Warning: This chapter may display violent acts , if you are not comfortable with reading these fictional scenes I do not recommend you to continue reading.
The rain fell steadily, a soft rhythm against the windows of the school as Ryan sat by the window, tapping his pen idly against his notebook. He looked toward the empty seat next to him, his brow furrowing slightly. Tae wasn't in today. It wasn't like the new guy to skip—he seemed sharp, disciplined, and unlikely to flake.
"Where's your buddy?" Leo asked, leaning back in his chair as the faint murmur of the teacher's lecture droned on in the background.
Ryan shrugged. "No idea. Weird though, right? He didn't mention anything yesterday."
Jewel, who sat a row ahead, turned around with a sly grin.
"Maybe the newbie couldn't handle the new environment attention. Or maybe…" Her voice trailed off teasingly, earning an eye roll from Ryan.
The other girl, wearing her hood as usual, sat silently a few rows back. Ryan glanced her way briefly but didn't press.
Leo whispered to Jewel and Ryan."Guys why is Yukita so silent all of a sudden, is she shy of Tae or something?" Something about the atmosphere was off, even more so with the rain turning the morning into a gray haze.
Meanwhile, Tae zipped up his windbreaker coat and stood in the doorway of his house. The air was damp and cool, carrying a faint earthy scent of the rain-soaked streets. His grandfather, seated on the couch with a concerned look, glanced up as Tae reached for the door handle.
"Where are you headed at this hour, Tae?" he asked, his voice tinged with worry. "It's late, and after yesterday…"
Tae paused, his hand lingering on the knob. He didn't turn to face him, his hood already pulled over his head. "It's nothing to worry about, Grandpa. Just need some air."
The old man frowned but nodded, sensing something heavier beneath the calm words. Tae stepped outside, pulling his hood tighter as the rain tapped softly against the fabric. The cold droplets clung to his face as he walked slowly down the dimly lit street, his left hand buried in his pocket.
His steps were steady, deliberate, but his mind swirled with doubts.
Can I really do this? Tae thought, his gaze fixed on the wet pavement ahead. The streetlights cast long, flickering shadows across the empty road.
I've never really won a fight before, that time doesn't really count. Never even landed a proper punch. What am I trying to prove?
But even as the doubts seeped in, his chest burned with a feeling he couldn't ignore—a stubborn sense of conviction, a fire stoked by humiliation and guilt.
His fingers curled into a fist in his pocket as he muttered to himself, his voice barely audible over the rain, "The past only drags your future down if you let it."
He stopped, looking up. Ahead, the faint outline of three figures loomed under the flickering glow of a streetlamp. The laughter and idle chatter of the wannabe gangsters carried through the air, as casual and mocking as before.
Tae's eyes locked onto the the black figures like a lion looking at his prey.
Without hesitation, he stepped forward.
Tae approached the group, his eyes locking onto the main guy, his voice low and cold as he said, "I'll give you one chance. That's all. Give me the chain from yesterday, or else…"
The three wannabe gangsters turned their heads toward him, their faces twisted with confusion at first. Then, recognition dawned on them, followed by amusement.
"Oi, you're the kid from yesterday!" the one on the right said, pointing at Tae with an exaggerated laugh. The other two joined in, mocking him as if his mere presence was a punchline to their joke.
"Or else what, grandpa boy?" the one on the left sneered, stepping forward and invading Tae's space, his face just inches away. Tae held his ground, glaring at him. His heart pounded, but this time, it wasn't fear—it was something else.
Tae didn't respond. Instead, he gritted his teeth, took a deep breath, and acted.
He slammed his forehead into the thug's nose with a sickening crack. The guy stumbled back, clutching his face in pain, blood dripping between his fingers.
Tae didn't stop there. He swung his fist, landing a clean punch across the thug's jaw, sending him sprawling to the ground.
But Tae barely had time to feel the impact of his actions before another one of the gangsters tackled him from the side. The force knocked the wind out of him as he hit the pavement hard.
"Get this prick!" the leader barked, spitting blood from his mouth.
Tae struggled to get up, but the third gangster was already there, stomping on his back. Pain exploded through Tae's ribs as he curled up, shielding himself as best he could.
"Why did I do this?" Tae thought, gritting his teeth as the kicks and stomps kept coming. "Why did I choose such a stupid thing? Why am I so weak?"
