Jinwoo Lee had always felt like an outsider, even in the places where he was supposed to belong. Adopted at the age of 16, his new family, while wealthy and well-connected, didn't feel like home. His adoptive parents were distant, barely present in his life, leaving him to navigate the world on his own. They were kind in their own way, but Jinwoo had always longed for something more—something real.
The mansion was large, too large for a single teenager. The walls felt cold, despite the grand furniture and expensive artwork that adorned every room. His adoptive father, Mr. Lee, was always busy with work, attending meetings and business trips. His adoptive mother, Mrs. Lee, kept to herself, engaging in charity events and social circles that never seemed to include Jinwoo. He was a project to them, a child to raise, but not one to truly connect with.
School had never been much different. Jinwoo was quiet, often keeping to himself. His classmates didn't know much about him, and he preferred it that way. They saw the quiet, serious kid who was always alone. Some even made jokes about him being an "outcast," but Jinwoo didn't mind. The less people knew about him, the better. He was used to being invisible.
His classmates were more concerned with fitting in, gossiping about the latest trends and discussing social media posts. Jinwoo, however, found solace in the library, burying his head in books—everything from history to literature. The stories on those pages were his escape. They let him live lives he could never experience, ones where he wasn't just an observer.
Even with the wealth and status his family had provided, Jinwoo never felt like he belonged. His life had been shaped by the loss of his parents at an early age. The orphanage had taken him in, but it never felt like a true home either. And now, even with his new family, the feeling of loneliness lingered. There was no bond, no sense of family.
But there was one thing that kept him grounded: his love of martial arts. When Jinwoo had been younger, he had started training as a way to build his strength—physically and mentally. His time at the orphanage had taught him that strength was power, and power could protect him from the world's cruelty. He wasn't the strongest kid at school, but he was getting there.
As the days passed, Jinwoo began to notice a shift in his school life. The whispers about him being adopted had died down, but a different kind of attention began to follow him. More and more, he was being noticed for his skills, especially in physical education. His speed, his strength—those traits were becoming more pronounced. He was no longer just the quiet kid; he was someone who could be admired.
However, Jinwoo didn't care about being admired. He just wanted to exist in peace. But that peace was about to be shattered.
One day, after school, Jinwoo made his way home, his usual solitary walk interrupted by the sound of laughter. A group of classmates, led by Seokjin, the school's star athlete, started following him.
"Hey, Lee! You're pretty good at that judo stuff, huh?" Seokjin called out, his voice mocking. The group snickered behind him.
Jinwoo kept his pace steady, trying to ignore them. He didn't have time for their games. But Seokjin was persistent, and before long, the group surrounded him.
"Thought you could just keep to yourself, huh?" Seokjin's grin widened. "How about showing us what you've got? A little sparring match, maybe?"
Jinwoo's fists clenched at his sides, but he stayed calm. He was good at controlling his temper, even when faced with bullying. He had learned that getting involved in these kinds of situations was never worth it.
But that day, something was different. Perhaps it was the loneliness he had been battling for so long. Perhaps it was the quiet rage that had been building inside him, a desire for something more. For a split second, Jinwoo wondered what would happen if he stood up, if he didn't let them push him around anymore.
Before he could second-guess himself, he turned to face Seokjin, his body poised in a defensive stance.
"Leave me alone," Jinwoo said calmly, though his voice carried an edge.
Seokjin's grin faltered for a moment, but it quickly returned. "Oh, you're gonna make me?" he mocked.
Without waiting for an answer, Jinwoo moved. In an instant, he had Seokjin in a headlock, his strength surprising both Seokjin and his friends. The group backed off, their laughter dying down. Jinwoo could feel the tension in the air as he held Seokjin in place, his grip firm but controlled.
"That's enough, Jinwoo," Seokjin gasped, struggling to break free. The group stood frozen, unsure of how to react.
Jinwoo let go, taking a step back, his breath steady. He didn't say anything as Seokjin scrambled to his feet, but his silence spoke volumes. He had made his point.
The group dispersed, leaving Jinwoo alone on the sidewalk once more. As he continued his walk home, the adrenaline faded, but the weight of what he had just done lingered.
He had stood up for himself. For the first time in a long while, he felt a sense of power—a power that was only beginning to awaken inside him.
Little did he know, this was only the beginning.