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IT WAS FINALLY LUNCH BREAK, the air thick with chatter and laughter under the big, shady tree where y/n and her two acquaintances had settled. Eun-ji was animatedly discussing the test questions with Ri-na, the silver-haired "weirdo" who y/n had been silently trading lunch items with since day one. The girl wasn't much of a talker, and it turned out that wasn't because she was shy or aloof but simply because she was too lazy to bother with conversation. Her occasional "huh" and "hmm" responses barely registered as an effort, but they were enough to confirm she was at least listening.

Today, y/n had traded her fishcakes for Ri-na's tteokbokki, while Eun-ji managed to swap her kimchi for extra miso soup. The three munched away, occasionally nodding in agreement or raising an eyebrow as they debated the difficulty of the paper—or rather, the lack of it.

"Honestly, the whole atmosphere was distracting," y/n muttered, breaking into their conversation.

Eun-ji shot her a questioning look. "Distracting? Like, in what way?"

Y/N bit her lip, feeling a bit silly as she tried to clarify. "Well... like, I saw people flirting in the middle of the test," she said, shrugging to play it off casually.

"Wait, you mean Ha-dam asking Jae-sung for an extra pen?" Eun-ji deadpanned, one brow raised.

Y/n felt her face flush. "Oh... so that's what it was," she mumbled, looking away as the realization hit her.

Eun-ji and Ri-na both exchanged amused glances, with Ri-na letting out a dry chuckle. For a moment, y/n thought they'd leave it at that, but the way Eun-ji's eyes lingered told her that wasn't happening.

"What's up with you lately, anyway?" Eun-ji asked, nudging her lightly. "Not just today, but like... the past two weeks? You've been totally out of it."

"Isn't it obvious?" Ri-na cut in bluntly, her usual lazy tone tinged with something suspiciously close to amusement. "I'd be distracted too if my crush ghosted me out of nowhere. Can't be fun watching him walk away every time she tries to talk."

Y/n stiffened, shooting her a sharp glare. "I don't have a crush," she said, a bit too quickly, the defensiveness clear in her voice.

Ri-na smirked, unbothered. "Right. Sure."

Eun-ji's eyes gleamed with curiosity, leaning in. "Ohhh, wait—who's ghosting you? Jae-sung?"

Y/n rolled her eyes, doing her best to keep her tone light and casual. "Look, there's nothing between us, alright? It's just a tutoring thing."

"Uh-huh," Eun-ji replied, clearly unconvinced. "If it's 'just tutoring,' why's he walking off every time you're around? And why are you looking all mopey over it?"

The girl bristled. She wanted to snap back, deny it, maybe even laugh it off, but the truth felt too close to the surface. She didn't want to admit how Kwon's cold shoulder had been eating at her—how his indifference somehow stung way more than she wanted to let on.

"It's nothing, seriously," she said, keeping her tone firm but feeling her walls crack under their stares. "We're not... whatever you're thinking. I was tutoring him for extra credits, we had a disagreement, and I'm not even sure he wants my help anymore. That's it."

"Just a disagreement?" Ri-na pushed, eyes narrowed. "So, you're saying that's why he's acting like you don't exist now?"

Y/n shrugged, trying to keep her cool. "Maybe. He's just... unpredictable, you know? One minute he's asking me to help him with chemistry, the next he's acting like I'm invisible. It's confusing, but honestly, it-it's whatever."

Ri-na scoffed, rolling her eyes. "You're acting like he's just some random guy. But I've seen the way he looks at you, like he's a shy kid wanting to make a conversation but not sure how. He's giving you that look right now, in face. And you're telling us there's nothing there? Sure, girl."

Y/n opened her mouth to argue but found herself at a loss, quickly turning behind to see if he was really looking... 'Oh shit- so he is aware of my existence-' She thought. But turning back to her friends, she wondered how she could explain Kwon. The guy was a walking contradiction—detached, yet intense, playful, yet dangerous. He had this habit of looking right through her, as if he saw something she hadn't even realized was there. But she'd be damned if she let anyone, let alone her two nosiest acquaintances, know how deep he'd gotten under her skin.