His mind was a storm of regret and anger. Flashbacks of his humiliation in Korea flooded his mind—being beaten, recorded, left to pick up the pieces of his pride. It felt the same now. A useless, helpless shell.
Then, a voice from deep within screamed at him: "Get up. Move."
Tae's instincts kicked in. As one of the thugs raised his boot to stomp on him again, Tae grabbed his ankle, twisted it sharply, and shoved it aside. The guy stumbled backward, giving Tae a split-second opening.
Tae scrambled to his feet and ran, ignoring the pain coursing through his body.
"Yeah, that's right! Run, you little fucker!" one of them shouted, his voice full of derision. "That's all you'll ever amount to!"
The words hit Tae harder than any punch or kick. He stopped dead in his tracks, breathing heavily. A certain memory flashed in his head, one from many years ago "You're crazy but... you were amazing in a wa-" the words fading in his mind.
"Oi, why'd he stop?" the leader said, his voice dripping with mockery. "Does he want to die or something?"
They laughed again, but Tae didn't move. His back was still to them, his fists clenched at his sides. Inside his mind, something had shifted. It wasn't anger—it was sharper, more electric. It was resolve.
The leader took a step forward, gesturing to his boys. "Alright, let's finish him off. Teach him a lesson."
All three of them charged at him.
Tae turned around.
For the first time, there was no fear in his eyes. Just cold, focused determination.
The gangsters hesitated, momentarily startled by the change in his demeanor.
Tae cracked his knuckles and whispered under his breath, just loud enough for them to hear: "The past only drags your future down… if you let it."
They charged anyway, fists flying. Tae ducked under the first swing, using the thug's momentum to grab his arm and yank him forward, sending him crashing face-first into a parked car.
The second one swung wildly, it made contact with Tae's body but Tae was unfazed and countered with a sharp elbow to the side of his head, dazing him. Tae wasn't sure what he was doing but it was working and thats what mattered. He grabbed the same person's hood and pulled it over his head blinding his opponent followed by a mean right hook which connected to the gangster's temple.
The leader, now furious, lunged at Tae, grabbing him by the collar. Tae didn't hesitate. He delivered a brutal knee to the thug's stomach, followed by an upward fist strike that sent him reeling.
The fight wasn't clean. Tae's movements were sloppy, fueled by adrenaline much more than skill, but each blow he landed carried the weight of his frustration, his anger, and his unrelenting determination to not lose this time.
As the gangsters stumbled back, groaning and holding their injuries, Tae mounted one on the ground while beating his face ferociously.
"Where's the chain?" Tae growled, his voice low and dangerous.
The leader coughed, spitting blood onto the pavement. He glared up at Tae and muttered, "We… we gave it to some kid at Stratford High. His name was Baron. Th-That's all we know, man." He pleaded.
Tae's eyes narrowed but also shocked to hear the name of his school. He strikes the leader's nose with all the frustration he had left before. The other 2 gangsters looked at him but they didn't see a human, in their eyes he was a blood lusting demon. He turned and walked away without another word, leaving them broken and humiliated on the street.
As he disappeared into the night, his thoughts were sharp and focused. This wasn't over. Not by a long shot.
Tae walked through the quiet streets, the rain having let up, leaving the air crisp and fresh. His body still ached from the fight, but there was something different in his chest. Pride, frustration, and excitement mixed together, creating a strange warmth that spread through him. It was a feeling he hadn't experienced before. The adrenaline was beginning to fade, but the rush lingered. He had been pushed to his limits, but for the first time in a long while, he didn't feel like a victim. He hadn't run just like that time. That realization gave him a sense of exhilaration he couldn't quite put into words. What if he had run today? What kind of person would he be? Would he still be stuck in the past, haunted by the humiliation? No, he wasn't that person anymore. He had decided to fight back.
He walked with purpose, his mind buzzing with the energy of the fight and what had followed. Tae wasn't sure where he was going at first, but soon enough, his stomach rumbled, reminding him that he hadn't eaten since the morning. Grabbing a bite seemed like a good way to wind down from the tension of the day. Tae's thoughts, still racing, accompanied him as he continued walking, his body sore but his spirit buzzing. Nothing in sports, none of the moments he'd felt proud of, compared to this experience. That small, quiet victory felt like a doorway had opened for him. He loved it.
