The sound of a body slamming against the mat echoed throughout the dojo.
Hajoon Stacy found himself staring at the ceiling lights as his lungs struggled to pull out every bit of air left. Above him stood Mary Choi, one of the best-talented medical students in the Kang Ministry school's marital arts club.
"Seriously? Again?" a student whispered.
"Of course. It's Hajoon after all."
Laughter rippled across the karate class. Mary Choi looked down at him, a cold expression in her deep blue eyes, blonde hair covering most of her face—at least from what Hajoon could see, "You're too stiff," she said coldly. "If you can't shift your weight, anyone, even a little child can throw you."
Those words were painful but Hajoon couldn't help but accept them. He slowly sat up, clutching his side.
The instructor—a middle-aged man who was barely known by even the representatives of the school clapped his hands once.
"Alright! That's enough. Reset positions."
Hajoon, once again was forced to sit on the sidelines. Though, he didn't think that he could lose to a girl such as Mary, everyone already knew the outcome.
They always did.
They knew very well that Hajoon Stacy would lose this match and that was a fact. Because he was the weakest member of the club—rather the puniest student in the entirety of Kang Ministry School.
And it wasn't just his lack of strength. Hajoon has become something of a joke over the years. The eighteen-year-old whose mother left.
This one hurt the most. When his father died three years ago, his mother disappeared soon after. No single explanation. No goodbye.
And then the rumors started immediately, people often assumed that she left because he was useless.
Who would want to raise someone that weak?
Though, the truth of whether she left due to his lack of strength never did matter. The whispers were already proven.
As the class was dismissed by the instructor, everyone began packing up. Hajoon, who was struggling with body pains tried to stand up, but he stopped in his tracks as he saw the middle-aged man before him, an ice pack in his hand.
"Thank you, Mr. Lee," said Hajoon as he accepted the ice pack.
"Hajoon, don't come to any karate class tomorrow."
Hajoon was shocked to hear these words, especially from the calmest man in the school who he believed in him, "Mr. Lee," he muttered in disbelief, "Wh-what are you talking about?"
Mr. Lee looked down at him with a stern expression, meaning that he was indeed serious, "I'm very sorry Hajoon," he said calmly, "You lack the proper skills to become an exceptional fighter. Plus, you lack a parental figure to care for you after each broken bone. I can't put that strain on you."
Indeed, Mr. Lee was right. If not for his legal age and the lack of adopted parents, Hajoon wouldn't be given the luxury of staying alone, and, he had to work every day to pay for his fees.
Just imagine how it would be if he didn't show up to work the next day because of injuries.
Hajoon took a deep sigh before bowing, "Thank you for your concerns, Mr. Lee," he said before leaving the dojo.
Across the room, Mary Choi watched the young man leave, a stern expression on her face.
<
The hallway outside the dojo was much lousier. Hajoon walked as slowly as he could, the ice pack resting against his dark hair, the cold blocking his gaze as the glasses he wore were covered by fog.
His uniform shirt was slightly wrinkled, and his backpack hung loosely off one shoulder.
Students passed by him, some staring at the failure while some smirked. Others saw him as less and simply ignored him.
He had just reached his class when a shadow blocked his path.
"Hey, Little Hajoon, where do you think you're going without paying your debt?"
Hajoon froze, he raised his head, and in front of him were three boys wearing the red armbands of the school's notorious Hall Monitors—a student group supposedly meant to maintain order.
Though they stood for truth and honor, they were just bullies with authority. At the center of the spot is Park Seok-Jin, the supposed leader of the trio.
A tall and slightly attractive male with broad shoulders. A permanent smirk that suggested trouble.
"Hey there, Stacy," said Seok-Jin laxoly. "The dojo punching bag of Kang Ministry."
He chuckled as he said this while the other two grinned.
Hajoon tried his best to step around them, "Please, I have classes very soon," he said, "Can you get the fuck out of my way?"
Seok-Jin didn't like this. Before Hajoon could step away, he was held by his collar, "Whoa," he said. "So the infamous weak fuck grows balls. Who do you think you are, giving me orders?"
