Soojin jolted awake, drenched in sweat. His chest heaved as he clutched the sheets.
The image of a white figure lingered in his mind, its presence both haunting and unexplainable.
It said something to him.
But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t make out the words.
Soojin sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the floor.
"What’s happening to me?" he whispered to no one.
Chapter 7
The Spark of Conflict
The walk to school was tense. Every step felt heavier, every glance sharper.
When Soojin entered the gates, silence fell over the crowd.
“...That’s him,” someone murmured.
“The one who took down the seniors...”
Soojin ignored them and kept walking. The weight of their stares made him clench his fists.
In the distance, Ara stood near her classroom window, watching.
Her eyes narrowed as she noticed something.
“He’s still the same...” Ara muttered under her breath.
She turned away, disappointed.
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The cafeteria buzzed with activity. Soojin sat alone in the corner, eating quietly.
Then, he noticed them.
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Three students stood near the doorway, their eyes fixed on him.
Rank 8: Min-jae. A tall, lanky guy with a sharp jawline and a cocky smirk.
Rank 7: Seung-ho. Stocky and muscular, with a reputation for being relentless in fights.
Rank 6: Ji-won. Calm and composed, often seen as the brains of the group.
“Is that really him?” Min-jae whispered, his voice laced with doubt.
“He doesn’t look like much,” Seung-ho scoffed, folding his arms.
Ji-won didn’t say a word. He observed Soojin closely, his sharp eyes narrowing as he analyzed him.
Soojin tried to ignore them, but their presence was suffocating.
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On the other side of cafeteria someone was sharply observing soojin.
That other person is non other than Ara.
Ara leaned against the wall, sipping her drink. Her gaze flicked between Soojin and the ranked bullies.
“They’re curious...” she muttered to herself.
An idea struck her. A smirk crossed her lips.
She approached the ranked bullies casually, her presence commanding their attention.
“Yo,” she said.
The three bullies turned to her, surprised.
“What do you want, Ara?” one of them asked.
“I heard you’re interested in Soojin.”
The tallest of the group sneered. “Why would we care about some nobody?”
Ara’s eyes sparkled with mischief.
“He’s the one who took down those seniors last week.”
“No way.”
Ara nodded. “He doesn’t look like much, does he? But I saw it with my own eyes. He’s stronger than he seems.”
The ranked bullies exchanged glances.
“So, what are you saying?” one of them asked.
Ara shrugged. “I’m just saying... if you’re curious, why not test him? If he’s weak, you’ll prove everyone wrong. If he’s strong, well... wouldn’t that be fun?”
Her words were calculated, her tone playful.
The bullies grinned. “Fine. Let’s see if this ‘Soojin’ is as tough as people say.”
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The three ranked bullies approached Soojin’s table.
He looked up, his expression blank.
“Park Soojin,” one of them said.
Soojin didn’t reply.
“We’ve heard a lot about you,” another bully said, smirking. “We want to see if the rumors are true.”
Soojin frowned. “What rumors?”
The tallest bully leaned in. “That you’re some kind of badass who beat the seniors. We challenge you to a fight. After school.”
Soojin shook his head. “I’m not interested.”
The bully slammed his hand on the table, making the tray jump. “That wasn’t a request.”
Soojin sighed. “I don’t want any trouble.”
The bullies exchanged knowing smiles.
“You don’t have a choice,” the tallest one said. “Be there. Or we’ll come find you.”
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Soojin stood near the back of the school, the sun dipping low on the horizon.
Around him, a crowd began to gather.
The three ranked bullies arrived, flanked by a gang of 30 students.
Soojin’s stomach tightened. He knew he couldn’t back out now.
The leader of the group stepped forward, cracking his knuckles.
Let’s see what you’re really made of.