The rain has started to fall, the droplets tapping against the windows as Si-woo gathers his books, his thoughts racing. The bell rings, signaling the end of the school day. He takes a deep breath and steps into the storm, his heart pounding in his chest.
The schoolyard is a battleground of puddles and splashing feet. Children scatter in all directions, racing for the shelter of their homes, the excitement of the assembly forgotten. The air is thick with the scent of rain and the promise of a tempest.
Si-woo's eyes dart around the schoolyard, searching for a safe path home. His stomach turns at the sight of Jung-ho and his friends huddled under a tree, their eyes glinting with malice as they spot him. He knows what's coming. He's faced it before. But today feels different.
Jung-ho breaks away from his group, his sneakers squelching in the wet earth as he approaches Si-woo. Rain plasters his hair to his forehead, a warrior's mane before the battle. His friends follow, their laughter a chilling symphony.
JUNG-HO
(sneering)
Looks like the little genius had a taste of victory today.
Si-woo's grip tightens on his lunchbox, the warmth of the food inside a sharp difference to the cold dread seeping through his veins. He tries to keep his chin up, to stand tall like Ye-jun had taught him.
SI-WOO
(swallows hard)
What do you want, Jung-ho?
JUNG-HO
(spits)
I want to show you that no matter how much you think you know, you're still a BITCH! and didn’t we tell you last time to stop dyeing your hair pink?
The first blow is swift, a fist connecting with Si-woo's nose. He stumbles backward, his eyes watering with pain. The rain mingles with the blood that starts to trickle down his face.
The rain intensifies, the droplets striking the ground with a ferocity that matches the boys' fight. Jung-ho's fists fly like the wind, driven by his anger and the need to prove his dominance. Si-woo's arms are up in a feeble attempt to protect himself, his eyes darting around for a way out.
JUNG-HO
(laughing)
You think you're so smart? You're just a weak little nerd you wannabe bitch!
SI-WOO
(panting)
I'm not... I'm not scared of you.
Jung-ho's friends circle around, their eyes glinting with excitement. They egg Jung-ho on, their words lost in the roar of the rain.
JUNG-HO'S FRIEND 1
(yelling)
Show him who's boss!
JUNG-HO'S FRIEND 2
(laughing)
Yeah, make him beg!
Jung-ho's fists land again and again, each hit more painful than the last. Si-woo's breath comes in ragged gasps, his body bruised and battered.
Suddenly, a flash of lightning pierces the gloom, illuminating the scene in stark relief. For a moment, the world stands still, and in that moment, something within Si-woo shifts. He thinks of Ye-jun, his brother's strong arms wrapping around him in comfort, his voice a gentle reassurance. "You're not weak, Si-woo. You're just not a fighter yet."
With a surge of determination, Si-woo drops the lunchbox and takes a defensive stance, remembering the lessons Ye-jun had taught him. He ducks under Jung-ho's next swing, narrowly avoiding another blow.
SI-WOO
(yelling over the storm)
I'm not weak! I won't let you do this anymore!
The rain beats down on them, a relentless rhythm that seems to fuel Si-woo's newfound courage. He throws a punch, catching Jung-ho off guard. The bully stumbles back, his eyes widening in shock.
JUNG-HO
(enraged)
You hit me? You little...
Jung-ho charges, but Si-woo is ready. He sidesteps and delivers another blow, this one connecting with Jung-ho's stomach. Jung-ho doubles over, the wind knocked out of him.
The other bullies hesitate, their laughter dying in their throats as they see Jung-ho falter.
Jung-ho's eyes flicker with surprise, then fury. He straightens up, wiping the rain from his face. His friends exchange nervous glances, unsure of what to do.
JUNG-HO
(wheezing)
You'll regret that, Si-woo.
But Si-woo's fear has transformed into something else. Something stronger. His eyes burn with a fierce determination that even the rain can't extinguish.
SI-WOO
(defiantly)
I'm not scared of you anymore.
Jung-ho charges again, but Si-woo is nimble, dodging the brunt of the attack. He throws a series of jabs, each one connecting with a satisfying thwack. Jung-ho's friends inch back, their confidence wavering.
JUNG-HO
(angrily)
This isn't over!
