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차
두
리
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Cha Duri

I saw the bullet and ducked out of the way, using that chance to boost myself towards her, only for her to dodge. When she tried to shoot at me, I blocked it with my knife. 

I closed my eyes, envisioning all the training I had done.

It was all coming to this.

This... was the final blow.

Hearing another shot, I opened my eyes to see the bullet, and swerved my body towards the ground to avoid it. 

However, she was fast enough to change positions. Now her gun was aimed at me. 

When she pulled down on it, though, nothing came out, causing her to curse under her breath. Then, she threw the gun at me. I swatted it away with the knife once more, only for her to get a dagger out of nowhere. Letting out a screech that sounded like something from a banshee, she lunged for me, arm outstretched to stab me. 

I barely managed to block that, but that didn't do me any good. She was on top of me now, trying to push me down, a hiss in her tone. 

"You should have died that night, Cha Duri," she whispered into my ear, malice seeping out of her thin red lips. Her leaf green eyes held fury. Anger. Rage. "You'll regret every decision you've ever made in your life. Because I'm going to make you suffer. I'm going to make you scream and beg for mercy." 

"That won't work, and you know that," I shot back, trying not to wince over the pain she was giving me. I had to stay strong, no matter what. 

My eyes strayed to Oppa, scared, worried, terrified, and my determination returned, "Because I follow the truth. And I can't let you hurt my family." 

"Mwoya?" her eyes widened. I used that chance to retract my feet and kicked her off me, stumbling up once I got my balance, trying to keep myself stable. 

"My family, my friends... What you're doing right now will hurt them. You will definitely hurt them. I can't allow that, Wang Sora," I kept my voice level. "No matter how many punches, how many attacks I get, I will never let you touch them. Because I care for them. As long as I'm around, you won't get to them. You won't win." 

"Do you want to bet then?" she got up, panting a bit. However, her eyes looked mad now. Crazy. "I've been waiting for years. I want to make those stupid press people, all those people who looked down on my honey, pay. I want to watch them go to their knees and beg for forgiveness-" 

"Then what about the people who had nothing to do with it?!" I cut her off, finally making eye contact with her to show my own anger. "All the innocent people who had not done a thing. Will you make them suffer as well?! Would you make them beg for forgiveness when they had done nothing to you?! All just because of a few people, you want to turn Daedo City into a monarchial kingdom?!" 

She froze right there. Eyes wide. 

For a second, I thought she was finally seeing the truth. 

Unfortunately, her entire posture went stiff, and her lips turned into a sneer, "Wow, you really have a way with words, don't you? I'm a bit amazed. How can you even say that? Monarchial kingdom? Where did you get that?" 

"Nebok-hyung found the evidence while he was in Japan. You won't get away with this. You've instigated a lot of crimes. And you were planning on making Daedo City your playground with the deluded belief that this can make the world better," I spoke. I was on a roll now. "However, don't you see? Fear will never fix a thing. Your motive is good, but you did it the wrong way." 

She went silent. Thus, I used that chance to talk, "Look around, Kim Taewoo. Do you see the world being better? Or is it something else?" 

She slowly looked around, her eyes assessing everyone there. From the terrified faces of the kids, to the betrayed looks on the adults' faces. 

"The moment you decided to use your power for bad reasons, you turned your back on the true reason you became the mayor," I spoke up, moving closer to her. "You kept on saying that this was why you wanted power, but I doubt Ai-sshi would have approved of this. You lost your way." 

"I-I didn't..." She didn't sound so sure anymore. "I-I wanted to-" 

"Your dad was not a good person either. I get wanting to go back to your roots, but you can't let that get to you. I'm sure Ai-sshi would agree with me here." 

"I-I-I..." Her grip around her dagger began to loosen. 

"Kim Taewoo, please, I beg of you to stop this entire thing," I pleaded to her. "Let's just end this here." 

She was silent once more.

But then, out of nowhere, she lunged for me, dagger ready to stab me. I barely dodged, and even then I had to keep on avoiding the attacks she gave me.

"Shut up! You don't know a thing!" she hissed, venom in her tone. "You don't know what's it like for your dead family to be mocked so horribly. If you do get it, you shouldn't be fighting me in the first place!" 

