The next day at school, Alex and Sophia led Linda into the martial arts hall. Sunlight streamed through tall windows, shining on the polished floor. The faint smell of sweat and polish lingered in the air,.
Students were scattered across the hall. Some stretched quietly, their movements sharp and practiced. Others sparred in pairs, their kicks and punches accompanied by sharp grunts and the heavy thud of blows landing. The sound echoed, filling the room.
At the very center stood Mr. Kwon. Tall and broad-shouldered, he carried himself with the authority of a master. His presence alone seemed to command the hall. Students straightened when his eyes swept past them, their movements turning sharper, more focused, as if the weight of his gaze demanded nothing less.
When Linda stepped inside, his piercing eyes turned on her immediately. They scanned her from head to toe, as if he could measure her worth without a single word.
Then his deep voice broke the silence, edged with challenge.
"So," he said, "You believe you have what it takes to stand among my students?"
Linda's heart thumped hard in her chest. For a moment, she thought her knees might give way. But she forced her shoulders back and lifted her chin. "Yes," she answered, her voice steady as she tried to hide her thumping chest.
he gave a short nod "Then prove it." he said gesturing to a student beside him. "Defeat one of my students and then we'll talk."
The chosen student stepped forward. He was tall and muscular, his confidence written in every line of his body. A smirk tugged at his lip. He cracked his knuckles one by one, then rolled his shoulders like a predator preparing to play with prey.
"Let's see what you've got," he taunted, his voice low and mocking.
All around, students abandoned their drills. They gathered in a loose circle, murmuring in excitement. A new girl facing one of the top fighters was a spectacle no one wanted to miss.
Linda inhaled slowly, grounding herself. Her palms tingled, adrenaline coursing through her veins. She reminded herself that she have to do this.
The fight began.
Linda shot forward, her stance low and steady. Her strikes came fast, snapping with speed. Years of kung fu training flowed through her movements—fluid arcs, swift dodges, controlled counters. She slipped under his first swing and aimed a sharp jab at his ribs.
But he twisted at the last second making her strike to cut through air.
A grunt left his throat, but his smirk only widened. He moved with ease, blocking her follow-up kicks, his defense almost effortless. His eyes narrowed, studying her as though dissecting her every move.
Linda pushed harder, weaving, striking, attacking with all the skill she had. But frustration quickly began to set in. Every hit landed too lightly to matter. Her fists ached from the effort. Her breaths grew quick and shallow. And through it all, his smug smile stayed fixed on his face, taunting her.
Then, in a blur of motion, he struck.
His foot slammed into her stomach. Pain exploded through her ribs as the air was knocked out of her. She gasped, staggering backward. Before she could recover, his fist crashed into her jaw, snapping her head to the side.
Her vision blurred. The world tilted. The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth as it trickled from the corner of her lips. For a second, her body screamed at her to stay down. But Linda forced herself upright, wobbling but refusing to fall. She clenched her fists, her teeth grit against the pain. She wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of seeing her quit.
The boy loomed over her, confident and smug. Murmurs rippled through the watching students.
"She thought too highly of herself," one whispered.
"She's strong, but he's on another level," another replied.
Mr. Kwon remained unmoved, he cross his arms with cold expression. "I don't think you're suited for my club," he said flatly. "You lack the skill and finesse required."
Humiliation burned hotter than the pain in Linda's body. Her chest tightened as anger rose inside her. She snapped back, "What do you mean? I gave it my all!"
Mr. Kwon raised a brow, unimpressed. "That was your all? What I saw was wild punches and sloppy kicks without strategy. No control. That isn't martial arts. That's brute force."
His words stung worse than the blows she'd taken.
"I've been training for years," Linda shot back, her fists trembling at her sides. "I know what I'm doing!"
His lips curled into the faintest, mocking smile. "Really?" He asked, because from what I saw, you were flailing. No balance and composure. If you can't control yourself, you'll never control your opponent."
"You're judging me on just one fight that not right!" she shouted.
"No," he cut sharply "I'm judging you on what I saw today. And what I saw was subpar. If you can't handle a simple spar, how do you expect to handle the demands of this club?"
Heat flushed her face. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. "Fine," she spat, stepping forward. "Maybe your club is just too good for me. Maybe I'm not worthy of your precious standards!"
Gasps echoed around the circle.
Mr. Kwon's face darkened. His voice thundered across the hall. "Enough! You think talent alone earns you a place here? Talent is nothing without tactics.
Linda's chest heaved. Her voice dropped, low but sharp. "Do all your students win their first fight to get in? Do they all pass your test without question?"
"No," he growled. "But they show potential. The right mindset. The willingness to learn. You think raw strength is enough? It isn't."
Her anger broke free. "You're just a biased, close-minded coach who only wants students who already fit your mold!"
And with that, she turned on her heel and stormed out. Alex and Sophia hurried after her.
"Linda, wait!" Alex caught her shoulder, but she shook him off.
"Please, Alex," she muttered without turning. "Not now." She pushed into the classroom and dropped heavily into her seat.
Moments later, Alex and Sophia joined her. They exchanged a worried glance before Sophia leaned closer. "Linda, don't let his words crush you. I saw your steps. I know you have potential."
Linda lowered her gaze to the desk, her voice barely above a whisper. "I couldn't focus. My mind kept going back to my parents."
Sophia's expression softened. She placed a gentle hand on Linda's shoulder. "Then we'll help you refocus. We'll train harder, together. You'll prove him wrong."
Alex grinned, trying to lighten the mood. "Yeah. You'll be like a superhero—kicking butt, taking names. Mr. Kwon won't know what hit him."
For the first time since the fight, Linda smiled faintly. It was small, fragile, but real. His joke lit a tiny spark inside her, a reminder she wasn't alone.
Sophia squeezed her shoulder. "We'll start today. Six o'clock every evening—we'll practice, fix your weaknesses, and make you stronger."
Linda lifted her head, her eyes clearer now. Determination steadied her voice. "That's perfect. Let's do it."
Together, they packed their bags and walked out of the classroom. Their laughter and quiet chatter echoed down the hall. And though Linda's body still ached and her pride still stung, inside her chest, something new was stirring and resolve.
She would not quit.