Class started with a different atmosphere. Mr. Choi Sang Woo stood in front of the class with a serious face, carrying a list in his hand.
"Children, our school will be holding a friendly match against another school this week. And after discussions with the sports department, some of you have been selected to represent this class. Here are the names: Lee Jong, Sung Jae, Kang Min..." Mr. Choi paused, giving a dramatic pause, "...and two others, Ji Hoon and Tae Jin."
Kang Min turned to Sung Jae and Lee Jong with a confident smile. "Look, bro. I knew we'd be chosen. Good athletes like us have no competition."
Sung Jae just sighed while patting his shoulder. "But don't forget, you also like to throw tantrums. You don't want to get us suspended because of your mouth."
"Relax, Sung Jae, I promise to be a good boy this time," Kang Min replied with a chuckle.
The day of the match arrived. The whole school was excited, students flocked to the sports field to watch their teams compete. The stands were filled with cheers, making the atmosphere even more heated.
From a distance, Kim Hanna stood up and waved at Kang Min and his friends. "Hey! If you win, I'll treat everyone! So don't lose!" she shouted excitedly.
Kang Min gave a thumbs up with a big smile. "Ready, captain! Don't forget the wallet!"
The match was fierce from the start. Kang Min's school team faced a tough opponent, but with the combination of Lee Jong's speed, Sung Jae's strategy, and Kang Min's athleticism, they managed to keep up.
However, in the second half, an incident occurred. Sung Jae, who was sprinting to secure the ball, suddenly fell. He grimaced in pain while holding his leg.
"I sprained my leg," he said in a weak voice.
Seeing that, Kang Min immediately approached and helped Sung Jae up. But instead of providing support, Kang Min grumbled. "Ouch, Sung Jae! You're like an old lady. I can't even do this anymore."
Lee Jong, who heard that, immediately heated up. "That's it, Min! Just focus on the game. Don't be a commentator!"
With one player injured, the game became even more difficult. However, Lee Jong and Kang Min managed to withstand the opponent's attacks until they finally scored the winning goal in the last seconds of the match.
After the match was over and Kang Min's team won with a close score, the atmosphere turned euphoric. The cheers of the school students could be heard outside the field. Kim Hanna immediately made good on her promise to treat the whole team. They all gathered in the school cafeteria to celebrate the victory.
"I didn't expect you guys to win," Hanna said with a sigh, pretending to be sorry. "Why didn't you just lose? I could have saved money!"
Lee Jong laughed as he grabbed a piece of fried chicken in front of him. "A promise is a promise, Kim Hanna! This isn't just a win for us, but it's also a sacrifice for your wallet."
Sung Jae, who was still limping a bit due to a sprained foot, chimed in, "And don't forget to order extra for me. It's a token of appreciation because I almost sacrificed my leg earlier."
Hanna rolled her eyes while wearing an annoyed expression. "Yeah-yeah, you food beggar. But seriously, it was really cool when Lee Jong dribbled and Kang Min shot the last shot. It was like a moment in a movie."
Kang Min, who was sipping his drink, smiled with satisfaction. "Yeah definitely cool, who played first? This is Kang Min, bro. The hero of the field."
Hearing that, Hanna shook her head. "How arrogant! You almost made our team lose because you celebrated too much!"
Kang Min burst out laughing. "Let it go, Han. I'm just providing additional entertainment for the audience. Not everyone can enjoy the beauty of my celebrations."
However, in the middle of the celebration, Kang Min suddenly fell silent. His gaze wandered out the cafeteria window. Sung Jae, who was sitting next to him, noticed the change and tapped him on the shoulder.
"What's wrong, Min? Why are you suddenly quiet?" asked Sung Jae.
Kang Min shook his head slowly. "It's nothing. I just thought of something."
Lee Jong joined the conversation. "What's on your mind? Don't tell me you're trying to get into trouble again."
Kang Min smiled slightly. "No, I'm not. I was just... thinking about the events of the past few days. So much has changed."
Hanna, who heard the conversation from across the table, spoke up. "Min, if you need help or just want to talk, we're all here. You don't have to think alone."
Kang Min looked at his friends one by one, then let out a long sigh. "Thanks, guys. I just need some time to make sure everything is okay."
The conversation ended with a moment of silence, before Lee Jong livened things up with his joke.
"Uh, never mind. Instead of thinking about heavy things, let's focus on this fried chicken before Sung Jae finishes it all."
Laughter filled the table again, but Kang Min knew that after this, he had to take big steps to face whatever lay ahead.
After finishing up at the cafeteria, Kang Min decided to go home early. His friends had protested, especially Lee Jong who wanted to stop by his house to play games, but Kang Min refused on the grounds of being tired.
Arriving home, he put his helmet on the living room table and immediately flopped onto the sofa. His eyes looked at the ceiling, his mind drifting back to Kim Dal, Choi Sang Woo, and all the chaos that had happened in the last few days.
Suddenly, the door opened. Kang Soo Hyuk appeared with a face that still looked sluggish. He walked straight past Kang Min without a word, making his younger brother curious.
"Hyung, what's wrong with you?" asked Kang Min while sitting down.
Soo Hyuk stopped for a moment, but didn't turn around. "It's nothing. I'm just tired."
Kang Min knew that wasn't the real answer. He got up and walked over to his brother. "Hyung, I know you haven't really been able to move on from Kim Dal. But you have to be strong. I'm here if you need anything."
Soo Hyuk turned his head, this time his eyes looked a little red. "I don't know, Min. I don't understand why everything has to happen like this. Kim Dal may have dark secrets, but I really trust him."
Kang Min was silent. Although he often made fun of Soo Hyuk for being naive, this time he chose not to say anything.
