The taste of blood was familiar. Junhwo spat, the metallic tang mixing with the dust of the schoolyard. His knuckles ached, but a grim satisfaction settled in his chest as he watched the blonde kid, Min-soo, struggle to sit up.
"Alright, that's it, Junhwo won," Ha-jun announced, pulling Junhwo away from the battered Min-soo. A shrill whistle pierced the air, and the small crowd scattered like startled pigeons. Junhwo lingered, a strange detachment washing over him as he watched Min-soo finally manage to stand, clutching his jaw.
"Junhwo, again?" The familiar voice made him sigh. Officer Lee stood there, hands on his hips, his face a mixture of exasperation and disappointment. "This is the fifth time this week! I get calls about students fighting outside school, but why are you always the one fighting or watching? What's your goal in life, huh?" He punctuated his words with a light smack to Junhwo's head.
"He started it, though," Junhwo mumbled, avoiding eye contact. "He asked me to fight if I was brave enough, so I kicked his ass."
Another smack, a little harder this time. "Your mother, a nurse, your father, a policeman, your little sister, an innocent angel… where did you get that attitude, huh?" Mr. Lee's voice softened slightly, but the disappointment was still evident.
'But it's not like you're my real parents or family, though…' The thought echoed in Junhwo's head, a constant, bitter refrain.
A gentle punch to the shoulder snapped him back to reality. "I know what you're thinking," Mr. Lee said, his eyes searching Junhwo's. "Look, you are Junhwo Lee, my son, my one and only son. You have the name Lee in you. You look a lot like my wife, Harin Lee."
Junhwo shifted uncomfortably, his gaze fixed on his worn-out sneakers. The canvas was ripped in several places, the rubber soles peeling away from the edges. They were a constant reminder of his life, a delinquent that always get on fights, "Can I get a new pair of shoes, though?" he asked, the words tumbling out before he could stop them. "I won the fight, after all."
A gentle punch connected with his ribs this time, but there was a hint of a smile on Mr. Lee's face. "That's not something to be proud of," he said, "but okay. I was waiting for you to ask for new ones. Let's go to the mall."
The ride to the mall was silent, but not uncomfortable. Junhwo watched the city lights blur past the window, the neon signs reflecting in his dark eyes. He knew Mr. Lee worried about him, about the path he was taking. But he couldn't explain the restlessness that gnawed at him, the feeling that he was always on the edge of something, waiting for something to happen.
At the mall, Junhwo gravitated towards the shoe store, his eyes scanning the rows of sneakers. He chose a pair of bright white sneakers, a stark contrast to his old, battered ones. As Mr. Lee paid for the shoes, Junhwo wandered over to a toy store, picking out a fluffy doll for his little sister, Eunji. He also grabbed a box of chocolates, knowing Mrs. Lee had a sweet tooth. Finally, he spotted a beautiful dress in a shop window, a soft blue that would perfectly complement Mrs. Lee's eyes.
Back at home, the aroma of dinner filled the air. Mrs. Lee greeted them with a warm smile, her eyes crinkling at the corners. Eunji ran to Junhwo, her arms outstretched for the doll. The family gathered around the table, the food spread out before them. As they ate, Junhwo felt a sense of belonging, a fleeting moment of peace.
But even as he laughed and joked with his family, a shadow lingered in the back of his mind. He knew this happiness was fragile, that the past was always lurking, waiting to shatter the illusion of normalcy.
The warmth of the shower couldn't wash away the lingering unease from dinner. As Junhwo toweled his hair dry, his phone buzzed incessantly. He glanced at the screen: a barrage of messages from Ha-jun.
"Dude, wanna go out eat at Hae-soo's restaurant?"
Junhwo sighed and replied, "You just want to see Hae-soo."
He knew he shouldn't go. Mr. Lee wouldn't approve of him being out so late, especially after the incident at school. But the walls of his room felt suffocating, the weight of his past pressing down on him. He needed a distraction, a brief escape from the suffocating normalcy of his life.
He threw on a worn-out t-shirt and jeans, grabbed his new sneakers, and slipped out the window, landing silently on the soft grass below. He headed towards the designated meeting spot, the familiar ache in his knuckles a constant reminder of the afternoon's fight.
Ha-jun was waiting, perched casually on a bench, a bright red baggy hoodie swallowing his frame. "Junhwo! Ya, let's go? Hae-soo and Mo-ryeong's waiting," he said, a goofy grin plastered across his face.
"I thought we'd go eat, not date," Junhwo deadpanned.
Ha-jun shrugged, his cheeks flushing slightly. "No, Mo-ryeong is with Hae-soo now. Let's just say hi, then buy food."
Junhwo rolled his eyes, but followed Ha-jun through the maze of narrow streets towards Hae-soo's restaurant. The air was thick with the aroma of fried chicken and spices, a welcome change from the sterile scent of the hospital where Mrs. Lee worked.
Hae-soo's was a small, crowded establishment, but impeccably clean. The tables were packed with students and young couples, the air buzzing with conversations and laughter. Hae-soo and Mo-ryeong were weaving through the tables, helping the waiters serve food.
"Ohhh, Cho Ha-jun and Lee Junhwo! What do you want to order?" Hae-soo greeted them, her smile bright and her perfume leaving a subtle trail in the air. She was pretty, Junhwo had to admit, with long, dark hair and a playful glint in her eyes. He could see why Ha-jun was so smitten.
"We'll go with twelve spicy fried chicken. And two cokes," Ha-jun blurted out, his eyes fixed on Hae-soo.
"Coming right up!" Hae-soo winked and disappeared into the kitchen.
When the food arrived, Ha-jun eagerly grabbed a piece of chicken, his eyes widening as he took a bite. "It's spicy…" he choked out, tears welling up in his eyes. "Junhwo, eat it all."
Junhwo smirked, grabbing a piece of chicken. The spice was intense, but he barely flinched. "Nah, I knew you were just trying to act tough for Hae-soo," he said, enjoying Ha-jun's discomfort.
"SSSHHH! She might hear you," Ha-jun hissed, glancing nervously towards the kitchen.
Junhwo laughed, shaking his head. He knew Ha-jun's crush on Hae-soo was a long-running joke amongst their friends.
He, on the other hand, had never been interested in romance. He had other things on his mind, he couldn't shake, a feeling that he was destined for something more than just hanging out and eating spicy chicken.
As he ate, he scanned the restaurant, his eyes sharp and alert. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched, that something was about to happen. He was always on guard, always prepared for the worst. It was a habit he had developed over the years, a survival instinct honed from everyday fighting.