"It's complicated, okay?" she finally managed, keeping her tone clipped, wanting to end this conversation as quickly as possible. "If he doesn't want my help, then he doesn't want my help. I'm not chasing after him."

Eun-ji's brows furrowed, concern flickering in her eyes. "You don't have to act like you're fine with it, you know? Like, if it bugs you... it's okay to admit that. Feeling or no feelings."

Y/n let out a small laugh, brushing off her friend's sincerity. "It's fine, seriously. He can keep ignoring me if that's what he wants. I just wish he'd make up his mind and stop with the games."

She could feel her heart racing, a bitter edge creeping into her voice. The truth was, Kwon's rejection, his complete dismissal of her after all the effort she'd put in, made her blood boil. She'd tried to be patient, even tried to apologize, but all he'd done was leave her feeling hollow and dismissed. And maybe, just maybe, it hurt her pride more than she was willing to admit. But letting anybody, especially him see that? Not a chance.

Ri-na, sensing the tension, leaned back and yawned, clearly over the conversation. "Whatever. Good luck with that. Just don't come crying when he keeps doing his 'too cool for you' act," she muttered, her eyes drifting back to her food as if the whole thing was beneath her.

Eun-ji, however, remained quiet, watching y/n carefully, as if trying to piece together a puzzle. "Well, if you ever want to talk about it, I'm here," she offered, her tone gentle.

Y/n forced a smile. "Thanks, Eun-ji. But really, there's nothing to talk about."

They let it go after that, thankfully, shifting the conversation back to safer ground—teachers, homework, and the endless gossip around school. But every now and then, Y/N's gaze would flicker toward the edge of the playground, where Kwon stood with his group, his laugh echoing from across the field.

As much as she wanted to act indifferent, a part of her kept waiting, hoping he'd glance her way again, give her some kind of acknowledgment. But he never did. And when the lunch break drew to a close, the girl got up, tray in hand, casting a final glance down at her friends, who were still engrossed in a conversation in Korean. Just as she turned to walk toward the cafeteria doors, a loud call echoed across the playground.

"HEY, Y/N!"

She barely had time to react before the basketball smashed straight into her face with brutal force. It struck her square in the nose, snapping her head backward and sending her body reeling to the ground. Pain erupted from her nose, spreading instantly through her face like fire, the shockwave piercing up to her temples and down to her jaw. Her vision exploded into a white haze as the impact vibrated through her skull, a disorienting, sickening pain that drowned out everything else. She couldn't move, couldn't breathe, the pain rooting her to the cold, rough ground as if she were a ragdoll dropped there without thought.

There was a high-pitched ringing in her ears, and through it, she could hear muffled voices and laughter—the familiar, taunting laughter that had haunted her too many times before, always lurking like a threat in the background before something bad happened. She felt the world spinning around her, her senses dull and hazy, yet somehow, every detail of the pain was crystal clear. The metallic taste of blood started to trickle down her lips, sharp and bitter, as her face throbbed and swelled.

Somewhere nearby, she heard Eun-ji yell out angrily, her voice slicing through the haze of pain.

"Jae-chul, what the hell is wrong with you?!"

"Relax," Jae-chul scoffed, his voice indifferent and laced with that insufferable, mocking tone. "I told her to watch out."

"Yeah, after you hit her!" Ri-na's voice rang out, angrier than y/n had ever heard it, low and sharp with fury.

The voices clashed, rising in anger as her friends yelled back at Jae-chul and his group, their words slipping in and out of her muddled consciousness. Every attempt she made to open her eyes or sit up only intensified the dizziness, her body screaming against even the slightest movement. Her friends continued to shout, their voices echoing in the background, their anger palpable.

