Seol Ah tightened her grip on the metal stick, pointing it at the group of men and the girl.
"What do you want from me?!" Seol Ah asked. The girl just looked at her and smiled.
"What do you mean? You're the one who challenged me to a fight," the girl said.
"Why are you here? Why bother targeting my mother?"
"Oh… because I want to…" the girl replied, placing a finger by her lips with a bright smile. "You're quite skilled, I'll give you that. As long as Oppa didn't teach you…"
"Who the hell are you—"
"When Jin-ho oppa left my gang, he was hard to find. My father told me to stop chasing him, but I couldn't. No one is as perfect as he is…" the girl went on, stretching like she owned the space. "He… he had no guidance, so he joined us to have someone to look up to."
"Jin-ho? As in Kim Jin-ho?" Seol Ah asked, jaw tightening. The girl's eyes flicked to Seol Ah.
"Do you know what he told me before he left?" she asked. Then, softer, almost conspiratorial, "'There's a girl I need to meet… my uncle said she's the closest clue to what I need.'"
Seol Ah pressed her lower lip between her teeth and edged closer to Yu Young, glancing at the older woman from the corner of her eye. The moment she looked back, the girl lunged, a flash of motion and a boot aimed for Seol Ah's torso. Seol Ah reacted on instinct. She tucked, caught the kick under her arm, and shoved it aside.
Before she could follow up, a man leapt forward. Seol Ah dodged, breath stuttering. When another of the men swarmed toward Yu Young, Seol Ah didn't hesitate. She threw the metal stick she'd been holding with all the force she had at the nearest attacker, then lashed out with a kick at the next one.
For a second, it seemed like she had the upper hand. Then the girl twisted through the melee and landed a brutal kick to Seol Ah's stomach. Seol Ah doubled over and hit the ground with a grunt.
"Seol Ah!" Yu Young screamed, scrambling forward to pull her up.
Seol Ah pushed herself upright, every part of her burning, and froze as the men closed in, the air tightening around them like a vice.
"Tell me… why would Jin-ho Oppa choose someone like you over me? I'm Young Si Yeon… but you…" she pointed at Seol Ah. "So poorly taken care of…"
"Leave my mother out of this!" Seol Ah demanded.
Si Yeon chuckled, shrugging.
"No can do…" she added. She pointed at the men. "Make sure she is still breathing… just not enough to stand for a whole year."
The men nodded and pulled up their sleeves. Seol Ah gulped, fearing that she had no way out. She closed her eyes, fearing for the worst.
"Omma… I'm sorry…" Seol Ah said. Yu Young smiled and hugged her tightly.
"I'll make sure they won't hurt you…"
They all raised their hands and swung toward Seol Ah. SUDDENLY—
The door slammed open, and everyone turned to look. Jin-ho charged at them with a metal pipe, striking them away from Seol Ah and Yu Young.
Seol Ah's mouth dropped as she watched Jin-ho swing his pipe at each of them. As he stood before Seol Ah and Yu Young, he glared at Si Yeon, who smiled delightfully at his arrival.
"Oppa!"
"Get out! I warned you that I'll never come back… why are you hurting innocent people?!" Jin-ho yelled. Si Yeon bit her lower lip.
"Oppa, they were an obstacle between you and me!" Si Yeon cried.
"The police are on their way here. If you don't want to meet my uncle in prison, I suggest that you leave… now!" Jin-ho demanded.
The men looked at each other anxiously.
"If Boss finds out that we did this, we will all get punished, Young Lady…"
Si Yeon clenched her fists and glared at Seol Ah. She swung her fists down.
"Let's go!"
Then they all departed from there. Once the last man walked out the door, Jin-ho dropped the metal pipe, falling to his bottom. He looked at Seol Ah and Yu Young. Seol Ah stared at him with teary eyes.
"Why… why are you here?" she questioned. Yu Young looked at her, then at Jin-ho.
"I warned you—"
"It happened because of you! All she talked about was you! I have nothing to do with you, so why are you here?! Get the fuck out of my life!" Seol Ah yelled.
Yu Young quickly hugged Seol Ah.
