The afternoon air hung heavy over the school's outdoor basketball court, the concrete still slick from last night's rain. Classes had ended, but the tension hadn't. Whispers still followed Minjae wherever he walked.
He's the kid with debts.He's marked now.Someone's gonna come for him soon.
Minjae hated it. He hated how his legs trembled when someone bumped into him in the hallway. He hated how his heart jumped at every unknown number that texted him.
But most of all, he hated that his friends were being dragged into this because of him.
"Hey."
Minjae flinched as Hyunwoo dropped beside him on the bench, a can of soda in hand.
"You've been out of it all day. Seriously, man, you can't keep going like this."
Before Minjae could answer, Jisoo appeared, her usual lazy stride bringing her over to sit on the other side of him. She glanced at him briefly, her voice flat but honest.
"You're getting cornered."
"I know," Minjae muttered. "I know, okay? But I'm not like you two. I can't fight."
Jisoo tilted her head, resting her chin on her palm. "Yeah, but soon, you won't have a choice."
Just as the words left her mouth, a sharp shout echoed from the edge of the court.
"Hey, debt boy! You running today, or are you finally gonna face it?"
A group of unfamiliar students approached. At the front was a lanky student with dyed red hair and a cocky grin. Minjae recognized him from the rumors — Yang Hojin, one of the errand runners for the local loan sharks.
Hyunwoo stood immediately, stepping between them. "What do you want?"
Yang Hojin smirked. "Not here for you, big guy. Just here to remind Minjae that running won't make his debts disappear."
Minjae's throat was dry. His instinct screamed at him to run, to beg, to hide — but then he glanced at Hyunwoo, who was ready to fight, and at Jisoo, who simply stared at him, waiting to see what he would do.
I can't keep running.
Slowly, Minjae stepped forward, his fists clenched tight.
"I… I'll fight you."
Yang Hojin's grin widened in surprise. "Oh? Didn't think you had it in you."
"I don't," Minjae admitted, voice trembling. "But I'm not running anymore."
The watching crowd's murmurs swelled as Hojin cracked his knuckles. "Your funeral."
The fight was messy. Minjae had no stance, no technique — only wild swings and panicked dodges. Hojin's punches landed clean, sending Minjae sprawling to the ground more than once. Each hit was like fire in his ribs, but something inside him wouldn't let him stay down.
Get up. Get up. Get up.
He didn't know if it was pride, fear, or simply not wanting to see Jisoo's disappointed gaze, but Minjae kept standing.
Again.
And again.
Blood dripped from his lip, his legs shook, but when Hojin finally swung a finishing punch, Minjae — purely by accident — ducked too low, causing Hojin to stumble forward.
In a burst of desperation, Minjae tackled him to the ground.
For a split second, the crowd roared. Hyunwoo's voice rang out, "Let's go, Minjae!!"
It wasn't a win. It was a messy, pathetic scuffle. But it was Minjae's first step.
As Hojin's crew dragged him away, promising this wasn't over, Minjae collapsed onto the court, panting.
Hyunwoo and Jisoo rushed over.
"You idiot," Jisoo muttered, but there was a faint, rare smile on her lips. "Took you long enough."
Minjae winced, clutching his ribs. "Yeah… but I'm done running."