As Tae neared the restaurant, he couldn't help but notice how the place was different from others. It was packed from the outside, more than he'd ever seen for a place at this hour. A crowd of intimidating individuals stood around the entrance, blocking out the last remaining bits of daylight. From the outside, the place almost looked exclusive, like he wasn't supposed to be here. The moment Tae stood in front of the door, he felt a thrill of excitement rise within him. It wasn't about eating—it was about something else. The same excitement he'd felt during the fight, that sense of being alive, surged again.
Tae moved forward, determined. He couldn't back down. He walked toward the door, but before he could reach for it, two towering figures stepped in his path. They were massive—broad-shouldered and intimidating, their eyes trained on him with an air of quiet menace.
One of them, a hulking figure with a gruff voice, spoke with a tone that made it clear they weren't going to let him pass. "Hey, young lad. Can't you read the room? This restaurant's being used for our boss tonight. No entry."
Tae, still riding the high of his earlier confrontation, didn't hesitate. He stepped forward, his eyes narrowing. He felt like he could take on anyone, and these two wouldn't be any different. Without a second thought, he threw a punch, aiming for the larger man's solar plexus, hoping to land a solid hit.
But the punch never landed as Tae had hoped. The man barely flinched, as if Tae's strike had hit a stone wall. Tae felt his knuckles ache from the impact. He staggered back slightly, staring up at the giant who hadn't moved an inch. The image of the massive man towering over him flashed in his mind, suddenly bringing a feeling of inferiority. He was out of his depth here.
Before Tae could react, the man pulled his elbow back with his palm out, clearly ready to push him back with devastating force. Tae's heart raced, but it wasn't fear—no, it was something different. Something deeper.
Before the the palm could land, however, the door swung open, and a voice called out, breaking the tension.
"Ah, look at this poor lad," the voice said, full of warmth but with an edge of amusement. "Just let him in. He must be hungry."
The two men blocking the door stepped aside, and a young man emerged from within the restaurant. He was roughly 17 or 18, dressed in a long coat with a furry hood, his demeanor calm but commanding. His left eye bore a vertical scar, giving him a rough, intimidating appearance that contrasted with his relaxed posture. He was surrounded by two other men, who watched the scene unfold closely, but it was clear that this man was in charge.
Tae, still thinking about the big man who blocked the doorway, glanced at the man in front of him. The newcomer smiled as he stepped forward, his eyes flicking over Tae with a knowing look.
"You've been in a fight, huh?" the man said, his voice smooth but authoritative. "Come on in. You don't want to stand outside in this cold."
Tae, unsure of what was happening, simply nodded. He was still feeling the rush of adrenaline in his veins, and the idea of a meal seemed like a good way to cool down. He didn't resist as the man led him inside.
Inside the restaurant, the atmosphere was thick with intensity. The place was quiet, save for the quiet conversations of a few men scattered around the room. It was as if Tae had stepped into a different world. The patrons inside had an air of authority about them, but it wasn't through intimidation. They respected the man at the door, the one who had let Tae in.
The man motioned for Tae to sit at a table. "Eat," he said simply, as one of his companions brought over a steaming plate of food. Tae hesitated but then took the plate, grateful for the gesture.
"You look like you've been through a lot today," the man said, sitting down across from him.
"I'm Jaron, by the way. You don't look like you're from around here. What's your story?"
Tae hesitated for a moment, then decided to answer honestly. "I just got into a fight, that's all."
Jaron raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Really? That's something. You got the spirit of a fighter, I can tell. You ever smoked? You seem like the type who could use a little break from the chaos."
Tae laughed. "No, I don't smoke. Never have."
Jaron smiled at the response before reaching into his pocket. He pulled out a strange-looking silver ring, placing it on the table in front of Tae. It had an odd symbol etched into it, something Tae couldn't quite decipher.
"Take it," Jaron said, his tone now more serious. "This'll help you. It'll make you strong. Hold onto it, and don't lose it. You hear me? Never lose out there."
The two men behind Jaron exchanged glances, clearly surprised by the gesture. But Jaron only smiled. "I see potential in you for a strange reason. You've got something. Don't waste it."
