Chapter XVI - Joen Sung-Ho

“Thanks, Oppa!” Sophie said planting a kiss on Arthur’s cheek in the middle of the cafeteria. “We’ll join you guys for lunch some other time, hope you don’t mind.”

Arthur glanced over at the group of friends now surrounding Sophie. She explained to him what had happened in the classroom after the first period.

“Of course not. You girls have fun, and I’ll see you later.”

“Love you,” Sophie said signaling the rest at a free table they could sit.

“Oh, and Soph. . .” Arthur called out to her. “Grandpa said he wants to have dinner tomorrow, so let’s do that OK?”

Sophie nodded with a beaming smile.

Observing the girls leaving, Arthur sighed in relief. It seemed that most of his troubles were behind him now. Walking over to Nabi and Don, he sat down at the table listening in on their ongoing conversation.

“I was thinking about it, but Nah. . .” Nabi commented, her voice going quieter.

“You should do it! Right Art?”

“I’m sure whatever it is, Don wouldn’t be suggesting it without a reason.”

“Oh right. Nabi is invited to go to a formal gathering with her father. She claims that it wouldn’t fit her, but she has a chance of meeting some influential people that could help her career and even get her to enroll in a better college.”

“See. I was right to support Don’s suggestion. You should do it.”

“I’m not sure, maybe?” Nabi sighs.

“Got room?” Max asked as he approached Arthur’s flank.

“So you decided to join us? Great,” Arthur welcomed him, moving slightly to the side.

“Hey,” Max said to the others as he sat down.

“Hi,” Don responded with a low and unconfident voice.

“What’s up with you?” Nabi asked. “Anyway, hey Max.”

“Nothing. . .” Don mumbled.

“How’s your lip?” Arthur asked.

“How’s your back?”

The two chuckled, while Don and Nabi just glanced between the two back and forth.

“So how did this surprising friendship even start?” Nabi interrupted their fun.

“I was in a little bit of a pinch and Art came to my rescue. Didn’t know he had it in him I’ll be honest. I even told him to run.”

“You two got into a fight with someone?”

“Max here was about to get his ass kicked by a few guys,” Arthur teased.

“Hey, I handled three of them on my own. All you did was land the last hit on a boss.”

“Is that how it was?”

“Well I guess you did help a little bit,” Max praised him. “Anyway, DD. Why are you suddenly so nervous?”

“Ah I. . .”

“Well don’t be,” Max said, taking a bite. “It’s weird. . .”

“Don’t talk with your mouth full,” Arthur sighed.

“What are you, my mom?”

“I’ll slap you. . .”

Max swallowed his food. Something told him that Arthur wasn’t kidding.

“DD, we haven’t talked much before, but let’s change that. OK?”

Don simply nodded.

Finishing up their lunch, there was still loads of time to spare. The lunch breaks were an hour-long anyway. It was subtle, but all the nearby tables went quiet. Max and Nabi were arguing over a movie that Arthur had not seen.

“Is this him?” spoke an unknown student.

He stood roughly around 182cm, only slightly taller than Arthur. He was missing his tie, shirt unbuttoned at the top and no vest on. He had an earring on his left ear, dark brown eyes, and black hair Mohawk hairstyle with an undercut. His stance might have been relaxed, but Arthur recognized the look in his eyes, the eyes of someone who looks down on others and likes to inflict pain.

He was surrounded by four other unknown students, as well as two that Arthur recognized, U-Jin and Ksun, the ones Arthur already beat up.

“Yeah, that’s him,” Ksun confirmed but instantly averted his gaze as Arthur’s eyes shifted to him.

“What do you want Sung-Ho?” Max interrupted, clearly ready for trouble.

“Sung-Ho, as in Jeon Sung-Ho?” Arthur asked.

“So you know me? That makes things easier,” Sung-Ho commented leaning down. “Suicide boy apparently grew some balls so I came to check up on it myself.”

Nabi and Don were extremely confused by the situation.

