Jasper woke up early the next morning, slipping on his jacket and grabbing his earphones without a second thought. As he walked down the street, the world around him seemed to blur out—he didn't care about anything or anyone. His focus was only on the music in his ears, the escape from his thoughts. The cool breeze of Busan's morning air didn't even faze him as he made his way to school.
Upon arriving at school, he noticed the usual crowd gathered by the gate. There was the usual buzz of chatter, but Jasper couldn't care less. He walked right past them, his expression unchanged, as he entered the classroom. Inside, everyone was in a frenzy, preparing for the upcoming test. The tension was thick in the air, but Jasper didn't even flinch. He calmly took his seat and plugged in his earphones, tuning out everything around him.
As the class continued to bustle with excitement and nervous energy over the test, one guy sitting next to him couldn't help but stare at him. His eyes were full of admiration as he looked at Jasper, noticing how unaffected he seemed by everything. In fact, his admiration was obvious—Jasper had become something of a mystery, an enigma among his classmates. He was known for his aloofness, and now, for his quiet rebellion.
Little did he know, his indifference had earned him a secret following. It wasn't just the guy next to him who admired him; there were others as well, some who whispered in the halls about how he never seemed to care about anything. His refusal to conform to the pressures around him made him seem more intriguing than any of the other students who obeyed every rule and expectation.
But Jasper wasn't aware of any of this. Instead, he was exhausted. The pressures of his family's secrets, his father's revelation, and his complicated life outside school had left him drained. So, as the class finally settled down for a break, Jasper slouched down in his chair, taking off his jacket and folding it into a pillow. Without a second thought, he lay his head down, closing his eyes and drifting into a deep sleep.
The peace didn't last long.
A group of bullies, notorious for picking on anyone who didn't fit their mold, saw their opportunity. They began to mock and tease one of their own—Jun Ho, the class president and a brilliant student, who had always been at the top of the class. Jun Ho was smart, respected by the teachers, but his quiet demeanor and authority made him a target for these bullies.
The group, led by four of the most notorious troublemakers—Jin Woo, Tae Hyun, Min Joo, and Kyung Ho—started teasing him mercilessly. "You think you're better than everyone else, Jun Ho? Just because you're the class president doesn't mean you're above us!" Jin Woo sneered, pushing Jun Ho's books off the desk. Tae Hyun snickered, adding, "Yeah, it's not like your intelligence makes you cool. You're just a boring nerd."
But it wasn't just words. They started to push him around, and their laughter filled the room. Jun Ho, usually calm and composed, looked uncomfortable, trying to keep his cool despite their taunts.
It was then that Jasper woke up, his sleep interrupted by the ruckus in the room. He sat up, his irritation evident, his eyes narrowing as he glanced around. His gaze landed on the group tormenting Jun Ho. Without a word, he ripped the earphones out of his ears, stood up, and in a voice that could freeze the room, he shouted, "Shut up!"
The entire class went silent, eyes shifting toward Jasper. The bullies froze, surprised by the sudden outburst from the usually indifferent student. Jasper stood tall, his eyes locked onto them. "I'm tired of hearing this every day. Can you all just leave him alone for a second?"
There was a brief moment of tension as the bullies exchanged angry glances. They were upset, but none of them dared to challenge Jasper directly. "Who do you think you are, Jasper?" Jin Woo sneered, his voice laced with irritation.
"I think I'm someone who's had enough of watching you idiots run around like children," Jasper retorted coldly. Without missing a beat, he walked over to Jin Woo, his eyes unwavering. With one swift motion, he kicked Jin Woo's leg, sending him stumbling back in surprise. "Don't act like a fool."
Jin Woo opened his mouth to retort, but before he could, Kyung Ho, one of the quieter members of the group, reached forward and grabbed Jasper's jacket. "You think you can talk like that to us?" he hissed.
Jasper's response was immediate and swift. With a firm push, he broke free from her grip and took a step back. "Shibal," he muttered under his breath, using a curse word in Korean, his voice filled with disdain.
The group of bullies, now feeling the weight of his defiance, had no choice but to back off. The classroom fell into an eerie silence as they left without another word, clearly unwilling to test Jasper's resolve any further.
Once the bullies were gone, the tension in the room didn't quite dissipate. All eyes were still on Jasper, but he wasn't done yet. His gaze shifted to Jun Ho, who was still sitting at his desk, his glasses slightly askew from the commotion. Jasper walked up to him, staring down at the glasses with a critical eye.
"Stop wearing these," Jasper said bluntly, grabbing Jun Ho's glasses from his face. Before Jun Ho could react, Jasper crushed them underfoot, grinding them into the floor with his heel. "They make you look weak in front of those idiots," he said, his voice cold. "You're smarter than this, don't let them see you like this. The second you show any weakness, they'll eat you alive. Just be yourself. Don't hide behind these."
