The school gates were starting to get closer in front of the boys, the familiar feeling of exhaustion that usually filled the air for Daewon, gave a slight sense of stress before the day even began. But even so, everything today felt… different. Not better nor easier, just different.
Jinwoo walked beside him, his hands in his hoodie pockets, glancing at Daewon from time to time like he was making sure he wouldn't suddenly collapse and start panicking.
"Stop staring at me, Jinwoo. I'm alright." Daewon muttered.
Jinwoo scoffed as he turned his head to face him. "Alright, alright mister indestructible. I was just making sure you wouldn't pass out and embarrass me in front of all these people."
Daewon gave him a side-eye as he continued to walk alongside him. "Oh, so this is about your little reputation?" He said teasingly
"Hell yeah, what else would it be about" Jinwoo said with a smirk. "Can't have my loser big bro ruining my image."
Daewon rolled his eyes but found himself smirking despite being the victim to Jinwoo's small jokes.
The walk to school felt quite different from what it used to be. Normally, he would be alone, keeping his head down like always, avoiding unnecessary interactions, making himself not be seen at all, like a ghost. But now, having Jinwoo beside him, joking, talking, laughing with him, made the usual routine feel less suffocating and boring.
As they got close to the entrance, both Daewon and Jinwoo stopped walking. "You sure you're good to part ways here? I mean I could walk you to your class then go to my class after. I'll even hold your hand if you want, in case you'll be scared" he chuckled
Daewon shrugged. "So funny, more like I'll pick your fainted body off the ground before we even get there. I have to warn you that my year is no joke lil bro. But yeah don't worry I'm fine, really."
"Are you mocking me?! But seriously, you don't have to act tough, you know." Jinwoo didn't really look convinced.
Daewon exhaled through his nose. "And you don't have to worry so much."
Jinwoo scoffed but didn't argue.
They finally set foot on the campus, the usual chatter between students filling the air. Groups of classmates walking together, laughing, gossiping, completely unaware of everything Daewon had gone through the night before.
A few people glanced at him, probably noticing the bruises on his face and under his uniform collar, but no one said anything, they just didn't bother to care.
Jinwoo elbowed him. "Alright, I'm heading to my class. You sure you're good bro?"
Daewon rolled his eyes. "Yes, Jinwoo. I'll survive."
Jinwoo stared at him for a second longer before sighing. "Alright. See you later then. Remember, if you need any help, don't hesitate to call me, I'm your hero after all." he chuckled.
He turned and walked off, but not before shooting one last glance over his shoulder, like he was making sure Daewon wouldn't disappear.
Daewon let out a slow breath before heading toward his classroom.
The moment he stepped inside, he felt eyes watching him.
Conversations paused just long enough for people to notice his bruises, quiet whispers echoing through the room.
Daewon ignored them. He wasn't in the mood for any questions.
He sat in his seat, setting his bag down, resting his arms on the desk. His body still ached from the earlier beat down, but at least it wasn't that unbearable.
A shadow took appearance over his desk.
"Well, you look like shit," a familiar voice spoke.
Daewon sighed before looking up.
Hyeri stood beside his desk, arms crossed, her sharp eyes scanning him like she was analyzing a problem that needed solving.
"Good morning to you too, Hyeri" Daewon yawned.
Hyeri didn't sit down right away. She stared at him for a moment before finally sighing and sitting into her seat next to him.
"Who was it?" she asked, voice quieter now.
"Who was what?" Daewon played dumb while Hyeri threw him a long look. "Who did that to you?" he looked away. "No one important."
Hyeri glared at him for a second. "That's a lie."
Daewon let out a slow breath, but he didn't argue.
She tapped her fingers against the desk. "Are you okay, Daewon?"
"I'm here, aren't I?" he looks away while mumbling under his breath.
Hyeri sighed, shaking her head. "That's not an answer."
Daewon didn't know how to respond to that. He was here. He was fine, at least physically The rest? He wasn't sure himself.
Hyeri seemed to sense his hesitation. "I saw you that night, remember?" she reminded him. "At the store. You didn't look fine then, and you sure as hell don't look fine now."
Daewon glanced at her. She wasn't pushing him, but she wasn't letting this go either.
"I just don't want to see you showing up like this," she added.
Daewon let out a quiet chuckle. "Didn't know you cared so much, even tho we met recently."
Hyeri rolled her eyes. "Oh I don't. You just look pathetic."
Daewon smirked. "Noted."
The classroom filled up quickly, and before long, the teacher walked in, starting the lesson.
Daewon tried to focus, but his thoughts kept drifting to the earlier incident.
The bastard that tortured him was still out there. Still walking around like he hadn't left Daewon bleeding in an alley.
But unlike before, Daewon didn't feel the urge to chase after him and get his revenge. There was no anger boiling in his chest, no ridiculous desire to fight back. Just a heavy weight sitting in his stomach, reminding him that he had lost again.
For now, that was enough to motivate him into training even more.
At lunch, Daewon barely touched his food.
Hyeri noticed, of course. "You're thinking too much," she said, stabbing a piece of rice with her chopsticks.
Daewon blinked at her. "That's a weird thing to say."
Hyeri shrugged. "It's true. You're overanalyzing something, and it's pissing you off."
Daewon sighed, setting his chopsticks down. "It's nothing."
Hyeri raised an eyebrow. "You know you're horrible at lying?"
Daewon didn't respond.
She clicked her tongue. "Look, whatever's on your mind, don't be an idiot and overthink it."
Daewon glanced at her. "That your way of showing concern?"
Hyeri rolled her eyes. "Duhh."
Daewon smirked and nodded. "Noted."
They ate in silence after that, but his thoughts kept shifting every now and then.
By the time school ended, Daewon still wasn't sure how he felt.
His body ached, but he had survived the day with Hyeri's help.
His family was watching him more closely, but they weren't suffocating him, but the exact opposite.
Joon was still out there, but Daewon wasn't in any rush to find him.
For now, he just wanted to move forward.
As he prepared to walk home by himself, a familiar voice called him from afar.
"Hyeri?" he stopped and glanced at her over his shoulder.