He swings wildly, but Si-woo's newfound agility allows him to dodge and weave. With each hit he lands, Si-woo feels a piece of the weight he's been carrying lift from his shoulders. The rain soaks his clothes, turning them into a second skin that clings to his newfound strength.
The other children, drawn by the commotion, begin to gather around the fight, their whispers a hushed crescendo.
SI-WOO
(shouting)
Leave me alone!
The storm outside mirrors the tempest in Si-woo's soul, the thunder drowning out his cries. Jung-ho's eyes are wild with rage, his fists a blur of motion. But Si-woo's movements are more deliberate now, each step and punch calculated.
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JUNG-HO
(snarling)
You think you can beat me?
The crowd of children gasps as Jung-ho's friends, emboldened by their leader's rage, jump into the fray. They surround Si-woo, fists and feet flying. He tries to dodge, but they're too many, too fast. The storm's intensity matches the chaos of the fight.
JUNG-HO'S FRIEND 1
(laughing maniacally)
You think you can take us all on?
Si-woo's legs tremble, his eyes darting in every direction. The rain blurs his vision, mixing with the tears of pain and fear. His mind races, searching for a way out, a glimpse of the brotherly wisdom Ye-jun had imparted.
JUNG-HO'S FRIEND 2
(panting)
You're going to regret this, nerd!
The circle of bullies tightens, their faces twisted with the desire to crush Si-woo's newfound courage. He stumbles, and Jung-ho's friends pounce like a pack of hungry wolves.
Si-woo hits the ground hard, the rain bouncing off his back as fists and feet rain down on him. The pain is a symphony of agony, each blow a discordant note that threatens to drown out his thoughts.
SI-WOO
(whispering)
Ye-jun...
In the cacophony of the storm and the fight, Si-woo hears his brother's voice, a memory from their training sessions.Ye-jun's voice echoed in his mind, the memory of their training sessions flooding back. "Keep your chin down, eyes up," his brother had said, his own eyes serious as he demonstrated the stance. "Always be ready to dodge, to deflect." The words became a mantra, a beacon of hope in the storm of pain.
Remember, Si-woo, strength isn't just in your muscles. It's in your heart and your mind.
The sound of Ye-jun's voice echoes in Si-woo's head, giving him a moment of clarity amidst the chaos. He takes a deep breath, tasting the rainwater and the metallic tang of blood in his mouth.
SI-WOO
(screams)
Leave me alone!
With a sudden burst of adrenaline, Si-woo manages to break free from their grasp, rolling away from the barrage of fists and feet. He scrambles to his feet, his body a canvas of bruises and determination.
JUNG-HO
(panting)
You're going to pay for that!
The bullies regroup, their eyes filled with the frenzy of the hunt. Jung-ho's hand closes around a loose rock, his knuckles white with rage.
SI-WOO
(panting)
You... you can't do this to me!
As Jung-ho lifts the rock, ready to hurl it at Si-woo, a bolt of lightning cracks through the sky, illuminating the scene with a blinding flash. The thunder that follows seems to shake the very ground beneath them.
JUNG-HO
(laughing)
Looks like the heavens are on my side today!
He turns back to Si-woo, who's now on his hands and knees, gasping for breath. Jung-ho's friends, emboldened by the fear in Si-woo's eyes, leap at him like a pack of ravenous dogs.
SI-WOO
(desperately)
Please... stop!
Jung-ho's arm cocks back, ready to throw the rock, but the earth beneath them trembles violently. The tremor sends everyone stumbling, the ground groaning in protest. Jung-ho's arm falters, the rock slipping from his grasp.
The tremor subsides, leaving the children panting and off-balance. Jung-ho's friends look around in confusion, their eyes wide with fear. The air is thick with the scent of ozone and the promise of more rain.
JUNG-HO
(sneering)
What was that?
SI-WOO
(still on the ground)
I don't know...
JUNG-HO
(aggravated)
Who the hell was talking to you?
The tremor had been a common and not entirely unexpected event in Yohen, a town built on the cusp of a dormant volcanic valley. The tremors had become more frequent, a whisper of the earth's power growing restless beneath them.
JUNG-HO'S FRIEND 1
(frightened)
Let's go, Jung-ho. Maybe it's a sign.
