Joon-woo sat on the hard chair in the principal's office, staring straight ahead while Tae-sik sat a few chairs away. The principal, a middle-aged man with thick glasses and a face full of tension, stood behind a large desk cluttered with documents. Beside him stood Mr. Kim, the physical education teacher, who looked more disappointed than angry.
"What were you thinking?" the principal began with a sharp voice. His gaze shifted from Joon-woo to Tae-sik and back again. "Fighting in this school will not be tolerated, and what you did on the field is completely unacceptable!"
Tae-sik merely scoffed, his indifferent attitude evident on his face. "We were just settling our own issues," he replied, as if what he was saying was just routine.
The principal shook his head, clearly unimpressed by the attitude. "Attacking someone in front of other students is not the right way to handle problems, Tae-sik. You could be suspended for this, or even expelled."
Joon-woo remained silent, trying not to show any reaction. He knew that defending himself would only prolong the issue, and the last thing he needed right now was more unwanted attention. But silently, he realized this wasn't the end of his troubles with Tae-sik.
"I'll give you a final warning," the principal continued with a more serious tone. "One more fight, and both of you will be expelled. No exceptions."
Tae-sik shrugged nonchalantly, but it was clear that the threat didn't really affect him. "Whatever," he muttered, almost inaudibly.
Joon-woo, on the other hand, nodded briefly. "Understood," he replied in a low voice. For Joon-woo, this was a signal to be more careful moving forward.
"Alright," the principal said finally, his voice softer but still firm. "You can go now. But remember, I will be keeping a very close eye on you."
The two students got up from their chairs and left the office without a word. In the hallway, Tae-sik stopped for a moment, staring at Joon-woo with a look of hatred. "Don't think this is over," he said with a tone that was almost a hiss, full of hidden threats behind his words.
Joon-woo only met his gaze unemotionally. "I know," he replied briefly before walking away. He didn't want to provoke more trouble, but he also wouldn't back down if Tae-sik forced him.
The following days at Haneul High School passed with an unexpected calm. Joon-woo began to settle into the usual school routine classes, breaks, and going home without major incidents. No fights, no threats, and everything seemed like a normal school day.
The atmosphere in class was also more peaceful. Joon-woo sat at his desk at the back, paying attention to the teacher at the front of the room without much talking. Han So-yeon, who sat in the front row, occasionally turned to smile at him. Although they didn't talk much, there was a kind of silent understanding between them a recognition that they were in the same place, facing similar challenges, though in different ways.
One day, during the lunch break, Joon-woo decided to spend time in the library. It was a place that always offered a tranquility he rarely found elsewhere in the school. When he arrived, he was surprised to find So-yeon already sitting at one of the tables, engrossed in a thick book.
So-yeon looked up when she heard Joon-woo's footsteps. She smiled warmly. "Hey, Joon-woo. Do you like the library too?"
Joon-woo nodded while pulling out a chair next to her. "This place is quiet. I like the peace."
So-yeon agreed. "Me too. Sometimes, I just need a place where I can think quietly. And this library is the perfect spot for that."
They both sat in comfortable silence, each absorbed in their own thoughts. Joon-woo never expected to find a moment like this at Haneul High School a moment where he could feel at ease and not worry about what would happen next.
After a while, So-yeon closed her book and looked at Joon-woo. "You know, not everyone at this school is bad. There are also those who just want to go about their days in peace. Maybe you could try getting to know more people."
Joon-woo pondered her words before finally responding, "I'm not used to that. I prefer to keep my distance."
So-yeon smiled slightly, as if understanding. "I can understand that. But sometimes, having friends can help. Who knows, maybe you'll find someone you can trust."
The following days passed with the same tranquility. There were no major fights, no emerging threats. Joon-woo began to feel more comfortable at the school, though he remained cautious. He started to notice more details around the school students laughing with their friends, teachers busy with their tasks, and even posters of extracurricular activities displayed on the walls.
However, one thing that caught his attention was another student who began sitting near him during classes. His name was Ji-ho, a student who wasn't particularly noticeable and preferred to sit in a corner of the classroom, away from attention. Ji-ho was the type of person who spoke only when necessary, and that might have been what made Joon-woo feel comfortable near him.
One day, as the lesson was nearing its end, Ji-ho approached Joon-woo. "Hey, Joon-woo," he said in a quiet voice, almost like a whisper. "I heard you're quite skilled in martial arts."
Joon-woo looked at Ji-ho with a hint of surprise. "Yes, I practice some techniques," he replied briefly, unsure where this conversation was headed.
Ji-ho smiled, looking relieved to have started the conversation. "I've just started learning taekwondo. I'm not very good yet, but I enjoy it. Maybe we could practice together sometime?"
Joon-woo considered the offer. Up until now, he had been used to training alone or with his coach, and he had never really thought about training with someone else. But having a practice partner might be a good thing. "Sure," he finally said. "We can give it a try."
The next day, after school ended, Joon-woo and Ji-ho met at the sports field. They brought their training equipment, and Ji-ho looked excited to get started.
"So, what do you want to work on?" Joon-woo asked, trying to engage in the conversation with more warmth.
"Basic taekwondo movements," Ji-ho replied while demonstrating some of the moves he had learned. "I'm still new, but I want to improve my skills."
Joon-woo nodded and began mimicking Ji-ho's movements. He quickly noticed some flaws in Ji-ho's technique and started offering suggestions for improvement. Ji-ho, though not perfect, had a high enthusiasm for learning, and Joon-woo found he could appreciate that.
"Your movements are too stiff," Joon-woo said while showing a better way. "Try to relax more, let your body follow the movements naturally."
Ji-ho attempted Joon-woo's suggestion, and although still a bit awkward, there was a noticeable improvement. "You're right," Ji-ho said with a smile. "I feel better now."
As they practiced together, Joon-woo began to realize that he naturally mirrored and refined Ji-ho's movements. It was part of his innate talent the ability to learn and perfect others' techniques. Every movement Ji-ho made, Joon-woo could sense where the weaknesses were and how to correct them.
"Wow, you learn so quickly," Ji-ho said with admiration after seeing Joon-woo mimic his movements and perform them better. "I've been trying this move for weeks, but you can do it better in just a few minutes."
Joon-woo merely nodded. "I'm used to movements like these," he replied briefly, not wanting to talk too much about his abilities.
The day ended on a lighter note. Joon-woo felt that training with Ji-ho gave him something more than just physical exercise. It was an opportunity for him to feel a connection with someone at this school, without always being wary of threats or danger.
Although they weren't very close yet, Joon-woo began to feel that Ji-ho could become the first friend he had at Haneul High School. And perhaps, with a friend like Ji-ho and the support from So-yeon, Joon-woo might start to navigate his days at school with a bit more peace.
However, despite these calmer days, Joon-woo still felt there was something nagging at the back of his mind. He began to hear whispers from other students about various groups and gangs at the school that held significant influence. Though he hadn't paid much attention initially, he increasingly realized that there were complex power dynamics at Haneul High School that he didn't fully understand.
For now, though, Joon-woo chose to focus on his peaceful days. He still had time to figure all that out later. What mattered now was enjoying these small moments, like practicing with Ji-ho and talking with So-yeon.