Kai stood his ground, his hands shaking as he stared at Jin. The hallway seemed to grow narrower, the space between them closing in, suffocating. His chest felt tight, his breath shallow, but he couldn’t let Jin see any of it. He couldn’t let him win. The Soul Ledger was still in his backpack, its weight pressing against him, reminding him of the power he held. But he had made his decision. He wasn’t going to use it, no matter how much he wanted to make Jin pay.

Jin’s smirk widened as he stepped closer, his towering frame casting a shadow over Kai. “What’s the matter, Kai? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” His voice was laced with mockery, the sneer in his tone clear as day.

Kai clenched his fists tighter, willing himself not to react. He could feel the heat rising in his face, the familiar anger bubbling just beneath the surface. “I’m not afraid of you, Jin,” he said, his voice quieter than he intended, but steady enough to keep the tremor out.

Jin’s laugh echoed down the hallway, catching the attention of a few passing students. They glanced over, some with mild curiosity, others with pity. Kai hated that look—the one that said they expected him to lose, to crumble under the weight of Jin’s cruelty like he always did.

“You’re not afraid of me?” Jin repeated, as if the very idea was absurd. He took another step forward, so close now that Kai could smell the faint scent of cheap cologne. “You’ve got a funny way of showing it, loser.”

Kai could feel his heartbeat pounding in his ears. His body was telling him to run, to get out of there before things escalated, but his feet were rooted to the ground. He had to stand his ground, just like Minseo had told him. He couldn’t let Jin keep walking all over him.

“Why don’t you just back off?” Kai said, his voice firmer now. His heart was racing, adrenaline coursing through his veins, but he kept his gaze steady on Jin’s face. “I don’t want any trouble.”

Jin’s eyes narrowed, the smirk falling away. He didn’t like being challenged, even in the smallest way. “Trouble? You think you can tell me what to do?” His voice grew darker, more menacing. “You don’t get to tell me anything, Kai. You’re nothing.”

Kai’s stomach twisted, but he stood his ground. He could feel the Ledger in his backpack again, like a lifeline pulling him toward it. He could end this, make Jin disappear. The temptation was so strong, stronger than he wanted to admit. But he couldn’t give in. Not like Hana had.

“I’m done letting you push me around,” Kai said, surprising himself with the strength in his voice.

Jin’s expression shifted, surprise flashing briefly in his eyes before his usual cruelty returned. “Oh, you’re done, huh? What’s gotten into you? Did someone finally grow a pair?”

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The taunts were familiar, the same old words he had heard a hundred times before. But this time, they didn’t hit as hard. Kai wasn’t the same scared kid he had been when this started. He wasn’t powerless anymore, and Jin could sense it. Kai could see it in the way Jin’s eyes flickered with uncertainty, even if only for a moment.

But Jin wasn’t about to back down. He leaned in, his voice lowering to a dangerous whisper. “Let me tell you how this is gonna go. You’re going to walk away, like the little coward you are, and you’re going to stay out of my way. Got it?”

Kai’s heart pounded in his chest, every muscle in his body screaming at him to fight back, to do something, anything. But instead, he let out a slow breath, unclenching his fists. “I’m not going to fight you, Jin. It’s not worth it.”

Jin’s lips curled into a sneer, clearly unsatisfied with the lack of reaction. “You’re pathetic, you know that?” He reached out and shoved Kai hard in the chest.

Kai stumbled back a step, but he didn’t fall. He caught himself, his body tensing as he steadied his footing. His heart raced, the anger flaring up again, hotter and more intense than before. His hands itched to grab the Ledger, to open it and write Jin’s name down right then and there. But he didn’t.

“Go ahead,” Jin said, leaning in close, his voice dripping with malice. “Hit me. Do it. I dare you.”

Kai stared at him, his breath shallow, his fists trembling at his sides. He could feel the Ledger’s presence in his backpack, the power inside it calling to him, urging him to end this once and for all. But he couldn’t. He wouldn’t.

Instead, he let out a slow breath, forcing himself to relax. “I’m not going to give you what you want,” he said quietly.

Jin’s sneer faltered for a moment, his eyes narrowing. “What the hell’s wrong with you?”

Kai straightened up, his heart still racing, but his resolve stronger than ever. “I’m not afraid of you anymore, Jin. You can’t control me.”

For a moment, Jin looked genuinely confused, as if he couldn’t comprehend what was happening. Then, his face twisted into a scowl. “You’re delusional. You’re always going to be afraid of me.”

Kai shook his head, his voice steady now. “No, I’m not.”

Jin glared at him for a long moment, his fists clenched at his sides. Kai could see the anger simmering beneath the surface, the frustration of not getting the reaction he wanted. But instead of lashing out, Jin just shook his head in disgust.

“Whatever, loser,” he spat, turning away. “You’re not worth my time.”

As Jin walked away, his footsteps echoing down the hallway, Kai stood there, his heart pounding, his body trembling. He had done it. He had stood up to Jin, and he hadn’t used the Ledger. The realization hit him like a wave, and he let out a shaky breath, feeling the tension slowly drain from his body.

But even as he stood there, the Ledger still called to him, a faint whisper in the back of his mind. The temptation hadn’t gone away. It was still there, lurking, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Later that night, Kai lay in his bed, staring up at the ceiling. The Soul Ledger sat on his desk, untouched, but its presence weighed heavily on him. He had won this battle, but he knew the war was far from over. The power inside that book was too strong, too tempting to resist forever.

The thought of writing Jin’s name still lingered in his mind, like an itch he couldn’t scratch. He had resisted today, but what about tomorrow? Or the next day? How long could he keep resisting before the anger, the pain, the fear became too much to bear?

As he lay there, his mind racing, Hana’s voice echoed in his thoughts again. “You’re not done, Kai. This isn’t over.”

He closed his eyes, trying to block her out, but her words were like a stain, impossible to wash away.