Jaeho knew what was coming the moment the break bell rang, he braced himself mentally for the worse.
It was always the same. Minho and Jiwon would bump into him on the way out with Daeho waiting by the door with those cold, lifeless eyes.
And then they would corner him somewhere, it could be anywhere really as long as it was somewhere they could get him alone.
He thought about fighting back numerous times, God knows he thought about it.
He was stronger than all three of them combined. The months of manual labor unloading shipments at the warehouse on the weekends, had built muscle onto his body that none of them could match. Minho had money, Jiwon was cruel, Daeho was cunning, but Jaeho had raw strength which was the most important in caese like these.
If he wanted to, he could beat these boys to a pulp if there were no consequences but he couldn't because they were.
One blip on his academic record was all it took to ruin his future, he would all but ruin his chance at retaining this scholarship but also take away the one advantage he had over others in his situation. The scholarship would revoked and he loses custody of his sisters.
This was why he took it all because what he had to lose exceeded his pride and ego.
The bell finally rang and everyone was aware it was time for a lunchbreak.
Jaeho gathered his things slowly, keeping his head down as opposed to other students who couldn't wait to get out of the classroom.
"Han Jaeho" Ms. Ahn called out to Jaeho.
By the time Jaeho looked up, she was already on her feet, staring right at him.
"I need you to stay behind for a moment. I need to speak with you," Ms. Ahn ordered.
Minho shot him an annoyed look as he headed out with the others. Jaeho exhaled slowly and approached the teacher's desk wondering what the problem could be.
"Close the door," Ms. Ahn instructed Jaeho.
Jaeho hesitated for a second but eventually did as he was told, shutting the door behind him so no one could listen in on what was about to be discussed.
"Your grades…" she began, her back leaning against her desk.
"They're impressive. Top five in the class despite everything," she added.
"Thank you, ma'am." Jaeho responded but akwardly.
"But that is not why I called you back," Ms. Ahn said, watching as his smile slowly faded.
She reached out suddenly and grabbed his forearm before he could react no less. Her grip was firm as she rolled up his sleeve forcefully, exposing the bruises around his bicep.
"Ms. Ahn…!" Jaeho exclaimed, clearly startled. He pulled his arm away quickly before rolling his sleeve back down.
She didn't look surprised, just sad as there was not much she could do if he didn't want help.
"Jaeho," she said softly. Jaeho could tell she wanted to help.
"You can tell me who's doing this. I know what's happening," she tried to reassure him.
"It's nothing. I got these from work," Jaeho responded, trying his best to downplay the situation as there was little to nothing she could even if she did know except make it worse for him.
"Work?" Ms. Ahn raised a suspicious brow right away as those words left her lips.
"I have a few jobs, actually." Jaeho said with a forced smile.
"Manual labor. You know how it is, clumsy hands," Jaeho responded.
Ms. Ahn stared at him for a moment before she sighed, running a hand through her hair in frustration.
"You're wokrking multiple jobs and maintaining top grades?" She asked, allowing him to change the topic as she realized pushing on the wounds might only make him shutdown.
"Jaeho, that's not sustainable," Ms. Ahn gave him her two cents.
"I manage," Jaeho reassured her.
"Clearly not well enough." She gestured toward his arm.
"You need to go to the nurse. Get those wounds checked out properly," Ms. Ahn instructed him.
Jaeho looked at her and saw there was genuine concern in her eyes, not pity, not disgust. It has been a long time since an adult looked at him like that.
He flasged her a smile, the kind of smile he gave Jia and Serin when he wanted them to think everything was fine.
"Thank you, Ms. Ahn. Really, I appreciate your concern," Jaeho said.
She watched him for another moment, then nodded slowly.
"My door is always open, Jaeho. Remember that," Ms. Ahn knew things could get out of control.
"I will," Jaeho knew he would never take her up on her offer.
He turned and left, pulling the door open and leaving Ms. Ahn alone in the class.
Ms. Ahn only had one question she could ask herself.
"Will he be okay?" She thought to herself.
