The next day, Minsik challenged Eunyeon. The tension between them was palpable as Minsik, alongside a few others, had seen their grades drop ever since Eunyeon joined the class. He couldn't stand the idea of someone like Eunyeon overshadowing him.
"You think you're better than us, don't you?" Minsik sneered, standing tall in front of Eunyeon. "You come in, and suddenly everyone's focus is on you. And now, look at my grades—they've plummeted. This is your fault."
Eunyeon remained calm, his expression unreadable. He wasn't surprised by Minsik's hostility; it had been brewing for a while. He knew how competitive people like Minsik could be, especially when they felt threatened. But he wasn't going to let Minsik's words get under his skin.
"I didn't ask for this," Eunyeon replied quietly, his voice steady. "I'm just here to do my best."
But Minsik wasn't done. "You're making it harder for the rest of us. The attention you get—it's all because of your so-called talent. You're just showing off."
Eunyeon took a deep breath, his fists clenching slightly at his sides. He wasn't one to get into petty arguments, but Minsik's words hit a nerve. He wasn't here to compete with anyone, but it seemed like Minsik was making it personal.
"I'm not here to show off," Eunyeon said calmly, meeting Minsik's glare. "I'm just trying to survive like everyone else. If that bothers you, maybe you should focus on improving yourself instead of blaming others."
The classroom grew silent as the two boys locked eyes, the tension thick in the air. Minsik stood there, seething with anger, but Eunyeon's calm demeanor was like a challenge he didn't know how to respond to.
"You think you're so special?" Minsik muttered, his voice tinged with frustration. "We'll see how long that lasts."
Eunyeon didn't say another word. He simply turned away, walking back to his seat as the whispers of the other students filled the room. He knew Minsik's challenge wasn't over. But for now, he was content to let the words speak for themselves.
As Eunyeon was about to put on his helmet, preparing to leave the school for the day, he noticed something strange happening near the school gate. Minsik was surrounded by two other boys, both of them towering over him, their faces filled with anger.
"Where's the money, Minsik?" one of them growled, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt, pulling him closer. Minsik was visibly nervous, trying to avoid eye contact.
"I—I'll get it to you," Minsik stammered, his voice shaking. "Just give me some time... I'll have it, I promise."
But the other boy wasn't having any of it. "You've had time, Minsik. Now you're going to pay up."
Eunyeon observed the situation from a distance, recognizing the two boys as troublemakers from a lower year. They didn't seem like the type to be forgiving, and it was clear that Minsik was in deep trouble. He could see the fear in Minsik's eyes, and something in him stirred. It wasn't that he cared about Minsik—far from it—but seeing someone being treated like this didn't sit right with him.
Eunyeon took a deep breath, walked over, and without saying a word, reached into his pocket. He pulled out a stack of bills and held them out in front of the two boys.
"This enough to cover it?" Eunyeon asked, his voice cool but with an edge of annoyance.
The two boys turned, surprised by Eunyeon's sudden appearance. They eyed him warily, clearly not expecting someone to interfere. After a moment of hesitation, one of them grabbed the money, counting it quickly. "Yeah, this'll do."
Eunyeon didn't flinch as the boy snatched the cash from his hand. "Good," he said, his tone sharp. "Now get lost."
The two boys muttered something under their breath but didn't argue. They shoved Minsik aside before turning and walking off. Eunyeon watched them leave, his expression neutral. Then, he turned to Minsik, who was still standing there, looking both embarrassed and relieved.
"You should be more careful," Eunyeon said with a smirk, tossing the remaining bills into his pocket. "Can't keep dodging your debts forever."
Minsik looked up, his face flushed. "I… I didn't ask for your help," he said, clearly uncomfortable with the situation. "I can handle it."
Eunyeon chuckled lightly, tilting his head as he looked Minsik up and down. "Sure you can," he said sarcastically. "Just make sure you handle things before someone else does it for you next time."
With that, Eunyeon put on his helmet and walked away, leaving Minsik standing there, too stunned to say anything. But Eunyeon's parting words lingered in the air, a quiet reminder of the game Minsik was playing, and how easily it could all fall apart.
The next day, the tension in the school was palpable. Minsik, still feeling the sting of his humiliation from the previous day, tried to avoid Eunyeon, but the weight of his own pride wouldn't let him completely back down. He was determined to prove himself, to show that he wasn't as weak as Eunyeon had made him feel. But Eunyeon seemed unfazed, going about his day as if nothing had happened.
It wasn't long before Minsik found himself in the courtyard during lunch, trying to rally a few of his friends for support. They were all in on his plan now—he needed to show Eunyeon that he wasn't someone to be looked down on.
"We're gonna get him," Minsik said, his voice low and determined. "I'll make sure Eunyeon knows I'm not some pushover."
His friends nodded, though some of them seemed uneasy. They had seen how easily Eunyeon had handled the situation the day before, and they weren't sure they were ready to cross someone like him. But Minsik was insistent.
At that moment, Eunyeon walked into the courtyard, his eyes scanning the area before locking onto Minsik. There was no sign of fear on his face—only calm indifference, like he knew exactly what was coming.
Minsik took a deep breath and approached him, his heart pounding in his chest. "You think you can just walk around acting like you own this place?" he spat, standing tall in front of Eunyeon. "You think you can humiliate me and get away with it?"
Eunyeon looked at him for a long moment, as if weighing his words. Finally, he spoke, his voice steady and unbothered. "If you want to keep playing, Minsik, that's your choice. But don't mistake my kindness for weakness."
The crowd that had gathered to watch held their breath. Eunyeon wasn't backing down, and Minsik's anger only seemed to rise. He clenched his fists, ready to fight.
Before things could escalate, one of Minsik's friends grabbed his arm. "Minsik, don't. This isn't worth it," he whispered urgently, his eyes darting to Eunyeon.
But Minsik pulled away, his rage boiling over. "I'm not backing down. He needs to learn that I'm not someone to be pushed around."
Just as he lunged toward Eunyeon, a teacher appeared out of nowhere, breaking up the confrontation before it could go any further. The crowd quickly dispersed, and Minsik was left fuming, his plans thwarted once again.
Eunyeon, however, was calm. He didn't let the incident bother him. "Next time," he said quietly, looking over his shoulder as he walked away, "make sure you're prepared. I don't do this for fun."
Minsik stood there, seething with frustration, the weight of Eunyeon's words sinking in. He realized that no matter how hard he tried, Eunyeon was always several steps ahead.