Home.
—
The door opened.
Lia entered first, tossing her backpack onto the couch.
— I'm home!
—
Ji-hoon came right after her, calmer.
— Mom, we're back.
—
Mari appeared from the kitchen.
— You took long enough...
She stopped.
— Where's Gu?
—
Silence.
—
Lia shrugged.
— Ah... he's probably taking a walk somewhere.
—
Mari's expression changed instantly.
— What?
—
She dropped what she was holding.
— You left him wandering around alone?!
—
— Relax, Mom—
Ji-hoon tried.
— Relax nothing!
She crossed her arms, worried.
— That boy isn't "normal"...
A pause.
— I hope he doesn't cause trouble...
—
Cut.
—
Square. Night.
—
Gu Gun finished his cigarette.
He tossed it to the ground.
Stepped on it.
—
Then turned around.
—
Eight guys.
—
— You bastard!
One of them charged forward.
— I lost my bike because of you!
— I'm gonna break you!
—
Chains.
Bats.
Wooden sticks.
—
They rushed him.
—
The first one ran straight in.
Without thinking.
—
Gu Gun didn't move.
—
He only raised his leg.
—
PAH!
—
A dry kick to the face.
—
Ap Chagi (앞차기) — a Taekwondo front kick. Fast, direct, explosive.
—
The impact hit his nose.
—
CRACK.
—
The guy flew backward and hit the ground hard.
—
— SON OF A—!
—
Another came swinging a wooden plank.
Aiming for Gu's head.
—
Gu ducked.
—
Placed both hands on the ground.
—
Spun his body.
—
WHAM!
—
A low circular kick smashed into the man's face.
—
Meia-lua de compasso (Capoeira) — a spinning kick with hand support, using the whole body's force.
—
The guy spun and crashed down.
—
Another rushed in with a bat.
—
Gu didn't step back.
—
He jumped.
—
BAM!
—
Both feet straight into the man's face.
—
Double kick.
Full body weight.
—
The body dropped limp.
—
People nearby started noticing.
—
— What's happening over there?
— Is that a fight?!
— Bro... record this!
—
Phones went up.
—
One of the bigger guys charged in.
Heavier.
Confident.
—
He lowered his stance.
Trying to grab Gu.
—
— Got you!
—
But—
—
Stopped.
—
Gu was holding his shoulder.
Locking the movement in place.
—
The man's eyes widened.
— W-what...?
—
KNEE.
—
TO THE FACE.
—
Blood sprayed out.
—
Gu sighed.
—
— Wrestling...
Low voice.
—
— I see.
—
The man tried to recover his balance.
—
Gu moved first.
—
The man thought:
"He's going to grapple me."
—
He prepared his defense.
—
Mistake.
—
Gu slipped off the line.
—
His hand slid along the arm.
—
Rose to the neck.
—
And—
—
THUD!
—
He slammed him into the ground.
—
Ikkyo (Aikido) — arm control with shoulder pressure, breaking balance and forcing a takedown.
Simple.
Efficient.
—
Another came from behind.
Wood raised high.
—
Gu turned.
—
HOOK.
—
Straight to the jaw.
—
The guy blacked out before he even fell.
—
— My God...
— Is this real?!
— No way...
—
Four left.
—
— LET'S GO!
—
They came together.
—
Gu lowered himself.
—
Caught one's legs.
—
Scissor Takedown (Capoeira) — dropping an opponent using both legs.
—
The man hit the ground hard.
—
Gu spun his body.
—
Rose with momentum.
—
A spinning airborne kick.
—
Hit another in the face.
—
Without stopping—
—
He rushed forward.
—
Direct kick.
—
PAH!
—
Another dropped.
—
The last one tried to back away.
—
Too late.
—
Gu spun in the air.
—
360° Kick (Taekwondo)
—
His foot landed clean.
—
The man fell flat.
—
Silence.
—
Bodies on the ground.