JUNG-HO
(snarling)
He glares at his friends, his eyes burning with defiance.
JUNG-HO
(shouting over the rain)
I'm not running scared like a bunch of pussies!
Jung-ho's bravado is met with hesitant nods from his friends, their earlier excitement now diluted with fear. They exchange nervous glances, the tremor a stark reminder of the precarious world they live in.
JUNG-HO'S FRIEND 2
(swallows hard)
But, Jung-ho... the tremors...
JUNG-HO
(interrupts)
I said we're not going anywhere!
Si-woo, still on the ground, uses the distraction to crawl away from the group. Each movement sends waves of pain through his body, but he knows he has to escape before they turn their attention back to him.
The rain beats down on him as he drags himself across the wet asphalt, leaving a trail of blood and hope behind him. The tremor has shaken the earth, but not Jung-ho's resolve to maintain his dominance.
JUNG-HO
(to his friends)
You see that? He's trying to run again!
The bullies start to move towards Si-woo, but another tremor hits, more intense than the first. The ground shakes more violently, and the children stumble, their cries of fear swallowed by the thunder.
JUNG-HO'S FRIEND 1
(panicking)
Jung-ho, let's go! This isn't normal!
Jung-ho's eyes flicker with uncertainty, but his pride won't let him back down. He takes a step towards Si-woo, the rock now forgotten.
JUNG-HO
(shouting)
You think this scares me? I'm not like you, Si-woo!
The tremors cease as abruptly as they began, leaving an eerie silence in their wake. The rain continues to pummel the ground, the droplets a rhythmic drumbeat of tension.
Si-woo's vision swims as he tries to stand, his legs wobbly beneath him. The tremor has bought him a moment's reprieve, but the storm in Jung-ho's eyes shows no sign of abating.
SI-WOO
(desperately)
Please... Jung-ho... stop.
Jung-ho's fist connects with Si-woo's jaw, the impact sending him sprawling into the mud. The world spins, a kaleidoscope of pain and rain.
JUNG-HO
(triumphant)
You're not so tough now, are you?
The tremor hits again, more intense than before. The children scream, the sound piercing the storm's fury. The ground beneath them rumbles like an angry beast, and the schoolyard seems to come alive with the tremors. Jung-ho's friends grab onto each other, their fear palpable.
JUNG-HO'S FRIEND 2
(terrified)
We have to go! Now!
Jung-ho glances around, his face contorted with a mix of anger and fear. He kicks Si-woo once more before turning to his friends.
JUNG-HO
(snarling)
Fine. But this isn't over.
With that, Jung-ho and his friends scatter, leaving Si-woo alone in the rain-soaked schoolyard. The tremors have ceased, but the ground still feels unsteady beneath him. He struggles to get up, his body protesting with every movement.
The rain is a relentless assault, washing away the tears and blood that stain Si-woo's face. He blinks rapidly, trying to clear his vision, his mind racing with fear and pain. He's barely aware of the children running for cover, the schoolyard emptying around him.
SI-WOO
(whispers to himself)
Home... I need to get home.
With a Herculean effort, Si-woo manages to stand, his legs threatening to give out at any moment. He stumbles away from the scene of the fight, each step a battle against the pain and the rain.
The schoolyard blurs into a kaleidoscope of pain and rain. The world tilts on its axis, and suddenly everything goes black.
…
When Si-woo comes to, he's lying on his back, the rain pummeling his face. He coughs, tasting mud and blood, and pushes himself up to his elbows. His head spins, and he retches, but nothing comes out.
SI-WOO
(weakly)
Home...
The word is a prayer, a promise to himself that he'll find the strength to keep going. His eyes scan the deserted schoolyard, the puddles reflecting the grey sky above. He struggles to his feet, swaying like a drunkard.
The rain hammers down, a cruel reminder of the storm Si-woo has just faced. He stumbles through the schoolyard, his vision swimming with pain and fatigue. Each step is a victory, each breath a battle. The schoolyard is now a blur of colors, the buildings leaning in as if whispering dark secrets about the earth's unrest.
Si-woo's house comes into view, a beacon of warmth and safety amidst the cold, unforgiving rain. He drags himself through the gate, his teeth chattering. Each step closer feels like a mile conquered.