-
The hallway was almost empty now, students were either at the cafeteria or the courtyard but the three bullies were waiting near the stairwell like always.
Jaeho's heart skipped a beat the moment their eyes met as he mentally prepared for everything that was about to happen.
"Took you long enough," Minho said with a grin.
"What, you trying to fuck Ms. Ahn or something? Good luck with that, charity case," Jiwon said.
"Yeah, I'm sure she is interested in a guy who smells like garbage," he added.
Daeho didn't say anything. He just nodded his head toward the bathroom and Jaeho followed without protest.
The bathroom was empty, as it always was during break. The bullies had made this their home to torment him.
"You know," Minho said, leaning against the sink.
"I heard you begged the school to let you in on scholarship. Is that true?" He questioned but Jaeho didn't answer.
"I asked you a question." Jiwon shoved him hard, slamming him back against the tiled wall. Pain flared up Jaeho's spine.
"Yeah," Jaeho said quietly.
"It's true," Jaeho knew all he had to do was agree to everything they said and they would likely go easy on him.
"Pathetic." Daeho's said coldly.
"You don't belong here, Han. This school is for people with futures. Not bottom feeders like you," His words were harsh but it was a prime example of how these people thought.
"You know what? I think we should remind you of your place," Minho mocked him before stepping closer.
Jiwon grabbed Jaeho's collar, shoving him toward the stalls. Jaeho's shoulder hit the metal door hard enough to leave a dent.
"On your knees," Jiwon kissed his teeth in irritation. Jaeho's hands clenched into fists thinking if he should punch him or not.
He could end this right now. One punch and Jiwon fall to the floor. Two more and Minho and Daeho would follow. He was stronger, faster, tougher.
"All it takes is one suspension and you lose everything," Jaeho reminded himself.
Jaeho loosened his fists and took whatever these people dished out to him, a way to massage their fragile egos as his mind drifted to what he would make for his siblings once he got home.
-
The final bell rang at 3:30 PM, and Jaeho let out a huge sigh of relief, he managed to survive another day.
He gathered his things slowly, waiting for the classroom to empty out before standing up.
His body hurt like hell and he was returning home in a worst state than when he left it.
But the pain was familiar now as his body had grown accustomed to the level of punishment they could dish out and knew exactly how much force they would use, how long the bruises would last, where the marks would show.
It still hurt but it was manageable, he just couldn't let Jia and Serin see it.
Jaeho stepped out into the hallway and made his way toward the school gates, keeping his head down. Through the windows, he could see the parking lot filling up with cars, sleek black sedans, luxury SUVs, even a few sports cars that cost more than most people made in a year.
Minho's driver pulled up in a Mercedes Benz S-Class, it had tinted windows and leather seats that probably cost more than all the money Jaeho had seen in his fantasy which was crazy when you thought about it.
Jiwon entered the BMW driven by his older brother. Daeho's family sent a luxurious private car.
Jaeho watched them leave, one by one, their laughter echoing in his mind as they disappeared into their comfortable, easy lives while he was left trapped in his.
He felt nothing, Not envy, bitterness, he just felt empty.
Money didn't make people good because his father was poor, and he was the best man Jaeho ever knew. These kids had everything, and yet they used it to make others suffer.
Jaeho turned away and left, he couldn't stand there all day.
He had work to attend to and knew his siblings would be home now as there was a nice granny that lived beside them who looked after them until he returned.
-
The laundromat was a fifteen minute walk from school and this worked in his favour as he didn't have to run there.
Jaeho entered the room, the familiar scent of detergent and fabric softener filled the air rigth away.
"Jaeho! You're here!" Mrs. Park called out.
She was the owner of this place yet showed up everyday despite her having people who could easily do it on her behalf.
She was a kind woman in her mid fifties, one of the few people who had given him a job without asking too many questions.
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Park," Jaeho said with a polite bow.
"Go get changed, dear. We have got a busy evening ahead," Mrs. Park informed him.
Jaeho nodded and headed to the back room, quickly taking off his school uniform and putting it into one of the washing machines. This was one of the perks of working here, he got to wash his clothes for free.
