Infirmary.
The smell of alcohol was strong.
White lights.
An uncomfortable silence.
—
"Be careful on the stairs, boys… that was a nasty fall."
The nurse spoke casually while writing on her clipboard.
As if it were just another accident.
—
On the bed—
He gritted his teeth.
Swollen face.
Split lip.
Shaking fists.
"I'm going to kill that bastard…"
Low.
Filled with hatred.
—
The nurse sighed.
"Rest. You need to stay still."
—
She left.
Door closed.
—
Silence.
…click.
The sound of the door opening again.
Slow.
—
He turned his head.
"...Who—"
Stopped.
—
A boy.
Leaning against the door.
Hands in pockets.
Empty eyes.
"How did you get in here?"
Cold.
Suspicious.
—
The boy shrugged.
"I have my ways."
A pause.
"Let's get to the point."
His gaze grew heavier.
"Jack wants to know about the money."
—
Silence.
—
Dae-Hyun froze for a second.
Swallowed hard.
—
"You know the amount."
The boy continued:
"Rich kid school...
Higher payment."
—
His eyes moved over Dae-Hyun's injured body.
"But it looks like you've been... busy."
—
Dae-Hyun clenched his fists.
"Give me some time."
Heavy breathing.
"I'll get it."
—
Silence.
"I'll get double."
—
The boy tilted his head slightly.
"Double?"
—
"There's a guy here…"
His eyes filled with rage.
"Rich.
Very rich."
A pause.
"Nephew of the BTM owner."
—
The room suddenly felt heavier.
—
The boy stayed silent for a few seconds.
Thinking.
Then—
"I understand."
—
He stepped forward.
"I'll hold Jack off for now."
—
Dae-Hyun relaxed...
For one second.
"But—"
—
His tone changed.
Cold.
Sharp.
"If you're lying…"
—
He stepped closer.
Close enough to make it clear.
"I'll kill you myself."
—
Absolute silence.
—
Dae-Hyun swallowed hard.
—
The boy turned around.
Walking to the door.
"Run, little dog."
He opened it.
"The clock has already started ticking.
Tick...
Tock..."
—
The door closed.
—
Silence.
Heavy breathing.
Dae-Hyun's eyes trembled.
Rage.
Fear.
Desperation.
He gripped the bedsheets.
"I have to get that guy…"
—
Darkness.
---
The classroom door opened.
"Sit down."
—
The teacher entered.
Firm posture.
Tired eyes.
The noise disappeared.
As if nothing had happened before.
—
Letícia pulled out a chair.
And sat beside Gu.
He looked at her.
For a second.
Then looked away.
A light sigh.
—
Class began.
"Today we'll talk about one of the most important moments in our history…"
The teacher turned to the board.
"The Korean War."
—
Silence.
He began writing.
Dates.
Names.
"After World War II, the Korean Peninsula was divided into two sides...
North and South."
—
The class paid attention.
"The North, supported by the Soviet Union...
The South, by the United States."
—
Gu stayed quiet.
Watching.
"In 1950...
The war began."
—
The teacher walked around the room.
"Families were separated.
Cities were destroyed.
Thousands of lives were lost."
His voice became heavier.
"To this day...
The two Koreas still live in tension."
—
Silence.
The teacher turned around.
"Let's see if you were paying attention."
—
The tension changed.
"You."
He pointed at the first student.
"When did the war begin?"
"1950, sir."
"Correct."
—
He continued.
"Choi Hyun-joon."
The snake slowly raised his head.
Light smile.
"Who supported South Korea?"
"The United States and its allies."
"Correct."
—
Hyun-joon tilted his head slightly.
Satisfied.
"Jay."
Jay clicked his tongue.
"What marked the armistice?"
—
Silence.
"…"
"Hmm?"
Jay frowned.
"No idea."
Low laughter spread.
Hyun-joon smirked.
"As always…"
"Shut up," Jay growled.
—
"Letícia."
She adjusted her hair.
"What parallel divides the Koreas?"
She froze for a second.
"...3?"
"Incorrect."
—
Silence.
The teacher looked around.
"Gu Gun."
The room went quiet.
He didn't even lift his head.
"The 38th Parallel."
—
Silence.
"…"
"Correct."
—
Some girls whispered.
"He's smart…"
"And handsome…"
"Oh my God…"
—
The teacher narrowed his eyes.
"Then let's continue."
—
Question after question.
"Who signed the armistice?
Which city was most affected?
What was the international impact?"
—
Gu answered every one.
Without hesitation.
Without emotion.
—
Silence in the classroom.
"…"
"How...?"
The teacher muttered.
"He isn't even from here…"
A pause.
"This boy…"
Almost shocked:
"...is a genius?"
—
The bell rang.
Class ended.
Teacher change.
Noise returned.
—
Letícia turned slightly.
"You're pretty smart…"
Silence.
Gu ignored her.
"How do you know all that?"
Nothing.
She smiled.
Eyes closed.
"Hmm... tell me?"
—
He looked at her.
Then looked away.
—
Jay slammed his hand on the desk.
"You're acting way too proud for a transfer student."
—
Silence.
Gu didn't answer.
"You hearing me, asshole?"
Nothing.
Jay stood up.
"I'm talking to you."
—
THROW.
A chair flew.
SLAMMED into the wall beside Gu.
