That morning, the atmosphere in the classroom changed drastically when Eunyeon walked in casually. His new look - piercings in his ears and under his lips, combined with his neat school uniform - instantly caught the attention of the entire class. Some children hissed softly, while others could only gape.
Yulhan who was sitting in his place shook his head with a small smile. "You're always full of surprises, Eunyeon," he murmured softly, just enough for Eunyeon to hear who only replied with a casual nod.
In the corner of the classroom, the five bullies-Minsik, Taegyu, Choi Beomhwan, Seo Kangjoon, and Lee Yeojin-looked both surprised and annoyed.
"You kids, there's always a buzz," Kangjoon grumbled while crossing his arms.
Beomhwan added in an annoyed tone, "Did you see that? He's really looking for attention."
However, Minsik was silent, staring at Eunyeon with an unreadable expression. This made his friends even more confused.
When the break bell rang, the atmosphere was noisy again. Eunyeon, who was busy drawing on his desk, was surprised by some kids from the basketball team who entered the classroom.
"Baek Eunyeon!" one of the basketball team members exclaimed in a loud tone. The whole class immediately fell silent, curious about what was going to happen.
Eunyeon looked up, staring at them casually. "What's wrong?" he asked, still holding his pencil.
"We heard you're pretty good at sports. Would you like to be selected for the basketball team?" one of them said, a confident smile gracing his face.
Eunyeon was silent for a moment, then stood up casually. "Okay, if you guys ask," he said as he walked over to them.
The whole class was in an uproar, while the five bullies were getting hotter and hotter. Yeojin almost stood up from his seat, but Beomhwan held his back. "Wait, Yeojin. Let's see what he does first," he said in a cold tone.
However, Kangjoon couldn't contain his annoyance. "Minsik, why are you silent? Aren't you upset to see that boy on the basketball team?"
Minsik, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke in a flat tone. "I was just waiting for the right time. Don't be too rash." However, the look in his eyes showed something else-whether it was envy, admiration, or even a deepening grudge against Eunyeon.
Meanwhile, Eunyeon walked out of the classroom with the basketball team members, leaving Yulhan who could only smile faintly while looking at him. What else is he going to do now? Yulhan thought, a little amazed as well as worried about the big change that happened to eunyeon.
When Eunyeon arrived at the basketball court, he was greeted by some of the core players of the school basketball team. One of them, a captain named Jung Taewon, immediately observed Eunyeon from head to toe.
"So this is the kid we heard so much about?" Taewon asked his friend as he folded his arms across his chest.
"Yeah, they say he's good tough. I'm curious," replied one of the other players.
Eunyeon, without showing the slightest nervousness, looked directly at Taewon. "Do you want me to prove it here, or shall we arrange another time?" he asked in a casual tone, but clearly full of confidence.
Taewon smiled slightly. "Get on with it now. If you're as good as they say you are, show me."
Eunyeon picked up the basketball that was thrown to him. he rolled up the sleeves of his uniform, walked to the center of the court, and got ready. The basketball team players started looking at him seriously. They played a small game to see what he could do.
On the other hand, the five bullies-Minsik, Taegyu, Beomhwan, Kangjoon, and Yeojin-were gathered on the roof of the school building. From there, they could catch a glimpse of Eunyeon playing on the field.
"he's really pretentious," Taegyu muttered while gritting his teeth. "How could he just enter the field like that?"
Beomhwan narrowed his eyes, watching from afar. "I don't know what he has, but he's starting to attract everyone's attention. Even people who didn't care about him before."
Kangjoon sighed in frustration. "We have to do something. Otherwise, he'll become more famous than us."
Yeojin looked at Minsik, hoping to get an order. "Minsik, what's your plan? We can't let him continue like this."
However, Minsik only observed Eunyeon from a distance with a sharp look. "Let's just let his have fun first. I wonder how far he can go before he falls.
Meanwhile, the play on the field was fierce. Despite playing with the team for the first time, Eunyeon showed off his incredible skills. His movements were quick and precise, impressing all the players there, including Taewon.
When the game was over, Taewon approached Eunyeon with a satisfied smile. "You're good, Baek Eunyeon. You have the talent to make this team."
Eunyeon just nodded briefly, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "I'm just enjoying the game. If you guys need extra players, I'm ready."
Taewon patted his shoulder. "You're officially in. We'll contact you for the next practice."
Eunyeon smiled faintly, then left the field quietly. When she returned to class, all eyes were on him, especially the five bullies who looked increasingly annoyed.
However, Eunyeon did not care. he just took his seat, went back to drawing, as if nothing had happened.
Yulhan who sat next to his stared with a curious look.
As the dismissal bell rang, Eunyeon walked casually out of the school gate with his bag over her shoulder. The clear afternoon sky didn't seem to reflect the tension that slowly began to rise in his chest. She felt something odd, as if she was being watched.
As he walked further away from the gate, his gaze suddenly fell on someone in the distance. The person was wearing a black leather jacket, a full-face helmet, and sitting on a shiny black sports bike. At first glance, the figure looked like an old enemy, someone he never wanted to see again.
Eunyeon watched intently, his brows furrowed deeply. The figure seemed to deliberately stare at his from behind the helmet, then moved the bike slowly. "Is he...?" muttered Eunyeon, a feeling of suspicion starting to creep into his mind.
Before she could think further, the motorcycle accelerated, leaving the sound of the engine roaring on the road. Without thinking, Eunyeon immediately ran after it. "Yes! Shibal saekkiya! Stop!" Eunyeon shouted in a tone full of anger, a typical curse that made several other students near the gate turn their heads in confusion.
Near the gate, Yulhan who was tying his shoelaces immediately looked up when he heard Eunyeon's shout. He saw his friend running with a serious expression, chasing a sports bike that was now speeding down the street. "What is he doing again right now?" muttered Yulhan, both confused and curious.
Yulhan watched intently, trying to analyze the situation. He saw that Eunyeon was not slowing down, even though the motorcycle was already quite far away. "he's really serious..." Yulhan whispered, then unconsciously his footsteps began to follow Eunyeon from a distance.
Meanwhile, Eunyeon continued to run, his breathing getting heavy, but his eyes never left the bike. he recognized that driving style-wild, challenging, and deliberately provocative. he was sure it was someone from his past, someone who had a reason to bother him again.
The motorcycle stopped at a red light, giving Eunyeon a chance to get closer. But before s
he could get there, the light turned green, and the bike sped off again at full speed.
Eunyeon stopped at the curb, his hands resting on his knees, trying to catch his breath. "What a coward..." he muttered in an angry tone, his eyes still staring at the direction the motorcycle had gone.
Yulhan finally caught up with Eunyeon and stood beside him. "Who was that?" asked Yulhan, his face full of confusion.
Eunyeon didn't answer immediately. he wiped the sweat from his forehead, then looked at Yulhan seriously. "I'm not sure, but I have a bad feeling. That person might be one of them."
"Who are they?" Yulhan was getting curious.
Eunyeon just shook his head. "I'll tell you later. I have to find out first."
Yulhan did not press further, but it was clear that his mind was filled with curiosity. On one hand, he knew Eunyeon was a person full of surprises, but on the other hand, he also knew that his friend never acted without reason.
That afternoon, Eunyeon and Yulhan walked home in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. However, Eunyeon knew that this was just the beginning of something bigger, and he had to be prepared for whatever was to come.