Hajoon was determined to get as strong as he could be. With this combat training, he could go further, so he did as he was told.
A hundred punches. A hundred kicks. Time wasting but Hajoon could feel the strength.
It was five o'clock in the morning and it would take an hour or more for him to go to school. Now all that was left was the three-kilometer run.
Which he surprisingly completed, panting heavily as he had come from a war, "Agh! Finally!... I did it," he said as he sat on the nearest bench.
[DAILY COMBAT TRAINING COMPLETED]
Reward:
+15 Strength
+10 Endurance
50 EXP
LEVEL UP!
LEVEL: 2
+2 Stat Points Available!
+5 Health Points Available!
+3 Stamina Points Available!
Hajoon's body began to glow and slowly, his fatigue began to wear off, his body feeling quite lighter now, "Whoa," he muttered, "This is amazing. I never knew this happened anytime I levelled up!"
Now that this was over and Hajoon was satisfied with the given results, it was time for him to head home and prepare for school the next day, and another day of working at the retail store.
He had to work, it was the only way and besides it seemed that the system forced him to.
>> QUEST: WORKAHOLIC<<
• SPEND THREE HOURS AT THE RETAIL STORE AND AWAIT YOUR NEXT OBJECTIVE.
As he left the park where he had jogged, Mary Choi happened to be in the same area and she watched Hajoon intently, almost like she was following him.
Back at Kang Ministry School, a new day for a session had begun. Hajoon found himself receiving glares from students.
"Hold on.... That's Hajoon Stacy.."
"Yeah, it really is him. I heard he defeated Park Seok-Jin in a fight."
"Yeah, that's really shocking.."
Hajoon ignored the glares and whispers, making his way into his classroom where he sat and prepared for lessons. He turned to the seat where Nathaniel was supposed to be only to find it empty.
"Hm?" he muttered, "Nathaniel didn't come to school today."
Now Hajoon could only ponder on the thought of where Nathaniel could be. Was he sick? No, if he were, he would be the first to know.
Before anything else could be thought of, the teacher had arrived.
"Alright settle down everybody!"
Hajoon took a long sigh. Who knew where his friend could be? As he readied himself for today's class, someone sat themselves next to him, on the seat that was meant for Nathaniel.
Oh, could that be him? Hajoon thought. He turned only for his thoughts to end up being wrong.
It wasn't Nathaniel who was there. Sitting beside him was none other than Kim Da-Rin, a saddened expression on her face, possibly sad that her stupid boyfriend was beaten by him.
Hajoon stared at the girl beside him. If she were here, who was in her own seat? He turned, his eyes fixed on the front desk in the third row next to the entrance of the classroom.
Mary Choi, the girl who tackled him in martial arts class.
What in the actual fuck is this?
That whole day felt like a fever dream. Or it could be a fever dream for all he knew.
After class was over, Hajoon was finally able to speak to Nathaniel over the phone and he was ready for the news that would come. As he walked in the hallway, he let out a scream that prompted some students to look his way.
"What?! Are you serious?! You're relocating?!"
"Yeah, unfortunately," said Nathaniel over the phone. "My dad got a new business offer and has to travel very often for it. Very sorry, Hajoon but we won't be able to deal with that kind of stress."
Hajoon sighed, "You're right," he muttered, then he remembered something. "Hold on! When I passed out... The bills! Who-"
"Take care of yourself Hajoon," Nathaniel cut it. "Thank me however you can when we meet soon."
--
With that, the line went silent and Hajoon was left alone. He took a long hard sigh and made his way home where he prepared for his shift at the retail store.
Ever since he got that job, his peers at Kang Ministry School never allowed him to hear the end of it.
Park Seok-Jin and his gang usually came in to bother him and extort money from the cash register and poor Hajoon had to pay back everything.
Now he was sure that he could rest. When he arrived in the evening, he greeted his boss, Oh Kwang-Soo, a middle-aged man who had a calm demeanor but was very strict in most cases.
"Ah, Hajoon," he muttered with a smile, "Glad to see you here."
"Sorry I was late sir," Hajoon said.