"Please listen to me!" I begged, only for her to rush at me. She punched me in the stomach before I could block it, so I doubled over, wheezing and trying to find the missing air inside. I think I heard some concerned yelps from the crowd, honestly. I'm not sure. 

I think I broke a few bones, but that wasn't as important as this, especially since she had put her shoe on my chest and was now pushing on it, causing me to wince in pain. 

"You started this. You will end this," she gripped her dagger tight, then pulled it back to stab me. "Goodbye, Cha Duri." 

Time stopped.

I could only close my eyes. This was it, I suppose. It was time to go. I hope I could atone for my sins. My only regret was that I couldn't be with my family and friends. 

Maybe in another world, Wang Sora wouldn't be the mayor. Maybe she would just be a normal villain who we could save from the brink of insanity. 

If only that was reality.

At the very least, I exposed her. 

So I could leave now. It made me feel better. 

If only I had had time to spend with my family-

"Don't give up!!" 

I snapped out of my trance. That was Oppa's voice!

"Yeah, Duri! Don't give up!" Semo yelled. 

"You can do it!" Dingyo encouraged. 

"You're better than this, Duri!" Limo-ahjussi declared. 

"Don't give in to her! You can fight her!" Obochi shouted at me. 

"We're all here for you!" Ogong reminded me. 

"Duri-hyung, fighting!" Ondol cheered. 

"Yeah! Come on Duri! You're way stronger than this!" Y exclaimed.

"Don't give up! You've gotten this far!" Nebok added. 

"You can do this!" they chorused. 

All around, the other civilians began to agree, cheering me on.  Words of encouragement, once very scarce, was now abundant as they told me to fight. To win this. 

To land the final blow. 

Once again, the flame of determination glowed in me. 

I then looked at Acnee, who had frozen upon hearing all the clamours. 

And I pushed her off me, making her stumble back as I got up, much to the happiness of the crowd. 

I closed my eyes, before I opened them again. 

"Let's end this, shall we?" she growled. 

"Yeah, let's do that," I agreed, getting my knife ready. 

With that, we charged at each other, weapons out.  

Metal met metal; a melody that never got old for me. Every time she tried to stab, I blocked. Sparks flew as we battled it out, unable to let the other win. Both of us were at our wits' end. We had to win this, in our minds. 

I had to do this for my family and friends. 

Acnee was doing this for her family as well. 

This was going to prove the strength of our convictions, once and for all. 

Taking in a huge breath, I narrowed my eyes. 

When she lunged forward, I saw my opening, and got to my knees, allowing my legs to sweep her off her feet. 

She fell to the ground, hitting her back in the process. 

I waited in bated breath. 

All of us did. 

I waited for her to get up. 

When she didn't, I got up and moved to stand in front of her again. 

"Wang Sora-sshi, stop this already. You and I both know, that this... all of this... This isn't what Ai-sshi wanted," I gently got to my knees, making eye contact with her.

Once again, green met brown, but this time, it was closer. Much much closer. 

And both sides had broken orbs. 

The stories her eyes told me were happy. I could imagine the times she spent with her family. The reason why she wanted to protect them, even through the wrong way, using her father's rotten ways. 

My own irises had its own story. My own convictions. Why I was ready to die for my family, even though they had treated me horribly. Why I was willing to forgive Nebok-hyung for his mistakes. 

As we looked deep into the other's eye, I understood one thing; she needed comfort. 

Memories of a warm hug, feeling like something from long long ago, entered my mind, and I slowly followed it. My arms wrapped themselves around her body.

That's when, for the first time since she became a villain, she cried. 

It sounded horrible, like a crow that was dying. 

But I didn't care. All I wanted to do right now, was to give this person, someone who had a broken heart like mine, the warmth and comfort she needed. The closure she required so desperately. 

That was the best medicine for heartache, after all. 

"I-I'm so sorry," she whispered into my ear, and she pulled me closer. "I-I did do all that.. I-I'm so sorry for making you see things you shouldn't have at your age... I-I..." 

"G-Genchana," I found myself stammering, unable to control the flow of emotions, hearing her honesty for once. It felt so relieving, and my own burdens left my shoulders with every tear that leaked out. 