“Hey, isn’t that Sung-Ho? Hana’s brother,” Ari asked Sophie who were a few tables away.

“You’re right,” Sophie responded, gritting her teeth.

Before she could get up, Ari grabbed her by the hand.

“I told you, don’t worry about him. Even Sung-Ho won’t start trouble in here.”

“Dammit. . .”

“I thought I already told the two of you that if I see you again, it won’t end well,” Arthur said with a guttural voice, ignoring Sung-Ho who was in his face.

His words made the two discomforted but the fact that Arthur was so heavily outnumbered did give them the confidence. They still feared Sung-Ho more.

“So you’re ignoring me,” Sung-Ho sighed. “I didn’t approve of what my sister was asking me to do, but it seems you wish to give me a reason to kill you. After school, I’ll be waiting outside. We will go to a nearby place where I can slowly enjoy beating you up. And don’t think of running away, because I’ll do to your sister what these two idiots failed to do if you don’t show up.”

Arthur’s gaze met Sung-Ho’s. It was cold and blood lusted. Their exchange made it clear that Arthur wasn’t going to run.

“Good. See you after school. Rest of you. . . Let’s go,” Sung-Ho said as they slowly left.

The table stayed silent for a bit.

“What was that about?” Max asked.

“Why are you mixed up with Sung-Ho Arthur?” Don pried in as well, while Nabi just listened.

“Max, same as you, there have been people pestering my sister. I won’t go into details, it is not my place to tell anyone, but I’m going to go with them after school.”

Everyone remained silent at the table.

Sophie rushed towards Arthur with Ari trailing behind.

“Oppa, are you OK?”

“Yes I am, don’t worry about it.”

“But he. . .”

“He was just saying hello,” Arthur interrupted. “You got nothing to worry about. Anyway, Sophie, this is Max, Nabi, and Don. My classmates.”

“Hi,” they all greeted her.

“And everyone, this is my younger sister Sophie, and her best friend Ari.”

Exchanging greetings, the four made space for Ari and Sophie to sit down.

“Oh, by the way, Sophie, we won’t be going home together today after school. I promised Max I’d help him with moving some things.”

Max cleared his throat glancing over at Arthur who was lying.

“Right. . . I just moved into a new place, so I need help carrying stuff.”

“Oh? Want us to help?” Sophie offered.

“No, no. . . It’s just some heavy stuff, there isn’t a lot though.”

“I see. Well, then I’ll just head straight home after school then.”

“So you’re Art’s little sister? I see who got the good looks in the family,” Nabi teased.

“Thanks, at least someone sees it,” Sophie played along.

“I saw the two of you walk to school last week, I wanted to thank you for helping me win a bet against him.”

“Huh?”

“Well, I’ll tell you all about it after school because I wanted to ask you for help. If Ari and you are free?”

“Sure,” Ari commented.

“What do you need help with?”

“It’s simple to do but hard to explain, so I’ll tell you once we meet up. Don will be with us as well.”

“I will?” Don asked but felt a sharp pain in his foot as Nabi stepped on him. “I mean. . . I will!”

“Alright, I guess we’ll see you then,” Sophie confirmed.

“Your friends are still waiting for you at the table. We’ll talk once I get home, OK?” Arthur told Sophie.

“Alright, but stay safe. . .”

“Bye guys,” Ari spoke up as the two left.

Arthur sighed glancing at Nabi.

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

It was clear that Nabi wished for Sophie and Ari to avoid seeing Arthur leaving with Sung-Ho. Max also played along, even if he was put on the spot.

“Guess my plans for today changed,” Max commented jokingly.

“You’re not coming with me.”

“I am,” Max elbowed Arthur. “If I didn’t, it would make me a liar to your cute little sister. How uncool would that be?”

“I’ll be fine though.”

“There is no way I’m letting you go alone. . .”

“Fine, but you’re responsible for yourself.”

Max nodded as a coy grin appeared on Arthur’s face.