"It's fine," Kwang-Soo replied, "Now, please always ensure to come early next time please."
"I will!"
With that, Kwang-Soo had left, leaving Hajoon alone.
The night had stretched long. Though, customers showed up in most cases, Hajoon sighed, the boredom evident in his breath, he scrolled through his phone, watching moon-tube videos but that did nothing of course.
At some point his vision had even become dizzy despite having glasses on, "Ugh!" he muttered, resting his head on the counter, "What an awful day. I've never been so bored in my life."
As he complained, the sound of the retail glass doors opening echoed.
A new customer had arrived.
Hajoon raised his head, "Welcome to the store," he said, trying to greet the customer but there was no one there.
He looked around from his end, trying to find who it could be but he found no trace of anybody.
Could it be that the place was haunted? That feeling left Hajoon shaken.
Though, he wasn't sure that the ghost existed, he was indeed just acting like an idiot.
Maybe it could be a robber.
Curious, Hajoon grabbed a steel bat he had recently bought and stepped over the counter then he made his way towards the aisles.
"I-Is anyone there?!" he asked out loud.
Idiot, no robber or poltergeist is going to answer you. As he moved further, he was greeted with a cold feeling and the idea that he was being watched.
The same feeling he felt back at school. Was he being stalked? Who could find interest in him to the point that he would be stalked?
Seeing that no one was in the store, Hajoon took in a deep breath and finally let out, his grip on the bat weakened. Then he heard it, footsteps behind him.
He swiftly turned, ready to strike only to find someone.
It was Kim Da-Rin, the girl who set him up and she was terrified, "Ah!" she screamed, her hands on her head. "Please don't hurt me!"
Kim Da-Rin? What is she doing here?
Hajoon let out a sigh, "O-oh, I'm really sorry," he said, trying to keep it cool despite not being fond of her, "I thought you were some intruder."
As his doubts were cleared, Hajoon noticed something. She was still in uniform and it was covered with stains.
Not to mention, the uneasy look on her face. Both were quiet for a while until Hajoon decided to ask the question, "Uh.. your outfit...." he wanted to ask.
"Hey, what's taking you so long," a voice cut in.
Behind the girl stood a young man who looked a year older than him. Now Hajoon noticed that the girl was more uneasy.
The system flashed.
[AN INCOMING THREAT ARRIVES]
An incoming threat? Hajoon thought. Could it be the young man who happened to be in a school uniform as well?
This meant he could be a student but he didn't look like he was from their school.
Hajoon watched as the male student put his arms around the girl, "There you are, Kim Da-Rin," he said calmly, "Did you get lost on your way here? Sorry, my girlfriend tends to get lost sometimes."
Girlfriend my ass. This girl looks petrified.
Now Hajoon was suspicious, "Is she really your girlfriend?" he asked, his protective instincts taking over him.
If he could recall, Park Seok-Jin was the one in a relationship with her.
"Yeah," the guy replied coldly. "Are you saying I'm a liar?"
Hajoon was terrified, but he had to keep it cool, "N-not at all," he said.
Da-Rin finally spoke, "Sorry," she said, taking out a bag of chips, "I just wanted to ask how much this was."
Though Hajoon knew otherwise, it was best to leave it behind for now, "Oh," he muttered, acting confused, "Well, don't worry. It's on the house."
"Th-thank you!"
"Come on Da-Rin," said the male student, "Since the nice young man offered this for free, let's get back home."
With that, both of them had left, but of course, Hajoon wasn't buying any lies that were spat.
At the alleyway, close to the store, the male student Da-Rin across the face, "You stupid bitch," he said, "I told you to go in quietly and snag me a pack of cigarettes."
"I-I'm so sorry," Da-Rin cried.
"Sorry ain't gonna cut it," he said, grabbing the girl by the collar, "You're going to receive every beating I give you till my anger is quenched."
As the young man raised his hand to strike, he was stopped by something. He turned to face Hajoon Stacy who stood with a cold expression on his face.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" he asked.
[POP-UP BATTLE]
• Save the Girl!
• REWARDS: ???