Jun Ho, still shocked, stared at the broken glasses for a moment before looking up at Jasper. His mouth opened, but no words came out.
"I'm done here," Jasper said, walking away from the scene. "Handle your problems, and stop letting people walk all over you."
As Jasper left the room, he could feel the weight of the eyes on him. But he didn't care. He had made a statement. And for once, he didn't feel like he was the one who was invisible.
As the school bell rang, signaling the end of the day, Jasper walked out of the classroom, his mind drifting off to thoughts of home. But today was different. Instead of heading to his usual motorbike, he found himself walking on foot. It wasn't planned, but it was a decision he made without much thought. The cool evening breeze was refreshing, and the sounds of the city faded as he lost himself in the rhythm of his steps.
His destination? The small tteokbokki shop tucked away in a narrow alley. It was one of the few places he enjoyed, a spot where he could be alone with his thoughts. As he made his way through the narrow streets, he noticed something unusual—a figure following him. It didn't take long for Jasper to realize that it was Jun Ho, the class president.
Jun Ho, despite being known for his intelligence and leadership, wasn't exactly the type to be walking around after school, especially not in a back alley like this. But there he was, trailing behind Jasper, looking somewhat awkward as he caught up to him.
"You're really going to walk all the way? I thought you were the rich kid who doesn't need to walk like this," Jun Ho remarked, his voice carrying a mix of curiosity and disbelief. "And where exactly are you heading?"
Jasper didn't immediately respond, keeping his pace steady as he walked ahead. Jun Ho, still unsure about what to say, followed along silently.
Eventually, after a few moments of walking in silence, Jun Ho spoke up again. "I wanted to thank you for earlier. For standing up for me in class… I didn't expect you to do that. I wasn't sure anyone cared, but you stepped in."
Jasper finally slowed his pace, turning his head slightly to look at Jun Ho. His expression was cold, distant, as if the words didn't matter much to him. "Don't follow me. Don't think of me as your friend," he said bluntly, his voice laced with disinterest.
He reached into his jacket pocket, pulling out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. With a swift flick, he ignited one and took a long drag, the thick smoke billowing out from his mouth and nose as he exhaled.
Jun Ho stopped walking, his eyes lingering on the cigarette in Jasper's hand. He wasn't sure whether to be shocked or intrigued. Jasper's behavior was unpredictable, and it was clear that his aloofness wasn't just a mask—it was who he was.
Jasper took another puff from the cigarette and then, without a word, held out the pack and lighter toward Jun Ho. "Try it," he said, his tone almost daring, his eyes cold and unwavering.
Jun Ho hesitated, his fingers brushing against the cigarette pack. He didn't smoke, not ever. But something about Jasper's cold demeanor made him pause. He looked at the cigarette in his hand for a moment, the weight of the decision hanging in the air.
Jasper didn't wait for him to answer. With another exhale of smoke, he turned and continued walking toward the tteokbokki shop. "Make your own choices," he said over his shoulder, his voice indifferent.
Jun Ho stood still for a moment, holding the cigarette and lighter in his hand, contemplating. His mind raced, but in the end, he didn't move. Instead, he slowly placed the cigarette back into the pack and tucked it away. He wasn't ready to follow that path, not yet.
Without saying another word, Jun Ho walked into the shop after Jasper, the door chiming lightly as it opened. Inside, the small space smelled of spicy tteokbokki and sizzling fish cakes, the comforting scent of street food welcoming them both. Jasper found a seat at a small table near the corner, still puffing on his cigarette as he waited for his order.
Jun Ho took a seat across from him, but the atmosphere between them was tense. Despite everything that had happened earlier, there was still a divide between them—an unspoken barrier that neither of them knew how to cross.
For Jasper, it didn't matter. He was used to being alone, and that was how he preferred it. As the tteokbokki was served, he pushed the thoughts aside, focusing instead on the warmth of the food in front of him, the familiar comfort it brought.
Jun Ho, on the other hand, couldn't shake the feeling of unease. He didn't fully understand why Jasper acted the way he did, but something about him intrigued him. Perhaps it was his indifference, or the way he had stood up for him earlier, but Jun Ho couldn't help but feel drawn to him in a way he couldn't explain.
The two of them sat in silence, the only sound being the clinking of chopsticks and the occasional sip of water. Neither of them spoke much, but the unspoken connection between them lingered in the air.
Eventually, after finishing their meal, they both stood up to leave. Jasper tossed his half-finished cigarette into the trash before walking out of the shop, Jun Ho following a few steps behind.
As they parted ways on the street, Jasper glanced back briefly. His voice, though quiet, held a certain finality. "Don't expect anything from me," he said before turning down a different alley and disappearing into the night.
Jun Ho stood there for a moment, watching Jasper disappear into the distance, before slowly turning and heading home. He wasn't sure what the future held for them, but he knew one thing for sure—Jasper was someone who couldn't be understood easily, and that intrigued him more than he cared to admit.