He cursed as he did a backflip to avoid Acnee's punch. That had been unexpected.

Nebok slid back, eyes scanning his surroundings. Dai had taught him that he always had to be cautious. He couldn't overestimate or underestimate. He had to be precise. 

"You really have some nerve coming back after nearly killing Duri," Acnee taunted him, moving her hand forward to attack him. 

He parried the feather stick with his hands, using his legs to kick her back, "He's forgiven me now! Not that you would know anyway!"

"Are you sure?" She smirked, twisting her body to let her legs kick him.

He ducked in reply, rolling to the side quickly, "Very!"

"Who knows, he might end up backstabbing you," she sang.

"Excuse me? If you can say that, then you clearly don't know Cha Duri that well," he scoffed, dodging some more punches before kicking her to the wall. "He's one of the kindest people I know. You, on the other hand, are a delusional person with no mental strength. One who is powered by malice can't win." 

She winced, yet the smile on her face never faded, "Are you sure?" 

"Of course I am. Don't make me put another punch through you," he threatened, gripping his fists tightly as he glared at her. 

"You're just naïve, aren't you?" Acnee laughed, getting up with the most malicious smile he had ever seen. "Face the facts, Kim Nebok. Cha Duri's scars of that night will never fade. Ever." 

His grip tightened. He couldn't let her get to him, yet... 

A little part of him hadn't  forgiven himself for what had happened before. That fateful night, when he had let Duri slip. 

Until he had met Duri again, he had thought of himself as a murderer. Someone who took a loved one from his family. 

While meeting him again had brought him some solace, it didn't mean that he was fully satisified. 

"Well? No reply to my words?" Acnee's sneer was so so infuriating, but he couldn't do anything. It was like his body was frozen. 

"I-I..." he barely choked out. The guilt was threatening to swallow him whole now...

"Awww, don't worry, Nebok," she smiled, moving closer to him with every sentence. "Just surrender now, and maybe I'll spare you two." 

The offer felt tempting. 

He was tempted to take it, but he couldn't. He couldn't hurt Duri again. He couldn't be a coward again. 

No more!

"No!" 

"Huh?" she blinked. 

"You heard me..." he finally found his voice, navy blue eyes on fire. "I won't surrender."