[Kim's Pov]
15 years old, that's how old my body was during the program, this time my focus was figuring things out on what has happened to me and what's currently happening.
The first thing I did after waking up was eat breakfast, which was just store bought/cooked rice and jerky from a convenience store in front of the hotel, I had also extended my stay.
You may be wondering how I spoke to them? By pointing with my fingers and using actions of hand signals, though I still used English to talk along with it.
Anyways, I tried looking for phones but instead, I found out that it was impossible since I don't have any ID on me at all. So I focused on reverse translating things, there wasn't any books from Eng - Korea but there was Korea - Eng.
"Hello... Name... Kim Johns--... Jakga, Kim Jakga is... Name." I practiced in the mirror, using every bit of my memory from being forcibly watch K-drama alongside my step sister. I try to remember the sounds from the K-drama to speak.
*This is going to take a while... But more importantly, I don't have enough money. I have to find a way to steadily earn money if I want to live in a home.
Plus I need to go out more and confirm the timeline, cause if the scout/ lower rank of Manwol still exists, then Jimmy still hasn't joined the union and Kenny Ji isn't hospitalized yet.*
And so I began wandering around the streets of Yongsan, of course I had studied ahead of time in the words I needed to find job for money.
Though unfortunately, I wasn't able to get anywhere at all because clearly I still look younger than I thought I was. It's all because of my genes as a late bloomer, I could still remember when I turned 19, then I actually changed.
So in short, I'll still look the same for the next 4 years, "Yay...." even though the limits were clear as day, I didn't gave up looking for money.
And that's how I ended up getting into fights with brats, but not just anyone, I picked on the rich looking two faced thugs. However, so far it was very hard to do so, since somehow they mostly come in groups of 2 or more.
You could guess how things went for the next 4 days of money hunting;
The fights usually starts with me openly glaring at one of them, then it leads to a small escalation of insults— I repeated their own words in a mocking tone— before saying the words "Come... Bring it on."
*FWOOSH
Usually they start first with a punch, so I just did what I knew best, roll or block it off my forearms and shoulders before I countered with an elbow ram to either their thighs, side, torso, or specifically the center. After that I follow up with the classic headbutt.
*SWISH, POW! ×4
If multiple come at me then I ram or throw myself forward, angling my body to block, parry, or absorb most hits afterwards.
*WHAM!
Soon I had learned to thrust my knee into their stomachs during my guard stances, and that was very unexpectedly useful along with hammering my elbow to stop attacks.
Of course I didn't leave unscathed, I was covered in bruises but still I got out with more money than bruises. Though I was questioning if limping all the way back to the hotel was good.
"Ugh... I need to find a stable income fast, I don't want to do this every day!" I groaned while I applied pain relief patches on the bruises on my shoulders. "I also need to find Korean channels with English subtitles... Later!" he hissed again.
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Meanwhile
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[3rd Person's Pov]
"Yo! Phillip are we heading to that new pub in Yongsan?" a teenager with a red cap asked as they hopped onto the backseat of a motorcycle.
"Of course we are! Why wouldn't we try out something new?" a young teenager chuckles as he pulls down his mask, his hair pushed up, "We should let loose in new places before the end of middle school, so we can say that we've done it all."
This was Phillip Kim, the current top dog of imdo middle school.
And the ones with him is his group of loud friends, about 7 of them in total, revving bikes loudly through the streets as they made their way to Yongsan District.
Phillip parked his motorcycle by the parking lot, "Hey, why'd you asked about that Royce?" his cousin replied with a raised brow before an expression of realization, "Oh! You mean about coming here?"
"Yes" Phillip nods before taking a puff from his cigarette, "Why would you even want to ask, we're invincible now that I'm rolling with the union."
Royce Na just looked around and called for them the group to listen carefully. "Seriously, this better not be another prank rumor Royce" Eddie Moore groans in irritation.
"Listen, there's been rumors going around for the past few days. They say there's someone targeting thugs who are loaded— guys like us!— not just that but the guy who's doing all that is very fearless and strong, that they even went and beat some Manwol mother fuckers." Royce said in a matter of fact tone.
But as everyone listens to the rumors, they just couldn't believe something stupid, *This paranoid fuck!* ×5
Eddie Moore lightly smacked Royce by the head, "That's just some bullshit, those losers probably made it up so they can have yongsan to enjoy for themselves!"