—
Heavy breathing all around.
—
Phones still recording.
—
— Bro...
— What was that...
— That guy's a monster...
—
Gu looked around.
No emotion.
—
He crouched.
Picked up a pack of cigarettes from one of them.
—
Lit one.
—
Took a drag.
—
Bodies scattered everywhere.
—
Smoke rising.
—
— ...
—
He turned.
—
And walked away.
—
As if nothing had happened.
—
Behind him—
—
— Dude...
— This is going viral...
—
And someone had already sent the video.
—
Without knowing...
—
To the wrong person.
—
Elevator.
—
Gu Gun entered.
Silence.
—
Before the doors closed—
A hand stopped them.
—
Letícia's father stepped in.
—
Suit perfectly aligned.
Rigid posture.
—
A shopping bag in one hand.
A book in the other.
—
They stood side by side.
—
Heavy silence.
—
The man glanced sideways.
—
— You're not from here... are you?
—
Gu stayed silent.
—
The elevator rose.
—
— I don't know where you came from...
— Nor what you want here.
—
A pause.
—
— But stay away from my daughter.
—
Silence.
—
Gu answered.
Cold.
Direct.
— I was never close.
—
DING.
—
The doors opened.
—
Gu stepped out.
Without looking back.
—
— Kids these days...
the man muttered.
—
Hallway.
—
Two doors.
Facing each other.
—
Each entered their own home.
—
House.
—
Gu opened the door.
—
KNIFE!
—
A blade stabbed into the wall.
Right beside his head.
—
— HEY, BRAT!
Mari.
Sharp eyes.
—
— WHERE WERE YOU?!
—
Gu looked at the knife.
Then at her.
He sighed.
—
— Went for a walk.
— To see the city.
—
In the living room—
Lia and Ji-hoon.
On their knees.
Hands raised.
—
— I told him, Mom...
Lia whined.
—
— Shut up!
Mari snapped.
—
She looked back at Gu.
—
— Did you get into a fight?
—
Silence.
—
— No.
—
A pause.
—
— I'm taking a shower.
—
He walked past her.
—
She stepped closer.
Sniffing him.
—
Gu froze.
Took a step back.
—
— Are you crazy?
—
She narrowed her eyes.
—
— Hmmm...
— Just checking.
—
Gu went upstairs.
Muttering low:
— Crazy woman...
—
Bathroom.
—
Mirror.
—
Gu stopped.
—
Looked at his own reflection.
—
Wet hair.
Sunken eyes.
—
For a second—
—
Bodies on the ground.
Blood.
Heavy breathing.
—
The smell of cigarettes.
—
Silence.
—
He looked away.
—
Stepped into the shower.
—
Water falling.
—
— ...
—
Low.
Almost inaudible:
— South Koreans...
—
A pause.
—
— too weak.
—
Water running down.
—
Cut.
—
Living room.
—
KNOCK KNOCK.
—
His aunt opened the door.
—
— Friend!
—
The neighbor.
Smiling.
Holding a bowl.
—
— It's been a while, right?
— I brought food.
—
His aunt's face lit up.
—
— Come in!
Tonight is perfect!
—
The neighbor entered.
—
Behind her—
Her children.
—
And then—
Her husband.
—
Uncle came downstairs.
—
The two men greeted each other.
Firm handshake.
—
— Long time.
— Far too long.
—
Everyone got settled.
—
Light conversations.
Laughter.
—
An atmosphere...
Normal.
—
Stairs.
—
Footsteps.
—
Gu came down.
—
Loose shirt.
Light pants.
Towel over his head.
—
He stopped.
—
Looked.
—
Families gathered.
—
The neighbor's four children.
—
The father.
The mother.
—
And then—
—
Letícia.
—
She raised her eyes.
—
Their gazes met.
—
Silence.
—
Something in the air changed.
—
Gu said nothing.
—
But this time...
he didn't look away.
—
End.