"Yeah, you should show some respect," one of the monitors sneered.
The fat, stupid one, according to Hajoon.
"Maybe we should help him learn." the third one added.
The skinny bitch with blonde hair, according to Hajoon. Well, he was the one to talk.
From the look on Seok-Jin's face, it seemed like he was on board with whatever was planned for poor Hajoon.
"I'm in a good mood today," he said. "So let's keep this simple."
Now Hajoon was in for it. But before anything else could happen—
"Park Seok-Jin."
The hallway instantly went silent. Everyone who watched the situation escalate stiffened.
Henry Choi, the principal and the supposed father of Mary Choi stood behind them, his stern blue eyes watching with arms folded.
Seok-Jin clicked his tongue.
"…We were just talking."
"Then talk somewhere else," the principal said sharply. "Class begins in two minutes... if you cause any trouble, detention for the three of you"
Seok-Jin slowly turned back to Hajoon, a cold look in his eyes, "This isn't over," he said before releasing him.
The gang disappeared down the corridor as Hajoon slowly bent to pick up his ice pack that had already melted.
His hands were shaking, but he tried to be firm. Principal Henry Choi walked towards the young man who was clearly shaking, a cold expression still on his face, "Are you okay, young man?" he asked.
Hajoon nodded.
Mr. Henry took in a deep breath, a clear sign that he was relieved, "Alright," he added, "Head to class immediately."
Hajoon nodded once again as Mr. Henry left him there. Now finally given the luxury to breathe, he trashed the melted ice pack and headed for class.
The interior of class K-AD buzzed with noise as students settled into their seats. Hajoon slipped quietly into his chair which had seen better days.
As he stared down at the harsh words written on it, he couldn't help but hate how much he had become. He didn't wish for something like this to occur.
Living alone with no parental figure and trying to make a steady living is hard. His thoughts were a labyrinth of so many things he wanted to try if he had a complete home.
Suddenly—through the silent tension, a voice greeted him immediately.
"So, how many times did you get thrown around this time?"
Hajoon quickly recognized the owner of the voice. He sighed as he faced the boy who sat beside him, a short male with brown shoulder-length hair and grey eyes.
Nathaniel Lee
His only friend since middle school.
"Good morning to you too, Nathaniel."
Nathaniel leaned back in his chair, "Come on," he muttered with a smile, "Why are you in such a soggy mood, lighten up a bit. Or are you unhappy because of what happened today?"
"Could you stop dragging it. She's just better than me," said Hajoon, "I'm sure that I'm not so weak."
"Yeah, I believe you," said Nathaniel. Then he noticed something, rather—someone, "Hey... look."
The boy pointed at the entrance of their class as Hajoon followed his finger with his gaze.
Then he froze as he saw the most popular girl in the entire grade walking into the classroom.
Bright red hair flowed down her shoulders like autumn. Her green eyes caught the light from the windows.
Her smile made half the boys in class forget how to breathe especially the weak Hajoon Stacy.
Kim Da-Rin was her name. She laughed softly while talking to her friends as she walked to her seat.
Nathaniel grinned as he caught the look on Hajoon's face, "Still staring, aren't you?" he teased.
Hajoon noticed, quickly looking away, "N-no I'm not!" he said, "What makes you think that?"
"You totally are."
Nathaniel lowered his voice, "You know, she did smile at you once, right?" he said.
Now Hajoon was intrigued to hear this, "Huh?! She did?" he asked, "When was that?!"
Nathaniel laughed loudly, seeing that his little prank had worked on Hajoon, "Seriously? You fell for that?!"
"Damn you!"
No matter how much trust Hajoon had in Nathaniel that he wouldn't be like the rest of the school, seeing him as weak, he couldn't help the fact that someone like Kim Da-Rin was completely out of his league.
When he was teased by his only best friend, he couldn't help but interpret it as being true.
Though, Kim Da-Rin couldn't settle for less, she was kind. She smiled at everyone and to him, that small act of kindness meant the entire world.
Maybe he could try asking her out one day. But there wasn't enough time to think about that now.
The teacher had already stepped inside the classroom and so a new day in the second semester had begun.