Letícia jumped.
"Hey!"
—
Gu slowly turned his head.
Jay was already walking toward him.
Hyun-joon sighed.
"...he lost it."
—
Jay got close.
"You piece of trash.
Think you're better than everyone?"
—
Letícia tried to step in.
"Hey, calm down! He just—"
—
Gu stood up.
Hands in pockets.
Facing him.
Even though he was shorter—
His gaze rose upward.
Cold.
Heavy.
—
Silence.
At the back—
Tae-yong raised his head.
"What the hell are you idiots doing…"
Half-open eyes.
"Cut that crap out."
—
Gu didn't even blink.
Jay bit his lip.
Even angrier.
"I do what I want!"
He attacked.
PUNCH.
Gu dodged.
Simple.
Without taking his hands out of his pockets.
"You trash..." Jay snarled.
—
Hyun-joon stepped between them.
"Enough."
Low tone.
"We're in the middle of class."
"So what?!" Jay shouted.
—
The snake's smile disappeared.
"I said…"
Cold eyes.
"Enough."
—
Silence.
The door opened.
"What is happening here?"
—
The teacher entered.
Looked at the broken chair.
Hyun-joon answered immediately:
"Nothing, teacher.
The chair broke by itself."
—
He was already picking it up.
Fixing things.
Natural.
Jay clicked his tongue.
Went back to his seat.
Gu sat down.
As if nothing had happened.
—
At the back—
Tae-yong glanced sideways.
"Hmm…"
"Who's that guy?"
Jay snorted.
"You only come here to sleep, idiot?
He's the new kid."
"Ah…"
Tae-yong closed his eyes.
"Whatever.
I'm going back to sleep.
Stop making noise."
—
Jay exploded.
"WHY DO YOU ONLY COME HERE TO SLEEP?!"
—
Silence.
The classroom returned to normal.
But the atmosphere...
Was no longer the same.
—
Gu Gun rested his chin on his hand.
Empty gaze.
But now—
Everyone was looking at him.
---
Cut.
The bell rang.
Classes were over.
—
Gu Gun stood up without saying a word.
Left the classroom as always—
Alone.
Footsteps behind him.
He didn't turn around.
"How long are you going to keep following me?"
—
Letícia appeared right behind him.
Walking casually.
"Well... we live in the same building."
She gave a light smile.
"We can walk together, right?"
—
Silence.
Gu Gun kept walking.
As if he hadn't heard her.
—
Further behind—
Lia was watching.
Eyes wide.
"Since when...?"
She pointed.
"You two are walking together?!"
—
Her friend froze.
Her heart shattered in real time.
"W-Who... who is she...?"
Her eyes filled with tears.
"He... he's mine... waaah…"
—
"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!"
Lia grabbed her head.
"Since when is he yours, you lunatic?!
I already told you to stay away from him!"
—
Up ahead—
Gu Gun didn't even turn around.
—
Letícia kept walking beside him.
Until—
She stopped.
—
A black car was parked nearby.
Dark windows.
Imposing.
"Ugh…"
She sighed.
"I guess I won't be walking back with you today."
—
She stepped closer.
Gave his shoulder a light tap.
"See you, Gu."
—
He looked.
Then saw—
The man inside the car.
Rigid posture.
Firm gaze.
Her father.
—
The two stared at each other for a second.
Gu Gun looked away.
And kept walking.
---
Night.
Quieter streets.
Silence.
Gu Gun walked alone.
No clear destination.
Until he stopped.
A park.
—
He sat on a bench.
Took out a cigarette.
Lit it.
Inhaled slowly.
—
Across from him—
A family.
Father, mother, and child.
"Dad, Dad! Look at this!"
The child ran, laughing.
"Hey, be careful not to fall!" the father laughed.
"You're going to get hurt like that," the mother smiled.
"I won't!"
The child spread his arms.
"I'm strong!"
—
The father approached.
Ruffled his hair.
"Strong, huh?
Then come here, champ."
—
He picked the child up.
Laughter.
Light.
Real.
—
Gu Gun watched.
In silence.
The cigarette burning between his fingers.
His eyes...
Lost.
—
And then—
Memory.
"You need to stop this!"
His own voice.
Younger.
"This is no life!"
"I do whatever I want!"
His mother's voice.
Sharp.
"I'm an adult!"
"You're acting like a child!"
—
SLAP.
The sharp sound echoed.
His face turned.
—
Silence.
"Respect me."
Cold.
"I control you."
—
He stood still.
No reaction.
Inside—
Breaking.
—
Present.
Gu Gun took a hard drag.
Smoke poured out heavy.
"…"
"Can't even suffer in peace…"
Low.
Cold.
—
He raised his eyes.
"How long are you going to keep following me?"
—
Silence.
Footsteps.
Eight people.
Coming out of the shadows.
Helmets.
Familiar faces.
The bikers.
And now—
They weren't alone.
—
One of them laughed.
"You thought it was over?"
Another spat on the ground.
"Tonight you're screwed."
—
Gu Gun stood up.
Slowly.
Empty eyes.
Cigarette still in his mouth.
"…"
He exhaled smoke.
"So that's it?"
Pause.
"You came in a group...
Just to find courage?"
—
Silence.
Heavy.
The night turned colder.
And the fight...
Was about to begin.
End.