After a while, Soo Hyuk patted his brother's shoulder. "Never mind, don't think about me. Focus on your business at school. I just need some time."
That night, after a dinner with Soo Hyuk that was mostly spent in silence, Kang Min returned to his room. He opened his laptop and started searching for information about the man he saw on the news-the man who framed his father.
However, after only a few minutes of scrolling, his phone vibrated. A message came in from an unknown number:
"Your family isn't done with this yet. If you want to know the truth, come to the old warehouse in District 11, midnight tonight."
Kang Min's brows furrowed. He read the message over and over again, trying to understand what it meant. Was this a trap? Or was there someone who really wanted to help him?
He heard footsteps outside his room-it was Soo Hyuk. Kang Min hurriedly shut down his laptop and kept his cell phone in his pocket. He knew that if he wanted to leave, he had to do it without his brother knowing.
After making sure Soo Hyuk had entered his room, Kang Min put on his black leather jacket and grabbed his helmet. He looked at himself in the mirror, trying to convince himself that this was the right move.
"If this is a trap, I have to be ready," he muttered as he put something in his jacket pocket-a small folding knife that he used just in case.
He started his sport bike without too much noise, then sped off toward District 11. The cold night air pricked his skin, but he didn't care. His head was full of speculation about who sent the message and what he would find there.
The old warehouse was dark and deserted. Kang Min parked his motorcycle some distance away from the entrance, then walked carefully. The smell of dampness and rust wafted from the slightly open door.
Inside, there was only one dim light hanging from the ceiling. He saw a person standing in the center of the room, his face not very clear due to the dark shadows.
"Kang Min?" the person's voice sounded heavy.
"Who are you? And what do you want?" asked Kang Min as he took out a pocket knife from his pocket, just in case.
The person stepped forward, and his face became visible under the lamplight. The man's face looked tired, with eyes that held both vengeance and sadness.
"I'm the brother of a woman who was killed in a taxi a few years ago," the man said in a serious tone.
Kang Min immediately froze, trying to digest those words. He gritted his teeth, trying to hold back his anger. "You're blaming my father?"
The man shook his head slowly. "That's not what I meant. Quite the opposite."
Kang Min squinted, alert. "What do you know?"
The man let out a long breath, trying to explain. "When my brother was killed, your father was accused of being the culprit because he was the last taxi driver with him. But after I investigated, all the evidence seemed to be manipulated. I believe your father was framed."
Kang Min clenched his hands into fists, trying to hold back his emotions. "I knew from the beginning. My father was just an ordinary taxi driver. He wouldn't have killed anyone. He was just framed!" he said firmly.
The man nodded, agreeing. "I believe it too. That's why I'm here. I know there's someone behind all this. Someone who has great power to organize evidence, witnesses, and even influence court decisions. That person... now runs the big company you saw on the news last night."
Kang Min immediately thought of the man who launched his company with great fanfare. He clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with anger.
"So that's him?" muttered Kang Min.
The man looked at Kang Min seriously. "I need your help to bring him down. We have to gather evidence that he's the mastermind. This is the only way to clear your father's name and demand justice for my brother."
Kang Min was silent for a moment, trying to digest all of this. On one hand, he wanted to defend his father. On the other hand, he knew this was a big risk.
"If I help you, what's the plan?" asked Kang Min finally.
The man smiled a little, but his gaze remained serious. "Let's start from small evidence first. I already have some clues."
Kang Min looked at the man with determination. "If it's for my father's good name, I won't back down."
The next day Kang Min sat at the dining table with his hair still messy. He seemed to be hurriedly spooning rice into his mouth while checking his watch. From the kitchen, his mother walked over with a cup of tea.
"Kang Min, you should start thinking about your future," his mother said suddenly, in a serious tone.
Kang Min looked up with raised eyebrows. "What do you mean?"
His mother sat in front of him, looking at her son sternly. "You should join the training and take the police test. It's a good and honorable job. Besides, you should be able to pass easily."
Hearing that, Kang Min almost choked. He hurriedly drank his water while trying to swallow the idea.
"Mom, no, I don't think so," Kang Min finally replied, raising his hand as if refusing something dangerous. "Police? That doesn't seem like my field."
"Why not?" his mother asked in a stern tone. "You have talent. You're tough, smart, and quick to respond. What's missing?"
Kang Min shook his head as he stuffed toast into his mouth. "One less, Mom. Interest. I'm not interested in becoming a police officer," he replied in a casual tone, even though he knew his mother wouldn't give in so easily.
"Kang Min," his mother gave a long sigh, "you can't keep living like this. You have to decide your path in life someday. Don't just fight in the streets or play around with your friends. You have to be serious."
Kang Min immediately stood up from his chair, grabbing his bag that was hanging on another chair. "Mom, we can discuss this later, okay? I'm already late!
" "Kang Min, wait-
" "Saranghaeyo, Mom! Bye!" Kang Min quickly kissed his mother's cheek, then ran out while carrying his motorcycle helmet.
His mother could only sigh in frustration while shaking her head, watching her son leave in his usual hurry. "What a brat" his mother muttered
Kang Min started his sports bike and sped through the quiet morning streets. Inside the helmet, he let out a long sigh as he recalled the conversation earlier.
"The police? That's crazy. I'd rather be a racer, or a good boxer," he muttered to himself, pressing the gas even deeper.
However, behind his joking thoughts, there was a small corner of his heart that wondered. Was his mother right? Was becoming a police officer the right path for him? But before he could think any further, Kang Min approached the school gate, and all those questions instantly vanished as soon as he saw his friends gathered there, waiting for him with their typical excited expressions.