon's heart started to race. It wasn't like Seojun to ask for something like this, especially out of the blue. Still, Seojun had helped him earlier today, so Daewon felt he should return the favor.
Daewon: "What's going on? Why do you need to see me?"
Unknown: "I can't explain over the phone. I'll send you the location. Just come, please. It's important."
Daewon hesitated, but then his phone buzzed again with the location-a dark alleyway not too far from his house. His mind raced with questions, but before he could think too much about it, he grabbed his jacket and rushed out of the house. He had to trust Seojun.
The night air was cool as Daewon made his way to the alley. It was a quiet part of town, the kind of place where people rarely walked after dark. As he approached the location, a sense of unease settled over him. The alley was dimly lit, the shadows deep and ominous.
He pulled out his phone and texted Seojun again.
Daewon: "I'm here. Where are you?"
Unknown: "Turn around."
Daewon's blood ran cold as he slowly turned around, his heart pounding in his chest. Standing there, in the middle of the alley, was Joon and his gang. Joon was holding up his phone, the screen casting an eerie glow on his face as he recorded Daewon's every move.
"Are you lost, Losermon?" Joon sneered, the nickname dripping with mockery.
Panic surged through Daewon as he realized he'd been set up. There was no Seojun-this was a trap. His breath quickened, and without thinking, he lunged at Joon, aiming a punch straight at his face. But Joon was ready. He caught Daewon's fist mid-air, his grip ironclad.
"I know all your tricks now, loser," Joon taunted, a smirk curling on his lips.
But Daewon wasn't done yet. He leaned forward and headbutted Joon with all his might. The impact was solid, and Joon stumbled back, dropping his phone. The device hit the ground with a sharp crack, a small fracture appearing on the screen.
"Damn it!" Joon cursed, clutching his forehead in pain.
Daewon didn't waste any time. He followed up with a low kick to Joon's leg, causing him to buckle. Joon gritted his teeth, trying to maintain his balance, but before Daewon could land another blow, one of Joon's friends grabbed him from behind, locking his arm around Daewon's neck in a crushing grip.
Daewon struggled, gasping for air, but the hold was too tight. He couldn't move, couldn't breathe. He was trapped.
"You better hope it's not broken, Losermon," Joon spat, bending down to pick up his phone. He inspected the crack, his face twisting in anger. "You're gonna pay for this."
Without warning, Joon slammed his fist into Daewon's gut. The force of the punch knocked the wind out of him, and he doubled over in pain. Joon's friend tightened his grip, and Daewon felt like his neck was being squeezed in a vice. There was no escape.
Joon's voice was cold and mocking as he started recording again. "You like this, Losermon? You like being my punching bag?"
He punched Daewon again, this time in the face. The blow sent a shockwave of pain through Daewon's skull, and blood trickled down his nose. He tried to raise his hands to defend himself, but the hold on his neck kept him immobilized.
Joon's laughter echoed in the alley as he continued to beat Daewon, each punch more vicious than the last. The other gang members joined in, kicking and taunting him as he hung there, helpless. It was all being streamed live-Joon's twisted idea of entertainment.
Then, a notification popped up on Joon's screen. A viewer had made a donation, offering 50,000 yen if Joon took Daewon's pants off.
Joon grinned wickedly and turned to Daewon. "Looks like someone wants to see you in your underwear, Losermon. Time to earn me some money."
Daewon's eyes widened in horror as Joon's friend loosened his grip, giving him just enough freedom to comply. "No," Daewon pleaded, his voice barely a whisper. "Please, don't make me do this."
But his refusal only made things worse. Joon slammed his boot into Daewon's face, the impact sending him sprawling to the ground. "I said take them off!" Joon shouted, the sick pleasure evident in his tone.
Tears of shame and anger welled up in Daewon's eyes as he slowly reached for his waistband. He had no choice. If he didn't do as they said, they'd keep beating him until he couldn't stand. With trembling hands, he pulled down his pants, the fabric pooling around his ankles.
The laughter from Joon and his friends was deafening. Daewon's whole body shook with humiliation, but the worst was yet to come.
"Now, get on your knees," Joon commanded, his phone still recording. "And say that I'm the best, that you're just a puppy, and that you're not worth anything."
Daewon hesitated, his mind screaming in protest. But he was too scared, too broken to fight back. Slowly, he lowered himself to his knees, his eyes glued to the ground in shame.
"You're the best," Daewon whispered, his voice barely audible. "I'm just a puppy. I'm... I'm not worth anything."
Joon's laughter echoed through the alley as he circled Daewon like a predator savoring his victory. But just as he was about to continue his torment, his phone buzzed again-a low battery warning.
Joon looked at his screen and cursed under his breath. "You're lucky this time, Losermon," he sneered, disgust lacing his words. He spat on Daewon's head before turning to leave. "Let's get out of here."
As Joon and his gang walked away, their footsteps fading into the distance, Daewon remained on his knees, trembling. The cold night air bit at his exposed skin, but the numbness in his heart was far worse.
For what felt like an eternity, Daewon didn't move. He couldn't. The shame and humiliation were too overwhelming. He felt like a shadow of himself, completely stripped of his dignity.
Eventually, he forced himself to stand, his legs weak and unsteady. He pulled up his pants, wiping away the tears that blurred his vision. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't erase the images from his mind-the laughter, the taunts, the live stream that would soon spread across the school.
When Daewon finally made it home, he didn't stop to talk to anyone. He barely noticed his mother's concerned voice as he dashed up the stairs, locking himself in his room. The walls closed in around him, and all he could think about was how everyone would see what had happened. The video would be everywhere by morning. His humiliation would be complete.
Daewon curled up on his bed, pulling the blankets over his head as if they could shield him from the world. But nothing could protect him from the truth.
"Everyone will see what happened..." he whispered to himself, the weight of those words pressing down on him like a lead blanket.
In the silence of his room, Daewon wept, his tears soaking into the pillow. He had never felt so alone, so utterly defeated. And as the darkness of the night deepened, the only thing he could do was wait for the inevitable fallout that would come with the dawn.