Hyunjin stood in front of his door.
Blood slowly traced down his arm, dripping from his fingertips onto the floor, His breathing was heavy.
"Today was a good harvest." he muttered, a faint grin at his lips despite the state he was in.
He lifted the small bundle of cash in his hand, loosely wrapped.
"Better than the last three days combined.. 4.7 million won." A low whistle escaped him.
"The highest before this was 2.3.." He let out a chuckle.
Click.
The door opened.
His home was small.
A studio-type apartment barely enough space to stretch your arms without touching something, One small hall, a cramped bedroom, a simple kitchen, and a bathroom tucked into the corner.
360,000 Won a month
Hyunjin stepped inside, kicking the door shut behind him with his heel, He dropped the food he'd bought onto the kitchen table carelessly, the plastic bag rustling.
He just stood there.
Then, he started unwrapping the bandages.
One by one, the strips on his face peeled away, revealing fresh bruises underneath some turning purple, others still red and swollen, his knuckles were torn again, the skin split open in places.
The bandages around his torso came next.
As they loosened, His body flinched "Tch."
Dark marks spread across his ribs, Some areas were slightly swollen in a way that didn't look normal.
He didn't stop
His shirt came off next, tossed aside without a second thought, Grabbing a towel, he walked straight into the bathroom.
The shower turned on.
Water poured down over him, soaking his hair instantly.
Hyunjin tilted his head back, letting it run over his face, washing away dried blood, sweat, and dirt from the day.
His fingers moved through his hair, pushing it back as the strands clung to his skin.
"I'm really just.." he muttered under the sound of the water "destroying my body over and over again."
The water kept running.
"If this keeps up.." He didn't finish that sentence.
Minutes later, he stepped out.
Water still dripped from his hair, trailing down his neck and shoulders.
He stood in front of the mirror.
And looked.
His body was thin.
No real muscle, just a frame of bones barely covered by skin, bruises layered over bruises, old and new mixing.
He stared at himself quietly.
"I'm so Pathetic." There was no self-hatred in his voice.
He reached down and opened a box sitting near the sink.
Inside, health kits, bandages, tape, basic supplies.
He started wrapping his ribs first, the moment the pressure tightened around his torso "-Ahh, FUCK."
His hand slammed lightly against the sink, his teeth clenching as the pain spiked through his chest.
He froze there for a second, breathing through it "Yeah."
A shaky exhale "I think they're broken."
"I should probably see a doctor again. "
After finishing his torso, he moved to his face.
Fresh strip bandages replaced the old ones, carefully covering the cuts without much thought.
Back in the room, Hyunjin grabbed a towel and began drying his hair.
Rough at first
Then slower, when it was damp, he opened a small box on his desk.
Inside, styling cream.
He took a small amount, rubbing it between his hands before running his fingers through his hair, from the roots, spreading it evenly.
He adjusted the layers, lifting the volume at the top, shaping the fringe, defining the messy, look of the wolf cut.
His fingers worked through each section, tousling it just enough to look effortless.
Then he leaned slightly toward a small fan, letting it air dry on a low setting.
By the time he finished, he looked different.
He put on his clothes, then walked back to the kitchen.
The clock read 9:30 PM.
Hyunjin sat down, opening his food without ceremony and starting to eat.
Between bites, his hand moved slightly toward his ribs, he winced.
----
(Next day, Itaewon-dong, Central Seoul)
The café was calm.
Soft music played in the background, the low murmur of conversations and the occasional clink of cups against saucers, Sunlight filtered through the glass windows, casting a warm glow over the tables.
Hyunjin sat alone near the corner.
A cup of coffee rested in front of him, half-empty, Steam no longer rose from it.
In his hands was, Medical documents.
His eyes moved slowly across the page "Three ribs fractured, jaw fracture, two fingers broken.."
"How am I still alive?" He leaned back slightly in his chair, staring at the paper.
In any normal world, he wouldn't be sitting here.
"Guess that's just how this world works." he muttered under his breath.
The Lookism world.
A place where people hit harder than logic allowed, Where bodies endured things they shouldn't, Where strength, speed, and durability blurred the line between human and superhuman.
And right now, he was at the very bottom of it.
Hyunjin lowered the papers onto the table, rubbing his temple lightly, his ribs throbbed His jaw felt stiff, slightly off whenever he clenched it.
But the pain, wasn't what bothered him.
It was the future, he stared into his coffee, eyes unfocused.
"Give me a milkshake." The voice cut through his thoughts.
Loud.
Hyunjin's brows furrowed slightly as he turned his head.
And then, his eyes widened.
"The hell?" At a table not far from him sat three familiar figures.
Vasco leaned back in his chair, completely relaxed.
Zack Lee sat across from him, already looking annoyed.
And between them, Big Daniel, smiling softly like always.
Hyunjin froze "What are they doing here?" His grip on the cup tightened slightly.
"Another one, Seriously?" Zack muttered, glancing at Vasco with disbelief.
Vasco didn't even look guilty "I need energy."
Daniel just chuckled quietly, watching them like this was completely normal.
Hyunjin's gaze didn't leave them, he studied their expressions.
The way they talked to each other "They're close," he thought "Way closer than I expected."
That meant something.
His eyes narrowed slightly "So I'm not at the beginning of the story."
That realization settled heavily in his chest
"I'm still weak," Vasco suddenly said, his tone shifting.
Hyunjin's attention sharpened instantly.
"After seeing the fight between that guy with black glasses and Jake and how I got beaten by Jake I need to train harder from now on."
Serious, different from his usual carefree attitude.
Zack raised a brow "I heard you beat Vin's ass at the sports festival?"
Vasco nodded without hesitation "Yeah, he was bullying Duke." His fist tightened.
"So I beat the bad guy."
Daniel smiled faintly, then turned to Zack "Zack, how was that haunted place you went to yesterday?"
For a split second, zack froze.
"G-good! It wasn't scary at all." Sweat formed on his forehead.
His voice betrayed him instantly.
Back at hyunjin table.
Hyunjin was sweating too, But for a completely different reason.
His mind was racing, Fast.
"Black glasses guy, Jake, Vin, Duke, sports festival.."
His fingers tightened around the edge of the table.
"No way." a chill ran down his spine.
"The plot," His breathing slowed "It's already past 100 chapters."
"I'm fucked." He leaned back slowly, staring at the ceiling for a second before lowering his gaze again.
"I was already stressed thinking even if this was the start."
His jaw clenched slightly "I was still weaker than them by, what fifteen times?" His eyes flicked back toward their table.
"Now, they're not even the same as before."
A bitter smile formed on his lips "They're stronger."
"Five times stronger than their past selves, at least."
His chest felt tight "I'm not just behind.."
His fingers trembled slightly "I'm completely outclassed."
At the other table, chaos broke out again.
Vasco arguing with Zack.
He lowered his head slightly, his expression darkening "I need to get stronger."
"I'm not even background level.."
A quiet exhale "I'm below that."
"I'm cooked." he put his hand, at his face, despair was taking over.