"Seol Ah, he saved us—"
"Omma, I don't care… ever since he came to my school, life has been hectic! I never had peace!" Seol Ah cried. Jin-ho opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Before he reached his hand to her, Po Lim suddenly walked to the front door, her eyes widening.
"Omma?!" she called. They all darted in their direction to her.
"Po Lim? Aigoo, you're finally home…" Yu Young cried gratefully. Po Lim then looked at Seol Ah.
"Unnie, what happened?" Po Lim questioned.
Seol Ah chuckled anxiously, turning to Yu Young and untying the strap around her wrists.
"Thank goodness, you didn't come home," Seol Ah mumbled. Po Lim ran to them, skidding to their knees.
"What the fuck happened?! Who did this to you two? And…" Po Lim paused, looking at Jin-ho. "Who's he?"
Seol Ah shot him a glare. Jin-ho widened his eyes.
"Just a stalker who doesn't know when to stop," Seol Ah commented. Po Lim furrowed her brows.
"Call the police—"
Yu Young slapped Seol Ah's shoulder.
"Ow! Omma!"
"He's definitely your classmate… be nice to him," Yu Young commanded. Then she looked at Jin-ho and bowed her head. "Thank you for saving us… I didn't teach my daughter well, so I hope you can understand that she's just emotional at this moment."
Jin-ho raised both hands, waving.
"Don't be… I just happened to walk by and heard some noises…" Jin-ho lied so easily, like it was just another day for another trial into Seol Ah's life. Seol Ah frowned, covering Yu Young's vision.
"Omma, we can't stay here anymore… let's go live somewhere else—"
"If you don't mind… my uncle has a place unoccupied," Jin-ho interrupted. Seol Ah glared at him again, hissing. "I'm just saying… it'll take you a while to find a place, and maybe transfer school. So… what do you think?"
"No!"
"Thank you. Please show us the place," Yu Young said. Seol Ah looked at Yu Young.
"Omma, no!"
"Seol Ah, stop fighting someone who saved us…" Yu Young demanded.
Seol Ah pouted without realizing that her injured shoulder from the previous day had started to bleed. Po Lim glanced at Seol Ah, but then the red shoulder caught her eye.
"Unnie! Your shoulder!" Po Lim shouted. Yu Young quickly grabbed Seol Ah's arm, pulling it to see the shoulder.
"What happened here?" Yu Young questioned angrily. Seol Ah chuckled nervously, scratching her head.
"Well… I—"
"Got injured yesterday…" Jin-ho added, whistling. Seol Ah frowned at him.
"How?! Why didn't you tell me, Seol Ah?!" Yu Young asked.
"I'm fine, Omma. Just a small injury," Seol Ah replied.
Yu Young frowned and gently slapped Seol Ah's head. Seol Ah giggled.
"Fine?! You're bleeding!" Yu Young yelled. "Why are you laughing?"
"Omma, I'm fine!" Seol Ah said, dodging another slap from Yu Young.
Jin-ho stared at them, watching a mother disciplining her loving daughter. Something he missed. Something he could never have again…
They stayed there together, hugging each other for comfort, where Jin-ho never left. When the police arrived, they helped transfer their belongings under the direction of Jin-ho's uncle.
By the end of the day, Seol Ah had moved into the home Jin-ho offered. Yu Young agreed, saying they wouldn't be able to find a place immediately.
A few days later, stepping out the front door, Seol Ah realized Jin-ho was her neighbor, but he wasn't the only one who bothered her.
"Hyung, Abeoji said, 'Don't forget to eat,'" Woo Sol said.
Seol Ah dropped her lunchbox, staring at them with her mouth open. Po Lim stopped and looked. She gasped loudly.
"Oh! You're that kid!" Po Lim yelled, pointing. "Lunchbox delivery boy."
Woo Sol swiftly turned to look and saw Seol Ah.
"Oh, Noona?!" Woo Sol pointed at Seol Ah.
"Noona?" Jin-ho echoed as his voice cracked, frowning at Woo Sol. Seol Ah bit her lower lip, taking a deep breath.