He put on his work uniform, a simple blue polo and black slacks, and tied an apron around his waist.
He stepped back out onto the floor, a few of the regular customers greeted him warmly.
"Jaeho! How's school?" A man asked.
"Working hard as always, I see!" Another man complimented him.
"Such a good boy. Your parents must be so proud," A woman praised him, not knowing his parents were no more.
Jaeho smiled and nodded, even though the words hurt a little. Adults appreciated him in a way his classmates never did. To them, he wasn't a charity case or a burden.
He was a hardworking young man and they respected him.
It was a small comfort but not anything special.
He started his shift, loading the machines, folding the laundries, restocking supplies. The work was repetitive, and easu but it gave him time to think or rather, time to not think.
All he had to do was focus on the task in front of him, one load at a time, no pun intended.
Then the door chimed. Jaeho looked up and froze right away.
A stunning lady walked right in with an elegant strut, like she was walking on a broadway.
The woman who walked in was in her early thirties, with long, dark hair that fell over her shoulders. She wore a tight white blouse that only outline how big her breasts truly were, easily the largest Jaeho had seen and a black skirt that hugged her wide hips and thick thighs.
She was chubby and curvaceous with her breasts jiggling with each step despite her tight blouse.
Jaeho swallowed hard and looked away quickly before she caught on.
But he wasn't the only one staringm every red blooded man in the laundromat had stopped what they were doing to watch her. Some tried to be subtle about it while others didn't bother hiding it.
She could have any man here if she wanted but women like her didn't pick men from places like this.
Jaeho had heard about her from Mrs. Park. Recently divorced, took half of everything her husband owned, or maybe more.
She lived in one of the more expensive apartments downtown and drove a car that made the middle class look with envy.
She was looking around, her expression shifting from irritation to frustration. Her phone was in her hand, and she kept tapping the screen, muttering something under her breath.
Jaeho hesitated but then approached.
"Excuse me, ma'am. Can I help you with anything?" Jaeho said, offering her his assistance.
She looked up, and for a moment, their eyes met. She looked very annoyed but the irritation wasn't directed at him.
"My phone died," she said while holding it up.
"Right in the middle of a payment! There's a limited item I have been trying to buy all week, and it's about to go out of stock!" the lady added with the urgency clear in her voice.
Jaeho glanced at the phone. It was the latest IPhone, something he could only dream of owning.
"I can help you charge it if-!" Jaeho couldn't complete his sentence before being interrupted.
"There's no time," she cut him off.
"Look, I know this is a lot to ask, but can you help me out? I'll pay you back immediately once my phone's charged. I just need someone to make the payment for me," the lady pleaded.
Jaeho was hesitant at first, thinking about if briefly before asking.
"How much?"
"₩50,000." she responded right away.
His stomach dropped the moment he heard the price.
₩50,000. this was nothing to her but it wasn't the case with him, he had a whole family to look after.
That was everything, the last won in his account and if he gave her that, he would have nothing. Not for groceries, not for the twins' lunches tomorrow, not for the bus fare to bring them back from school.
But she clearly had money. Money was the least of her problems. She had taken half of what her ex-husband owned,probably more. She could pay him back easily, maybe even with interest.
Unlike Jaeho, who was drowning in ₩737,500,000 of debt.
"Okay," Jaeho said with clear hesitation
"What's the account number?" He added.
He could see the relief on her face right away, and she mouthed off the numbers quickly.
Jaeho pulled out his phone, hands shaking slightly as he entered the information.
He didn't even know what he was buying as he hit confirm.
The money transferred and then something happened that he would never have guessed in his wildest dreams.
A cyan screen flickered into existence at the edge of his vision.
[Ding!]
[Cashback system activation requirement met!]
[System binding in progress...!]
[System successfully linked!]
[Spent ₩50,000. 2X critical hit. Earned ₩100,000. The money has been transferred to account XXX-XXX-XXX]
[Spent at least ₩50,000 on a lewd item for a MILF. Received 1 lottery ticket. Do you want to use it?]
[YES][NO]
"Huh?"