I went to school with my face buried deep in the collar of my coat, dreading the questions. But the questions weren't the real problem. The problem was him.
Kang. He wasn't your average bully stealing lunch money for cigarettes. He was the son of a wealthy, corrupt family, believing the school was his father's personal kingdom. His vice wasn't violence; it was humiliation.
Entering the courtyard, I saw him. He towered over a first-year student who was weeping, clutching a torn sketchbook. Kang hadn't hit him. Instead, he was smiling, wiping his pristine shoe on the remains of the artwork the student had likely spent nights creating. "How filthy..." Kang said with provoking calm. "You sullied my shoe with your cheap colors. Apologize to it."
"I'm sorry..." the student sobbed.
"I can't hear you." Kang stepped on the student's fingers. "Say: 'I am sorry, expensive shoe, for being trash.'"
The scene made my blood boil. Kang didn't want a fight. He wanted to see weakness. He fed on breaking people.
Suddenly, he spotted me. His smile widened as he abandoned the student and marched toward me with his entourage. "Oh! Look who's back! Yesterday's hero!" He stopped in front of me, staring at my unblemished face.
His smile slowly faded. He furrowed his brows, leaning in until his nose nearly touched mine. He scanned my eyes, forehead, and jaw. "What is this?" he whispered suspiciously. "Where are the bruises? Where is the imprint of the ring I stamped on your face?"
He reached out, pinching my cheek hard, as if checking if it was real. "Did you wear makeup, flower boy? Or did you run to mommy to fix you with magic?"
I swatted his hand away. "Back off," I said calmly.
"Ooooh!" Kang laughed, turning to his followers. "He hasn't learned his lesson! It seems yesterday's beating wasn't enough to educate him." He turned back to me with a dark glare. "You annoy me, Ray. Your existence, and this clean face of yours... it irks me. It's an insult to my work."
He raised his hand to slap me. "I'll redraw the bruises... and this time, I'll make them permanent."
In that moment... as his hand descended toward my face... it happened again. Time slowed. I heard a voice at the back of my skull. Not the robotic system voice... but the voice of a primal instinct. (Break his finger...)(No... snap his arm...)(Shove the bone into his throat...)
My hand moved on its own. It rose to intercept the slap. My fingers spasmed, ready to catch his wrist and crush it. I felt immense power gathering in my forearm...
"Stop!" Jin's voice came from behind, yanking me backward forcefully just before I touched Kang. Kang's hand swiped through empty air.
"We apologize, Mr. Kang!" Jin said quickly, bowing with feigned fear while dragging me away. "He's still out of it from yesterday's accident! We won't bother you!"
Jin dragged me away. Kang watched us with suspicion, his eyes fixed on my hand which was still hanging in the air, curled into a claw shape, ready to tear.
"What got into you?" Jin whispered in terror as we distanced ourselves. "Were you going to hit Kang? Do you want to get expelled?"
I stared at my trembling hand. I wasn't trembling from fear. I was trembling because... for the first time... I felt an overwhelming desire to hear the sound of Kang's bones snapping. And what was more terrifying... was that I was certain I could do it.