Tae looked at the ring, still unsure of what it meant, but something in Jaron's eyes made him take it without question. He slipped the ring onto his finger, feeling its weight.
After a eating a having a short conversation with him, Jaron stood and clapped Tae on the back. "You're good to go. Don't let me see you get too reckless out there, alright?"
As Tae left the restaurant, Jaron called out to his companions. "That kid, hes giving off the same energy as that man for a strange reason. He's got potential. No it's something more, something I didn't even see in Baron."
And as Tae stepped back into the night, his mind was racing. What had just happened? This encounter was totally random. Tae Kang never thought such a kind man's could rule such an intimidating group.The walk home was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves in the night breeze. The soreness from Tae's bruises had begun to settle in, but the thrill of the fight lingered. As he entered the house, he found his grandfather seated on the couch, glasses perched on his nose as he read an old book.
Tae slipped off his windbreaker, exposing the bruises on his arms and neck. His grandfather looked up, his sharp eyes catching the marks instantly. But before he could say a word, he noticed the small, almost imperceptible smile on Tae's face. It wasn't the smile of someone defeated—it was one of triumph.
His grandfather sighed, closing his book. "You're home late."
"Yeah," Tae replied, his voice calm.
His grandfather studied him for another moment, then nodded. "Good. You're not broken, so I won't ask any questions."
Tae chuckled softly. "Thanks, Grandpa."
The old man leaned back in his chair, his eyes lingering on Tae as he disappeared into his room.
Lying on his bed, Tae stared at the ceiling, replaying the events of the night in his head. The punches, the taunts, the rush of adrenaline—it all felt surreal.
The chain lingered in his thoughts, though. He didn't just want it back; he needed it back. It wasn't just a symbol of his grandfather's past—it had become a symbol of his own resolve.
His next move was clear: he had to figure out who had it.
The next morning, the school buzzed with its usual noise. Rain from the night before left the air fresh and cool, but the heavy clouds above made everything feel gloomy. Ryan and the others were already gathered by the lockers when they noticed Tae's absence.
"Where's Tae today?" Ryan asked, glancing around.
Leo shrugged. "Maybe he's just running late."
Yukita, the girl with the hood, stood a few steps away from the group, her face hidden. She seemed even more withdrawn than usual, shifting uneasily before sneaking away without a word.
Ryan frowned, watching her leave. "What's her deal? She's been avoiding us for days."
"Yeah, weird, huh?" Leo said, scratching his head. "Tae and that girl both acting sketchy? Coincidence?"
Ryan didn't reply, but his eyes lingered on Yukita's retreating figure.
Tae arrived late, slipping into class quietly. His body was still sore, but the fire inside him burned brighter than ever. As the day wore on, he found himself observing Yukita more closely. She always kept her hood up, her face hidden, and made sure to stay out of his way.
Why does she keep avoiding me? Tae thought. Something about her movements felt… familiar.
When lunch arrived, Tae found himself sitting with Ryan and Leo. The topic of conversation was mundane until Tae casually asked, "Hey, do you guys know anything about Baron?"
Leo's eyes lit up. "Baron? Oh, man, he's a legend. A horrendous bully, but he's at the top of the food chain here. Dude's built like a tank. Pure muscle—no one messes with him. I heard he took down six guys by himself once!"
Ryan rolled his eyes. "Leo's exaggerating, as usual. Baron's not a bully, but he's trouble. You don't cross him unless you're asking for it. Even I'd think twice before going up against him."
Tae nodded, absorbing every word. "Interesting."
Ryan narrowed his eyes. "Why do you want to know about Baron, anyway?"
Tae shrugged, keeping his tone casual. "Just curious."
Ryan didn't seem convinced, but he let it go.
Later that evening, Tae sat on his bed, his mind racing. Baron wasn't just a challenge; he was a mountain. How am I going to take down someone like him? Tae clenched his fists, determination hardening in his chest.
I've never landed a solid punch on someone like that. But I will. I have to.
He looked at the strange silver ring Jaron had given him, turning it over in his hand. It was a reminder of the strength he was chasing and the respect he wanted to earn.
The night outside was dark, but Tae's resolve burned brighter than ever.
Meanwhile that evening Jewel sat in Yukita's bedroom ready to confront her about her unusual behavior...