Seo Mira helped Jin up with a firm pull, as if she wasn't even tired after that brutal beating. Jin almost collapsed again, but she grabbed his shoulder and guided him to the nearest bench.
— Sit down, young master — she said, tossing a towel onto his lap. — Wipe off and pay attention.
Jin was panting, his chest rising and falling, legs trembling, and his whole body throbbing with pain. He could barely move his arms. But when Seo Mira stepped in front of him, he instinctively raised his eyes.
— I'll repeat every move I landed on you. Slowly, one by one. Memorize each move. I want you to practice it alone later — she explained, cracking her neck and getting into position.
Even exhausted, Jin's eyes widened. It felt like everything went into slow motion. The sharp, fast movements from before now seemed smooth, as if time had slowed down just for him. Every kick, every dodge, every boxing jab, and that Brazilian Kick that dropped him… he saw it all, crystal clear.
Sweat still ran down his face, but he didn't blink. His mind ignored the exhaustion, and his wrecked body tried to memorize everything. Jin knew this was more valuable than any boring class at school. This was real learning.
When Seo Mira finished the sequence, she walked over and gave him a light pat on the shoulder.
— Good. Didn't expect less from you. Now rest. We start again tomorrow.
Without the strength to respond, Jin just nodded. Seo Mira grabbed her stuff and left, leaving Jin there like a war survivor.
Somehow, he dragged himself back home. Every step was torture. His legs locked up, his shoulders ached, and his head throbbed. When he opened the door, his mom saw him and crossed her arms.
— Where've you been this whole time? — Hana asked, frowning.
Jin didn't have the energy to explain. — With Dad… — he muttered.
Hana let out a heavy sigh. She didn't need to ask more. In her eyes, there was a glint of a wild tiger. She knew her son had chosen a path with no way back.
— Is this really what you want, Jin? — she asked, her voice loaded.
Jin lifted his eyes and, even wrecked, replied:
— It is.
Hana took a deep breath and turned her back.
— Then I won't hold you back anymore.
Jin climbed to his room, every step feeling like a mountain. In the bathroom, he looked at himself in the mirror. He was done for — but a faint smile appeared on his face.
— This is just the beginning.
The cold water made every muscle throb even harder. He felt like his veins would burst. He changed clothes and collapsed onto his bed. He couldn't even turn to his side. The relief hit instantly, though his body still pulsed with pain.
In the middle of the night, he dreamed about Seo Mira's movements. In his dream, he performed them perfectly. Kicks, punches, dodges… everything.
The next day, Hana went to wake him up, worried. He didn't even budge. She placed her hand on his chest and felt his heartbeat. She sighed in relief.
— Phew… — she muttered, leaving the room.
But what she didn't expect was that Jin would only wake up at night, starving like a lion. He devoured everything he found and went straight back to sleep. Whatever that boy had done the day before… only God and Seo Mira knew.