The rest of the school day was tense, with Nabi and Don unable to handle the situation. Max on the other hand stuck close to Arthur. He didn’t say anything, but he was truly thankful for Max’s approach. He reminded him of a friend he had back in the day, brave and popular with the ladies.

You cannot escape this fate.

Sat down at his desk during class, Arthur saw himself standing in front of him.

No matter how hard you try, you’re destined to suffer.

With the final bell ringing, Arthur rose to his feet grabbing his school bag, ignoring himself.

“Let’s go Max.”

“Right.”

“Stay safe you two. . .” Nabi mumbled worried, still having to figure out how to distract Sophie and Ari.

Walking into the schoolyard, Sung-Ho and his group waited.

“Guess you do have guts,” he commented. “Follow me.”

Arthur stepped in between all of them and started walking. They looked as natural as a group could.

“I didn’t expect Max to follow along. Since when are you two buddies?”

“None of your business,” Max responded.

“Harsh.”

Leaving the school grounds, they were headed towards an abandoned construction site. It was a perfect place for a fight where nobody would spot them.

Nothing ever changes.

Arthur listened to his alter self who followed behind him.

No matter how hard you try and escape fate, in the end you’ll lose everything.

“Shut up. . .” Arthur mumbled.

Max looked worryingly towards Arthur.

Just accept it. The sooner you realize that the longer you live, the more you shall endure pain, suffering, and futility.

Arthur gritted his teeth and clenched his fists.

These kids are nothing compared to us. Yet you still failed to stop your sister from being hurt.

“Enough. . .”

Arthur’s voice was too weak to be heard by anyone.

Is she even your sister? Finally, you have been granted freedom from war, yet given a body that is not yours. You’ve stolen her brother away from her. In the end, you’ll have nothing. . .

The dust clouds surrounded the place as light wind raised the dirt. The open area made it perfect for the two groups to split. Arthur could imagine that the sight of the two looking at seven guys wishing to beat them up would make Max nervous.

“Here we are. . .” Sung-Ho commented.

Sung-Ho trained mixed martial arts as far as Arthur remembered, so he was no slouch.

“So, how do you want to do this?” Arthur asked.

“Oh, I thought you remained quiet the entire way because you were scared. Seems that’s not the case.”

Arthur glanced to his flank, his alter self wouldn’t leave him alone.

Look at them. Nothing more than insolent fools ready for slaughter.

“It doesn’t matter how we do this, the result will be the same.”

“Oh? We finally agree on something, but I am interested in your version.”

“I’ll beat the shit out of you all, and then you’ll cry to your parents and cause me more trouble. However, I don’t care right now,” Arthur was fuming since lunch at Sung-Ho’s comment about doing stuff to Sophie, and for U-Jin and Ksun daring to show their faces to him.

Max chuckled but was indeed fearful for what might happen. On the other hand, the rest burst into laughter, all except Sung-Ho who recognized the similar look in Arthur’s eyes.

“Sorry to say this, but your prediction is wrong. Even if you were able to defeat us all, my pride would never allow me to do such a thing. I’d kill whoever did so,” Sung-Ho commented. “It seems you have a fight in you, I like that. So now that you know I won’t give you trouble, I wish to see you fight your hardest. I want to break your spirit and put you in your place, you filthily mutt.”

Arthur never had to deal with racial discrimination before, so comments about him being half Asian and half European completely went over his head.

Break your spirit? Put you in your place? If they were to beat you, could you imagine them with Sophie? Her cries for help as you fail to keep your word. Even if you win, what will stop them from doing that regardless? You know what you must do. . .

“Is that so?” Arthur asked with his eyes wide in a fit of rage, clenching his fist. “Max, you took out most of the trouble this morning, so please do not interfere.”

Max sighed disapprovingly.

“Since you have balls, I’ll allow you to fight me one on one. No need for Max to get his ass beat as well.”

Arthur stepped forward a few paces along with Sung-Ho.