It was over. 

Finally, after all this time, it was over. 

Officer Oh then stepped forward, taking her handcuffs out as she walked slowly to us. 

When she arrived, Sora didn't even hesitate. Pushing me aside, she slowly got up, a bit wobbly at first, and held her wrists out to the officer. 

However, she didn't do it. 

Instead, she looked at me and Nebok-hyung, a small smile on her face, "You may not be cops, but you sure proved yourselves worthy. Do you guys want to do the honours?" 

I looked up to face Nebok-hyung, who blinked before Y nudged him forward, making him stride over, a smile on his face. 

"You did great, Duri," he acclaimed to me. 

I flushed hearing that. I hadn't done much, "Don't flatter me like that, Nebok-hyung. You accomplished a lot as well." 

"Nah, you did most of it. In fact..." He flushed a bit as well. "You're the bravest, kindest person I've met."

"Alright lovebirds, time to put this lady behind bars, right?" Officer Oh teased us, causing us to blush slightly, but we quickly took the handcuffs. 

"You wanna do the honour?" Nebok-hyung asked me. "I mean, you're her longtime rival, in a sense."

"I guess I can," I laughed a bit. "You sure you don't want in, though?" 

"It's okay for me. Don't worry about me, kay, kiddo?" he ruffled my hair affectionately. 

"Okay then," I took in a deep breath, holding the handcuffs as I held her hands.

"Wang Sora, you are under arrest without a warrant for power abuse, destruction of evidence, kidnapping a minor, instigating corruption in many places, and especially for embezzlement for your own personal use. You have the right to an attorney and to remain silent, because anything you say can and will be used against you in court," I cuffed her hands together before helping her up. 

Officer Oh was about to take her away when she turned to me, "I... Thank you, Duri. I.. I promise that I will reflect on this." 

"Good to know," I smiled at her. 

She gave me a smile back before she was taken away. 

"Well, that's over and done with- WOAH!" I was suddenly tackled to the ground by a familiar face. 

"Duri!" My shirt was getting wet due to Oppa crying on my shoulder. I could feel the relief and happiness he was feeling now. 

I barely hugged him back, allowing everything to slap me. The reality finally settled in. 

It was over now.

And with that realisation, tears fell down my cheeks as well. My grip on my brother was tight. I felt... I felt relieved. Happy. 

"I'm so sorry... I-I..." he sobbed. 

"No Oppa... I-I'm sorry..." 

"B-Baka... Don't apologize..." 

My eyes watered even more. This... this was the first time he had used Japanese since that time. To see him using it, it meant that he was finally ready to move on. 

Another person joined the hug, "Duri!!" 

"Semo," I smiled softly at him. 

"How could you be so stupid?! N-Next time, you should tell us if you have to deal with those kind of things! P-Please!" Dingyo sniffled as she joined us as well.

"No promises, Dingyo," I choked out, trying to make a joke that failed horribly due to my own mixed feelings.

Nebok patted my head, smiling as he let his own tears finally flow, "We... we did it, Duri." 

"O-Of course we did, Nebok-hyung," I smiled.

When we got up, I found myself face to face with Obochi and Limo-ahjussi, making me wince slightly as I looked down. Were they going to be mad at me? 

"Oh Duri..." 

Our eyes met, both watery, sad and pain hidden in those tears. 

And I...

After all this time, I finally collapsed, hugging him tight, "O-Obochi... M-Meanne... I-I'm so sorry..." 

"No, I'm sorry," he sobbed. He started blubbering, unable to say anything comprehensible as he gripped me tight. 

Limo-ahjussi joined us, crying all the more, "I-I'm so... I should have realised how cruel I was... I-I hurt you so much... I-I'm so sorry..." 

The rest of my friends joined us, including Ogong and Ondol, hugging us real tight as we engaged in a group hug, giving me and Nebok-hyung the closure we had needed. 

A year ago, I had been broken, lost, shocked. I couldn't do anything. 

But now, I have completed what I had wanted to do.

And that brings the relief I never knew I needed. 

Thus, a new arc in our lives began. 

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The

End

of 

The

Beginning

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