She heard Eun-ji's voice, clear and cutting through the chaos. "What the hell is your problem, Jae-chul? Leave her the fuck alone!"

The world around her blurred, and somewhere amidst the pain, Aisha's words from last night drifted back into her mind: "Once that line is crossed, there's no telling how far it'll go."

A line had been crossed. And for the first time, that understanding lit something fierce within her—a rage so intense, so deeply rooted that it momentarily drowned out even the throbbing pain in her face. They wanted a fight? Fine. They got it.

Y/n's vision slowly began to clear, the blurred shapes around her sharpening into figures. Her friends, yelling at the guys who had pushed her around far too many times. The smirk on the faux-blonde's face, dismissive and cruel, only stoked her anger further. She planted her hands against the ground, feeling the rough scrape of dirt under her palms, every ounce of pain igniting her determination to stand up and put an end to this—right here, right now.

But before she could even get a proper grip on the ground, a strong arm slipped around her, pulling her up, her arm looped over someone's shoulder. She blinked hard, her vision still fuzzy, the world spinning around her as she tried to make out who had picked her up. The faintest scent of cologne filled her senses, mingling with the coppery tang of her own blood. She felt the steady, solid presence at her side, supporting her, holding her up as her legs wobbled and threatened to give out beneath her.

It was Kwon. She squinted, her half-shut eyes meeting his face, her vision still hazy but just clear enough to make out his intense expression. She could see it—the slight crease in his brow, the faint flash of regret that softened his usual mask of indifference.

"Wha... what are you doing?" she managed to croak, her voice weak, barely audible.

"Calm down," he muttered, his voice low but surprisingly steady. "You'll be fine. The nurse will take care of it."

The words were simple, even cold, but his actions were gentle, careful as he guided her across the school grounds. The pain still flared with every step, but with him holding her up, it felt somehow manageable, a lifeline steadying her in the midst of all the hurt. She tried to get a better look at him, still dazed and feeling as though everything were happening in slow motion. But he wouldn't meet her gaze, his own eyes fixed straight ahead.

They reached the nurse's office, Kwon nudging the door open with his shoulder. The nurse took one look at her and quickly ushered her inside, her expression shifting from professional concern to a more urgent worry as she saw the extent of y/n's injuries.

"Lay her down here," she instructed Kwon, motioning toward a narrow cot by the wall. He carefully lowered her onto the bed, her head spinning as she settled onto the cool surface, grateful for the reprieve from the throbbing in her legs.

She vaguely registered the nurse bustling around, preparing gauze and antiseptic. Kwon lingered by her side, his jaw set as he watched her, silent but unmistakably concerned.

"Thanks..." she mumbled, her voice barely a whisper. She wasn't sure if he even heard her. His face softened for a fleeting moment, a rare vulnerability slipping past his usual impassive mask.

"Just stay still," he said, almost curtly, though there was a gentleness in his tone that she hadn't heard before. "The nurse will take care of it."

The nurse started to gently clean her wounds, wiping away the blood with careful strokes. Each touch sending sharp pricks of pain across her face, but she never once flinched. She'd taken her fair share of attacks back when she was a Cobra Kai. She was practically immune, just a bit shocked. Her friends had crowded by the door, Eun-ji and Ri-na both looking furious, worried.

"She's in good hands," the nurse assured them, sensing their concern. "You all should head back to class now. She just needs some rest."

Eun-ji shot her one last, worried look, giving her a small, supportive nod before reluctantly pulling Ri-na away from the door. Kwon stayed back a moment longer, his gaze lingering on her before finally turning to leave. As he stepped out, Y/N let her eyes fall shut, every ounce of anger, pain, and exhaustion crashing over her in waves. The rage still burned in her heart, simmering just beneath the surface, but for now, all she could do was lie there, bruised, battered, but somehow, still defiant. The boundaries she created came crashing down, destroying every last vow. Jae-chul and his goons had wronged her bad. 

And she was going to make sure they paid... with their blood.

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