Honor? No. He’ll betray his words and order the rest to attack.

“Didn’t I already say that I’ll beat the shit out of you all?”

No more words were spoken as both took a fighting stance. Sung-Ho had taken a more upright and relatively squared stance from Thai boxing. On the other hand, Arthur’s stance looked ridiculous, as if he were imitating a martial arts movie, some even laughed throwing snarky comments. Max looked a bit worried.

Arthur didn’t plan to fight in this life, but realistically he knew he’d eventually be forced into it one way or another. In the world he lived in now, his martial arts was unknown. It was called Kaisa, a martial arts that focused on hand-to-hand combat using open hand techniques, as well as a devastating sword fighting style. Mixing the two was its specialty. Though each technique required the utilization of Qi that flowed through him.

Sung-Ho had a slight reach advantage and used it to throw a low kick which Arthur simply backstepped. The two circled for a bit, with a few jabs being thrown into the air.

Do you still intend to hold back? Guess you do not care if they all have their way with her. You’re weak. . .

With a deep breath, allowing his Qi to flow through him, Arthur went on the offensive. Each time his alter self spoke, Arthur’s heart darkened. It wasn’t just him hearing those words that hurt him. It was the fact that he knew it was what he was truly feeling and believing. There was no ghost haunting him, only his mind.

Easily parrying Sung-Ho’s jab with his right hand, Arthur grabbed him by the wrist. Stepping into range, he delivered the first blow to Sung-Ho’s ribcage, pushing him back a few paces.

On the surface, it seemed like a weak punch that barely did any damage, but Sung-Ho found it difficult to breathe. His body ached while observing Arthur who stretched his neck left and right.

Max was amazed by Arthur’s speed.

Before Sung-Ho could recover, Arthur stepped into melee reach once more. However, this time his hands moved spirally before attacking. Sung-Ho placed a high guard only to be met with a body shot straight to his guts. Crunching down to the pain and tightening his guard, Arthur grabbed hold of both Sung-Ho’s hands and drove a knee into his stomach. Impressively, he managed to endure and even shove Arthur back.

Realizing that he can’t just defend, Sung-Ho opened up his guard and went for a strike. Before he could even realize what was going on, his eyes adjusted only to see Arthur’s foot hunting for his head. Without the speed to contest the kick, Sung-Ho was knocked to the ground.

Not enough. . . They do not fear you.

He had difficulty standing up, but Arthur allowed it.

“You bastard!” Sung-Ho yelled out frustrated.

Without a second thought, Arthur pressed him again with jabs that kept landing on his body, and if he ever tried to block low, he’d just get hit in the face. With his nose bleeding, head ringing, and muscles aching, it was clear who was winning the fight. Truthfully, it was never even a question since the beginning. Arthur’s moves were unpredictable. Every time Sung-Ho would even think of doing something, it already got countered. His only hope was taking him to the ground, but Arthur would never allow that.

This continued for a few minutes, and Arthur was toying with him ruthlessly. All of the built-up anger was finally being let loose. Max on the other hand along with the rest was in disbelief. Arthur, the kid who tried to commit suicide a few weeks prior was now beating a trained fighter in a one-on-one.

“Attack. . .” Sung-Ho grunted weakly, resting on one knee unable to continue.

The rest hesitated.

We knew this would happen. The only language they speak is pain. Do it.

Arthur burst into laughter. It sounded crazy and frightening. Finally settling down, he dropped his petrifying gaze.

“That’s fine!” Arthur yelled. “I was never going to let any of you leave anyway.”

The group exchanged glances before daring to rush Arthur, all but U-Jin. Max prepared for a fight but was never given a chance as Arthur stepped up.

“Kaisa third form,” Arthur whispered channeling his Qi.