The others nodded along but Phillip was thinking about it in a different way, *If this guy is real then beating him up would help me build up rep.*
After a long silence from Phillip, he just clapped his hand, "Let's just ignore it for now, we're here to have some fun!"
They cheered along, turning the mood around in seconds with just the mention of food, women and drinks. After that they entered the pub and secured a room to drink and party away from adults' eyes, not even an hour later the room was smelled like strong alcohol.
Phillip had decided to step out to breath and smoke a little, "Hah... This is the life--" he was taking a puff of smoke when he heard footsteps pausing behind him.
"Hey... Got 500 won?" the voice came from someone as young as Phillip, that's what he knew so he turned to the voice, and Phillip took a good assessment.
Phillip noticed that the person was about his height, pale skin, dark hair and red eyes. Wearing a hoodie underneath a jacket, and he had black slightly baggy jeans with off brand sneakers.
Phillip just threw his cigarette butt away, *He's clean... Rich? No, he's asking for money... Or is he asking for a fight?* "What do you want punk?" he asked as he looked at the bruise patches on the guy's hands.
"Do you know.... who Phillip Kim... Is?" the guy asked as he rolls his shoulders back, his was still glaring at him with those sleepy eyes.
Phillip felt uneasy, his gut tells him that this guy in front of him isn't what he seems to be, "That's me... What do you want? Money?" he asked cautiously, expecting the worst case scenario.
"My name... Is Jagka Kim.... I would like you to... hire me... I'll fight anyone... you ask me to... No need for... Long talk or persuasion." he muttered as looked up as if he was trying to remember something.
But in reality, Kim was trying to remember the words, it's still hard for him to talk in Korean. And the reason why he looked like he's glaring? Because he's trying not show pain from his sore arms.
Kim: *Damn it... I think it came out wrong, but at least I got my point across... Ugh, what's worse is that I have to guess what he's saying by trying to listen for the words I know.*
Kim could only cursed his luck for not providing a system for this shit, he had to study nonstop for the past few weeks, engaging in talks more often, though he still can't read.
Phillip just breathed slowly in relief, though he was still skeptical about something, "I don't trust your self evaluation... Stay here, I'll be back."
When he returned the pub room, everyone was already there eating, drinking, and enjoying the privelage of having a rich friend. "Yo! Phillip what took you so long?" Royce asked.
Phillip: *Heh... I'll put it to the test.* "Hey, Jun and Ray! Come outside we've got someone who has some business with you two." he says, catching the attention of everyone in the room, and so they followed outside for a show.
Outside the pub, Kim yawns and hiss as he put stretched his arms around, *If push comes to shove, I'll use my knees, my arms still hurts. Maybe I probably should study another fighting method involving kicks--*
"Hey! There's you are!" Phillip says as he motions to Jun and Ray to stay still before walking up to Kim. "So here's how it's going to work, you have to beat those guys because I don't believe in words alone."
Kim then looked at Ray and Jun, his eyebrow raised a little in recognition. *Wait a second, is he going pin me against hi friends? That's messed up.*
The rest of Phillip's pals just watched from the sidelines, expecting Jun and Ray to beat up the random guy.
And so the fight begins, "Let's get this over with." Kim muttered in English which confused his opponents a little, "You did you hear tha--" Jun was caught off guard by knee strike to the side *BAM! "--Gaghk!"
"You piece of shit!" Ray threw a punch which Kim easily caught and pulled down before delivering knee strike to Ray's face.
*BAM
Hearing shuffle from behind Kim spun around, framed his arms, parried and threw an elbow hammer and strike, interrupting the oncoming punch and hitting Jun's side.
*POW!
Kim sighed before he returned his focus to Ray who had tried to run and tackle him down, but it only lead to him getting flying knee kick on the face.
*WHACK! BAM!
It was silent in the alley, every was shocked and surprised by how quickly the fight was wrapped up, it hadn't even been a minute after the started. The only sounds were the moans of pain from
Phillip just smiled as he had found hidden treasure, a treasure that's also scary but potentially useful.
He saw a future of ruling a district, *With him, I'll have another strong contact to my list other than Jimmy Bae! Not just that but if I play my cards right then sooner or later, I will be untouchable!* he thought as he put his arm on Kim's shoulder,
Phillip chuckled, his eyes were filled with joy— like he had just found a shiny toy. "I have a feeling that you and I are going to be good friends, Jakga."