The next morning, Daewon continued to walk to school with his head down, his thoughts were trapped in unease. Yesterday's encounter with Joon had shaken him deeply.
The humiliation was still stuck in his mind, like a dark memory, but Seojun's intervention has changed something in him. Something unexpected and strange, it felt like it was a light flash in a dark room.
He couldn't stop but ask himself the same question continuously, Why had Seojun, a random classmate stepped in? Why had he cared when no one else did? Daewon thought about this question all night, hoping to find an answer. But he knew that getting himself lost in his own thoughts wouldn't help with anything so he had to take actions.
The chilly morning air felt heavy as Daewon reached the school gates. Everyone was walking in groups, laughing and chatting. He never knew what it felt like, to talk with a friend. As he continued to walk, Daewon noticed Joon and his gang casually leaning against a wall and chatter.
Daewon then glanced at them for a moment and quickly turned away, their loud laughter cut through all the noises from the school ground. Almost as if they owned the place.
Daewon's chest started to tighten, will they notice him? Would they start something again?
He then kept his head down and quickened his way to class, slipping past them unnoticed. Relief washed over him as he reached his classroom without getting bullied yet. But it was just temporary.
The morning started to drag on, every class flowing into the next. Daewon stared at the board, but nothing had come to his mind, none of those words stuck in his head. His pen was on his notebook, barely touched. Instead, his thoughts kept looping again. His attention was all back to Seojun.
Seojun was sitting just a few rows away from him, his expression was calm as he took down notes from the board. He didn't seem to notice Daewon staring at him, but even if he did, he wouldn't care much.
When the lunch bell rang, Daewon prepared to go to the cafeteria but then he stopped for a moment. He stayed seated for a moment, debating if he should eat lunch by himself like usually, or go discuss with Seojun about yesterday.
Daewon usually ate alone in the corner of the cafeteria, but today was different, a new thought has crossed his mind. "I need to talk to him. I need to know why he helped me."
After a long search, Daewon spotted Seojun sitting under a tree in the courtyard, his lunch was beside him, untouched. For a moment he hesitated to approach him, it felt quite awkward. Like invading someone's place.
But then Seojun noticed Daewon glancing at him, his eyes meeting Daewon's. There was no hostility in his eyes, no judgment, just a neutral look that made Daewon's nerves weaken, instead he felt relieved.
Taking a deep breath, Daewon decides to walk over. "Uh...hey." he said, his voice being shaky.
Seojun then raised an eyebrow, but there were no emotions shown on his face "Hey."
The silence between them was stretched and uncomfortable, Daewon then started stuttering his words. But he slowly managed to talk, and say "Umm... well, thanks for uh... yesterday. But you didn't have to do that."
Seojun then rubbed his head and leaned back against the tree, with a big stretch he replies. "I know."
Daewon stared for a moment, analyzing what Seojun said. But confusion was built up. "Then why?"
Seojun looked at him for a moment, as if he was deciding how much he was about to say. "Because someone had to."
His answer left Daewon more puzzled and confused than before. "What do you mean?"
Seojun shrugged and sighed. "Well, guys like Joon act tough because they think no one will stand up to confront them. It's easy to bully someone smaller than you, when no one is even watching. Or worse, when everyone's too scared to step in."
"But why you?" Daewon accentuated, his voice being quiet but insistent. "You don't even know me Seojun."
Seojun's lips then twitched, almost forming a smile. "Maybe I just don't like watching people get kicked when they're already down. I may not know you, but I've seen enough to know that you don't deserve to get bullied.
Daewon didn't know how to respond. He then looked away, his hands shaking.
"Look Daewon," Seojun added, his tone softening. "you don't have to overthink it at all. Just don't let them walk all over you next time, Stand up for yourself.
"Yeah, easier said than done." Daewon mumbled.
"Yeah, it is. Nothing is easy in life." Seojun admitted, he then stood up and brushed off his uniform. "But I'm sure you'll figure it out somehow."
As Seojun walked away, Daewon sat under the tree and started looking at the sky. His mind was racing, He wasn't sure of what he had expected from the conversation, but it surely had not been this. Still, Seojun's words had played with his mind, mixing something deep inside him.
The rest of the day was boring, until the final bell rang. Daewon packed his bag and headed toward his locker, excited to get home. But as soon as he crossed the hallway corner, his heart sank.
Joon was there, he was casually leaning against Daewon's locker. His friend group was surrounding Daewon, their smirks smeared across their faces.
"Well, well," Joon smiled as Daewon froze in fear. "If it isn't Losermon, the teacher's dear pet."
Daewon's throat tightened, his mind was shuffling, looking for an escape.
"What do you want Joon?" he managed to ask even though his voice was shaky.
Joon grinned, he then stepped closer. "What do you think, hmm? Yesterday didn't end quite well, it didn't sit right with me you know? You think you can just get someone else to fight for you, to fight your battles and walk away? That's not how it works."
"I didn't-" Daewon tried to solve the argument, but Joon interrupted him with a shove.
Before he could even react, a voice broke in and cut through the tension. "That's enough."
Seojun stepped into view, his expression was neutral as his eyes were focused on Joon.
"Oh great. The hero returns." Joon said, his smirk then got wiped slightly. "You've got a hell lot of nerve Seojun, sticking your nose in someone else's business, where it doesn't belong you."
"Maybe" Seojun said while glaring at Joon, he then steps closer. "Or maybe you've got a habit of picking fights you know damn well you can win."
The hallway grew silent, lots of students were gathering at a distance to watch Seojun confront Joon again. Joon's gang then exchanged glances, uneasy glances, their confidence was slowly dying as Seojun talked.
"You think you're tough?" Joon talked back, though his voice was slightly trembling.
"I don't need to be tough," Seojun replied, his voice tone was calm but solid. "You've already lost Joon. Everyone here can see what you really are, you just pick fights with people that are weaker than you. You're nothing but a coward"
Joon then clenched his fists, but he didn't respond. Instead, he remained silent. With a serious glare, he shoved Seojun with his shoulder and walked down the hallway. His gang was behind, following him like puppies.
Daewon then took a deep breath, his legs feeling like jelly.
"You okay Daewon? Seojun asked, turning to him.
"Yeah." Daewon mumbled, though his voice was unbalanced. "Thanks again."
Seojun then nodded. "Don't thank me. Next time, stand up for yourself."
As Seojun walked away, Daewon watched him go, a mixture of admiration and frustration built up inside him. The mixture then started stirring in his chest.
After Daewon got home, he sat at his desk, staring at the blank notebook in front of him. As he looked at the notebook, Seojun's words echoed in his mind. "Next time, stand up for yourself."
At first, he hesitated, but then he slowly grabbed the pen and moved it. On the first page, he wrote one word:
"Start"
Tomorrow, he decided, he would try.