It was insane observing the scene that was about to unfold. Arthur charged the five who dared challenge him. Without hesitation, he landed the first blow. A jab straight to the sternum, staggering his opponent, before clipping his jaw with a power punch. With the first guy collapsing, Arthur used the forward momentum to dodge an incoming kick. Raising his hands in a high guard, he drove his elbows downwards and countered with a kick using his heel which landed straight onto the second guy’s chin.

With two guys already disabled, Arthur continued the onslaught. Planting his left foot strongly on the ground, he performed a precise roundhouse kick with his right leg which landed on the third guy’s temple, sending him flying. The last two stopped running due to just how easily Arthur dealt with them.

This was unavoidable. It is destiny.

Before they could retreat or come up with a plan of action, Arthur already dashed between them. His blows empowered by Qi flowing like a powerful stream through his body landed on their sternum. Turning to the one on his right, Arthur struck his shoulder with an elbow, dropping his guard completely. Arthur used this opening to have a crack at his exposed ribs with his left knee, incapacitating him. The guy to his left managed to recover but was unable to do anything to prevent Arthur’s fury and speed, ending up exposed to three devastating blows. The first was a low kick to the Fibula which made him lose balance. The second was a strike to the throat, making him unable to catch his breath as he spits blood. Finishing up, Arthur landed a liver shot that ended up dropping him.

U-Jin observed the fight and was lost for words. His mind was blanking as he turned to run.

The source of Sophie’s fear.

Enraged, Arthur dashed and tackled U-Jin to the ground.

“No, wait please!” U-Jin begged, but was mercilessly exposed to Arthur’s relentless punches to both the body and the head.

After a full minute of ruthless strikes, Arthur finally stopped. His breathing was heavy, as conditioning was still not at its best. Throwing punches around was exhausting. Physically, U-Jin wasn’t in life-threatening danger, but mentally his spirit was shattered.

Max observed everyone laying on the ground helpless, and Sung-Ho who barely managed to get up on his feet.

“Who the hell are you?” Sung-Ho asked.

“I warned you,” Arthur whispered, slowly approaching Sung-Ho.

“It’s our defeat. . .” he admitted. “Let us go without any further fighting, and I will make sure not to ever trouble you again. I’ll even take care of my dumb sister.”

He is lying.

“Like this is enough for what you’ve all done!” Arthur yelled, preparing to land a power punch on Sung-Ho who didn’t even have the strength left to raise his hands.

Kill him!

Max stepped in between the two.

“That’s enough Art.”

No.

Arthur gazed into Max’s eyes, his anger not quelled yet.

“You’ve already won,” Max continued talking.

This isn’t enough!

Arthur looked into Max’s eyes. He expected to find fear, but instead, he found sympathy. It felt as if Max somehow understood him. If Arthur kept on going, he wouldn’t be able to go back to who he has become over the past few weeks. Taking a deep breath, Arthur’s body ached. He let his fist loose and sighed. Arthur’s alter self faded out of his view.

“Remember what you promised Sung-Ho,” Arthur’s voice remained threatening.

“Thank you,” Sung-Ho humbly said before wobbling over to one of his friends.

“Let’s go Max.”

“Right. . .”

The two left the construction site. Arthur’s hands and clothes were both dirty and bloodied. It’ll be annoying, but he knew had to sneak into the house without Sophie noticing.

They remained silent for a while.

“It’s finally over. . .” Arthur whispered.

Max didn’t know what to think about the fight. Calling it a fight would have been wrong. It was a one-sided beat down. Even if they told anyone, and even if Max vouched, nobody would believe what happened.

“Thanks,” Arthur mumbled. “If it weren’t for you, I don’t know how far I would have gone.”

Arthur looked sad, his anger finally left him.

“Hey, I’d be in the same boat as you if it were my sister. I can only imagine what they did or tried to do. If anything, I feel guilty for stopping you. However, if I didn’t it would have felt wrong. Besides, we just became friends. Wouldn’t want you going to prison.”

The two chuckled remaining quiet the rest of the way.

Max huh? I wonder if you would have done the same, Draneel.

Chapter End.

Thank you for reading.